Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nutritional value of a new source of fermented soybean meal fed to growing pigs.

Three experiments were conducted to test the hypothesis that the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA), concentrations of digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME), and the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of P in a new source of fermented soybean meal (Fermex 200) are greater than in conventional soybean meal (SBM-CV). In Exp. 1, 9 barrows (initial body weight: 9.17 ± 1.03 kg) were surgically fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and allotted to a triplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design. A nitrogen-free diet and 2 diets that contained cornstarch and SBM-CV or Fermex 200 as the sole source of crude protein (CP) and AA were formulated. Results indicated that there were no difference between SBM-CV and Fermex 200 for SID of CP and AA. In Exp. 2, 24 growing pigs (initial body weight: 14.19 ± 1.18 kg) were housed individually in metabolism crates. Pigs were allotted to a corn-based diet or 2 diets that contained corn and SBM-CV or corn and Fermex 200. Feces and urine samples were collected using the marker to marker approach with 5-d adaptation and 4-d collection periods. Results indicated that the concentration of DE and ME in Fermex 200 were not different from DE and ME in SBM-CV. In Exp. 3, 40 barrows (initial body weight: 11.01 ± 1.38 kg) were allotted to 1 of 4 diets with 10 replicate pigs per diet. Four diets were formulated to contain Fermex 200 or SBM-CV and either 0 or 1,000 units/kg of microbial phytase. Pigs were housed individually in metabolism crates. Fecal samples were collected as explained for Exp. 2. Results indicated that the STTD of P in Fermex 200 was greater (P < 0.01) than in SBM-CV, but addition of microbial phytase to the diets increased the ATTD and STTD of P in SBM-CV, but not in Fermex 200 (interaction; P < 0.01). In conclusion, the SID of AA and concentrations of DE and ME in Fermex 200 were not different from values determined for SBM-CV, but the STTD of P was greater in Fermex 200 than in SBM-CV if microbial phytase was not added to the diet.
Circulating Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule‐1 and Incident Heart Failure: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Background Serum levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) are reflective of endothelial activation. Although VCAM‐1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), the prospective association of VCAM‐1 with development of clinically overt heart failure (HF) across ejection fraction categories is unclear. Methods and Results In MESA (the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis), we evaluated the association of VCAM‐1 at examination 2 (2002–2004) with incident HF (HFpEF and HF with reduced ejection fraction) after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Incident HF was independently adjudicated as first hospitalization for symptomatic HF. Among 2297 participants (mean age, 63 years; women, 53%), those with higher VCAM‐1 were more likely to be White race, had higher blood pressure, and had lower kidney function. Over a median of 14.4 years, there were 102 HF events (HFpEF=65; HF with reduced ejection fraction=37). After covariate adjustment, each doubling of VCAM‐1 was associated with incident HF (hazard ratio [HR], 1.94; 95% CI, 1.17–3.23; P=0.01). This association appeared stronger among current/former smokers compared with never smokers. On evaluation of HF subtypes, VCAM‐1 was associated with incident HFpEF (HR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.04–3.72; P=0.04) but not with incident HF with reduced ejection fraction, although risk estimates were consistent (HR, 1.82; 95% CI, 0.79–4.21; P=0.16). Conclusions In a multiethnic cohort, VCAM‐1 was significantly associated with incident HF over long‐term follow‐up. These findings suggest a potential role for endothelial activation in driving clinical HF, and specifically HFpEF. Therapies that decrease endothelial activation may prevent the progression from cardiovascular risk factors to clinical HF.
Single-cell multiomic profiling of human lungs reveals cell-type-specific and age-dynamic control of SARS-CoV2 host genes

Respiratory failure associated with COVID-19 has placed focus on the lungs. Here, we present single-nucleus accessible chromatin profiles of 90,980 nuclei and matched single-nucleus transcriptomes of 46,500 nuclei in non-diseased lungs from donors of ~30 weeks gestation,~3 years and ~30 years. We mapped candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) and linked them to putative target genes. We identified distal cCREs with age-increased activity linked to SARS-CoV-2 host entry gene TMPRSS2 in alveolar type 2 cells, which had immune regulatory signatures and harbored variants associated with respiratory traits. At the 3p21.31 COVID-19 risk locus, a candidate variant overlapped a distal cCRE linked to SLC6A20, a gene expressed in alveolar cells and with known functional association with the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2. Our findings provide insight into regulatory logic underlying genes implicated in COVID-19 in individual lung cell types across age. More broadly, these datasets will facilitate interpretation of risk loci for lung diseases.
Prenatal and postnatal diagnosis of Schuurs‐Hoeijmakers syndrome: Case series and review of the literature

