Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tunnel technique with connective tissue graft versus coronally advanced flap with enamel matrix derivate for root coverage: 5-year results of an RCT using 3D digital measurement technology for volumetric comparison of soft tissue changes.

AIM Comparison of the clinical efficacy (digitally volumetric, aesthetic, patient-centered outcomes) of tunnel technique (TUN) with subepithelial connective tissue graft (CTG) versus coronally advanced flap (CAF) with enamel matrix derivate (EMD) 5 years after gingival recession therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 18 patients contributing 36 RT1 recessions, study models were collected at baseline and follow-ups. Optical scans assessed recessions computer-assisted [recession depth, recession reduction (RECred), complete root coverage (CRC), percentage of root coverage (RC), pointwise (pTHK) and mean areal (aTHK) marginal soft tissue thickness]. Root coverage esthetic Score (RES) was used for aesthetic evaluation and visual analogue scales for patient-centered data collection applied. RESULTS 60 months after surgery 50.0% (TUN+CTG) and 0.0% (CAF+EMD) of sites showed CRC (p=0.0118), 82.2% (TUN+CTG) and 32.0% (CAF+EMD) achieved RC, respectively (p=0.0023). CTG achieved significantly better RECred (TUN+CTG: 1.75±0.74mm; CAF+EMD: 0.50±0.39mm; p=0.0009) and aTHK (TUN+CTG: 0.95±0.41mm; CAF+EMD: 0.26±0.28mm; p=0.0013). RES showed superior outcomes (p=0.0533) for TUN+CTG (6.86±2.31) compared to CAF+EMD (4.63±1.99). The study failed to find significant differences related to patient-centered outcomes (TUN+CTG: 8.30±2.21; CAF+EMD: 7.50±1.51; p=0.1136). CONCLUSIONS 5 years after treatment, CTG resulted in better clinical and aesthetic outcomes than CAF+EMD. Increased THK was associated with improved outcomes for RECred and RC.
Adaptation to vector-based transmission in a honey bee virus.

Global pollinator declines as a result of emerging infectious diseases are of major concern. Managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) are susceptible to numerous parasites and pathogens, many of which appear to be transmissible to sympatric non-Apis taxa. The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is considered to be the most significant threat to honey bees due to its role in vectoring RNA viruses, particularly Deformed wing virus (DWV). Vector transmission of DWV has resulted in the accumulation of high viral loads in honey bees and is often associated with colony death. DWV has two main genotypes, A and B. DWV-A was more prevalent during the initial phase of V. destructor establishment. In recent years, the global prevalence of DWV-B has increased, suggesting that DWV-B is better adapted to vector transmission than DWV-A. We aimed to determine the role vector transmission plays in DWV genotype prevalence at a colony level. We experimentally increased or decreased the number of V. destructor mites in honey bee colonies, and tracked DWV-A and DWV-B loads over a period of ten months. Our results show that the two DWV genotypes differ in their response to mite numbers. DWV-A accumulation in honey bees was positively correlated with mite numbers yet DWV-A was largely undetected in the absence of the mite. In contrast, colonies had high loads of DWV-B even when mite numbers were low. DWV-B loads persisted in miticide treated colonies, indicating that this genotype has a competitive advantage over DWV-A irrespective of mite numbers. Our findings suggest that the global increase in DWV-B prevalence is not driven by selective pressure by the vector. Rather, DWV-B is able to persist in colonies at higher viral loads relative to DWV-A in the presence and absence of V. destructor. The interplay between V. destructor and DWV genotypes within honey bee colonies may have broad consequences upon viral diversity in sympatric taxa as a result of spill-over.
Poor Validity of Functional Performance Tests to Predict Knee Injury in Female Soccer Players With or Without Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background: Various tests have been developed to evaluate athletes’ functional performance and for use as screening tools for injury prediction. Further validation of their accuracy to predict injury is needed. Purpose: To investigate the validity of predetermined cutoffs used to differentiate between high- and low-risk players in different functional performance tests to predict (1) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury or (2) severe traumatic knee injury in a cohort of female soccer players with a primary unilateral ACL reconstruction and a cohort of knee-healthy players. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 117 active female soccer players (mean age ± SD, 20 ± 2 years) an average of 19 ± 9 months after ACL reconstruction and 119 knee-healthy players (age, 19 ± 3 years) were prospectively followed up for 2 years for new knee injuries. At baseline, all players underwent tests to assess postural control (Star Excursion Balance Test), hop performance (single-leg hop for distance, side hop), and movement asymmetries in the lower limbs and trunk (drop vertical jump [DVJ], tuck jump). The predictive validity of the test cutoffs to identify players who would sustain an ACL injury or a severe traumatic knee injury (absence from soccer play, >28 days) was assessed. The risk ratio (RR), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. Results: A total of 46 players (39%) with ACL reconstruction sustained 48 severe knee injuries, including 28 ACL ruptures. Of the knee-healthy players, 13 (11%) sustained 14 severe knee injuries, including 8 ACL ruptures. No association was found between the predetermined functional performance test cutoffs and the risk of a new ACL injury or severe knee injury in players with ACL reconstruction. In knee-healthy players, the only variable associated with future ACL injury was ≥6.5 cm knee valgus in the frontal plane (any knee) in the DVJ (RR, 4.93; 95% CI, 1.04-23.40; P = .045), but with only fair predictive validity (AUC, 0.7; sensitivity, 0.75; specificity, 0.65). Conclusion: In our cohorts of female soccer players, the validity of commonly used functional performance tests to predict new knee injuries was poor. Only knee valgus during the DVJ was associated with new ACL injuries in knee-healthy players, but with only fair predictive validity.
Road Traffic Effects in Size-segregated Ambient Particle-bound PAHs

