Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor Level as a Marker of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Children With Severe Dengue

Dengue induced-hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is increasingly recognized as an important cause of secondary HLH. Early identification of dengue HLH and directed therapy for HLH may help to alter the outcomes in critically ill patients. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (IL2R) is a useful inflammatory marker and is seen to correlate with HLH disease activity. There is scarcity of data on IL2R in pediatric dengue patients with HLH. All patients (age < 18 years) with severe dengue confirmed by positive dengue IgM ELISA admitted to PICU were retrospectively enrolled. Patientswere screened for presence of HLH according to HLH 2004 criteria. Hemogram, ferritin, fibrinogen, liver, and renal function tests were noted. Patients who met four or more HLH criteria were treated with steroids and IL2R levels were sent to confirm the diagnosis of HLH. Out of 15 patients, nine patients met the criteria of HLH. IL2R levels were high in all HLH patients (mean 51,711, range 18,000–98,715 pg/mL). Mean ferritin levels were high in the HLH group as compared to non-HLH group (mean ferritin 34,593 vs. 3,206 ng/mL; p-value 0.004). Liver dysfunction was notably higher in the HLH group compared to non-HLH group (mean alanine aminotransferase 6,621 U/L vs. 165.6 U/L; p-value 0.04, mean aspartate aminotransferase 2,145 U/L vs. 104.2 U/L; 0.04, bilirubin level 4.2 mg/dL vs. 0.7 mg/dL; p-value 0.03). Four patients in the HLH group had acute kidney injury (AKI) and two required renal replacement therapy in the form of sustained low efficiency dialysis (SLED). Requirement for invasive ventilation was exclusively seen in HLH group and three patients developed ARDS. Two patients each in HLH and non-HLH group had shock requiring vasoactive therapy in addition to fluids. Mean days of ICU and hospital stay were higher in HLH group vs. non-HLH group but not statistically significant (6.4 vs. 4.4; p-value 0.32 and 8.44 vs. 5.6; p-value 0.18 days, respectively). All children in HLH group received steroids as per HLH protocol. In the HLH group, seven survived while two died. In the non-HLH group, all five patients survived. We concluded that IL2R levels are high in dengue HLH and useful for definitive diagnosis. Early recognition of this condition in severe dengue and prompt steroid therapy improves chances of better outcome.
Periodontal Inflammation and Systemic Diseases: An Overview

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease of infectious origins that often evolves into a chronic condition. Aside from its importance as a stomatologic ailment, chronic periodontitis has gained relevance since it has been shown that it can develop into a systemic condition characterized by unresolved hyper-inflammation, disruption of the innate and adaptive immune system, dysbiosis of the oral, gut and other location's microbiota and other system-wide alterations that may cause, coexist or aggravate other health issues associated to elevated morbi-mortality. The relationships between the infectious, immune, inflammatory, and systemic features of periodontitis and its many related diseases are far from being fully understood and are indeed still debated. However, to date, a large body of evidence on the different biological, clinical, and policy-enabling sources of information, is available. The aim of the present work is to summarize many of these sources of information and contextualize them under a systemic inflammation framework that may set the basis to an integral vision, useful for basic, clinical, and therapeutic goals.
Daily Stress and Behavioral Problems in Chinese Children: The Moderating Roles of Family Functioning and the Classroom Environment

Grounded in the stress-coping model, our study examined family functioning and the classroom environment as protective factors in the relationship between daily stress and behavioral problems in Chinese children. The participants were 1,450 children (51.7% male, Mage = 10.91 years, SD = 0.96) in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades at five schools. The children completed the questionnaires measuring daily stress, family functioning, and the classroom environment. Additionally, their parents rated their behavioral problems. The latent moderated structural (LMS) equation approach was used to test moderator effects. After controlling for sex and grade, our results indicate that daily stress positively predicted the children’s behavioral problems. Both family functioning and the classroom environment moderated the relationship between daily stress and behavioral problems. Further assessment of latent interaction effects indicate that buffering effects on behavioral problems were most prominent in conditions involving low stress. In sum, families and schools should not ignore children’s minor stressors, as interventions involving family functioning and favorable classroom environments may help to reduce behavioral problems in children who report low levels of daily stress.
Super Rice With High Sink Activities Has Superior Adaptability to Low Filling Stage Temperature

