Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vaccination among HIV-infected, HIV-exposed uninfected and HIV-uninfected children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence related to vaccine efficacy and effectiveness

ABSTRACT Evidence-based approaches were used in making recommendations for vaccination against vaccine-preventable diseases for HIV-infected and HIV-exposed individuals but with limited substantiation. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), cohort and case–control studies that have efficacy and effectiveness of vaccines in HIV-infected and HIV-exposed children as outcomes. Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for articles. Efficacy of 9-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV9) against total vaccine serotype invasive pneumococcal disease was 32% in HIV-infected children and 78% among HIV-uninfected children. Vaccine effectiveness of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin vaccine in preventing tuberculosis in HIV-infected children was zero compared to 59% protection in HIV-unexposed children. Likewise, HIV-uninfected children have better protection against invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b disease than the HIV-infected children. Effectiveness studies of rotavirus vaccines show that HIV-exposed uninfected children have similar protection against rotavirus gastroenteritis compared to the non-exposed children. Children who are severely immunosuppressed are poorly protected against invasive pneumococcal diseases. HIV-infected children tend to have lesser vaccine protection against vaccine-preventable diseases when compared to unexposed children. HIV-infected children who are immunocompetent are more likely to have better vaccine protection against vaccine-preventable diseases than those who are immunosuppressed. The overall quality of the observational studies was very low with very little confidence in the effect estimate. The overall quality of evidence for the RCT outcomes was mainly high. This study reveals a dearth of efficacy and effectiveness studies among HIV-infected and exposed children.
EWOLUTION of Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure to Patients With Contraindication to Oral Anticoagulation.

Oral anticoagulation (OAC) use using vitamin K (VKAs) or a non-VKA is a class I recommendation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) and a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2 for men and ≥3 for women.1 Despite the clinical efficacy, many patients with AF have relative or absolute contraindications for long-term OAC because of perceived risk of major bleeding, poor compliance, and costs. These patients who do not receive OAC remain unprotected and have a significant risk of stroke and systemic thromboembolism. On the contrary, because the left atrial appendage (LAA) has been implicated as the origin for thrombi in >90% of patients with nonvalvular AF, percutaneous LAA closure has evolved into an effective strategy in high stroke risk AF patients that are poor candidates for long-term OAC.2 In the past decade, 2 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including the WATCHMAN device (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, Massachusetts)3,4 and registry experiences with several LAA closure devices have demonstrated excellent safety and efficacy.5–7 A meta-analysis including patient-level data from PROTECT AF (WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Embolic Protection in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) and PREVAIL (Prospective Randomized Evaluation of the WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Versus Long Term Warfarin Therapy) RCTs and their respective registries demonstrated that the WATCHMAN device was noninferior to VKAs for prevention of stroke/systemic thromboembolism, and was associated with a significantly lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke, nonprocedure related major bleeding and mortality at 5-year follow-up.8 However, the above RCTs and registries included patients who were eligible for 6 weeks of VKAs to facilitate device endothelization; accordingly, the WATCHMAN device received regulatory FDA-approval in the United States for use in patients eligible for short-term OAC. This limits this technology in those patients with the highest risk of major bleeding. In contrast, the European Society of Cardiology guidelines recommend the use of percutaneous LAA closure in AF patients with history of prior life-threatening bleeding or contraindications to long-term OAC (Class IIb; Level of Evidence B)9 by using DAPT (aspirin and clopidogrel) in the postprocedural period. Currently, there is no randomized data supporting this recommendation, and the bulk of the evidence comes from single center and multicenter prospective observational registries including the WATCHMAN and Amplatzer occluder device (St Jude Medical, Minneapolis, MN). 5,10–12 The ASAP study (ASA Plavix Feasibility Study With WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Technology) is a multicenter, nonrandomized study that included 150 patients (mean CHA2DS2VASC score 4.4±1.7) with contraindications to OAC who underwent WATCHMAN LAA closure. Postprocedural EDITORIAL
Experiences of Racism and Racial Tensions Among African American Women Impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation in Practice: A Qualitative Study

Barriers faced by Black women when navigating commercial sexual exploitation (CSE)-related services remain understudied. This qualitative study explores (a) Black women’s experiences of racism when accessing services in CSE-related organizations and (b) the existence and manifestation of racial tensions in practice. In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 adult women who traded sex as adults and 20 CSE-related service providers. Findings suggest that Black women perceive preferential treatment given to White women. Racial tensions between women accessing programs were identified, as well as a promising practice of intergroup dialogue groups addressing racism, privilege, and oppression. Implications are discussed.
Structural Variations in LysM Domains of LysM-RLK PsK1 May Result in a Different Effect on Pea–Rhizobial Symbiosis Development

