Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short-term results of a phase II study of preoperative docetaxel/cisplatin/S-1 therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer

Abstract Background A multi-institutional phase II study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 therapy in marginally resectable advanced gastric cancer. Methods Patients with macroscopic type 4, large macroscopic type 3 and bulky lymph node metastasis received two cycles of preoperative docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 therapy (docetaxel 40 mg/m2 and cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 1, and S-1 80 mg/m2 for 14 days, every 4 weeks). The primary endpoint was the pathological response rate, with an expected value of 65%. Results Thirty-one patients were enrolled in this study. The pathological response rate was 54.8%, and it was higher than the threshold value but lower than the expected rate. The R0 resection rate was 93.5%. The frequencies of grade 3–4 toxicities during docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 therapy were 41.9% for neutropenia, 6.5% for febrile neutropenia and 32.3% for nausea/vomiting. Grade 2 and 3 surgical morbidities occurred in 23.3 and 6.7% of the patients, respectively. Conclusions Preoperative docetaxel, cisplatin and S-1 therapy was feasible in terms of chemotherapy-related toxicities and surgical morbidity, but the effect did not achieve the expected value. The association between the pathological response rate and survival will be evaluated in the final analysis of this clinical trial.
Water Diffusion Coefficients of Selected Legumes Grown in Turkey As Affected by Temperature and Variety

The kinetics of water absorption by chickpeas (Kocbasi, Kusbasi), lentils (green Pul) and beans (Battal, Dermason, Horoz, Şeker) grown in Turkey were studied by a gravimetric method during soaking at 15, 25 and 40oC to determine moisture diffusivity of these selected legumes. The water diffusion coefficients of the legumes were in the range 9.71x10-11 - 5.98x10-10 m2/s for the chickpeas, 3.53x10-10 - 1.33x10-9 m2/s for the lentils and 4.35x10-11 - 3.79x10-9 m2/s for the beans. An Arrhenius-type equation described the strong temperature effect on the diffusion coefficient with activation energies of 48.6-49.8 kJ/g-mol for chickpeas, 39.7 kJ/g-mol for lentils, and 33.6-50.8 kJ/g-mol for beans. It was shown that a satisfactory prediction of water absorption during soaking of the selected legumes was possible by using the analytical solutions to Fick's law of diffusion.
Omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and hypertension: a review of vasodilatory mechanisms of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid

Hypertension is often characterised by impaired vasodilation involving dysfunction of multiple vasodilatory mechanisms. ω‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) can reduce blood pressure and vasodilation. In the endothelium, DHA and EPA improve function including increased NO bioavailability. However, animal studies show that DHA‐ and EPA‐mediated vasodilation persists after endothelial removal, indicating a role for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The vasodilatory effects of ω‐3 PUFAs on VSMCs are mediated via opening of large conductance calcium‐activated potassium channels (BKCa), ATP‐sensitive potassium channels (KATP) and possibly members of the Kv7 family of voltage‐activated potassium channels, resulting in hyperpolarisation and relaxation. ω‐3 PUFA actions on BKCa and voltage‐gated ion channels involve electrostatic interactions that are dependent on the polyunsaturated acyl tail, cis‐geometry of these double bonds and negative charge of the carboxyl headgroup. This suggests structural manipulation of ω‐3 PUFA could generate novel, targeted, therapeutic leads.
Association Between Prehospital Tranexamic Acid Administration and Outcomes of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Importance The development and expansion of intracranial hematoma are associated with adverse outcomes. Use of tranexamic acid might limit intracranial hematoma formation, but its association with outcomes of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is unclear. Objective To assess whether prehospital administration of tranexamic acid is associated with mortality and functional outcomes in a group of patients with severe TBI. Design, Setting, and Participants This multicenter cohort study is an analysis of prospectively collected observational data from the Brain Injury: Prehospital Registry of Outcome, Treatments and Epidemiology of Cerebral Trauma (BRAIN-PROTECT) study in the Netherlands. Patients treated for suspected severe TBI by the Dutch Helicopter Emergency Medical Services between February 2012 and December 2017 were included. Patients were followed up for 1 year after inclusion. Data were analyzed from January 10, 2020, to September 10, 2020. Exposures Administration of tranexamic acid during prehospital treatment. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included mortality at 1 year, functional neurological recovery at discharge (measured by Glasgow Outcome Scale), and length of hospital stay. Data were also collected on demographic factors, preinjury medical condition, injury characteristics, operational characteristics, and prehospital vital parameters. Results A total of 1827 patients were analyzed, of whom 1283 (70%) were male individuals and the median (interquartile range) age was 45 (23-65) years. In the unadjusted analysis, higher 30-day mortality was observed in patients who received prehospital tranexamic acid (odds ratio [OR], 1.34; 95% CI, 1.16-1.55; P < .001), compared with patients who did not receive prehospital tranexamic acid. After adjustment for confounders, no association between prehospital administration of tranexamic acid and mortality was found across the entire cohort of patients. However, a substantial increase in the odds of 30-day mortality persisted in patients with severe isolated TBI who received prehospital tranexamic acid (OR, 4.49; 95% CI, 1.57-12.87; P = .005) and after multiple imputations (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.22-3.45; P = .007). Conclusions and Relevance This study found that prehospital tranexamic acid administration was associated with increased mortality in patients with isolated severe TBI, suggesting the judicious use of the drug when no evidence for extracranial hemorrhage is present.
The pharmacological management of cardiovascular disease in people living with HIV (PLWH)

