Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Men and women with chronic insomnia disorder and OSAS: Different responses to CPAP

Objective To evaluate the response to CPAP in patients with chronic insomnia disorder (CID) with OSAS in an unselected patient population including all OSAS severity groups. As a secondary objective, we also wanted to evaluate the differences between patients that improve insomnia symptoms with CPAP and patients that do not improve, specifically evaluating possible gender differences. Methods Retrospective study of patients with a diagnosis of OSAS treated with CPAP and CID at the first clinical visit, selected from a database of an outpatient sleep clinic of University Hospital. Results From a database of total of 827 patient, 90 patients were identified with OSAS and CID (53.3% women). Middle / moderate OSAS was diagnosed in 68.9% and severe OSA in 31.1%. Most patients (61.1%) improved insomnia symptoms after CPAP therapy. In the responders group, 58.2% had initial insomnia, 63.6% middle insomnia and 12.7% late insomnia. Responders to CPAP were more frequently women (women 61.8%, men 38.2%, p = 0.035) and there was no other difference between responders and non-responders. On subgroup analysis, this difference was significant only in severe OSAS (women 88.9%, men 31.6%, p = 0.013). Conclusion In most patients with CID and OSA, there is a consistent reduction of insomnia symptoms with the CPAP use. This factor emphasizes the importance of performing PSG in CID. Insomnia in men with severe OSAS responds less frequently to CPAP suggesting that in these cases the insomnia phenotype is less dependent on the respiratory symptoms.
Nurses’ Assessment of Delirium With Underlying Dementia in End-of-Life Care

Because of physical and metabolic changes during end of life, patients with dementia are very susceptible to develop delirium. The recognition of delirium with underlying dementia can be difficult because of their overlapping behavioral manifestations. Previous studies conducted among nurses caring for patients with delirium have shown that nurses are often not able to detect the presence of delirium using their subjective assessments. This study evaluated the nurses’ ability to subjectively assess for delirium in patients with underlying dementia in end of life. Their findings were compared with the results of objective assessments performed by the researcher using Confusion Assessment Method. In 30 paired assessments, the objective and subjective assessments had the same findings. The remaining 20 paired assessments showed disagreement between the subjective and objective findings. A &kgr; measure of agreement was performed with a result of 0.074 and a significance of P > . 05. This finding indicates no statistically significant agreement between the subjective nursing assessment for delirium and the objective assessment using Confusion Assessment Method. Accurate nursing assessment yields appropriate nursing interventions. The findings of this study support the need for improved subjective nursing assessment for delirium in patients with dementia at the end of life.
Family members' experiences of schizophrenic disorders and violence

This review paper investigated the effects of violence by people with mental health problems. It briefly considered the link between mental illness and violence, before reviewing the literature on the targets of violence from people with mental health problems, concurrently addressing methodological limitations. Family members and/or caregivers are often the victims of violent behaviour from individuals with mental health problems. The effects of this violence were reviewed, integrating findings from the literature on the effects of violent crime on individuals, the effects of domestic violence and the family burden literature. The conclusions drawn referred to the likely individual mental health needs of intrafamilial victims of violence and the possible impact of violence on ongoing familial relationships, whilst highlighting recommendations for future research.
Influence of growth temperature on thermal tolerance of leading foodborne pathogens