To investigate the differential responses of super rice grain filling to low filling stage temperature (LT) and the regulative effect of nitrogen panicle fertilizer (NPF), physiological and molecular experiments were conducted with two super rice varieties (Nanjing 7th: N7 and Nanjing 9108th: N9108) on two different filling stage temperature treatments implemented by applying two sowing dates [Normal filling stage temperature (CK): Sowed on May 30, Tmean = 24.7°C and low filling stage temperature (LT): Sowed on July 1, Tmean = 20.3°C], and two NPF levels (0 and 150 kg N ha−1). In this study, LT, NPF, and simultaneous LT and NPF treatments suppressed the grain filling in all varieties with different levels. Under LT or NPF treatments, the reduction of grain weight, seed setting rate, and filling rate were closely associated with suppressed starch biosynthesis rate in inferior seeds, suggesting that reduced starch biosynthesis rate, expression, and activities of enzymes encoded by related genes, Floury endosperm-4 (FLO4), Starch branching enzyme-I (SBE1), and Starch phosphorylase-L (PHO-l), were responsible for the grain filling reduction. Under LT or NPF treatments, significantly higher grain filling rates and lower variance were found in N9108 compared to that in N7, which were closely related to their higher starch biosynthesis ability, related gene expression, and enzymes activities. One of the probable explanations of the grain filling difference was the variation in the relative amount of key regulative hormones, Abscisic acid (ABA) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). These results raise a possibility that super rice with higher sink activities has superior adaptability to LT and NPF due to their higher sink activities.
Invigorating Prescribed Fire Science Through Improved Reporting Practices

Interest in prescribed fire science has grown over the past few decades due to the increasing application of prescribed fire by managers to mitigate wildfire hazards, restore biodiversity, and improve ecosystem resilience. Numerous ecological disciplines use prescribed fire experiments to provide land managers with evidence-based information to support prescribed fire management. Documenting variation in the context and conditions during prescribed fire experimental treatments is critical for management inference, but inconsistencies in reporting critical experimental details can complicate interpretation. Such details are needed to provide ecological and empirical context for data, facilitate experimental replication, enable meta-analyses, and maximize utility for other scientists and practitioners. To evaluate reporting quality in the recent literature, we reviewed 219 prescribed fire experiments from 16 countries published in 11 refereed journals over the last 5 years. Our results suggest substantial shortcomings in the reporting of critical data that compromise the utility of this research. Few studies had specific information on burning conditions such as fuel moisture (22%), quantitative fuel loads (36%), fire weather (53%), and fire behavior (30%). Further, our analysis revealed that 63% of the studies provided precise coordinates for their study area, while 30% of studies indicated the prescribed fire date. Only 54% of the studies provided descriptions of the ignition characteristics. Given these common deficiencies, we suggest minimum reporting standards for future prescribed fire experiments. These standards could be applied to journal author guidelines, directed to researchers and reviewers by the editor, and promoted in the education of fire ecologists. Establishing reporting standards will increase the quality, applicability, and reproducibility of prescribed fire science, facilitate future research syntheses, and foster actionable science.
Large Amino Acid Mimicking Selenium-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots for Multi-Target Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease

Multi-target intervention and synergistic treatment are critical for the drug development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) due to its complex and multifactional nature. Oxidative stress and amyloid β peptides (Aβ) accumulation have been recognized as therapeutic targets for AD. Herein, with ability to inhibit Aβ aggregation and the broad-spectrum antioxidant properties, the large amino acid mimicking selenium-doped carbon quantum dots (SeCQDs) are presented as novel nanoagents for multi-target therapy of AD. Compared with the precursor, selenocystine, SeCQDs which maintain the intrinsic properties of both selenium and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) possess good biocompatibility and a remarkable ROS-scavenging activity. Moreover, the functionalized α-carboxyl and amino groups on edge of SeCQDs can trigger multivalent interactions with Aβ, leading to the ability of SeCQDs to inhibit Aβ aggregation. In vivo study demonstrated that SeCQDs can significantly ameliorate the Aβ induced memory deficits, reduce Aβ accumulation and inhibit neuron degeneration in AD model rats. The versatility of functionalization and potential ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) make SeCQDs as prospective nanodrugs for treating AD.
On the Use and Interpretation of Areola/Nipple Retention as a Biomarker for Anti-androgenic Effects in Rat Toxicity Studies