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 13 size fractions of ambient particulate matter (PM) were investigated at three sites in Katowice, Poland. PM was sampled with two of the same type 13-stage low-pressure impactors (DEKATI). One of them was used first at a motorway shoulder in the spring of 2012, and then, in the summer, at a busy crossroads. The second impactor was used in parallel with the first one at an urban background site in both the seasons. The PAH contents in PM were determined by means of gas chromatography (Perkin Elmer). The ambient concentrations of PAHs from particular PM fractions at the urban background site differed insignificantly from those at the two traffic sites. Although the concentrations of PAHs and total PAHs (ΣPAH) for some PM size fractions were higher at the urban background site, the significant influence of traffic emissions on the mass size distributions and concentrations of PAHs in Katowice was proved. For example, the traffic effects can be seen in the shares of the PM1-bound ΣPAH and some PM1-bound PAHs in the concentrations of PM-bound ΣPAH and these PAHs, visibly higher at the motorway and crossroads. Also, the mass size distributions of some PM-bound PAHs reflect the traffic influence on the ambient PAH concentrations within the whole city in summer. As the traffic emissions cause high concentrations of PM-bound BaP and BaA, these two PAHs probably pose the main health risk related with ambient PAH inhalation in non-heating periods in Katowice.
Development of gut microbiota and bifidobacterial communities of neonates in the first 6 weeks and their inheritance from mother

ABSTRACT Microbiota especially Bifidobacterium play an important role in adjusting and maintaining homeostatic balance within the infant intestine. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between maternal and infant gut microbiota and identify the Bifidobacterium species that may transfer from mother to infant over the first 42 days of the infant’s life. Nineteen mother-infant-pair fecal samples were collected and the diversity and composition of the total bacterial and Bifidobacterium communities were analyzed via 16S rDNA and bifidobacterial groEL gene high throughput sequencing. The results revealed that the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was significantly higher in the infant gut while Parabacteroides, Blautia, Coprococcus, Lachnospira and Faecalibacterium were at lower relative abundance in 7-day and 42-day infant fecal samples compared to the maternal samples. The maternal gut has more B. pseudocatenulatum. In the infant group, B. breve and B. dentium relative abundance increased while B. animalis subsp. lactis decreased from days 7 to 42. Additionally, B. longum subsp. longum isolated from FGZ16 and FGZ35 may have transferred from mother to infant and colonized the infant gut. The results of the current study provide insight toward the infant gut microbiota composition and structure during the first 42 days and may help guide Bifidobacterium supplementation strategies in mothers and infants.
Efficient synthesis of bis-isoxazole ethers via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition catalysed by Zn/Zn2+ and their antifungal activities