Abstract Accurate prediction of the thermal destruction rate of foodborne pathogens is important for food processors to ensure proper food safety. When bacteria are subjected to thermal stress during storage, sublethal stresses and/or thermal acclimation may lead to differences in their subsequent tolerance to thermal treatment. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the thermal tolerance of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enterica, and Staphylococcus aureus that are incubated during overnight growth in tryptic soy broth at four temperatures (15, 25, 35, and 45°C). Following incubation, the bacteria were subjected to thermal treatments at 55, 60, and 65°C. At the end of each treatment time, bacterial survival was quantified and further calculated for the thermal death decimal reduction time (D‐value) and thermal destruction temperature (z‐value) using a linear model for thermal treatment time (min) vs. microbial population (Log CFU/ml) and thermal treatment temperature (°C) vs. D‐value, respectively, for each bacterium. Among the four bacterial species, E. coli generally had longer D‐values and lower z‐values than did other bacteria. Increasing patterns of D‐ and z‐values in Listeria were obtained with the increment of incubation temperatures from 15 to 45°C. The z‐values of Staphylococcus (6.19°C), Salmonella (6.73°C), Listeria (7.10°C), and Listeria (7.26°C) were the highest at 15, 25, 35, and 45°C, respectively. Although further research is needed to validate the findings on food matrix, findings in this study clearly affirm that adaptation of bacteria to certain stresses may reduce the effectiveness of preservation hurdles applied during later stages of food processing and storage.
The Feasibility of Long-Segment Fluoroscopy-guided Percutaneous Thoracic Spine Pedicle Screw Fixation, and the Outcome at Two-year Follow-up

Introduction: Posterior percutaneous instrumentation may represent a challenge when multiple levels need to be instrumentated, especially when including the upper thoracic spine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and the long-term outcome of such long constructs in different surgical conditions. Materials and Methods: This investigation was a retrospective cohort study which included patients who underwent thoraco-lumbar percutaneous fixations. We collected clinical, surgical and radiological data, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Health-related quality-of-life, residual pain, instrumentation placement, and complications were studied. Results: A total of 18 procedures were enrolled, in which 182 screws were implanted, (170 positioned in thoracic and 12 in lumbar pedicles, respectively). No surgical complications or hardware failure occurred in our series, 6 out of 182 (3,2%) screws had a partial pedicle breach, without neurological impairment or need for surgical revision. Conclusion: According to our results, a fully posterior percutaneous approach for long thoraco-lumbar spine instrumentation can be considered safe and reproducible, although an adequate training is strictly required.
Current Landscape of Epigenetics in Lung Cancer: Focus on the Mechanism and Application

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Tumorigenesis involves a multistep process resulting from the interactions of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. Genome-wide association studies and sequencing studies have identified many epigenetic alterations associated with the development of lung cancer. Epigenetic mechanisms, mainly including DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), are heritable and reversible modifications that are involved in some important biological processes and affect cancer hallmarks. We summarize the major epigenetic modifications in lung cancer, focusing on DNA methylation and ncRNAs, their roles in tumorigenesis, and their effects on key signaling pathways. In addition, we describe the clinical application of epigenetic biomarkers in the early diagnosis, prognosis prediction, and oncotherapy of lung cancer. Understanding the epigenetic regulation mechanism of lung cancer can provide a new explanation for tumorigenesis and a new target for the precise treatment of lung cancer.
Effect of fermentation and dry roasting on the nutritional quality and sensory attributes of quinoa

Abstract Background Quinoa is a pseudocereal with relatively high content of proteins and minerals that also contains mineral inhibitors such as phytate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate lactic acid fermentation and dry roasting on the nutritional quality and sensory attributes of quinoa. Various processes were evaluated, and quinoa grains were dry‐roasted, milled, and fermented, either with or without the addition of wheat phytase or activated quinoa phytase (added as back‐slop starter), for 10 hr. In other processes, raw quinoa flour was fermented for 10 hr or 4 hr and dry‐roasted. Hedonic sensory evaluation was then performed to evaluate the acceptability of the fermented flours prepared as porridges. Results The combined dry roasting and fermentation processes significantly (p < .05) degraded phytate between 30% and 73% from initial content. The most effective process was fermentation of raw quinoa flour followed by dry roasting, which improved the estimated zinc and iron bioavailability. Particularly, estimated zinc bioavailability improved from low (Phy:Zn 25.4, Phy·Zn:Ca 295) to moderate (Phy:Zn 7.14, Phy·Zn:Ca 81.5). Phytate degradation was mainly attributed to the activation of endogenous phytase during fermentation. Dry roasting was effective in improving the sensory attributes of the fermented quinoa flour. Porridge made with raw quinoa flour fermented for 4 hr and dry‐roasted was more favorable to overall acceptability than that which was fermented for 10 hr and dry‐roasted. Conclusion Fermentation of quinoa flour for 4 hr followed by dry roasting was successful in improving both nutritional and sensory attributes of the final product.
Arsenic(III) Removal by Nanostructured Dialdehyde Cellulose–Cysteine Microscale and Nanoscale Fibers

