Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Variations in microbiota composition of laboratory mice influence Citrobacter rodentium infection via variable short-chain fatty acid production

The composition of the intestinal microbiota influences the outcome of enteric infections in human and mice. However, the role of specific members and their metabolites contributing to disease severity is largely unknown. Using isogenic mouse lines harboring distinct microbiota communities, we observed highly variable disease kinetics of enteric Citrobacter rodentium colonization after infection. Transfer of communities from susceptible and resistant mice into germ-free mice verified that the varying susceptibilities are determined by microbiota composition. The strongest differences in colonization were observed in the cecum and could be maintained in vitro by coculturing cecal bacteria with C. rodentium. Cohousing of animals as well as the transfer of cultivable bacteria from resistant to susceptible mice led to variable outcomes in the recipient mice. Microbiome analysis revealed that a higher abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria was associated with the resistant phenotype. Quantification of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels before and after infection revealed increased concentrations of acetate, butyrate and propionate in mice with delayed colonization. Addition of physiological concentrations of butyrate, but not of acetate and/or propionate strongly impaired growth of C. rodentium in vitro. In vivo supplementation of susceptible, antibiotic-treated and germ-free mice with butyrate led to the same level of protection, notably only when cecal butyrate concentration reached a concentration higher than 50 nmol/mg indicating a critical threshold for protection. In the recent years, commensal-derived primary and secondary bacterial metabolites emerged as potent modulators of hosts susceptibility to infection. Our results provide evidence that variations in SCFA production in mice fed fibre-rich chow-based diets modulate susceptibility to colonization with Enterobacteriaceae not only in antibiotic-disturbed ecosystems but even in undisturbed microbial communities. These findings emphasise the need for microbiota normalization across laboratory mouse lines for infection experiments with the model-pathogen C. rodentium independent of investigations of diet and antibiotic usage.
Randomized, Phase II Study of Trastuzumab Beyond Progression in Patients With HER2-Positive Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: WJOG7112G (T-ACT Study).

PURPOSE This study evaluated the continuous use of trastuzumab beyond progression (TBP) in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with HER2-positive advanced G/GEJ cancer refractory to first-line chemotherapy with trastuzumab in combination with fluoropyrimidine and platinum were eligible. Patients were randomly assigned to the paclitaxel (80 mg/m2, days 1, 8, and 15, every 4 weeks) or paclitaxel with trastuzumab (PT; initially 8 mg/kg followed by 6 mg/kg, every 3 weeks) arms. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), response rate, and safety. Biomarkers such as HER2 expression status in tumor tissue after first-line treatment, HER2 amplification evaluated in serum cell-free DNA, and soluble HER2 levels were analyzed. RESULTS Overall, 91 patients were allocated to the paclitaxel (n = 46) and PT (n = 45) arms. The median PFS in the paclitaxel and PT arms was 3.2 and 3.7 months, respectively (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 80% CI, 0.67 to 1.22; P = .33), and the median OS in both arms was 10 months (HR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.75 to 2.0; P = .20). The overall response rates in the paclitaxel and PT arms were 32% and 33%, respectively (P = 1.00), and safety was comparable between the 2 arms. On exploratory analyses, HER2 positivity of tumor tissues was lost after first-line chemotherapy in 11 (69%) of 16 patients whose tumor tissues were available, and circulating HER2 DNA amplification was detected in 41 (60%) of 68 patients. However, no biomarkers associated with efficacy of TBP were found. CONCLUSION The TBP strategy failed to improve PFS in patients with HER2-positive advanced G/GEJ cancer, and no beneficial biomarkers were found.
Total mercury and methylmercury in Chinese rice and dietary exposure assessment

ABSTRACT Total mercury levels and methylmercury levels were investigated for various grain parts (whole rice, rice husk, brown rice, polished rice, and bran) of 507 rice samples from 15 main rice-producing areas of China. The average total mercury contents in brown rice samples and polished rice samples were 4.2 and 3.3 μg/kg, respectively, the percentages exceeding the national standard limit were 0.59% and 0.39%, respectively. The average methylmercury levels were 2.9 and 2.4 μg/kg in brown rice and polished rice, respectively. The order of total mercury contents in different parts of rice was bran > brown rice > whole rice > rice husk > polished rice, and the order for methylmercury was bran > brown rice > whole rice > polished rice > rice husk. Total mercury intakes and methylmercury intakes were estimated for the Chinese population and the associated health risks were assessed.
Exploring sources of insecurity for Ethiopian Oromo and Somali women who have given birth in Kakuma Refugee Camp: A Qualitative Study

