Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
C-Peptide as a Therapy for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic disease affecting one-third of the United States population. It is characterized by hyperglycemia, where the hormone insulin is either not produced sufficiently or where there is a resistance to insulin. Patients with Type 1 DM (T1DM), in which the insulin-producing beta cells are destroyed by autoimmune mechanisms, have a significantly increased risk of developing life-threatening cardiovascular complications, even when exogenous insulin is administered. In fact, due to various factors such as limited blood glucose measurements and timing of insulin administration, only 37% of T1DM adults achieve normoglycemia. Furthermore, T1DM patients do not produce C-peptide, a cleavage product from insulin processing. C-peptide has potential therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo on many complications of T1DM, such as peripheral neuropathy, atherosclerosis, and inflammation. Thus, delivery of C-peptide in conjunction with insulin through a pump, pancreatic islet transplantation, or genetically engineered Sertoli cells (an immune privileged cell type) may ameliorate many of the cardiovascular and vascular complications afflicting T1DM patients.
An Integrative Review Exploring Psycho-Social Impacts and Therapeutic Interventions for Parent Caregivers of Young People Living with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy

The purpose of this integrative review was to explore psycho-social impacts and therapeutic interventions for parent caregivers of young people living with Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Electronic databases were searched for research publications between 2010 and 2020. This included Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ERIC, ERC, and AMED. Four central themes emerged: Living with DMD; Knowing and telling; Transitioning; and Building resilience. The impact on parents caring for a child with DMD affected all aspects of their lives, changed over time, and had identifiable peak stress points. Unmet parental information and support needs left parents struggling in their role. Transition required changes to parenting behaviors and required adaptation and resilience. It is proposed that future investment should focus on anticipating family need, targeting intervention cognizant of predictable stress points and building resilience through social community. Parents may then be better positioned to support their child in looking forward.
Leflunomide Sustained Skin Delivery Based on Sulfobetaine-Modified Chitosan Nanoparticles Embedded in Biodegradable Polyesters Films

The aim of the present study was to prepare a leflunomide (LFD) sustained release transdermal delivery system for the treatment of psoriasis. In this context, LFD-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) based on either neat chitosan (CS) or CS modified with [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide (SDAEM, a sulfobetaine zwitterionic compound) were initially prepared via ionotropic gelation and characterized in terms of in vitro dissolution, physicochemical, and antibacterial properties. Results showed that the use of the SDAEM-modified CS resulted in the formation of LFD-loaded NPs with improved wetting and solubilization properties, better in vitro dissolution profile characteristics (i.e., higher dissolution rate and extent), and improved (enhanced) antibacterial properties. The resultant LFD-loaded NPs were then embedded in suitable thin-film skin patches, prepared via spin-coating, utilizing two different biodegradable polyesters, namely methoxy polyethylene glycol-b-poly(L-lactide) (mPEG-b-PLA, at a ratio of 25/75 mPEG to PLA) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA at a ratio of 75/25 DL-lactide/glycolide copolymer). Results showed the formation of polymeric thin-films with no agglomeration (or trapped air) and uniform structure in all cases, while the LFD-loaded NPs were successfully embedded in the polymeric matrix. Analysis of the obtained in vitro dissolution profiles revealed a sustained release profile of the drug for up to approximately twelve days, while between the two proposed systems, the use of CS-SDAEM NPs (independently of the polyester type) was the most promising formulation approach.
Volumetric MRI Analysis of Brain Structures in Patients with History of First and Repeated Suicide Attempts: A Cross Sectional Study