Arsenite (As(III)) contamination in drinking water has become a worldwide problem in recent years, which leads to development of various As(III) remediation approaches. In this study, two biomass-based nanostructured materials, microscale dialdehyde cellulose–cysteine (MDAC–cys) and nanoscale dialdehyde cellulose–cysteine (NDAC–cys) fibers, have been prepared from wood pulp. Their As(III) removal efficiencies and mechanism were determined by combined adsorption, atomic fluorescence spectrometry, microscopy (scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy), and spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared, 13C CPMAS NMR) methods. The adsorption results of these materials could be well described by the Freundlich isotherm model, where the maximum adsorption capacities estimated by the Langmuir isotherm model were 344.82 mg/g for MDAC–cys and 357.14 mg/g for NDAC–cys, respectively. Both MDAC–cys and NDAC–cys materials were further characterized by X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis, where the results indicated that the thiol groups (the S content in MDAC–cys was 12.70 and NDAC–cys was 17.15%) on cysteine were primarily responsible for the adsorption process. The nanostructured MDAC–cys system appeared to be more suitable for practical applications because of its high cost-effectiveness.
Age-dependent influence of gender on symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea in adults

Objective Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is linked to classical symptoms of snoring and excessive sleepiness. However, many women with OSA may present with a diverse profile. The influence of age on the clinical differences between genders is unclear. This survey aimed to compare the clinical and polysomnographic findings of OSA between adult males and females, but considering different age groups. Methods This cross-sectional study comprised a sample of 472 consecutive adult patients with OSA who underwent full-night polysomnography. Data from the medical and polysomnographic records was obtained, as well as the score on Portuguese validated version of the Epwoth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Comparisons of main clinical aspects of OSA between genders were stratified according to three groups: young (< 30 years old), middle-aged (30 - 50 y.o.), and older patients (> 50 y.o.). Results Men comprised the majority of the sample (male/female ratio of 1.6). Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) was higher in men than women (median [interquartile range]: 29.7 [18.1-47.8] vs. 21.9 [11.5-36.1]; p < 0.0001), and body mass index alike (mean ± standard deviation: 29.0±4.9 vs. 27.6±5.2; p = 0.004). Snoring was more common in male than in female patients (92% vs. 84.7%; p = 0.015). In the subset of subjects younger than 30 years-old the differences between genders were prominent (male/female; AHI: 19.6 [13.1-28.1] vs. 11.8 [7.7-18.8], p = 0.012; sno ring: 89.7% vs. 55.2%, p = 0.007), accompanied by a trend to lower score in ESS in male patients (7.1 ± 4.3 vs. 9.2 ± 4.3; p = 0.066). Discussion Results suggest that a classical clinical picture of snoring and severe daytime sleepiness is lacking in a considerable proportion of OSA sufferers, particularly young women, who tend to be sleepier than male patients. The awareness of OSA in young women should be based more in mild excessive daily sleepiness than in other typical OSA symptoms.
Hemoglobin E, malaria and natural selection

