Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Porous Titanium Granules in comparison with Autogenous Bone Graft in Femoral Osseous Defects: A Histomorphometric Study of Bone Regeneration and Osseointegration in Rabbits

Background The high resorption rate of autogenous bone is a well-documented phenomenon that can lead to insufficient bone quality and quantity in an augmented area. Nonresorbable bone substitutes might perform better than autogenous bone in certain applications if they are able to provide adequate bone formation and graft osseointegration. Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the osseous regeneration and graft integration in standardized defects in the rabbit femur treated either with porous titanium granules or autogenous osseous graft. Materials and Methods Standardized femoral osseous defects were surgically induced in 45 New Zealand rabbits. Fifteen were treated with porous titanium granules (TIGRAN™-PTG) and membrane (PTGM), 15 with autogenous graft and membrane (AGM), and 15 with membrane alone (CM, control). At six weeks, the defects were assessed histologically and histomorphometrically. Results PTGM as compared to AGM presented similar percentages of newly formed bone tissue, but a significantly higher fraction of the region of interest was filled with the bone substitute material. Accordingly, the composite of new bone plus bone substitute material showed significantly higher volumes for PTGM. Yet, the smaller amount of remaining autogenous bone was far better osseointegrated than the titanium granules, which in large regions showed no connection to newly formed bone. Both PTGM and AGM as compared to CM presented higher values of newly formed bone. Conclusions This study demonstrated that PTG was similarly effective as autogenous osseous graft in achieving osseous regeneration while PTG performed markedly better in graft volume stability. The resulting higher total percentage of new bone combined with the bone substitute material in PTG could provide a superior foundation for implant placement.
Clinical outcome of endonasal endoscopic prelacrimal approach in managing different maxillary pathologies

Background The aim of the study was to evaluate the treatment outcomes of endoscopic prelacrimal recess approaches (EPLAs) in managing different sinus pathologies, analyzing associated adverse events and post-treatment quality-of-life. Methods We enrolled 21 consecutive patients (22 lesions) who received endoscopic sinus surgical procedures with EPLAs in two tertiary medical institutes between 2015 and 2018. Quality-of-life and self-rated symptom severity data were collected using the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22) and 10-point visual analog scales (VAS), respectively. Results A total of 21 patients (mean age (standard deviation) 51.7 (14.5) years; 16(76.2%) male) were followed up for 12.7 months. The most common symptoms were nasal discharge and nasal airway obstructions. Nine lesions (40.9%) were sinonasal papilloma’s, seven lesions were other types of neoplasms (31.8%; five benign and two malignant), two were trauma-related (9.1%), and four inflammatory diseases (18.2%). Patients with non-papilloma lesions had higher presurgical SNOT-22 than those with papillomas (P-value = 0.021). After EPLAs, non-papilloma patients had significant improvements in SNOT-22 and VAS (P-values = 0.012 and 0.012, respectively), while those with papillomas had only marginally significant improvements in VAS (P-value = 0.061). The most common adverse events was temporary cheek/tooth numbness (n = 11), and patients with sinonasal papillomas were more likely to have post-treatment complications than those with other disease entities. Conclusions EPLAs were found to effectively manage various sinus diseases. Short-term life-quality improvements were promising. Future large-scale studies with longer follow-up periods are recommended.
Alcohol-Specific Computerized Interventions to Alter Cognitive Biases: A Systematic Review of Effects on Experimental Tasks, Drinking Behavior, and Neuronal Activation