Structural brain changes are found in suicide attempters and in patients with mental disorders. It remains unclear whether the suicidal behaviors are related to atrophy of brain regions and how the morphology of specific brain areas is changing with each suicide attempt. The sample consisted of 56 patients hospitalized after first suicide attempt (first SA) (n = 29), more than one suicide attempt (SA > 1) (n = 27) and 54 healthy controls (HC). Brain volume was measured using FreeSurfer 6.0 automatic segmentation technique. In comparison to HC, patients with first SA had significantly lower cortical thickness of the superior and rostral middle frontal areas, the inferior, middle and superior temporal areas of the left hemisphere and superior frontal area of the right hemisphere. In comparison to HC, patients after SA > 1 had a significantly lower cortical thickness in ten areas of frontal cortex of the left hemisphere and seven areas of the right hemisphere. The comparison of hippocampus volume showed a significantly lower mean volume of left and right parts in patients with SA > 1, but not in patients with first SA. The atrophy of frontal, temporal cortex and hippocampus parts was significantly higher in repeated suicide attempters than in patients with first suicide attempt.
Variability of Urinary Creatinine in Healthy Individuals

Many urinary biomarkers are adjusted for dilution using creatinine or specific gravity. The aim was to evaluate the variability of creatinine excretion, in 24 h and spot samples, and to describe an openly available variability biobank. Urine and blood samples were collected from 60 healthy non-smoking adults, 29 men and 31 women. All urine was collected at six time points during two 24 h periods. Blood samples were also collected twice and stored frozen. Analyses of creatinine in urine was performed in fresh urine using an enzymatic method. For creatinine in urine, the intra-class correlation (ICC) was calculated for 24 h urine and spot samples. Diurnal variability was examined, as well as association with urinary flow rate. The creatinine excretion rate was lowest in overnight samples and relatively constant in the other five samples. The creatinine excretion rate in each individual was positively correlated with urinary flow rate. The creatinine concentration was highest in the overnight sample and at 09:30. For 24 h samples the ICC was 0.64, for overnight samples it was 0.5, and for all spot samples, it was much lower. The ICC for urinary creatinine depends on the time of day of sampling. Frozen samples from this variability biobank are open for researchers examining normal variability of their favorite biomarker(s).
Emulating Artificial Synaptic Plasticity Characteristics from SiO2-Based Conductive Bridge Memories with Pt Nanoparticles

The quick growth of information technology has necessitated the need for developing novel electronic devices capable of performing novel neuromorphic computations with low power consumption and a high degree of accuracy. In order to achieve this goal, it is of vital importance to devise artificial neural networks with inherent capabilities of emulating various synaptic properties that play a key role in the learning procedures. Along these lines, we report here the direct impact of a dense layer of Pt nanoparticles that plays the role of the bottom electrode, on the manifestation of the bipolar switching effect within SiO2-based conductive bridge memories. Valuable insights regarding the influence of the thermal conductivity value of the bottom electrode on the conducting filament growth mechanism are provided through the application of a numerical model. The implementation of an intermediate switching transition slope during the SET transition permits the emulation of various artificial synaptic functionalities, such as short-term plasticity, including paired-pulsed facilitation and paired-pulse depression, long-term plasticity and four different types of spike-dependent plasticity. Our approach provides valuable insights toward the development of multifunctional synaptic elements that operate with low power consumption and exhibit biological-like behavior.
Dental Workload Reduction during First SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany: A Cross-Sectional Survey

An observational cross-sectional survey was planned to analyze the weekly workload reduction of German dentists during lockdown due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were predominantly members of the Free Association of German Dentists and filled in an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent to a total of 9416 dentists, with a response rate of 27.98% (n = 2635). Respondents were divided into seven macro areas by gross domestic product. Nearly two-thirds of dentists (65.16%) reported a reduction in their practice workload of more than 50% compared to the pre-pandemic period with statistically significant differences between German macro areas (p < 0.01). Weekly workload was reduced during the lockdown in 93.00% of study participants, while 55.33% dental care centers with multiple employed dentists under the direction of a non-dentist general manager had only a 40% reduction in weekly workload compared to a solo practice or a practice of a dentist with an employed dentist (30.24% and 28.39%, respectively). Dentists in Germany drastically reduced their practice activity during the first wave of the COVID-19 lockdown, both in rural and urban areas. Short, medium, and long-term effects of the pandemic on dental practices, dental staff as well as patient care need to be further investigated.
Comparison of Bone Tissue Trace Element Content in the Different Radiological Stages of Hip Osteoarthritis