Schuurs‐Hoeijmakers syndrome (SHS) is a rare syndrome involving a de novo variant in the PACS1 gene on chromosome 11q13. There are 36 individuals published in the literature so far, mostly diagnosed postnatally (34/36) after recognizing the typical facial features co‐occurring with developmental delay, intellectual disability, and multiple malformations. Herein, we present one prenatal and 15 postnatal cases with the recurrent heterozygous pathogenic variant NM_018026. 3:c.607C>T p.(Arg203Trp) in the PACS1 gene detected by exome sequencing. These 16 cases were identified by mining Centogene and the Hong Kong clinical genetic service databases. Collectively, the 49 postnatally diagnosed individuals present with typical facial features and developmental delay, while the three prenatally diagnosed individuals present with multiple congenital anomalies. In the current study, the use of exome sequencing as an unbiased diagnostic tool aided the diagnosis of SHS (pre‐ and postnatally). The identification of additional cases with SHS add to the current understanding of the clinical phenotype associated with pathogenic PACS1 variants. Databases combining clinical and genetic information are helpful for the study of rare diseases.
Statement of Removal: Role and Impact of Engaging Private Pharmacies in TB Care and Control in Selected Districts of Pakistan

Tuberculosis (TB) constitutes a major public health challenge and is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. In 2015, over 10.4 million people fell ill with TB and 1.8 million died from the disease; an estimated 480,000 people developed multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB); and an estimated 1 million children became ill with TB, and 170,000 children died due to TB. According to the WHO, the incidence of TB cases in Pakistan for all types are 270/100,000. A cross-sectional study was designed, and a potential 2,000 registered pharmacies from different rural and urban/peri-urban areas of 12 districts across Pakistan were selected. Supervisors, pharmacy focal persons, students and faculty coordinators from seven universities were trained on TB case identification, a referral mechanism, and collaboration with the program, followed by signing MOU. In phase 1 an entire (100%) pharmacy staff was trained; followed by the second phase, in which 96% of focal persons were trained from private pharmacies nation-wide. A total of 4,085 referrals were sent to the trained doctors, out of which 622 cases were identified. The percentage of case registration was 14.5% of total referrals. The highest number of TB presumptives (527) were referred from private pharmacies of district Muzafargarh, and 136 TB cases were registered out of these referrals. For a signiﬁcant impact on case detection, it is important to acknowledge a number of concerns expressed by pharmacists and attempt to change both client's and provider's expectations with regard to the pharmacist's role.
Multiple and mirror intracranial aneurysms: study of prevalence and associated risk factors

Abstract Objective Multiple intracranial aneurysms (MIA) account for 30% of all intracranial aneurysms, while mirror aneurysms, a subgroup of MIA, are present in 5% of all patients with cerebral aneurysms. We investigated the risk factors associated with the presence of multiple and mirror intracranial aneurysms. Methods 1404 patients, 314 males (22.4%) and 1090 female (77.6%) were enrolled for this study. Diagnosis was performed with a digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Multiplicity was defined as the presence of two or more aneurysms and mirror aneurysms as one pair of aneurysms involving bilateral corresponding arteries. Patients were followed-up from September 2009 till August 2018. Individuals’ characteristics such as sex, age, smoking, hypertension and use of contraceptives were evaluated. Results Five hundred and twelve patients (36.4%) were diagnosed with MIA, approximately 4%/year. We observed 203 pairs of mirror aneurysms, accounting for 406 aneurysms (13% of the population). There was an increased frequency of females with multiple (p < 0.001, OR = 1.883, 95% CI = 1.386–2.560) and mirror aneurysms (p < 0.001, OR = 2.828, 95% CI = 1.725–4.636). Smoking was associated with multiplicity (p< 0.001, OR = 1.458, 95% CI = 1.160–1.833), as well as advanced age (p < 0.001, OR = 1.938, 95% CI = 1.438–2.611), but there was no significant relation with presence of mirror aneurysms. We observed higher frequency of baby aneurysms (<3mm) in the group of patients with MIA, while giant aneurysms (>25 mm) were most found in patients with only one aneurysm (p < 0.001). No differences between patients who used contraceptives against patients who did not use were found (p = 0.600). Conclusions Gender and smoking, known risk factors to the development of a single intracranial aneurysm, are proportionally increased in patients with MIA. Hypertension and oral contraceptives were not associated with multiplicity.
The probable role of insulin resistance and SIRT1 proteins in the Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE Recent evidence suggests that insulin resistance may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, the probable role of insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of AD was investigated in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). METHODS Serum amyloid beta (Aβ) (1-42), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and leptin protein levels were measured in serum samples of control (n = 26), probable AD (n = 26), and probable AD+T2DM patients (n = 12) using ELISA method. Mini mental state examination (MMSE) was performed to the patient and control groups. RESULT Serum IGF-1 significantly increased in the probable AD+T2DM group as compared to the control and probable AD groups (p ˂ 0.05). The levels of serum leptin significantly decreased in the probable AD and AD+T2DM groups as compared to the control (p ˂ 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in serum Aβ (1-42) and SIRT1 levels among groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION The significant decrease in serum leptin levels in AD patients may indicate that it may be a therapeutic marker in AD. The level of serum Aβ peptide and SIRT1 proteins can vary depending on the stage of the disease. Therefore, this study should be supported by more comprehensive studies in terms of the number of patients in advanced stage (Tab. 1, Fig. 4, Ref. 29).
Female Gender Is Associated with a Higher Prevalence of Chronic Neck Pain, Chronic Low Back Pain, and Migraine: Results of the Spanish National Health Survey, 2017.

OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence of chronic neck pain (CNP), chronic low back pain (CLBP), and migraine headache (MH) in the Spanish population and to identify sociodemographic and health-related variables associated with CNP, CLBP, and MH. DESIGN Observational study. SETTING Spain. SUBJECTS A total of 22,511 persons 18 years of age or older (10,304 males and 12,207 females) who participated in the 2017 Spanish National Health Survey. METHODS Stratified three-stage sampling was applied. CNP, CLBP, and MH were the dependent variables. The analysis was conducted separately by gender. Sociodemographic features, self-perceived health status, lifestyle habits, comorbidities, and pain features were analyzed by using logistic regression models. RESULTS Females reported a higher prevalence of CNP, CLBP, and MH (P < 0.001) than males. For both sexes, anxiety and/or depression and poor self-rated health were associated with a significantly increased prevalence of CNP, CLBP, and MH. For CNP and CLBP, the identified associated factors were older age and limitations to usual activity. For CNP and MH, the most common associated factor was comorbid respiratory disease. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified several factors associated with CNP, CLBP, and MH in Spanish female and male adults, with potential implications for health care providers.
Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy: Case-based Review on Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management

Inflammatory cardiomyopathy is a broad term encompassing any disease leading to myocardial inflammation with associated cardiac dysfunction. While endomyocardial biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis, noninvasive imaging techniques, such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, have become powerful tools to facilitate the identification of underlying myocardial inflammation. This review presents a series of clinical cases with some common etiologies of inflammatory cardiomyopathy, including diagnosis and management.
Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes in India by Individual Socioeconomic, Demographic, and Clinical Factors

Key Points Question What is the overall prevalence of gestational diabetes in India, and what socioeconomic, demographic, clinical, and geographic factors are associated with it? Findings In this cross-sectional study using biometric data from 32 428 women aged 15 to 49 years, there was considerable variation in the prevalence of gestational diabetes across states and by individual socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical factors. Meaning These findings emphasize that within the context of universal screening for gestational diabetes in India, tailoring screening methods and potential interventions based on the burden of disease could maximize cost-effectiveness and improve outcomes.
Spousal Support, Spousal Strain, and Loneliness in Older Mexican Couples.

OBJECTIVES A growing body of research has identified factors related to loneliness among older adults. Fewer have investigated predictors of loneliness within married couples. This analysis investigates how spousal support and strain relate with loneliness within older couples (age 50+), and whether these associations are modified by functional limitation. The study focuses on Mexico, a country experiencing rapid aging occurring alongside historically limited institutional support for older adults, and where traditional gender roles extend to marriage. METHODS The analytic sample consisted of 3,584 husband-wife dyads from the 2012 and 2015 Mexican Health and Aging Study. Loneliness was measured using the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Associations between spousal support, strain, and loneliness were estimated within husband-wife dyads using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. RESULTS Experiencing more spousal support was associated with less loneliness, whereas experiencing spousal strain was associated with more loneliness three years later among married adults. The associations between spousal support/strain and loneliness were stronger among husbands with limitations in Activities of Daily Living (ADL) when compared to their counterparts without ADL limitations. DISCUSSION Among married adults, spousal support and strain may be important factors to understand loneliness within marriage. Effects should be interpreted within the context of functional limitation.
On the evolution of cellular senescence

The idea that senescent cells are causally involved in aging has gained strong support from findings that the removal of such cells alleviates many age‐related diseases and extends the life span of mice. While efforts proceed to make therapeutic use of such discoveries, it is important to ask what evolutionary forces might have been behind the emergence of cellular senescence, in order better to understand the biology that we might seek to alter. Cellular senescence is often regarded as an anti‐cancer mechanism, since it limits the division potential of cells. However, many studies have shown that senescent cells often also have carcinogenic properties. This is difficult to reconcile with the simple idea of an anti‐cancer mechanism. Furthermore, other studies have shown that cellular senescence is involved in wound healing and tissue repair. Here, we bring these findings and ideas together and discuss the possibility that these functions might be the main reason for the evolution of cellular senescence. Furthermore, we discuss the idea that senescent cells might accumulate with age because the immune system had to strike a balance between false negatives (overlooking some senescent cells) and false positives (destroying healthy body cells).
Effect of GAC characteristics on adsorption of organic pollutants