Abstract It is known that there has been positive natural selection for hemoglobin S and C in humans despite negative health effects, due to its role in malaria resistance. However, it is not well understood, if there has been natural selection for hemoglobin E (HbE), which is a common variant in Southeast Asia. Therefore, we reviewed previous studies and discussed the potential role of natural selection in the prevalence of HbE. Our review shows that in vitro studies, evolutionary genetics studies and epidemiologic studies largely support an involvement of natural selection in the evolution of HbE and a protective role of HbE against malaria infection. However, the evidence is inconsistent, provided from different regions, and insufficient to perform an aggregated analysis such as a meta-analysis. In addition, few candidate gene, genome-wide association or epistasis studies, which have been made possible with the use of big data in the post-genomic era, have investigated HbE. The biological pathways linking HbE and malaria infection have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore, further research is necessary before it can be concluded that there was positive natural selection for HbE due to protection against malaria. Lay summary: Our review shows that evidence largely supports an involvement of natural selection in the evolution of HbE and a protective role of HbE against malaria. However, the evidence is not consistent. Further research is necessary before it is concluded.
Sleep in adolescence: sex matters?

Objective Sleep is of upmost importance for everybody and especially for adolescents who face life and leisure challenges that may impair their sleep. This study aimed to verify if girls are at a higher risk to present sleep problems and if associations of a sleep perception are different between sexes even when accounting for biological maturation. Methods Data is from the HBSC Portuguese survey 2014, all variables were self-reported. Participants were 3869 adolescents (2057 girls), mean age 14.8 years. Participants' socio-demographic characteristics included sex, age, school grade, father and mother education; besides participants were inquired about sleep duration and characteristics of their sleep quality. Results Sleep deprivation was reported by 13.1% of the adolescents (girls 14.3%, boys 11.7%, p <0.05). The most prevalent characteristics of poor sleep quality were waking up tired (50.8%) and difficulties falling asleep (19.5%), for both girls presented higher prevalence than boys. Overall, girls presented a poorer sleep health with low quality and quantity of sleep. Furthermore, associations of an enough and good sleep were different between boys and girls, even when controlling for the impact of delayed pubertal maturity. Discussion Together with screen time, substance use, poorer nutrition, sedentary behaviours and abuse of screen time, sleep is an issue that must be addressed by professionals, families and public policies with impact in family life and family routines. Modelling a health education in schools should include the sleep topic. In addition, yes, sex matters and must be included on board.
Effects of encapsulated rosemary extract on oxidative and microbiological stability of beef meat during refrigerated storage

Abstract In this study, the effect of rosemary extract in two free and encapsulated forms to increase the shelf life of beef meat during a 28‐day refrigerated storage period was investigated. For this purpose, rosemary was extracted using different extraction methods including ultrasound, solvent, and supercritical fluid extraction. The amount of phenolic compounds, antioxidant properties (free radical scavenging capacity of DPPH radical, ferric reducing antioxidant power), and antimicrobial activity of rosemary extract against pathogenic bacteria were evaluated. According to the results, the highest amount of phenolic compounds, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activity was observed in rosemary extracted by ultrasound method that used for next study (p < .05). In order to encapsulation of the rosemary extract, basil seed gum and soybean protein isolate separately and in combination form (1:1 w:w ratio) were used as carriers. Based on the particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency tests, the best carriers were soybean protein isolate that used as a carrier for encapsulation. Then, to investigate the effect of rosemary extract to increase the shelf life of beef meat, 5 treatments including control, rosemary extract with concentrations of 800 ppm and 1,600 ppm, and nano‐capsulation form of it with 800 ppm and 1,600 ppm concentrations were selected and they were periodically evaluated for chemical and microbial analysis (peroxide value, Thiobarbituric acid, color index, pH, and total viable count). The results showed that rosemary extract has an antimicrobial and antioxidant properties which could increasingly delay microbial spoilage and lipid oxidation of beef meat fillets, nano‐capsulation form of rosemary could increase these qualities. The best results were observed in nano‐capsulation of rosemary extract with 1,600 ppm (p < .05) as well as increased the shelf life of fillets till 21st day. Therefore, it seems that encapsulated rosemary extract could be used as a natural preservative in beef meat and meat products.
Pharmacokinetics of bumetanide, lorazepam and clofibric acid in cynomolgus monkeys and baboons