Bone metabolism and the trace element content associated with it change at each stage of degenerative disease. The aim of this study was to find out about the role of the analyzed elements in different stages of hip osteoarthritis. Elements associated with oxidative and enzymatic processes were analyzed depending on the changes in the radiological images of the hip joint. Element content analysis was performed by the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analytical technique. The femoral head in severely osteoarthritic hips (KL3–4) compared to mild grade osteoarthritis (KL2) had a greater content of Cu (median 1.04 vs. 0.04), Sr (median 38.71 vs. 29.59), and Zn (median 75.12 vs. 63.21). There were no significant differences in the content of Mo, Cr, and Fe in the femoral head and neck between the groups. The Cu/Fe correlation was negative in the KL2 group (−0.47) and positive in the KL3–4 groups (0.45). Changes in the content and correlation of trace elements in the hip joint explain the changes in metabolism dependent on the severity of degenerative changes.
Pharmacological Targeting of Heme Oxygenase-1 in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common aging-associated disease that clinically manifests as joint pain, mobility limitations, and compromised quality of life. Today, OA treatment is limited to pain management and joint arthroplasty at the later stages of disease progression. OA pathogenesis is predominantly mediated by oxidative damage to joint cartilage extracellular matrix and local cells such as chondrocytes, osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and synovial fibroblasts. Under normal conditions, cells prevent the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under oxidatively stressful conditions through their adaptive cytoprotective mechanisms. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is an iron-dependent cytoprotective enzyme that functions as the inducible form of HO. HO-1 and its metabolites carbon monoxide and biliverdin contribute towards the maintenance of redox homeostasis. HO-1 expression is primarily regulated at the transcriptional level through transcriptional factor nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2), specificity protein 1 (Sp1), transcriptional repressor BTB-and-CNC homology 1 (Bach1), and epigenetic regulation. Several studies report that HO-1 expression can be regulated using various antioxidative factors and chemical compounds, suggesting therapeutic implications in OA pathogenesis as well as in the wider context of joint disease. Here, we review the protective role of HO-1 in OA with a focus on the regulatory mechanisms that mediate HO-1 activity.
Arsenic removal from aqueous solutions by adsorption using novel MIL-53(Fe) as a highly efficient adsorbent

A MIL-53(Fe) analogue was successfully synthesized by a HF free-solvothermal method. The sample was characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption (BET), TEM, FTIR, XPS and AAS. From the N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms, it can be seen that the structure of MIL-53(Fe) in the anhydrous form exhibits closed pores with almost no accessible porosity to nitrogen gas. The XPS results reveal that Fe is really incorporated into the MIL-53(Fe) framework. In the hydrated form, the pores of MIL-53(Fe) are filled with water molecules. Thus, MIL-53(Fe) exhibited a very high adsorption capacity of As(V) in aqueous solution (Qmax of 21.27 mg g−1). Adsorption kinetics data revealed that As(V) adsorption isotherms fit the Langmuir model and obey the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation.
Three New Derivatives of Zopfinol from Pseudorhypophila Mangenotii gen. et comb. nov.