The impact of the characteristics of granular activated carbon (GAC) on adsorption capacity and on the potential for polymerization of phenolic compounds on the surface of GAC in the presence of molecular oxygen is evaluated in this study. Adsorption isotherm data were collected for p-chlorophenol on five activated carbons; three manufactured from bituminous coal, one manufactured from lignite coal, and one manufactured from wood. These isotherms were collected under anoxic (absence of molecular oxygen) and oxic (presence of molecular oxygen) conditions. Higher extraction efficiencies of the carbons used in the oxic isotherms were obtained for the carbons that exhibited lower increases in capacities when compared to anoxic isotherms. Furthermore, no impact of the presence of oxygen on adsorption capacity was noted for the wood base carbon
Oxepinamides L and M, two new oxepine-pyrimidinone-ketopiperazine type nonribosomal peptides from Aspergillus californicus

Abstract A chemical investigation of Aspergillus californicus IBT 16748 led to the isolation of two new oxepine-pyrimidinone-ketopiperazine type nonribosomal peptides oxepinamides L (1) and M (2). Their structures were characterised by spectroscopic analysis including HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR. The absolute structure of 1 was assigned by ECD calculation. The antibacterial and cytotoxic properties of 1 were evaluated. Graphical Abstract
Consistent practice for pressure ulcer prevention in long-term older people care: A quasi-experimental intervention study.

BACKGROUND Consistent practice, an agreed clinical practice based on evidence, has been considered as a base for effective provision of quality and safety of care. As a result, patients have an equal quality of care regardless of the organisation or worker. However, despite the international guidelines, pressure ulcer prevention practices vary in long-term older people care. AIM To develop, implement and evaluate the impact of renewed, consistent practice for pressure ulcer prevention, in long-term older people care. DESIGN A quasi-experimental intervention study. METHODS Two long-term older people care facilities chosen with convenience sampling were randomly allocated to intervention or comparison group. Registered and practical nurses, in total 141/112, participated in the study. The renewed consistent practice based on international guidelines for pressure ulcer prevention was developed and implemented using the Operational Model for Evidence-Based Practices (OMEBP). Frequencies and agreement of PU prevention practices in line with international guidelines in the care facilities were measured using the PUPreP instrument. RESULTS In the intervention facility, improvement in line with international guidelines was seen in the frequency of PU prevention practices in risk assessment, nutrition, pressure-relieving devices and documentation. Furthermore, improvement was seen in the intervention facility in all six areas of agreement on practices. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study support the implementation of PU prevention guidelines in long-term older people care (LOPC) and more widely in healthcare settings for older people to promote consistent practice, and safety and equal quality of care.
Sexual behaviour change following HIV testing services: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Learning one’s HIV status through HIV testing services (HTS) is an essential step toward accessing treatment and linking to preventive services for those at high HIV risk. HTS may impact subsequent sexual behaviour, but the degree to which this varies by population or is true in the setting of contemporary HIV prevention activities is largely unknown. As part of the 2019 World Health Organization Consolidated Guidelines on HTS, we undertook a systematic review and meta‐analysis to determine the effect of HTS on sexual behaviour.
Tissue and sex-specific programming of DNA methylation by perinatal lead exposure: implications for environmental epigenetics studies

ABSTRACT Early developmental environment can influence long-term health through reprogramming of the epigenome. Human environmental epigenetics studies rely on surrogate tissues, such as blood, to assess the effects of environment on disease-relevant but inaccessible target tissues. However, the extent to which environment-induced epigenetic changes are conserved between these tissues is unclear. A better understanding of this conservation is imperative for effective design and interpretation of human environmental epigenetics studies. The Toxicant Exposures and Responses by Genomic and Epigenomic Regulators of Transcription (TaRGET II) consortium was established by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to address the utility of surrogate tissues as proxies for toxicant-induced epigenetic changes in target tissues. We and others have recently reported that perinatal exposure to lead (Pb) is associated with adverse metabolic outcomes. Here, we investigated the sex-specific effects of perinatal exposure to a human environmentally relevant level of Pb on DNA methylation in paired liver and blood samples from adult mice using enhanced reduced-representation bisulphite sequencing. Although Pb exposure ceased at 3 weeks of age, we observed thousands of sex-specific differentially methylated cytosines in the blood and liver of Pb-exposed animals at 5 months of age, including 44 genomically imprinted loci. We observed significant tissue overlap in the genes mapping to differentially methylated cytosines. A small but significant subset of Pb-altered genes exhibit basal sex differences in gene expression in the mouse liver. Collectively, these data identify potential molecular targets for Pb-induced metabolic diseases, and inform the design of more robust human environmental epigenomics studies.