Background According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 44,000 people are forced to flee their homes every day due to conflict or persecution. Although refugee camps are designed to provide a safe temporary location for displaced persons, increasing evidence demonstrates that the camps themselves have become stressful and dangerous long-term places—especially for women. However, there is limited literature focused on refugee women’s perspectives on their insecurity. This qualitative study sought to better understand the ways in which women experienced insecurity at a refugee camp in Kenya. Methods and findings Between May 2017 and June 2017, ethnographic semi-structured interviews accompanied by observation were conducted with a snowball sampling of 20 Somali (n = 10) and Ethiopian Oromo (n = 10) women, 18 years and older, who had had at least 1 pregnancy while living in Kakuma Refugee Camp. The interviews were orally translated, transcribed, entered into Dedoose software for coding, and analyzed utilizing an ethnographic approach. Four sources of insecurity became evident: tension between refugees and the host community, intra- or intercultural conflicts, direct abuse and/or neglect by camp staff and security personnel, and unsafe situations in accessing healthcare–both in traveling to healthcare facilities and in the facilities themselves. Potential limitations include nonrandom sampling, the focus on a specific population, the inability to record interviews, and possible subtle errors in translation. Conclusions In this study, we observed that women felt insecure in almost every area of the camp, with there being no place in the camp where the women felt safe. As it is well documented that insecure and stressful settings may have deleterious effects on health, understanding the sources of insecurity for women in refugee camps can help to guide services for healthcare in displaced settings. By creating a safer environment for these women in private, in public, and in the process of accessing care in refugee camps, we can improve health for them and their babies.
Transcriptomic Insights into Mechanisms of Early Seed Maturation in the Garden Pea (Pisum sativum L.)

The garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) is a legume crop of immense economic value. Extensive breeding has led to the emergence of numerous pea varieties, of which some are distinguished by accelerated development in various stages of ontogenesis. One such trait is rapid seed maturation, which, despite novel insights into the genetic control of seed development in legumes, remains poorly studied. This article presents an attempt to dissect mechanisms of early maturation in the pea line Sprint-2 by means of whole transcriptome RNA sequencing in two developmental stages. By using a de novo assembly approach, we have obtained a reference transcriptome of 25,756 non-redundant entries expressed in pea seeds at either 10 or 20 days after pollination. Differential expression in Sprint-2 seeds has affected 13,056 transcripts. A comparison of the two pea lines with a common maturation rate demonstrates that while at 10 days after pollination, Sprint-2 seeds show development retardation linked to intensive photosynthesis, morphogenesis, and cell division, and those at 20 days show a rapid onset of desiccation marked by the cessation of translation and cell anabolism and accumulation of dehydration-protective and -storage moieties. Further inspection of certain transcript functional categories, including the chromatin constituent, transcription regulation, protein turnover, and hormonal regulation, has revealed transcriptomic trends unique to specific stages and cultivars. Among other remarkable features, Sprint-2 demonstrated an enhanced expression of transposable element-associated open reading frames and an altered expression of major maturation regulators and DNA methyltransferase genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comparative transcriptomic study in which the issue of the seed maturation rate is addressed.
Enhancement of Neurite Outgrowth by Warming Biomaterial Ultrasound Treatment

Ultrasound is a method for enhancing neurite outgrowth because of its thermal effect. In order to reach the working temperature to enhance neurite outgrowth, long-time treatment by ultrasound is necessary, while acknowledging that the treatment poses a high risk of damaging nerve cells. To overcome this problem, we developed a method that shortens the ultrasonic treatment time with a warming biomaterial. In this study, we used Fe3O4 nanoparticle-embedded polycaprolactone (PCL) as a sonosensitized biomaterial, which has an excellent heating rate due to its high acoustic attenuation. With this material, the ultrasonic treatment time for enhancing neurite outgrowth could be effectively shortened. Ultrasonic treatment could also increase neuronal function combined with the warming biomaterial, with more promoter neuronal function than only ultrasound. Moreover, the risk of overexposure can be avoided by the use of the warming biomaterial by reducing the ultrasonic treatment time, providing better effectiveness.
Abnormal body composition is a predictor of adverse outcomes after autologous haematopoietic cell transplantation

