Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mosquito species associated with horses in Madagascar: a review of their vector status with regard to the epidemiology of West Nile fever

In Madagascar, the high West Nile virus (WNV) antibody prevalence reported in horse populations suggests a high level of vector‐horse contact. This study aims to characterize the mosquito species usually involved in WNV transmission in horse stables in Madagascar. Five horse stables were investigated in October and November 2016 in five distinct inland areas. Mosquitoes were collected using double net traps baited with human, poultry or horse as well as light traps. Blood meal identification from engorged females was performed using host‐specific PCRs. A total of 2898 adult mosquitoes were collected with Culex (Culex) antennatus (Becker) (40.7%), and Cx. (Cux.) quinquefasciatus Say (14.9%), being the most abundant species. The mosquito abundance varied between horse stables (P < 10−7) and depending on the bait used in the double net traps (P < 0.003). Among the 190 tested blood meals, 119 consisted of single blood meals with 85 from horse, 17 from human, 16 from chicken, one from cattle and 71 consisted of mixed blood meals. The mosquito species collected during this study exhibited a generalist feeding behaviour allowing them to act as bridge vectors between different vertebrate hosts involved in WNV transmission cycle. Their vector status with regard to West Nile fever epidemiology is reviewed.
REtrospective Multicenter INdian Study of Derivo Embolization Device (REMIND): Periprocedural Safety

Purpose The treatment of aneurysms with characteristics such as complex morphology, fusiform, blister-like, wide neck, or large size has been revolutionized with the introduction of flow diverters. Though flow diverters have several advantages over coiling, they also have certain important disadvantages such as the lack of immediate protection against rupture, the risk of ischemic stroke, the need for antiplatelet therapy, and long latency for complete effect. The Derivo Embolization Device (DED) is a second-generation self-expanding device that is claimed to be less thrombogenic than conventional devices. We retrospectively evaluated the periprocedural safety and risks associated with the DED across 5 centers in India. Materials and Methods This is a multicentric, retrospective, observational study of DED, conducted at 5 high volume endovascular therapy centers in India from May 2018 to June 2020. Periprocedural demographic, clinical, and angiographic data were collected from a retrospective review of patient charts. Results A total of 96 patients, including 56 (58.3%) females, aged between 16–80 years (60±12.7 years) harboring 106 aneurysms were studied. Seven (7.3%) were noted to harbor multiple aneurysms: 6 had 3 aneurysms each, while 1 patient had 5 aneurysms. The following aneurysm characteristics were noted: average size, 9.8±8.2 mm; average neck size, 6.9±8.5 mm; wide-necked (>4 mm), 63 (59.4%); giant (>25 mm), 8 (7.5%); and anterior circulation location, 98 (92.5%). Eighteen (17%) of these were ruptured. Additional balloon angioplasty was performed in 5 (5.2%) patients. Intraprocedural problems were encountered in 3 (3.1%), of which only 1 had clinical implications, the device fish-mouthing with stent thrombosis resulting in a malignant middle cerebral artery territory infarction. The modified Rankin scale at 3 months was worse in 1 patient. Conclusion DED is a newer generation flow diverter stent with a low periprocedural complication rate.
Initial experience with three-dimensional heads-up display system for cataract surgery – A comparative study