ABSTARCT Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be an essential cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus infection (PLWH). Since the bulk of cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors are shared between PLWH and the general population, prevention and treatment strategies are similar. However, there are CVR factors particular to PLWH, which need separate consideration. These factors are those HIV-dependent, those related to HIV-derived consequences, and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-dependent. Areas covered: In this review, the authors discuss the management of CVD in PLWH, with a special interest in pharmacological treatment and drug-drug interactions with cART. Expert opinion: In recent years, we have witnessed a decreased CVD morbidity and mortality in PLWH, which probably reflects an improvement in the management of CVR factors and CVD in these patients, partially thanks to new developments in antiretroviral therapy. Therefore, although there is still room for improvement, at present, the old desideratum of equaling PLWH and the general population in terms of CVD incidence and prognosis is a little closer.
Untangling the association of amyloid-β and tau with synaptic and axonal loss in Alzheimer’s disease

See Jagust (doi:10.1093/brain/awaa402) for a scientific commentary on this article. Pereira et al. show that synaptic damage occurs in earlier stages of Alzheimer’s disease and is associated with amyloid pathology, memory impairment and functional connectivity changes, whereas tau-related axonal damage occurs later and is associated with global cognitive decline and reduced anatomical connectivity.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FECAL CALPROTECTIN AND OTHER IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS IN DIARRHEAL CHILDREN INFECTED WITH ENTAMOEBA HISTOLYTICA AND PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN THI-QAR PROVINCE, IRAQ

Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of illness and death in infants and children throughout the world. The present study amid to measure Fecal calprotectin (FC) and other immunological parameters as total and deferential WBC count, C-R reactive protein and ESR in diarrheal children under five years old infected with Entamoeba histolytica and pathogenic bacteria in Thi-Qar province. The study carried from November 2018 to April 2019, stool samples collected from 614 diarrheal children attending into Bint Al-Huda teaching hospital for children and women and Al-Mousawi hospital. The stool samples of patients infected with E. histolytica were cultured and tested by Fecal calprotectin (FC), Blood samples were tested for some hematological tests (CRP, ESR, WBC, RBC, PLT, Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC). The result showed 100 out of 614 (16.4%) of stool samples from patients under five years suffer from diarrhea were infected with E. histolytica, 27 samples of patients infected with E. histolytica only. While E. histolytica and pathogenic bacteria were detected on 73 samples including: E. histolytica and Salmonella on 24 samples followed by E.histolytica and Shigella on 18 samples. No significant differences recorded between Fecal Calprotectin levels for male and female patients who infected with E. histolytica only or with E. histolytica and pathogenic bacteria. Most male and female patients with diarrhea in current study had positive CRP result with prevalence 76%. A significant increase recorded in (ESR, WBC, RBC, PLT, Hb, HCT) for male and female patients with diarrhea in current study when compared with control.
Neural Basis of Semantically Dependent and Independent Cross-Modal Boosts on the Attentional Blink.