Abstract Background The number of patients undergoing autologous haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is growing, but little is known about the factors that predict adverse outcomes. Low muscle mass and obesity are associated with disability and premature mortality in individuals with non‐malignant diseases and may predict outcomes after autologous HCT. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of 320 patients who underwent autologous HCT for Hodgkin or non‐Hodgkin lymphoma between 2009 and 2014. Sarcopenia {skeletal muscle index male: <43 cm/m2 [body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2] or < 53 cm/m2 [BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2] and female: <41 cm/m2 [regardless of BMI]) and obesity [total abdominal adiposity ≥450.0 cm2 (male), ≥396.4 cm2 (female)] were assessed from single‐slice abdominal pre‐HCT computed tomography images. Length of hospital stay, first unplanned intensive care unit admission, and 30‐day unplanned readmission were evaluated based on body composition using multivariable regression analysis, and mortality was evaluated with Kaplan–Meier analysis and Gray's test. Results Median age at HCT was 53.3 years (range, 18.5 to 78.1 years); 26.3% were sarcopenic and an additional 7.8% were sarcopenic obese pre‐HCT. Sarcopenic obesity was associated with increased risk of prolonged hospitalization [odds ratio (OR) = 3.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–9.8], intensive care unit admission (OR = 4.7, 95% CI 1.5–16.1), and unplanned readmission after HCT (OR = 13.6, 95% CI 2.5–62.8). Patients who were sarcopenic obese also had the highest mortality risk at 1 year [hazard ratio (HR): 3.9, 95% CI 1.1–11.0] and 5 years (HR: 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.5), compared with patients with normal body composition. Sarcopenia alone, but not obesity alone, was associated with an increased risk of these outcomes, albeit with a lower magnitude of risk than in patients who were sarcopenic obese. Conclusions Sarcopenic obesity was an important predictor of outcomes in patients undergoing autologous HCT. These findings could inform targeted prevention strategies in patients at highest risk of complications after HCT.
Reaching newlywed and married adolescents.

This paper reports on some of the benefits of reaching out to newlywed and married adolescents. These benefits are: preventing pregnancies among married adolescents reducing maternal and infant health risks providing programs for married adolescents postponing childbearing beyond adolescence and cost efficiency. However there are barriers to reaching married adolescents. Social and religious norms often encourage women to be fertile soon after marriage. Young women may lack the autonomy to delay pregnancy. Many young women find it difficult to seek services because they live in rural areas. Family planners may be influenced by social norms and not serve young couples. Individuals may not want to use contraceptives until a desired level of fertility has been achieved. Strategies are needed to reach married adolescents successfully. Reorienting reproductive health programs and field workers promoting maternal and child health care for newlywed women instituting marriage registry systems reaching adolescents preparing for marriage raising the awareness of those in decision-making positions and cultivating their support using married adolescents as agents of community change creating mass media campaigns to raise awareness increasing young womens autonomy and opportunities after marriage and conducting advocacy efforts at the national level are all strategies that will work. There is also a need to address gender inequities as they result in lack of autonomy for young women and a need to broaden the spectrum of programs that provide adolescent reproductive health services.
Radiomic biomarkers for the prediction of immunotherapy outcome in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

e14520Background: PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors have recently been approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC. Predicting to what extent patients will benefit from these treatments is challenging. Research on predictive biomarkers focus on genetic and histological markers from biopsies, necessarily limited to parts of the tumor. Radiomics is a novel approach to quantify characteristics of the tumor on medical imaging, which may have potential value as non-invasive biomarkers. In this study, we explored the value of radiomic data from primary tumors to predict overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic NSCLC treated with Nivolumab Methods: We retrospectively selected 64 metastatic NSCLC patients treated in 2ndline setting with Nivolumab (240 mg q 2 weeks until progression). Inclusion criteria were: primary tumor in situ with contrast enhanced CT scan (thorax abdomen; slice thickness ≤3mm) within 6 weeks before the start of the treatment. Exclusion criteria were: presence of atelectasi.
Feature article: A generative adversarial network for artifact removal in photoacoustic computed tomography with a linear-array transducer

With balanced spatial resolution, penetration depth, and imaging speed, photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) is promising for clinical translation such as in breast cancer screening, functional brain imaging, and surgical guidance. Typically using a linear ultrasound (US) transducer array, PACT has great flexibility for hand-held applications. However, the linear US transducer array has a limited detection angle range and frequency bandwidth, resulting in limited-view and limited-bandwidth artifacts in the reconstructed PACT images. These artifacts significantly reduce the imaging quality. To address these issues, existing solutions often have to pay the price of system complexity, cost, and/or imaging speed. Here, we propose a deep-learning-based method that explores the Wasserstein generative adversarial network with gradient penalty (WGAN-GP) to reduce the limited-view and limited-bandwidth artifacts in PACT. Compared with existing reconstruction and convolutional neural network approach, our model has shown improvement in imaging quality and resolution. Our results on simulation, phantom, and in vivo data have collectively demonstrated the feasibility of applying WGAN-GP to improve PACT’s image quality without any modification to the current imaging set-up. Impact statement This study has the following main impacts. It offers a promising solution for removing limited-view and limited-bandwidth artifact in PACT using a linear-array transducer and conventional image reconstruction, which have long hindered its clinical translation. Our solution shows unprecedented artifact removal ability for in vivo image, which may enable important applications such as imaging tumor angiogenesis and hypoxia. The study reports, for the first time, the use of an advanced deep-learning model based on stabilized generative adversarial network. Our results have demonstrated its superiority over other state-of-the-art deep-learning methods.
Early gamma-oscillations as correlate of localized nociceptive processing in primary sensorimotor cortex.