Purpose: To compare the complication rates, surgical time and learning curve using the 3-D Heads up display system in comparison with the conventional microscope for routine cataract surgery. Methods: Consecutive consenting adults with uncomplicated cataract were offered phacoemulsification using the 3-D Heads up display system (ARTEVO 800 Carl Zeiss Meditec) or the conventional microscope (Zeiss Lumera 700) by two experienced surgeons. Surgical time, measured from start of corneal incision to removal of microscope from the surgical field and complication rates were compared between the groups. Results: Of the 343 eyes enrolled, 100 (29%) underwent surgery using the 3-D Heads up display system. The surgical time for 3-D Heads up display system was significantly higher in the 3-D group (8.4 ± 2.1 vs. 6.5 ± 1.8 minutes, P < 0.001). There were no group differences in surgical complications (2% in 3-D vs. 2.5% in conventional microscope, P = 0.28). Comparing across 4 quartiles within the 3-D group, the mean surgical time was slightly higher during the 1st quartile (n = 25, 9.1 ± 1.9 minutes) compared to the last quartile (n = 25, 8.2 ± 1.9 minutes) (p = 0.17). Complications in the 3-D group occurred only in the initial 50% of cases. Seven (7%) cases in the 3-D group were converted to conventional binocular microscope of which 3 each were due to difficulty in depth perception and low illumination while one was due to intraoperative pupillary constriction. Conclusion: Phacoemulsification with the 3-D Heads up display system takes longer time but offers excellent visualization, ergonomics and safety compared to conventional microscopes. Experienced surgeons should be able to adapt easily after their first 50 surgeries.
Acute SARS-CoV-2 infections harbor limited within-host diversity and transmit via tight transmission bottlenecks

The emergence of divergent SARS-CoV-2 lineages has raised concern that novel variants eliciting immune escape or the ability to displace circulating lineages could emerge within individual hosts. Though growing evidence suggests that novel variants arise during prolonged infections, most infections are acute. Understanding how efficiently variants emerge and transmit among acutely-infected hosts is therefore critical for predicting the pace of long-term SARS-CoV-2 evolution. To characterize how within-host diversity is generated and propagated, we combine extensive laboratory and bioinformatic controls with metrics of within- and between-host diversity to 133 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from acutely-infected individuals. We find that within-host diversity is low and transmission bottlenecks are narrow, with very few viruses founding most infections. Within-host variants are rarely transmitted, even among individuals within the same household, and are rarely detected along phylogenetically linked infections in the broader community. These findings suggest that most variation generated within-host is lost during transmission.
A case of pediatric psoriasis successfully and rapidly treated with ixekizumab

Dear Editor, Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory, and relapsing disease which affects 1% of children and adolescents and whose onset before 20 years of age occurs in 35%–50% of patients. Even in childhood, moderate-to-severe psoriasis is associated with increased incidence of multiple comorbidities such as psoriatic arthritis, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases, and reduced health related quality of life. Due to the lack of clinical trials, therapeutic options in pediatric psoriasis are limited. Particularly, conventional systemic treatments are approved only after 18 years of age while phototherapy is timeconsuming showing logistic concerns. Biologics represent the only officially approved systemic drugs for moderate-to-severe pediatric psoriasis. Etanercept (anti-TNF-α), ustekinumab (anti IL12/23), secukinumab, and ixekizumab (anti IL17A) have been approved in patients ≥6 years of age while adalimumab (anti TNF-α) has been approved in patients aged ≥4. Particularly, in Italy anti-IL17 and ustekinumab are still waiting reimbursement from the National Health System for pediatric psoriasis. A 17-years-old male presented with a 12-year history of plaque psoriasis also involving the scalp, palms, and genitals [psoriasis area severity index (PASI): 21, body surface area (BSA): 38%, Figure 1A,B]. Clinical lesions were associated with severe pain and discomfort which impaired daily activities and social relationships. Family history of psoriasis was positive. He did not take any drugs nor suffered from other diseases. His failed treatment history was wide: topical agents (0.05% clobetasol propionate), 16 weeks of oral cyclosporine (2.5 mg/kg/day) at the age of 9 years and 24 weeks of nb-UVB therapy when he was 10 years. Subsequently, the patient started etanercept at the age of 11 years that provided adequate efficacy for 104 weeks when he (at the age of 13 years) was switched to adalimumab for loss of PASI75 response. After an initial optimal response, almost 2 years thereafter, nb-UVB therapy was added to adalimumab for psoriasis worsening without any significant results for 24 weeks. Similar outcomes were observed for the addition of methotrexate (10 mg/weekly) for 3 months. Finally, ixekizumab was started due to disease severity (PASI:21), the huge impact on quality of life, the involvement of difficult to treat areas (scalp, palms, and genital area), and previous failure of all available conventional and biologic systemic treatments for pediatric psoriasis. We observed a complete skin clearance after only 4 weeks of treatment together with a huge improvement in quality of life and skin symptoms (PASI; 0, BSA 0%, Figure 1C,D); these results were maintained up to the last follow up at 24 weeks of treatment. To date in literature, there is only one PHASE III study on ixekizumab for pediatric psoriasis, which demonstrated PASI75 response in 89% at 12 weeks and PASI90 at week 48 in 78%. Our case seems to confirm ixekizumab rapidity of action in pediatric psoriasis as observed in
The emotion word fluency test as an embedded performance validity indicator – Alone and in a multivariate validity composite