Lysin-motif receptor-like kinase PsK1 is involved in symbiosis initiation and the maintenance of infection thread (IT) growth and bacterial release in pea. We verified PsK1 specificity in relation to the Nod factor structure using k1 and rhizobial mutants. Inoculation with nodO and nodE nodO mutants significantly reduced root hair deformations, curling, and the number of ITs in k1-1 and k1-2 mutants. These results indicated that PsK1 function may depend on Nod factor structures. PsK1 with replacement in kinase domain and PsSYM10 co-production in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves did not induce a hypersensitive response (HR) because of the impossibility of signal transduction into the cell. Replacement of P169S in LysM3 domain of PsK1 disturbed the extracellular domain (ECD) interaction with PsSYM10′s ECD in Y2H system and reduced HR during the co-production of full-length PsK1 and PsSYM0 in N. benthamiana. Lastly, we explored the role of PsK1 in symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi; no significant differences between wild-type plants and k1 mutants were found, suggesting a specific role of PsK1 in legume–rhizobial symbiosis. However, increased sensitivity to a highly aggressive Fusarium culmorum strain was found in k1 mutants compared with the wild type, which requires the further study of the role of PsK1 in immune response regulation.
Evaluation of the eNutri automated personalised nutrition advice by users and nutrition professionals in the UK

Nutrition apps have great potential to support people to improve their diets, but few apps give automated validated personalised nutrition advice. A web app capable of delivering automated personalised food-based nutrition advice (eNutri) was developed. The aims of this study were to i) evaluate and optimise the personalised nutrition report provided by the app and ii) compare the personalised food-based advice with nutrition professionals’ standards to aid validation. A study with nutrition professionals (NP) compared the advice provided by the app against professional Registered Dietitians (RD) (n = 16) and Registered Nutritionists (RN) (n = 16) standards. Each NP received two pre-defined scenarios, comprising an individual’s characteristics and dietary intake based on an analysis of a food frequency questionnaire, along with the nutrition food-based advice that was automatically generated by the app for that individual. NPs were asked to use their professional judgment to consider the scenario, provide their three most relevant recommendations for that individual, then consider the app’s advice and rate their level of agreement via 5-star scales (with 5 as complete agreement). NPs were also asked to comment on the eNutri recommendations, scores generated and overall impression. The mean scores for the appropriateness, relevance and suitability of the eNutri diet messages were 3.5, 3.3 and 3.3 respectively.
The prevalence, characteristics, and determinants of anaemia in newly diagnosed patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Introduction Anaemia is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease, which has a negative impact on quality of life. Aim To determinate the prevalence, risk factors, and aetiology of anaemia in newly diagnosed patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Material and methods: We included 136 newly diagnosed patients with IBD. We analysed patient age, sex, laboratory tests, endoscopic and radiological examination, length of stay, and the course of hospitalisation. Results Anaemia at the time of IBD diagnosis was detected in 89 (65.4%) patients: 51 (57.3%) patients with ulcerative colitis vs. 38 (42.7%) patients with Crohn’s disease; p = 0.052. Female patients were more frequently anaemic than male patients (59.6% vs. 40.4%; p = 0.001). Anaemia was more often diagnosed in Crohn’s disease patients with ileocolonic involvement compared to other types of disease location (70.96% vs. 56.52%, respectively; p = 0.03). The prevalence of anaemia at the time of diagnosis for ulcerative colitis patients increased with disease extension: for extensive colitis anaemia was diagnosed in 64.71% compared to 35.29% in limited extension (p < 0.05). Anaemic patients were hospitalised for significantly longer than patients with no anaemia (7.95 ±3.8 days vs. 5.88 ±2.7 days for Crohn’s disease; p = 0.02 and 9.02 ±5.0 days vs. 5.00 ±2.4 days for ulcerative colitis; p < 0.05). Conclusions Anaemia represents a frequent complication of IBD not only during the long-term course of the disease, but also at the moment of diagnosis. Anaemia is one of the factors extending the time of hospitalisation. Female sex and disease extent are strong determinant factors connected with anaemia.
Sleep Duration is Inversely Associated with Serum Uric Acid Concentrations and Uric Acid to Creatinine Ratio in an Elderly Mediterranean Population at High Cardiovascular Risk