Recent studies put forward the idea that stimulus-evoked gamma-band oscillations (GBOs; 30-100 Hz) play a specific role in nociception. So far, evidence for the specificity of GBOs for nociception, their possible involvement in nociceptive sensory discriminatory abilities and knowledge regarding their cortical sources is just starting to grow. To address these questions, we used electroencephalography (EEG) to record brain activity evoked by phasic nociceptive laser stimuli and tactile stimuli applied at different intensities to the right hand and foot of 12 healthy volunteers. The EEG was analyzed in the time domain to extract phase-locked event-related brain potentials (ERPs), and in three regions of interest in the time-frequency domain (delta/theta, 40 Hz gamma, 70 Hz gamma) to extract stimulus-evoked changes in the magnitude of non-phase locked brain oscillations. Both nociceptive and tactile stimuli, matched with respect to subjective intensity, elicited phase locked ERPs of increasing amplitude with increasing stimulus intensity. In contrast, only nociceptive stimuli elicited a significant enhancement of GBOs (65-85 Hz, 150-230 ms after stimulus onset), whose magnitude encoded stimulus intensity, whereas tactile stimuli led to a GBO decrease. Following nociceptive hand stimulation, the topographical distribution of GBOs was maximal at contralateral electrode C3, whereas maximum activity following foot stimulation was recorded at the midline electrode Cz, compatible with generation of GBOs in the representations of the hand and foot of the primary sensorimotor cortex, respectively. The differential behavior of high frequency GBOs and low frequency 40 Hz GBOs is indicating different functional roles and regions in sensory processing.
Contributions of Cognitive Aging Models to the Explanation of Source Memory Decline across the Adult Lifespan

ABSTRACT Background: A number of cognitive aging models have been proposed to explain the age-related decline in several cognitive functions, but these models have rarely been examined together. We analyzed the contributions of four main models – processing resources, speed of processing, cognitive reserve and knowledge – to source memory decay related to the aging process. Methods: A total of 1554 healthy adults between 21 and 80 years old participated in the study. Structural equation modeling was conducted on data from the whole sample and separately in the data from young, middle-aged and older adult age groups. To estimate each cognitive model, we measured working memory discrimination levels (processing resources), working memory reaction times (speed of processing), education (cognitive reserve) and vocabulary (knowledge). Results: Processing resources mediate the effects of age on source memory across the adult lifespan, whereas speed of processing mediates these effects only in young adults, cognitive reserve only in middle-aged adults and knowledge only in older adults. Conclusions: Processing resources was the cognitive model that most contributes to explaining source memory decay. The fact that the other models are relevant to specific age groups provides useful information to exploit their benefits to preserve source memory in specific life stages.
OTC drug advertising in Japan: the role of need for cognition and celebrity endorser credibility

Abstract This research explores how the level of consumers’ need for cognition (NFC) is associated with celebrity endorser credibility and examines its effects on advertising-related attitudes. A 3 (endorser types: actor/actress, athlete, TV personality/talent) × 2 (endorser’s gender) factorial experiment with 435 Japanese consumers was conducted. Concerning Japanese OTC drug advertising, lower NFC individuals perceived celebrity endorsers as more credible in comparison to higher NFC individuals. The main effects of NFC and endorser type on endorser credibility existed; however, no interaction between the two variables was found. The endorser type had an influence on attitudes toward ads and the advertised brand.
Using AAC video visual scene displays to increase participation and communication within a volunteer activity for adolescents with complex communication needs

Abstract Volunteer activities can provide opportunities to learn new skills, build social networks, and contribute to enhanced self-esteem. Volunteering also provides a positive contribution to society, and an opportunity to participate in activities that may differ from those in paid employment. People with severe disabilities and complex communication needs, however, may face significant barriers in participating and communicating in volunteer activities. A multiple-probe-across-participants, single-case experimental design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of videos with integrated visual scene displays (video VSDs). The video VSDs were presented using a tablet-based augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) app, as an intervention to increase the percent of steps completed independently within a volunteer activity. Participants were four adolescents with autism spectrum disorder or Down syndrome, all of whom had complex communication needs. Each participant met the mastery criterion for the activity – completion of the volunteer work activities and communication exchanges with co-volunteers – with the use of the video VSDs. The results provide preliminary evidence that video VSDs may be an effective assistive technology for individuals with severe disabilities and complex communication needs to increase participation in volunteer activities, both as an instructional support in learning new skills, and as an AAC technique to support interaction with others.