Areola/nipple retention (NR) is an established biomarker for an anti-androgenic mode of action in rat toxicity studies. It is a mandatory measurement under several OECD test guidelines and is typically assessed in combination with anogenital distance (AGD). Both NR and AGD are considered retrospective biomarkers of insufficient androgen signaling during the masculinization programming window in male fetuses. However, there are still aspects concerning NR as a biomarker for endocrine disruption that remains to be clarified. For instance, can NR be regarded a permanent adverse effect? Is it a redundant measurement if AGD is assessed in the same study? Is NR equally sensitive and specific to anti-androgenic chemical substances as a shortening of male AGD? In this review we discuss these and other aspects concerning the use of NR as a biomarker in toxicity studies. We have collected available literature from rat toxicity studies that have reported on NR and synthesized the data in order to draw a clearer picture about the sensitivity and specificity of NR as an effect biomarker for an anti-androgenic mode of action, including comparisons to AGD measurements. We carefully conclude that NR and AGD in rats for the most part display similar sensitivity and specificity, but that there are clear exceptions which support the continued assessment of both endpoints in relevant reproductive toxicity studies. Available literature also support the view that NR in infant male rats signifies a high risk for permanent nipples in adulthood. Finally, the literature suggests that the mechanisms of action leading from a chemical stressor event to either NR or short AGD in male offspring are overlapping with respect to canonical androgen signaling, yet differ with respect to other mechanisms of action.
Executive Function and Self-Regulation: Bi-Directional Longitudinal Associations and Prediction of Early Academic Skills

Despite a tendency to study executive function (EF) and self-regulation (SR) separately, parallel lines of research suggest considerable overlap between the two abilities. Specifically, both show similar developmental trajectories (i.e., develop rapidly in the early years), predict a broad range of overlapping outcomes across the lifespan (e.g., academic success, mental and physical health, and social competence), and have overlapping neural substrates (e.g., prefrontal cortex). While theoretical frameworks diverge in how they reconcile EF and SR – ranging from treating the two as functionally synonymous, to viewing them as related yet distinct abilities – there is no consensus and limited empirical evidence on the nature of their relationship and how this extends developmentally. The current study examined bi-directional longitudinal associations between early EF and SR, and their longitudinal associations with subsequent early academic skills, in a sample of 199 3- to 5-year-old pre-school children. The adopted measures permitted EF and SR to be modelled as composite indices for these analyses, thereby decreasing task-specific components of these associations. Early academic skills were captured by a standardized direct assessment. Bi-directional associations between EF and SR were found, with both accounting for unique variance in early academic skills 7 and 19months later. The current results provide important evidence to distinguish between EF and SR abilities, yet also for their reciprocal influence in situ and across early development.
Skeletal Muscle Adaptations to Exercise Training in Young and Aged Horses

In aged humans, low-intensity exercise increases mitochondrial density, function and oxidative capacity, decreases the prevalence of hybrid fibers, and increases lean muscle mass, but these adaptations have not been studied in aged horses. Effects of age and exercise training on muscle fiber type and size, satellite cell abundance, and mitochondrial volume density (citrate synthase activity; CS), function (cytochrome c oxidase activity; CCO), and integrative (per mg tissue) and intrinsic (per unit CS) oxidative capacities were evaluated in skeletal muscle from aged (n = 9; 22 ± 5 yr) and yearling (n = 8; 9.7 ± 0.7 mo) horses. Muscle was collected from the gluteus medius (GM) and triceps brachii at wk 0, 8, and 12 of exercise training. Data were analyzed using linear models with age, training, muscle, and all interactions as fixed effects. At wk 0, aged horses exhibited a lower percentage of type IIx (p = 0.0006) and greater percentage of hybrid IIa/x fibers (p = 0.002) in the GM, less satellite cells per type II fiber (p = 0.03), lesser integrative and intrinsic (p ≤ 0.04) CCO activities, lesser integrative oxidative phosphorylation capacity with complex I (PCI; p = 0.02) and maximal electron transfer system capacity (ECI+II; p = 0.06), and greater intrinsic PCI, ECI+II, and electron transfer system capacity with complex II (ECII; p ≤ 0.05) than young horses. The percentage of type IIx fibers increased (p < 0.0001) and of type IIa/x fibers decreased (p = 0.001) in the GM, and the number of satellite cells per type II fiber increased (p = 0.0006) in aged horses following exercise training. Conversely, the percentage of type IIa/x fibers increased (p ≤ 0.01) and of type IIx fibers decreased (p ≤ 0.002) in young horses. Integrative maximal oxidative capacity (p ≤ 0.02), ECI+II (p ≤ 0.07), and ECII (p = 0.0003) increased for both age groups from wk 0 to 12. Following exercise training, aged horses had a greater percentage of IIx (p ≤ 0.002) and lesser percentage of IIa/x fibers (p ≤ 0.07), and more satellite cells per type II fiber (p = 0.08) than young horses, but sustained lesser integrative and intrinsic CCO activities (p ≤ 0.04) and greater intrinsic PCI, ECI+II, and ECII (p ≤ 0.05). Exercise improved mitochondrial measures in young and aged horses; however, aged horses showed impaired mitochondrial function and differences in adaptation to exercise training.
The Rate and Risk Factors of Postpartum Depression in Vietnam From 2010 to 2020: A Literature Review