The present study recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) in a visual object-recognition task under the attentional blink paradigm to explore the temporal dynamics of the cross-modal boost on attentional blink and whether this auditory benefit would be modulated by semantic congruency between T2 and the simultaneous sound. Behaviorally, the present study showed that not only a semantically congruent but also a semantically incongruent sound improved T2 discrimination during the attentional blink interval, whereas the enhancement was larger for the congruent sound. The ERP results revealed that the behavioral improvements induced by both the semantically congruent and incongruent sounds were closely associated with an early cross-modal interaction on the occipital N195 (192-228 ms). In contrast, the lower T2 accuracy for the incongruent than congruent condition was accompanied by a larger late occurring cento-parietal N440 (424-448 ms). These findings suggest that the cross-modal boost on attentional blink is hierarchical: the task-irrelevant but simultaneous sound, irrespective of its semantic relevance, firstly enables T2 to escape the attentional blink via cross-modally strengthening the early stage of visual object-recognition processing, whereas the semantic conflict of the sound begins to interfere with visual awareness only at a later stage when the representation of visual object is extracted.
An Affordable, User-friendly Telerehabilitation System Assembled Using Existing Technologies for Individuals Isolated With COVID-19: Development and Feasibility Study

Background Isolation due to a COVID-19 infection can limit activities and cause physical and mental decline, especially in older adults and people with disabilities. However, due to limited contact, adequate rehabilitation is difficult to provide for quarantined patients. Telerehabilitation technology could be a solution; however, issues specific to COVID-19 should be taken into consideration, such as strict quarantine and respiratory symptoms, as well as accessibility to deal with rapid increases in need due to the pandemic. Objective This study aims to develop and to investigate the feasibility of a telerehabilitation system for patients who are quarantined due to COVID-19 by combining existing commercial devices and computer applications. Methods A multidisciplinary team has identified the requirements for a telerehabilitation system for COVID-19 and developed the system to satisfy those requirements. In the subsequent feasibility study, patients diagnosed with COVID-19 (N=10; mean age 60 years, SD 18 years) were included. A single session of telerehabilitation consisted of stretching exercises, a 15-minute exercise program, and a video exercise program conducted under real-time guidance by a physical therapist through a video call. The system included a tablet computer, a pulse oximeter, videoconferencing software, and remote control software. The feasibility of the system was evaluated using the Telemedicine Satisfaction Questionnaire (TSQ; 14 items) and an additional questionnaire on the telerehabilitation system (5 items). Each item was rated from “1 = strongly disagree” to “5 = strongly agree. ” Results The telerehabilitation system was developed by combining existing devices and applications, including a pulse oximeter and remote control mechanism, to achieve user-friendliness, affordability, and safety, which were determined as the system requirements. In the feasibility study, 9 out of 10 patients were able to use the telerehabilitation system without any on-site help. On the TSQ, the mean score for each item was 4.7 (SD 0.7), and in the additional items regarding telerehabilitation, the mean score for each item was 4.3 (SD 1.0). Conclusions These findings support the feasibility of this simple telerehabilitation system in quarantined patients with COVID-19, encouraging further investigation on the merit of the system’s use in clinical practice.
Tracing the Genetic Legacy of the Tibetan Empire in the Balti