Triangularia mangenotti was analyzed for the production of secondary metabolites, resulting in the isolation of known zopfinol (1) and its new derivatives zopfinol B–C (2–4), the 10-membered lactones 7-O-acetylmultiplolide A (5) and 8-O-acetylmultiplolide A (6), together with sordarin (7), sordarin B (8), and hypoxysordarin (9). The absolute configuration of 1 was elucidated by the synthesis of MPTA-esters. Compound 1 showed antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Mucor hiemalis. While 4 was weakly antibacterial, 3 showed stronger antibiotic activity against the Gram-positive bacteria and weak antifungal activity against M. hiemalis and Rhodotorula glutinis. We furthermore observed the cytotoxicity of 1, 3 and 4 against the mammalian cell lines KB3.1 and L929. Moreover, the new genus Pseudorhypophila is introduced herein to accommodate Triangularia mangenotii together with several species of Zopfiella—Z. marina, Z. pilifera, and Z. submersa. These taxa formed a well-supported monophyletic clade in the recently introduced family Navicularisporaceae, located far from the type species of the respective original genera, in a phylogram based on the combined dataset sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the nuclear rDNA large subunit (LSU), and fragments of the ribosomal polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2) and β-tubulin (tub2) genes. Zopfiella submersa is synonymized with P. marina due to the phylogenetic and morphological similarity. The isolation of zopfinols 1–4 and sordarins 7–9 confirms the potential of this fungal order as producers of bioactive compounds and suggests these compounds as potential chemotaxonomic markers.
Detection and Investigation of Extracellular Vesicles in Serum and Urine Supernatant of Prostate Cancer Patients

Prostate Cancer (PCa) is one of the most frequently identified urological cancers. PCa patients are often over-diagnosed due to still not highly specific diagnostic methods. The need for more accurate diagnostic tools to prevent overestimated diagnosis and unnecessary treatment of patients with non-malignant conditions is clear, and new markers and methods are strongly desirable. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) hold great promises as liquid biopsy-based markers. Despite the biological and technical issues present in their detection and study, these particles can be found highly abundantly in the biofluid and encompass a wealth of macromolecules that have been reported to be related to many physiological and pathological processes, including cancer onset, metastasis spreading, and treatment resistance. The present study aims to perform a technical feasibility study to develop a new workflow for investigating EVs from several biological sources. Serum and urinary supernatant EVs of PCa, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients, and healthy donors were isolated and investigated by a fast, easily performable, and cost-effective cytofluorimetric approach for a multiplex detection of 37 EV-antigens. We also observed significant alterations in serum and urinary supernatant EVs potentially related to BPH and PCa, suggesting a potential clinical application of this workflow.
The Thermal Charging Performance of Finned Conical Thermal Storage System Filled with Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Material

A latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) unit can store a notable amount of heat in a compact volume. However, the charging time could be tediously long due to weak heat transfer. Thus, an improvement of heat transfer and a reduction in charging time is an essential task. The present research aims to improve the thermal charging of a conical shell-tube LHTES unit by optimizing the shell-shape and fin-inclination angle in the presence of nanoadditives. The governing equations for the natural convection heat transfer and phase change heat transfer are written as partial differential equations. The finite element method is applied to solve the equations numerically. The Taguchi optimization approach is then invoked to optimize the fin-inclination angle, shell aspect ratio, and the type and volume fraction of nanoparticles. The results showed that the shell-aspect ratio and fin inclination angle are the most important design parameters influencing the charging time. The charging time could be changed by 40% by variation of design parameters. Interestingly a conical shell with a small radius at the bottom and a large radius at the top (small aspect ratio) is the best shell design. However, a too-small aspect ratio could entrap the liquid-PCM between fins and increase the charging time. An optimum volume fraction of 4% is found for nanoparticle concentration.
Effectiveness of a Psychoeducational Group Intervention Carried Out by Nurses for Patients with Depression and Physical Comorbidity in Primary Care: Randomized Clinical Trial