Abstract Objective This project was designed to cross-validate existing performance validity cutoffs embedded within measures of verbal fluency (FAS and animals) and develop new ones for the Emotion Word Fluency Test (EWFT), a novel measure of category fluency. Method The classification accuracy of the verbal fluency tests was examined in two samples (70 cognitively healthy university students and 52 clinical patients) against psychometrically defined criterion measures. Results A demographically adjusted T-score of ≤31 on the FAS was specific (.88–.97) to noncredible responding in both samples. Animals T ≤ 29 achieved high specificity (.90–.93) among students at . 27–. 38 sensitivity. A more conservative cutoff (T ≤ 27) was needed in the patient sample for a similar combination of sensitivity (.24–.45) and specificity (.87–.93). An EWFT raw score ≤5 was highly specific (.94–.97) but insensitive (.10–.18) to invalid performance. Failing multiple cutoffs improved specificity (.90–1.00) at variable sensitivity (.19–.45). Conclusions Results help resolve the inconsistency in previous reports, and confirm the overall utility of existing verbal fluency tests as embedded validity indicators. Multivariate models of performance validity assessment are superior to single indicators. The clinical utility and limitations of the EWFT as a novel measure are discussed.
Embolization Tactics of Spinal Epidural Arteriovenous Fistulas

Purpose Spinal epidural arteriovenous fistulas (SEDAVFs) show an epidural venous sac often with venous congestive myelopathy (VCM) due to intradural reflux at a remote level to which a transarterial approach would be difficult. We present 12 cases of SEDAVF with VCM and describe 3 main tactics for effective transarterial embolization. Materials and Methods Among 152 patients with spinal vascular malformations diagnosed in our tertiary hospital between 1993 and 2019, 12 SEDAVF patients with VCM were included. Three different transarterial embolization tactics were applied according to the vascular configuration and microcatheter accessibility. We evaluated treatment results and clinical outcomes before and after treatment. Results Transarterial embolization with glue (20–30%) was performed in all patients. The embolization tactics applied in 12 patients were preferential flow (n=2), plug-and-push (n=6), and filling of the venous sac (n=4). Total occlusion of the SEDAVF, including intradural reflux, was achieved in 11 (91.7%) of 12 patients, and partial occlusion was achieved in 1 patient. No periprocedural complications were reported. Spinal cord edema was improved in all patients for an average of 18 months after treatment. Clinical functional outcome in terms of the pain, sensory, motor, and sphincter scale and modified Rankin scores improved during a mean 25-month follow-up (6.3 vs. 3.3, P=0.002; 3.6 vs. 2.3, P=0.002, respectively). Conclusion Endovascular treatment for 12 SEDAVF patients with VCM achieved a total occlusion rate of 91.7% without any periprocedural complication. The combined embolization tactics can block intradural reflux causing VCM, resulting in overall good clinical outcomes.
Effectiveness of Convalescent Plasma Therapy in Severe or Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a novel respiratory infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); there are few specific treatments. Convalescent plasma (CP), donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19, is an investigational therapy for severe or critically ill patients with COVID-19. Materials and Methods This retrospective cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of CP therapy in patients with severe or life-threatening cases of COVID-19 at two hospitals in Seoul, Korea, between May and September 2020. Clinical outcomes were evaluated in 20 patients with CP therapy in a descriptive manner. Additionally, the changes in cycle threshold (Ct) values of 10 patients with CP therapy were compared to those of 10 controls who had the same (±0.8) initial Ct values but did not receive CP. Results Of the 20 patients (mean age 66.6 years), 18 received high-dose oxygen therapy using mechanical ventilators or high-flow nasal cannulas. Systemic steroids were administered to 19 patients who received CP. The neutralizing antibody titers of the administered CP were between 1:80 and 1:10240. There were two ABO-mismatched transfusions. The World Health Organization ordinal scale score and National Institutes of Health severity score improved in half of the patients within 14 days. Those who received CP showed a higher increase in Ct values at 24 h and 72 h after CP therapy compared to controls with similar initial Ct values (p=0.002). No transfusion-related side effects were observed. Conclusion CP therapy may be a potential therapeutic option in severe or critically ill patients with COVID-19.
Tapentadol and oxycodone reduce cingulate glutamate in healthy volunteers