Abstract The rise and expansion of Tibetan Empire in the 7th to 9th centuries AD affected the course of history across East Eurasia, but the genetic impact of Tibetans on surrounding populations remains undefined. We sequenced 60 genomes for four populations from Pakistan and Tajikistan to explore their demographic history. We showed that the genomes of Balti people from Baltistan comprised 22.6–26% Tibetan ancestry. We inferred a single admixture event and dated it to about 39–21 generations ago, a period that postdated the conquest of Baltistan by the ancient Tibetan Empire. The analyses of mitochondrial DNA, Y, and X chromosome data indicated that both ancient Tibetan males and females were involved in the male-biased dispersal. Given the fact that the Balti people adopted Tibetan language and culture in history, our study suggested the impact of Tibetan Empire on Baltistan involved dominant cultural and minor demic diffusion.
Inclusive research and social determinants of health: two critical concepts at the forefront of furthering our understanding of COVID-19's impact on sleep and resilience.

Inclusive research and social determinants of health: 2 critical concepts at the forefront of furthering our understanding of COVID-19’s impact on sleep and resilience Commentary on Conroy DA, Hadler NL, Cho E, et al. The effects of COVID-19 stay-at-home order on sleep, health, and working patterns: a survey study of US health care workers. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(2):185–191. doi:10.5664/jcsm.8808
Spectrophotometric and kinetics investigation of the Berthelot reaction for the determination of ammonia

An investigation of the mechanism of the Berthelot reaction has led to an increased understanding of the many conflicts in the literature concerning the reaction's use for the analytical determination of ammonia. Monochloramine is shown to be the first intermediate, and the kinetics of its formation and decomposition are presented. The identical visible spectra obtained for a series of indophenols synthesized in the course of this research and the blue complexes formed when phenol or a substituted phenol was used in the Berthelot reaction confirmed that indophenol is the final product of the reaction. Conditions which lead to the formation of final products other than indophenol have been observed and are also discussed. The role and identity of the ''catalyst'' for the Berthelot reaction are examined in detail. Finally, a new procedure for ammonia analysis which is superior in both sensitivity and precision to the other published procedures is presented.
Reconciling aerosol generation data with actual rates of infection data

1. Gwinnutt C.Measuring R0.Anaesthesia 2021;76 (Suppl 3): 26. 2. Pandit JJ. Managing the R0 of COVID-19: mathematics fights back.Anaesthesia 2020;75: 1643–7. 3. Breban R, Vardavas R, Blower S. Theory versus data: how to calculate R0? PLoSOne 2007;2: e282. 4. Delamater PL, Street EJ, Leslie TF, Yang YT, Jacobsen KH. Complexity of the basic reproduction number (R0). Emerging InfectiousDiseases 2019;25: 1–4. 5. Adam D. A guide to R the pandemic’s misunderstood metric. Nature 2020;583: 346–8.
THE STUDY OF THE EXTRACTION DYNAMICS OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE SUBSTANCES FROM THE BIDENS TRIPARTITA L. HERB AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF THE OBTAINED EXTRACTS

The interest to study the genus Bidens and in particular Bidens tripartita L. (bur-marigold herb) is unmitigated due to its antioxidant, anti-allergic, antimicrobial, antifungal, hepatoprotective, immunostimulating and hypotensive activity. This pharmacological activities are determined by the presence of flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, polysaccharides, components of essential oils, polyacetylenes, etc. The aim of the research was to study the process of extracting various biologically active substances (polysaccharides, flavonoids, polyphenols) from bur-marigold herb with water-alcohol mixtures of various concentrations, to study their component composition, as well as to evaluate their effect on the oxidative effect of free radicals. Materials and methods. The object of the research was the herb of Bidens tripartita L. Raw materials were collected and procured on the territory of Kharkiv, Zhytomyr and Poltava regions of Ukraine. All used methods for the quantitative determination of biologically active substances were pharmacopeial and described in various monographs in the European Pharmacopoeia and State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine. Results. The extracts of the bur-marigold herb were analyzed for the content of the extractable matter, flavonoids, polysaccharides and it was found that they are maximally extracted (about 80 %) in the 1st percolate with a drug/solvent ratio of 1:10 for all the extractants. It was found that with an increase of ethanol concentration in the extraction mixture, the content of polyphenols and flavonoids, is expectedly increased, as well as the value of the antioxidant activity of the corresponding extracts, but the amount of extracted polysaccharides is significantly reduced. Conclusions. With the selected evaluation criteria, it was found that 40 % ethanol is optimal from the point of view of balanced extraction of flavonoids, polysaccharides and polyphenols. A strong positive and statistically significant correlation was found between the content of polyphenols in the obtained extracts and their antioxidant activity (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = 0.9998), slightly weaker for flavonoids (r = 0.9886), and an inverse correlation between polysaccharides content and TEAC-value.
Paediatric COVID-19: Milder Presentation—A Silver Lining in Dark Cloud