Background: In patients with alcohol use disorder, novel interventions to increase abstinence have attracted growing attention. Interventions aimed at modifying cognitive biases linked to alcohol use [i.e. cognitive bias modification (CBM)] may serve as an add-on to standard therapy. This systematic review thoroughly aggregates existing data on the effects of three alcohol-specific computerized interventions, namely attentional bias modification (AtBM), approach bias modification (ApBM), and inhibition training (IT). In doing so, each CBM’s effects on experimental tasks assessing the relevant biases, drinking behavior, and neurophysiology are summarized. Also, the influence of drinking behavior severity and motivation to change drinking behavior are discussed. Methods: A literature search was conducted in four databases for original research articles published between 2000 and May 2019. Studies were eligible if investigating the effects of alcohol-specific computerized interventions (AtBM, ApBM, IT) on drinking behavior, bias change, and/or neurophysiology. Forty eligible articles were classified as being either a non-clinical experimental lab study (ELS) or clinical randomized-controlled trial (RCT) and summarized. Results: While AtBM seems to influence attentional bias, its effects on drinking behavior are inconsistent. As for ApBM, the best effects on drinking behavior are obtained in clinical samples. Effects of ApBM on approach bias are mixed. Interestingly, those clinical RCTs which investigated ApBM effects on bias change as well as on drinking outcome, reported consistent effects in both measures (i.e. either effects on bias and drinking or no effects). Studies on IT are limited to non-clinical samples and show inconsistent effects on drinking behavior. Considering ITs effects on implicit semantic associations, most studies do not support the conceptualization of IT as a form of memory bias modification, while reports on IT’s effects on inhibitory control are still incomplete. Conclusions about the overall influence of drinking behavior severity are hampered by the non-uniform use of sample descriptions. Conclusions: In clinical samples, ApBM has shown more consistent beneficial effects, while evidence on AtBM is more inconsistent, and data on IT still lacks important information. Conclusions about the influence of drinking behavior severity would be facilitated by a uniform use of clearly defined sample descriptions.
Benchmarking Comparison Between Beijing and American Hospitals

The first clinical engineering (CE) benchmarking between Chinese and American hospitals was performed in 2014. At that time, only data from Zhejiang province were available. A new comparison was completed in 2018 with data collected from 11 hospitals from the capital city of Beijing. These data were compared with those from 270 acute care hospitals in the United States. First, comparisons were made with hospital data such as patient discharges, patient days, equipment quantity and cost, and operating costs. The CE benchmarking comparison was made in 3 categories: (a) operations, (b) finance, and (c) staffing/productivity.Within the operations category, the following metrics were compared: equipment amount/operating beds, annual repairs/ equipment amount, and annual scheduled maintenance/ equipment amount. Within the finance category, the following metrics were compared: total CE expense/total hospital operating expense, total CE expense/operating beds, and total CE expense/equipment cost. Within the staffing/productivity category, the following metrics were compared: total CE full-time equivalent (FTE)/equipment amount, total CE FTE/operating beds, and total CE FTE/ total hospital operating expense. These comparisons showed the following: (1) Although still a bit lower than the United States, Beijing hospitals have more equipment than Zhejiang but a slightly lower amount of repairs and scheduled maintenance per equipment; (2) the total CE
Flavonoids from Apios americana Medikus Leaves Protect RAW264.7 Cells against Inflammation via Inhibition of MAPKs, Akt-mTOR Pathways, and Nfr2 Activation

Apios americana Medikus was once widely accepted as staple food in India for a long time, and the tuber of which possesses high nutrients. During the past decades, most of the research has focused on the biological activity in the tubers of Apios americana Medikus whereas the leaves were ignored. In this study, the Apios americana Medikus leaf extract (ALE) was obtained and seven compounds were identified. LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells were used to study the anti-inflammation activity of ALE. As expected, ALE reduced the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK signaling together with activation of Nrf2-Keap1 and FOXO pathways, as well as alleviating the oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, ALE could activate HMGB1-Beclin1 and Sirt1-FoxO1 pathways and inhibit the Akt-mTOR signaling pathway to activate autophagy, protecting RAW264.7 cells from inflammation. In summary, our results suggested that ALE might help activate the anti-inflammation system, resulting in the prevention of LPS-induced damage in RAW264.7 cells.
Exploring Environmental DNA (eDNA) to Assess Biodiversity of Hard Substratum Faunal Communities on the Lucky Strike Vent Field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) and Investigate Recolonization Dynamics After an Induced Disturbance