Tapentadol and oxycodone are commonly used analgesics. Preclinical studies have shown that oxycodone modulates brain metabolites related to opioid pathways, whereas tapentadol also affects noradrenergic activity. However, knowledge about the function of the medications in the human brain is limited. The aim was to investigate effects of tapentadol and oxycodone on brain glutamate, the most important neurotransmitter in pain processing. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was obtained in 21 healthy subjects from the anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex, and insula at baseline and after 14 days of treatment with either 50 mg tapentadol, 10 mg oxycodone (equipotent dose, both extended release) or placebo twice daily in a randomized double‐blind cross‐over study. Compared to baseline, decreased glutamate/creatine levels were identified in anterior cingulate cortex after tapentadol (1.26 ± 0.14 vs. 1.35 ± 0.18, P = .04) and oxycodone (1.26 ± 0.10 vs. 1.35 ± 0.12, P = .05) treatments, both with 7% reduction. This indicates that both analgesics modulate the glutamatergic system at the supraspinal level in humans.
Voluntary exercise prevents abnormal muscle mitochondrial morphology in cancer cachexia mice

This study aimed to examine the effects of voluntary wheel running on cancer cachexia‐induced mitochondrial alterations in mouse skeletal muscle. Mice bearing colon 26 adenocarcinoma (C26) were used as a model of cancer cachexia. C26 mice showed a lower gastrocnemius and plantaris muscle weight, but 4 weeks of voluntary exercise rescued these changes. Further, voluntary exercise attenuated observed declines in the levels of oxidative phosphorylation proteins and activities of citrate synthase and cytochrome c oxidase in the skeletal muscle of C26 mice. Among mitochondrial morphology regulatory proteins, mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) and dynamin‐related protein 1 (Drp1) were decreased in the skeletal muscle of C26 mice, but exercise resulted in similar improvements as seen in markers of mitochondrial content. In isolated mitochondria, 4‐hydroxynonenal and protein carbonyls were elevated in C26 mice, but exercise blunted the increases in these markers of oxidative stress. In addition, electron microscopy revealed that exercise alleviated the observed increase in the percentage of damaged mitochondria in C26 mice. These results suggest that voluntary exercise effectively counteracts mitochondrial dysfunction to mitigate muscle loss in cachexia.
Is there still a role of nephrectomy in management of emphysematous pyelonephritis in today's era?

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) refers to a necrotizing gas-forming infection of the renal parenchyma, the urinary tract system, and perirenal tissue and is most commonly seen in patients with poor glycemic control. In the present issue of the journal, Gite et al[1] have published a retrospective single-center study focusing on the outcomes of a multi-disciplinary approach in the management of EPN. The authors have concluded that their approach, prioritizing renal preservation through conservative management and stepwise renal decompression not only resulted in improved patient outcomes but also reduced the traditional morbidity and mortality associated with early nephrectomy. [1]
Comparison of Suicides Among Younger and Older Adolescents in Virginia, 2008–2017*