The pharmacokinetics of three unrelated compounds, bumetanide (a diuretic), lorazepam (an anxiolytic) and clofibric acid (an antihyperlipidaemic agent), were investigated in two species of non-human primates commonly used in risk assessment studies. Each of the three drug substances used was independently administered at each of three dose levels, the lowest selected to correspond with the human therapeutic dose (normalised for body weight) and the highest, at ten times the therapeutic dose, selected to approximate to a dose level which might be used during chronic toxicity tests. By use of three dose levels, it was possible to assess whether any non-linear changes in pharmacokinetics occurred between "pseudo-therapeutic" dose levels and those likely to be used during risk assessment studies. Two routes of administration, intravenous and oral, were used at each dose level, the former to establish the basic pharmacokinetics of each compound, the latter to assess the absorption characteristics of the drugs and the systemic availability after oral dosing. Sensitive and specific highperformance liquid chromatographic assays were developed for the quantitative measurement of the compounds of interest. In both the cynomolgus monkey and the baboon, the pharmacokinetics -1 of bumetanide was linear over the dose range examined (O.03-0.3Omg.kg ) after either intravenous or oral administration. The pharmacokinetics -1 of lorazepam (dose range O.05-0.50mg.kg ) was also linesr after intravenous dosing, but the extent of bioavailability after oral administration was non-linear. The pharmacokinetics of clofibric acid (dose range 15-150mg.kg-l ) was non-linear (dose-dependent) by either route of administration. The pharmacokinetics of the three drug substances in the two non-human primate species investigsted were compared with published pharmacokinetic data for these compounds in other animal species, including man. The use of the non-human primate as a "predictive model" for the pharmacokinetics of these compounds in humans is considered in relation to these comparative data and the role of "toxicokinetics" in the design and interpretation of toxicity studies during safety evaluation of drugs is discussed.
Topical Brimonidine or Intravitreal BDNF, CNTF, or bFGF Protect Cones Against Phototoxicity

Purpose To develop a focal photoreceptor degeneration model by blue light-emitting diode (LED)-induced phototoxicity (LIP) and investigate the protective effects of topical brimonidine (BMD) or intravitreal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Methods In anesthetized, dark-adapted, adult female Swiss mice, the left eye was dilated and exposed to blue light (10 seconds, 200 lux). After LIP, full-field electroretinograms (ERG) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were obtained longitudinally, and reactive-Iba-1+monocytic cells, TUNEL+ cells and S-opsin+ cone outer segments were examined up to 7 days. Left eyes were treated topically with BMD (1%) or vehicle, before or right after LIP, or intravitreally with BDNF (2.5 μg), CNTF (0.2 μg), bFGF (0.5 μg), or corresponding vehicle right after LIP. At 7 days, S-opsin+ cone outer segments were counted within predetermined fixed-size areas (PFA) centered on the lesion in both flattened retinas. Results SD-OCT showed a circular region in the superior-temporal left retina with progressive thinning (207.9 ± 5.6 μm to 160.7 ± 6.8 μm [7 days], n = 8), increasing TUNEL+ cells (peak at 3 days), decreasing S-opsin+ cone outer segments, and strong microglia activation. ERGs were normal by 3 days. Total S-opsin+ cones in the PFA for LIP-treated and fellow-retinas were 2330 ± 262 and 5601 ± 583 (n = 8), respectively. All neuroprotectants (n = 7–11), including topical BMD pre- or post-LIP, or intravitreal BDNF, CNTF, and bFGF, showed significantly greater S-opsin+ cone survival than their corresponding vehicle-treated groups. Conclusions LIP is a reliable, quantifiable focal photoreceptor degeneration model. Topical BMD or intravitreal BDNF, CNTF, or bFGF protect against LIP-induced cone-photoreceptor loss. Translational Relevance Topical BMD or intravitreal BDNF, CNTF, or bFGF protect cones against phototoxicity.