Deep ocean hydrothermal vent ecosystems face physical disturbances from naturally occurring volcanic and tectonic activities and are at increasing risk of mineral resource exploitation, raising concerns about the resilience of endemic biological communities. Following destructive events, efficient and rapidly applicable surveys of organisms are required to monitor the state, evolution and a possible return of these ecosystems to their original baseline status. In this study, we explored the environmental DNA (eDNA) approach as a tool (1) to assess biodiversity of benthic communities associated with deep-sea hard substrata and (2) tracked the recolonization dynamics of benthic invertebrate communities living on the Montségur edifice within the Lucky Strike vent field (Mid-Atlantic Ridge), after an induced disturbance that consisted of faunal clearance within experimental quadrats. Hard substratum samples were collected prior to and one year after the disturbance, for eDNA metabarcoding using one marker of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene and three markers of the nuclear 18S ribosomal RNA (18S) gene. We also generated a DNA barcoding inventory that consisted of taxa physically collected from Montségur and morphologically identified. This inventory contained amplified barcodes from COI, 18S and the nuclear large subunit ribosomal RNA (28S) gene. The resulting sequence information from the COI and 18S were used for eDNA taxonomic assignment. The eDNA datasets uncovered a high diversity of metazoan OTUs, which included macro- and meiofauna common to Lucky Strike. Baseline data collected at the start of the experiment identified higher OTU richness at sites peripheral to the active edifice, as well as at inactive sites. One year following the initial disturbance, analysis of recolonization data found no statistical difference in presence/absence from baseline communities. The eDNA protocols provide a reproducible strategy to quickly assess biodiversity associated with deep sea hard substratum, enabling comparisons across various habitats. To follow recolonization dynamics at small spatial scales, however, we recommend an approach that uses both molecular and morphological-based traditional methods. Finally, we present original data on the “unseen” diversity of the fauna inhabiting the poorly studied inactive sites, locations that are targeted by commercial mining. Continued monitoring of these sites is currently ongoing and will bring new insight on recovery potential over time, with the ultimate goal of informing conservation and management decisions in relation to the protection of hydrothermal vent ecosystems.
Identification and Characterization of a Novel Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor of Phospholipid Synthesis Regulation in Aspergillus niger

The synthesis of phospholipids relies on a sort of genes, whose promoter regions contain inositol-sensitive upstream activation sequence (UASINO) and are regulated by the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH)-type ino2/ino4 transcription factor (TF) pair. Ten putative bHLH TFs have been found through whole genome sequencing of Aspergillus niger, but none of these TFs have been characterized. In this study, we identified and characterized the bHLH-type TF ino2(An02g04350) in A. niger. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and yeast two-hybrid assay demonstrated that ino2 functions as a homodimer in UASINO genes (e.g., ino1 and cho1) and binds to opi1(An1g02370) in vitro. Real-time quantitative PCR of ino1 and quantification of total phospholipid indicated that the ino2 disruptant downregulated the transcription of ino1 and the amount of total cellular phosphatidylinositol. In addition, phenotype analyses showed that a loss of ino2 led to resistance to cell wall interference and DNA damage. Comparative transcriptome analyses showed that more than 1000 genes and GO terms associated with UASINO, endoplasmic reticulum–associated protein degradation, phosphatidylinositol synthesis, chitin synthesis, and fatty acid synthesis were differentially expressed in Δino2 compared to the wild type (WT). Taken together, these observations indicate that the bHLH TF ino2 functions as a homodimer that regulates the synthesis of phosphatidylinositol, fatty acid, and chitin and influences the homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.
Decision Tree Analysis: A Retrospective Analysis of Postoperative Recurrence of Adhesions in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Intrauterine