Abstract Objective To assess the clinico-epidemiological profile of paediatric patients with Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection during the pandemic. Methods Clinico-epidemiological and laboratory profile of children between 1 month and 14 years were studied between 15 May and 31 July 2020, who had positive nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results A total of 30 children with median age of 10.5 years (8 months to 14 years) were included in the present study. Sixty percent were boys. Twenty-seven (90%) belonged to an urban area and all 30 children were from a containment area. All were belonging to Kuppuswamy upper lower and lower socioeconomic class. Twenty-one (70%) were asymptomatic. All children had a positive household contact. Symptomatic children had only mild symptoms of fever, dry cough and rhinitis. All were fully vaccinated as per age. Nine (30%) had anaemia. The mean leucocyte count was 7470 ± 2427 (4300–14 100). Leucocytosis was seen in 3 (9%) children. C-reactive protein was found to be raised in only 4 (13%) children. We did not find alteration in sense of smell and taste. No mortality was reported. Conclusion COVID-19 in paediatric patients is usually mild. Severe acute respiratory infection is not a major manifestation of COVID 19 infection in children. All children infected by the novel Corona virus-2 in this study, have a documented household contact.
Public behaviour in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: understanding the role of group processes

Background In the absence of a vaccine, behaviour by the public is key to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, as with other types of crises and emergencies, there have been doubts about the extent to which the public are able to engage effectively with the required behaviour. These doubts are based on outdated models of group psychology. Aims and argument We analyse the role of group processes in the COVID-19 pandemic in three domains: recognition of threat, adherence by the public to the required public health behaviours (and the factors that increase such adherence) and actions of the many community mutual aid groups that arose during lockdown. In each case, we draw upon the accumulated research on behaviour in emergencies and disasters, as well as the latest findings in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, to show that explanations in terms of social identity processes make better sense of the patterns of evidence than alternative explanations. Conclusions If behaviour in the pandemic is a function of mutable group processes rather than fixed tendencies, then behavioural change is possible. There was evidence of significant change in behaviour from the public, particularly in the early days of the pandemic. Understanding the role of group processes means we can help design more effective interventions to support collective resilience in the public in the face of the pandemic and other threats. We draw out from the evidence a set of recommendations on facilitating the public response to COVID-19 by harnessing group processes.
The chemistry and development of tannin-based adhesives for exterior plywood

Condensed tannins are phenolic in nature and undergo reaction with formaldehyde to form resins. Tannin/formaldehyde condensates tend to have a low degree of condensation resulting in bonds lacking strength and water resistance. Small amounts of short-length phenol/resorcinol/formaldehyde, phenol/formaldehyde, and urea/formaldehyde polymers are used to increase the degree of polymerization of tannin-formaldehyde resins, decreasing brittleness and increasing water resistance. Furfural is used to plasticize tannin/formaldehyde resins to improve the distribution of stress forces on the glueline, overcoming weakness due to stress concentration. Exterior plywood panels were prepared using these modified tannin/formaldehyde resins as adhesives. The modified tannin/formaldehyde adhesives perform well, have similar characteristics to and are as easy to use as phenol/formaldehyde adhesives, and also have a few advantages, especially tolerance to faster pressing times.