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is commonly seen in women after birth and can lead to adverse effects on both the health of mothers and child(ren) development. In Vietnam, there have been a number of studies examining the rate and risk factors of PPD, but none has provided a systematic review. Aim: This current literature review aims to summarize and synthesize the current state of knowledge of studies conducted in Vietnam to provide a comprehensive understanding of the PPD phenomena during the last 10 years. Data Sources: A literature search was conducted relying on the most common online databases—MEDLINE/PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, which included articles if they (i) examined prevalence or risk factors of PPD; (ii) were conducted among Vietnamese participants using either quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method, and (iii) were published from 2010 to 2020. After the filtering process, 18 articles were eligible to be reviewed. Results: Research studies in Vietnam on PPD are conducted among women at and after 1-month delivery. The rate of PPD reported in Vietnam among mothers at postnatal time points from 1 to 12 months ranged from 8.2 to 48.1%. Risk factors can be clustered into three groups: personal factors, family factors, and environmental factors. Recommendation: Further research studies should focus on examining PPD at an earlier stage within the first month after birth. The investigation of risk factors in a comprehensive manner for Vietnamese mothers would also be recommended.
Mediating Effect of Work Stress on the Associations Between Psychological Job Demands, Social Approval, and Workplace Violence Among Health Care Workers in Sichuan Province of China

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of workplace violence against health care workers, to explore the combined association of work stress, psychological job demands, and social approval with workplace violence and their respective mechanisms among health care workers. Methods: Using data from the Chinese Sixth National Health Service Survey (NHSS) in 2018 conducted among 1,371 health care workers in Sichuan province of China. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data on health care workers' socio-demographic and work-related characteristics, work stress, psychological job demands, social approval, and workplace violence. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized relationship among the variables. Results: The results showed that a total of 77.0% health care workers were exposed to workplace violence. Work stress was directly related to workplace violence (β = 2.167, 95%CI: 1.707, 2.627), while psychological job demands and social approval had indirect associations with workplace violence via work stress [β = 0.427, 95%CI: 0.297, 0.557; β = −0.787, 95%CI: (−0.941)–(−0.633)]. Both psychological job demands (β = 0.197, 95%CI: 0.139, 0.255) and social approval [β = −0.346, 95%CI: (−0.399)–(−0.294)] had direct associations with work stress, while social approval had direct association with psychological job demands [β = −0.085, 95%CI: (−0.136)–(−0.034)]. Psychological job demands mediated the relationship between social approval and work stress. Conclusion: Overall, decreasing workplace violence among health care workers requires to promote interventions to reduce work stress and psychological job demands by improving social approval.
Assessment of Therapeutic Response to Statin Therapy in Patients With Intracranial or Extracranial Carotid Atherosclerosis by Vessel Wall MRI: A Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis

Background and Aims: Statin therapy is an essential component of cardiovascular preventive care. In recent years, various vessel wall MRI (VW-MRI) techniques have been used to monitor atherosclerosis progression or regression in patients with extracranial or intracranial large-artery atherosclerosis. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of statin therapy on plaque evolution as assessed by VW-MRI. Materials and Methods: Prospective studies investigating carotid and intracranial atherosclerotic plaques in patients on statin therapy monitored by serial VW-MRI were systematically identified in the literature. The plaque burden and lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) volume of carotid plaque and the imaging features of intracranial plaques were extracted and summarized. For studies investigating carotid artery wall volume and LRNC volume, combined estimates were derived by meta-analysis. Results: The study identified 21 studies of carotid plaque and two studies of intracranial plaque. While 16 studies investigating carotid plaques that included 780 patients by High-resolution VW-MRI were included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant change in carotid wall volume from baseline to 12 months. A significant change in LRNC volume was observed at > 12 months compared with baseline (Effect = −10.69, 95% CI = −19.11, −2.28, P < 0.01), while no significant change in LRNC volume at 3–6 months or 7–12 months after statin therapy initiation in 6 studies. Increases in fibrous tissue and calcium and reduction in neovascularization density of the plaque were seen in 2/3 studies (including 48/59 patients), 1/3 studies (including 17/54 patients), and 2/2 studies (including 71 patients) after statin therapy, respectively. Two studies with 257 patients in intracranial atherosclerosis showed that statins could effectively decrease wall volume and plaque enhancement volume. Conclusions: Collective data indicated that statins could potentially stabilize carotid plaques by significantly reducing LRNC with 1 year of therapy as shown on serial carotid VW-MRI. There was no significant decrease in wall volume, which nonetheless indicated that plaque composition changes might be more sensitive to response monitoring than wall volume. It is likely that more sensitive, clinically relevant, and preferably quantitative indicators of therapeutic effects on intracranial vessel plaque morphology will be developed in the future.