Objective To establish and validate a decision tree model to predict the recurrence of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) in patients after separation of moderate-to-severe IUAs. Design A retrospective study. Setting A tertiary hysteroscopic center at a teaching hospital. Population Patients were retrospectively selected who had undergone hysteroscopic adhesion separation surgery for treatment of moderate-to-severe IUAs. Interventions Hysteroscopic adhesion separation surgery and second-look hysteroscopy 3 months later. Measurements and Main Results Patients' demographics, clinical indicators, and hysteroscopy data were collected from the electronic database of the hospital. The patients were randomly apportioned to either a training or testing set (332 and 142 patients, respectively). A decision tree model of adhesion recurrence was established with a classification and regression tree algorithm and validated with reference to a multivariate logistic regression model. The decision tree model was constructed based on the training set. The classification node variables were the risk factors for recurrence of IUAs: American Fertility Society score (root node variable), isolation barrier, endometrial thickness, tubal opening, uterine volume, and menstrual volume. The accuracies of the decision tree model and multivariate logistic regression analysis model were 75.35% and 76.06%, respectively, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.763 (95% CI 0.681–0.846) and 0.785 (95% CI 0.702–0.868). Conclusions The decision tree model can readily predict the recurrence of IUAs and provides a new theoretical basis upon which clinicians can make appropriate clinical decisions.
Inhibition of Dimethylarginine Dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) Enzymes as an Emerging Therapeutic Strategy to Target Angiogenesis and Vasculogenic Mimicry in Cancer

The small free radical gas nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in various physiological and pathological processes through enhancement of endothelial cell survival and proliferation. In particular, NO has emerged as a molecule of interest in carcinogenesis and tumor progression due to its crucial role in various cancer-related events including cell invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis. The dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) family of enzymes metabolize the endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA), and are thus key for maintaining homeostatic control of NO. Dysregulation of the DDAH/ADMA/NO pathway resulting in increased local NO availability often promotes tumor growth, angiogenesis, and vasculogenic mimicry. Recent literature has demonstrated increased DDAH expression in tumors of different origins and has also suggested a potential ADMA-independent role for DDAH enzymes in addition to their well-studied ADMA-mediated influence on NO. Inhibition of DDAH expression and/or activity in cell culture models and in vivo studies has indicated the potential therapeutic benefit of this pathway through inhibition of both angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry, and strategies for manipulating DDAH function in cancer are currently being actively pursued by several research groups. This review will thus provide a timely discussion on the expression, regulation, and function of DDAH enzymes in regard to angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry, and will offer insight into the therapeutic potential of DDAH inhibition in cancer based on preclinical studies.
Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Mimicking Sleep Apnea Does Not Worsen Left-Ventricular Function in Healthy and Heart Failure Mice

Aims: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with heart failure (HF). Sleep fragmentation (SF), one of the main hallmarks of OSA, induces systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and sympathetic activation, hence potentially participating in OSA-induced cardiovascular consequences. However, whether SF per se is deleterious to heart function is unknown. The aim of this study was to non-invasively evaluate the effect of SF mimicking OSA on heart function in healthy mice and in mice with HF. Methods and Results: Forty C57BL/6J male mice were randomized into 4 groups: control sleep (C), sleep fragmentation (SF), isoproterenol-induced heart failure (HF), and mice subjected to both SF+HF. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and after 30 days to evaluate left ventricular end-diastolic (LVEDD) and end-systolic (LVESD) diameters, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and fraction shortening (FS). The effects of SF and HF on these parameters were assessed by two-way ANOVA. Mice with isoproterenol-induced HF had significant increases in LVEDD and LVESD, as well as a decreases in LVEF and FS (p = 0.013, p = 0.006, p = 0.027, and p = 0.047, respectively). However, no significant effects emerged with SF (p = 0.480, p = 0.542, p = 0.188, and p = 0.289, respectively). Conclusion: Chronic SF mimicking OSA did not induce echocardiographic changes in cardiac structure and function in both healthy and HF mice. Thus, the deleterious cardiac consequences of OSA are likely induced by other perturbations associated with this prevalent condition, or result from interactions with underlying comorbidities in OSA patients.
Drive for Muscularity and Disordered Eating Behavior in Males: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Appraisal