The association between physical illness and depression implies a poorer management of chronic disease and a lower response to antidepressant treatments. Our study evaluates the effectiveness of a psychoeducational group intervention led by Primary Care (PC) nurses, aimed at patients of this kind. It is a randomized, multicenter clinical trial with intervention (IG) and control groups (CG), blind response variables, and a one year follow-up. The study included 380 patients ≥50 years of age from 18 PC teams. The participants presented depression (BDI-II > 12) and a physical comorbidity: diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and/or asthma. The IG (n = 204) received the psychoeducational intervention (12 weekly sessions of 90 min), and the CG (n = 176) had standard care. The patients were evaluated at baseline, and at 4 and 12 months. The main outcome measures were clinical remission of depressive symptoms (BDI-II ≤ 13) and therapeutic response (reduction of depressive symptoms by 50%). Remission was not significant at four months. At 12 months it was 53.9% in the IG and 41.5% in the CG. (OR = 0.61, 95% CI, 0.49–0.76). At 4 months the response in the IG (OR = 0.59, 95% CI, 0.44–0.78) was significant, but not at 12 months. The psychoeducational group intervention led by PC nurses for individuals with depression and physical comorbidity has been shown to be effective for remission at long-term and for therapeutic response at short-term.
Antioxidant Activity and Neuroprotective Role of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Supplementation in Eye Diseases That Can Lead to Blindness: A Narrative Review

The objective of this narrative review is to provide updated evidence, based on data from experimental and clinical studies, of the prominent role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) for a number of crucial mechanisms involved in counteracting cell damage induced by oxidative stress in eye diseases. This article is focused on the antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which have been assessed in different experimental models and clinical studies, particularly in proliferative diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma that are the most common eye diseases leading to severe vision loss. The mechanisms involved in the role of DHA in protecting human retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative stress as well as the interaction with glutathione (GSH) are also described. The review is intended to provide novel and salient findings supporting the rationale of the use of dietary supplementation with high-dose DHA (1050 mg/day) in the form of triglyceride as a potent antioxidant compound for improving the eye health. However, the overall clinical evidence for the use of dietary strategies based on supplementation with n-3 PUFAs in eye diseases linked to oxidative stress other than high-dose DHA triglyceride is both limited and inconsistent.
Limiting equivalent electric field response in Ar+SF/sub 6/ subjected to orthogonal electric and magnetic fields

The limiting equivalent electric fields in Ar+SF/sub 6/ binary gas mixtures due to Townsend discharges are evaluated directly from a Monte-Carlo simulation when the mixture is subjected to orthogonal electric and magnetic fields. Along with the limiting equivalent electric fields, transverse and perpendicular drift velocities, electron mean energies and collision frequencies are also determined within the scope of the Monte-Carlo simulation. The equivalent reduced electric field (EREF) concept for the corresponding limiting electric fields is also investigated for the calculated mean energy levels and collision frequencies. The EREF values are found to be in good agreement with the previously published limiting electric field data.
CD28null and Regulatory T Cells Are Substantially Disrupted in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Due to Diabetes Mellitus

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with alterations in T-cell immunity, including increased CD28null and reduced regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, whether immune disturbances are due to ESRD or primary disease is not yet clear. As diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of ESRD, we evaluated its impact on the immune profile of ESRD patients. Methods: CD28null, Tregs, and natural killer cells were initially analyzed by flow cytometry in 30 predialysis ESRD patients due to diabetes (DM), 30 non-DM (NDM), and 25 healthy controls. Measurements were repeated after 6 months on hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Results: The percentage of CD4 + CD28null cells, CD8 + CD28null cells, and Tregs showed significant differences in DM, NDM, and controls; mean rank 33.71 vs. 25.68 vs. 18.88, p = 0.006, 37.79 vs. 28.82 vs. 17.08, p = 0.008, and 20.79 vs. 26.12 vs. 41.33, p = 0.001, respectively. DM vs. NDM had increased CD4 + CD28null and CD8 + CD28null cells, 11.5% (1.5%–24%) vs. 4.1% (0–42.3%), p = 0.02 and 61.3% (24%–76%) vs. 43% (5.7%–85%), p = 0.04, respectively. After 6 months on HD but not CAPD, DM showed a significant further increase in CD4 + CD28null cells, from 30 (14–100) to 52.7 (15–203), p = 0.02; and CD8 + CD28null cells, from 137 (56–275) to 266 (103–456), p = 0.01. Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus affects T-cell subtypes even at predialysis stage, though changes become more prominent after commencement on HD.