Abstract Objective: Suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth and is of public health importance. Characteristics and precipitating circumstances may differ by adolescent age groups. Understanding these differences may inform prevention efforts that are population-specific. Therefore, we sought to compare suicides between younger and older adolescents in Virginia from 2008 to 2017. Methods: We used data from the Virginia Violent Death Reporting System (VVDRS), part of the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS). We included suicides of all adolescents aged 10–17 who were residents of Virginia from 2008 to 2017. Descriptive statistics and unadjusted logistic regression were used to compare characteristics and circumstances between younger (10–14) and older (15–17) adolescents. Results: Three hundred and 24 (324) adolescents died by suicide between 2008 and 2017 in Virginia, of which 20% were younger adolescents, and 80% were older adolescents. Suicides of younger adolescents increased significantly over the 10-year period. Younger adolescent suicides seemed to occur after a crisis, while suicides among older adolescents occurred due to intimate partner problems and substance use. Mental health issues were common in both. Conclusions: Suicides may be more impulsive among younger adolescents and warrants further attention, while strategies to cope with intimate partner problems and substance use may be important for older adolescents and should be considered when implementing services and interventions. HIGHLIGHTS Impulsivity may be an issue among younger adolescents. Strategies for relationship and substance use issues may benefit older adolescents. Targeted interventions may be necessary for younger and older adolescents.
Economic Abuse of Palestinian Mothers in Israel: The Case of Participants in a Welfare-to-Work Program

Focusing on Palestinian mothers in Israel participating in a nonmandatory welfare-to-work program, the study addresses whether these women experience economic abuse from their intimate partner/ex-partner, as well as whether they perceive the program as an opportunity to escape economic abuse and move toward economic independence. Based on interviews of 26 mothers and three trainers, the findings revealed dual economic abuse: in the domestic sphere and at the structural level (the labor market and welfare laws). The findings also suggest that the assistance the women receive from the welfare-to-work program has been insufficient to extricate them from their abusive situation.
Interpretation and evolution of open-circuit voltage, recombination, ideality factor and subgap defect states during reversible light-soaking and irreversible degradation of perovskite solar cells

Metal halide perovskite absorber materials are about to emerge as a high-efficiency photovoltaic technology. At the same time, they are suitable for high-throughput manufacturing characterized by a low energy input and abundant low-cost materials. However, a further optimization of their efficiency, stability and reliability demands a more detailed optoelectronic characterization and understanding of losses including their evolution with time. In this work, we analyze perovskite solar cells with different architectures (planar, mesoporous, HTL-free), employing temperature dependent measurements (current–voltage, light intensity, electroluminescence) of the ideality factor to identify dominating recombination processes that limit the open-circuit voltage (Voc). We find that in thoroughly-optimized, high-Voc (≈1.2 V) devices recombination prevails through defects in the perovskite. On the other hand, irreversible degradation at elevated temperature is caused by the introduction of broad tail states originating from an external source (e.g. metal electrode). Light-soaking is another effect decreasing performance, though reversibly. Based on FTPS measurements, this degradation is attributed to the generation of surface defects becoming a new source of non-radiative recombination. We conclude that improving long-term stability needs to focus on adjacent layers, whereas a further optimization of efficiency of top-performing devices requires understanding of the defect physics of the nanocrystalline perovskite absorber. Finally, our work provides guidelines for the design of further dedicated studies to correctly interpret the diode ideality factor and decrease recombination losses.
Autoimmune complications of COVID‐19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is still propagating a year after the start of the pandemic. Besides the complications patients face during the COVID‐19 disease period, there is an accumulating body of evidence concerning the late‐onset complications of COVID‐19, of which autoimmune manifestations have attracted remarkable attention from the first months of the pandemic. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune thyroid diseases, Kawasaki disease, Guillain‐Barre syndrome, and the detection of autoantibodies are the cues to the discovery of the potential of COVID‐19 in inducing autoimmunity. Clarification of the pathophysiology of COVID‐19 injuries to the host, whether it is direct viral injury or autoimmunity, could help to develop appropriate treatment.