Abstract There is mixed evidence for the relationship between increased levels of the drive for muscularity (DFM) and disordered eating behavior in males, therefore this study analysed the relationship between DFM and disordered eating behavior, giving particular relevance to the patterns of cognitive appraisal. A convenience sample was recruited from fitness centres and sport clubs with 308 participants, all males. Losing muscular mass represented a negative experience for participants, promoting a higher perception of threat appraisal. In addition, losing muscular mass was related to more muscularity-oriented behaviors and disordered eating behavior. Cognitive appraisal mediates the relation between DFM and disordered eating behavior. The results highlight the role of cognitive appraisal in DFM and disordered eating behavior in males in sport contexts.
Errors and Action Monitoring: Errare Humanum Est Sed Corrigere Possibile

It was recognized long ago by Seneca through his famous “errare humanum est.” that the human information processing system is intrinsically fallible. What is newer is the fact that, at least in sensorimotor information processing realized under time pressure, errors are largely dealt with by several (psycho)physiological-specific mechanisms: prevention, detection, inhibition, correction, and, if these mechanisms finally fail, strategic behavioral adjustments following errors. In this article, we review several datasets from laboratory experiments, showing that the human information processing system is well equipped not only to detect and correct errors when they occur but also to detect, inhibit, and correct them even before they fully develop. We argue that these (psycho)physiological mechanisms are important to consider when the brain works in everyday settings in order to render work systems more resilient to human errors and, thus, safer.
The Effect of Berberine on Reproduction and Metabolism in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials

Purpose To assess the efficacy and safety of berberine on reproductive endocrine and metabolic outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods PubMed (from 1950), the Cochrane Library, the CNKI (from 1979), the VIP (from 1989), and the Wanfang Data (from 1990) and the reference lists of the retrieved articles were searched for randomized controlled trials in human beings with the search terms including “polycystic ovary syndrome/PCOS” and “berberine/BBR/Huangliansu (in Chinese)/Xiao bojian (in Chinese)” till 30 May 2019. Relevant indicators were collected and the data were analyzed by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results Eventually, a total of 12 randomized controlled trials were included in this systematic review. Our study suggested that berberine had similar live birth rates compared with placebo or metformin and lower live birth rates (RR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.82) compared with letrozole. There was a significant difference between berberine and placebo and between berberine and no treatment in terms of decreasing total testosterone and luteinizing hormone to follicle-stimulating hormone (LH/FSH) ratio (8 RCTs, 577 participants, MD: −0.34, 95% CI: −0.47 to −0.20; 3 RCTs, 179 participants, MD: −0.44, 95% CI: −0.68 to −0.21, respectively). Berberine was associated with decreasing total cholesterol (3 RCTs, 201 participants; MD: −0.44, 95% CI: −0.60 to −0.29), waist circumference (3 RCTs, 197 participants, MD: −2.74, 95% CI: −4.55 to −0.93), and waist-to-hip ratio (4 RCTs, 258 participants, MD: −0.04, 95% CI: −0.05 to −0.03) compared with metformin, but not with improved BMI (4 RCTs, 262 participants, MD: −0.03, 95% CI: −0.46 to 0.39). Berberine did not increase the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events (3 RCTs, 567 participants, RR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.76 to 1.35) or serious events during pregnancy (RR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.70 to 1.37) compared with placebo. Conclusion This review found no solid evidence that berberine could improve live birth or other clinical outcomes in women with PCOS. However, berberine appeared to be more efficacious for improving insulin resistance and dyslipidemia and decreasing androgen levels and LH/FSH ratio in women with PCOS when compared with metformin.