The aim of the study was to evaluate sleep duration and sleep variability in relation to serum uric acid (SUA) concentrations and SUA to creatinine ratio. This is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 1842 elderly participants with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome in the (Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea) PREDIMED-Plus trial. Accelerometry-derived sleep duration and sleep variability were measured. Linear regression models were fitted to examine the aforementioned associations. A 1 hour/night increment in sleep duration was inversely associated with SUA concentrations (β = −0.07, p = 0.047). Further adjustment for leukocytes attenuated this association (p = 0.050). Each 1-hour increment in sleep duration was inversely associated with SUA to creatinine ratio (β = −0.15, p = 0.001). The findings of this study suggest that longer sleep duration is associated with lower SUA concentrations and lower SUA to creatinine ratio.
Fixed Handheld Dynamometry Provides Reliable and Valid Values for Quadriceps Isometric Strength in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND Quadriceps weakness is associated with poor clinical outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, quadriceps isometric strength assessment has not been routinely adopted in clinical practice because of the lack of homogeneity in the devices and protocols and the lack of reliability studies. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study were to determine the test-retest reliability and the criterion validity of a commercially available handheld dynamometer for evaluating the quadriceps isometric maximal voluntary contraction (iMVCquad) using a standardized protocol and to investigate the relationship between iMVCquad and functional capacity in people with COPD. DESIGN This was a prospective, observational, multicenter trial. METHODS Participants with mild to severe COPD from 4 Canadian sites were tested on 2 separate days. Five iMVCquad measurements were obtained following a standardized procedure with a fixed handheld dynamometer (iMVCquad-HHD), and then 5 iMVCquad measurements were obtained with a computerized dynamometer (iMVCquad-CD; the gold standard). Functional capacity was assessed with the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). ICCs, standard errors of measurement, Bland-Altman plots, and Spearman correlation coefficients were used for analyses. RESULTS Sixty-five participants (mean age = 69 years [SD = 8]; forced expiratory volume in 1 second = 48% of predicted value [SD = 21]) completed the study. The mean iMVCquad-HHD values on visits 1 and 2 were 102.7 (SD = 51.6) and 105.6 (SD = 58.8) N·m, respectively; the standard error of measurement was 11.4 N·m. The between-visits ICC for iMVCquad-HHD was 0.95 (95% CI = 0.92-0.97), with a mean bias of 2.0 (Bland-Altman plot). There was a strong correlation between iMVCquad-HHD and iMVCquad-CD (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.86). There was no correlation between iMVCquad-HHD and SPPB total score. LIMITATIONS Participants included had stable COPD with few comorbidities and were more physically active than the general population of people with COPD; results might not be applied to patients with acute exacerbations of the disease or more comorbidities. Assessments' order between handheld and computerized dynamometers has not been randomized but analyses did not highlight any systematic bias nor learning effect. CONCLUSIONS Quadriceps strength assessment can be implemented in a reliable and valid way in people with COPD using a fixed handheld dynamometer and standardized procedure. This protocol should be established in clinical practice to facilitate the assessment of muscle strength in people with COPD.
Interorganellar communication. Altered nuclear gene expression profiles in a yeast mitochondrial DNA mutant

Communication between mitochondria and the nucleus is important for a variety of cellular processes such as carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism, mating and sporulation, and cell growth and morphogenesis. It has long been known that the functional state of mitochondria can influence nuclear gene expression. For example, in yeast cells lacking the mitochondrial genome, the expression of several nuclear genes, such as CIT2 (citrate synthase), MRP13 (mitochondrial ribosomal protein), and DLD3 (d-lactate dehydrogenase) has been reported to be altered. Here we show by microarray analysis of the genome-wide transcription profile of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that yeast petite mutants lacking mitochondrial DNA induce genes coding for mitochondrial proteins, enzymes of the glycolytic pathway and of the citric acid cycle, cell wall components, membrane transporters, and genes normally induced by nutrient deprivation and a variety of stresses. Consistent with the observed induction of genes related to cell stress and those encoding membrane transporters, yeast petite cells showed increased resistance to severe heat shock and exhibited a pleiotropic drug resistance phenotype. The observed changes in nuclear gene expression in cells lacking mitochondrial DNA may have implications for the role of mitochondria in processes such as carcinogenesis and aging.
Características tumorais e sobrevida de cinco anos em pacientes com câncer de mama admitidas no Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Numerous factors have been studied to establish more secure prognostic criteria in breast cancer patients. This study estimates five-year survival rates and principal prognostic factors related to tumor characteristics in women with invasive breast cancer and submitted to surgery at the National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from May 1995 to July 1996. Study variables were: lymph node status, tumor size, aggressiveness grade, and presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors. Survival functions were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meyer method. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate prognostic factors. Five-year survival was 75% for all women and 64% for those with node involvement. Multivariate analyses identified node involvement as the strongest predictor of outcome; a positive estrogen receptor test was associated with a better prognosis. These findings highlight the need for studies to assess new variables to be added to known factors in order to better orient therapy for breast cancer.
Comparative Efficacy of Therapeutics for Chronic Cancer Pain: A Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis

PURPOSE Opioids are the primary choice for managing chronic cancer pain. However, many nonopioid therapies are currently prescribed for chronic cancer pain with little published evidence comparing their efficacy. METHODS Electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing any systemic pharmaceutical intervention and/or combination thereof in treating chronic cancer pain. The primary outcome was global efficacy reported as an odds ratio (OR). The secondary outcome was change in pain intensity reported as a standardized mean difference (SMD). RESULTS We included 81 RCTs consisting of 10,003 patients investigating 11 medication classes. Most RCTs (80%) displayed low risk of bias. The top-ranking classes for global efficacy were nonopioid analgesics (network OR, 0.30; 95% credibility interval [CrI], 0.13 to 0.67), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (network OR, 0.44; 95% CrI, 0.22 to 0.90), and opioids (network OR, 0.49; 95% CrI, 0.27 to 0.86), whereas the top-ranked interventions were lidocaine (network OR, 0.04; 95% CrI, 0.01 to 0.18; surface under the cumulative ranking curve analysis [SUCRA] score, 98.1), codeine plus aspirin (network OR, 0.22; 95% CrI, 0.08 to 0.63; SUCRA score, 81.1), and pregabalin (network OR, 0.29; 95% CrI, 0.08 to 0.92; SUCRA score, 73.8). In terms of reducing pain intensity, we found that no class was superior to placebo, whereas the following top-ranked interventions were superior to placebo: ziconotide (network SMD, −24.98; 95% CrI, −32.62 to −17.35; SUCRA score, 99.8), dezocine (network SMD, −13.56; 95% CrI, −23.37 to −3.69; SUCRA score, 93.5), and diclofenac (network SMD, −11.22; 95% CrI, −15.91 to −5.80; SUCRA score, 92.9). CONCLUSION There are significant differences in efficacy among current regimens for chronic cancer pain. Our evidence suggests that certain nonopioid analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can serve as effectively as opioids in managing chronic cancer pain.
Associations between sounds and actions in early auditory cortex of nonhuman primates

An individual may need to take different actions to the same stimulus in different situations to achieve a given goal. The selection of the appropriate action hinges on the previously learned associations between stimuli, actions, and outcomes in the situations. Here, using a go/no-go paradigm and a symmetrical reward, we show that early auditory cortex of nonhuman primates represents such associations, in both the spiking activity and the local field potentials. Sound-evoked neuronal responses changed with sensorimotor associations shortly after sound onset, and the neuronal responses were largest when the sound signaled that a no-go response was required in a trial to obtain a reward. Our findings suggest that association processes take place in the auditory system and do not necessarily rely on association cortex. Thus, auditory cortex may contribute to a rapid selection of the appropriate motor responses to sounds during goal-directed behavior.
THE ANTECEDENTS, CONSEQUENCES AND MEDIATING ROLE OF ORGANIZATIONAL AMBIDEXTERITY

We investigated contextual organizational ambidexterity, defined as the capacity to simultaneously achieve alignment and adaptability at a business-unit level. Building on the leadership and organization context literatures, we argue that a context characterized by a combination of stretch, discipline, support, and trust facilitates contextual ambidexterity. Further, ambidexterity mediates the relationship between these contextual features and performance. Data collected from 4,195 individuals in 41 business units supported our hypotheses. A recurring theme in a variety of organizational literatures is that successful organizations in a dynamic environment are ambidextrous—aligned and efficient in their management of today’s business demands, while also adaptive enough to changes in the environment that they will still be around tomorrow (Duncan, 1976; Tushman & O’Reilly, 1996). The simple idea behind the value of ambidexterity is that the demands on an organization in its task environment are always to some degree in conflict (for instance, investment in current versus future projects, differentiation versus low-cost production), so there are always trade-offs to be made. Although these trade-offs can never entirely be eliminated, the most successful organizations reconcile them to a large degree, and in so doing enhance their long-term competitiveness. Authors have typically viewed ambidexterity in structural terms. According to Duncan (1976), who first used the term, organizations manage trade-offs between conflicting demands by putting in place “dual structures,” so that certain business units—or groups within business units—focus on alignment, while others focus on adaptation (Duncan, 1976).
Circulating biomarkers in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a serious condition characterized with chronic organized thrombi that obstruct the pulmonary vessels, leading to pulmonary hypertension (PH) and ultimately right heart failure. Although CTEPH is the only form of PH that can be cured with surgical intervention, not all patients with CTEPH will be deemed operable. Some CTEPH patients still have a poor prognosis. Therefore, the determination of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of CTEPH is of great importance for the early intervention to improve prognosis of patients with CTEPH. Several markers related to multiple mechanisms of CTEPH have been recently identified as circulating diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in these patients. However, the existing literature review of biomarkers of CTEPH is relatively sparse. In this article, we review recent advances in circulating biomarkers of CTEPH and describe future applications of these biomarkers in the management of CTEPH.