An efficient method was developed for synthesising isoxazoles. A series of novel bis-isoxazole ether compounds VI, VII and VIII were synthesised starting from different substituted aldehydes (I) via a 1,3-dispolar cycloaddition using Zn/Zn2+ as a catalyst; these were characterised by FT-IR, HRMS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the antimicrobial properties of the synthesised products were investigated. The synthesised compounds exhibited significant antifungal activities in comparison with the standard drugs, fluconazole and itraconazole. It was found that Candida albicans was sensitive to 2-substituted phenyl bis-isoxazole ethers bearing pyridyl.
Evaluation of association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and azoospermia

Abstract Background: Infertility affects childbearing age couples all over the world. One of the important reasons for infertility is genetic factors. Our study evaluated the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and azoospermia. Methods: Multiple databases like MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, and China journal full-text database were used to search for relevant studies, and full-text articles involved in the evaluation of MTHFR and azoospermia. The results were evaluated using STATA 12.0. Heterogeneity analysis, sensitivity analysis, and bias analysis were also performed on the data. Results: Thirteen related studies eventually met the inclusion criteria. Significant association between C677T polymorphism and azoospermia (relative risk [RR] = 0.94 [0.90, 0.99], I2 = 60.9%, P = .002), and between A1298C polymorphism and azoospermia (RR = 0.98 [0.94, 1.02], I2 = 56.3%, P = .011) was observed. Meanwhile, in subgroup analysis, Caucasians had higher risk than Mongolians in association between MTHFR and azoospermia. Conclusion: There was association between MTHFR polymorphism and azoospermia. Caucasian populations had higher risk than Mongolian populations in association between MTHFR and azoospermia.
Self-reported motivators for HIV testing in the treat-all era among HIV positive patients in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract To explore associations between self-reported ill-health as a primary motivator for HIV-testing and socio-demographic factors. Four local primary healthcare clinics in Johannesburg, South Africa. A total of 529 newly HIV diagnosed adults (≥18 years) enrolled from October 2017 to August 2018, participated in the survey on the same day of diagnosis. Testing out of own initiative or perceived HIV exposure was categorized as asymptomatic. Reporting ill-health as the main reason for testing was categorized as symptomatic. Modified Poisson regression was used to evaluate predictors of motivators for HIV testing. Overall, 327/520 (62.9%) participants reported symptoms as the main motivator for testing. Among the asymptomatic, 17.1% reported potential HIV exposure as a reason for testing, while 20.0% just wanted to know their HIV status. Baseline predictors of symptom-related motivators for HIV testing include disclosing intention to test (aPR 1.4 for family/friend/others vs partners/spouse, 95% CI: 1.1–1.8; aPR 1.4 for not disclosing vs partners/spouse, 95% CI: 1.1–1.7), and HIV testing history (aPR 1.2 for last HIV test >12-months ago vs last test 12-months prior, 95% CI: 1.0–1.5; aPR 1.3 for never tested for HIV before vs last test 12-months prior, 95%CI:1.0–1.6). Findings indicate that newly diagnosed HIV positive patients still enter care because of ill-health, not prevention purposes. Increasing early HIV testing remains essential to maximize the benefits of expanded ART access.
Suicidal intent as a risk factor for mortality in high-level falls: a comparative study of suicidal and accidental falls

Objective Suicide is a major issue in South Korea, and falling is a common method of suicide. Further, accidental falls are a common cause of death. However, whether suicidal falls differ from accidental falls is inconclusive. This study aimed to compare suicidal and accidental falls to identify risk factors for mortality. Methods From March 2010 to December 2016, patients admitted to our hospital because of falls were reviewed retrospectively. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between suicide and accident groups. Injury distribution was compared using the Injury Severity Score and Abbreviated Injury Scales. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors, including suicide intent, for mortality. Results Of 242 patients, 42 were included in the suicide group and 200 were included in the accident group. The suicide group showed higher fall heights and injuries of greater severity. The accident group was younger and included a higher number of men. The suicide group showed a higher mortality (23.8% vs. 6.5%, P=0.001) and a higher proportion of injuries in the lower extremities or abdomen. In the multivariate analysis, Glasgow Coma Scale score (0.575 [0.433–0.764], P<0.001), body mass index (1.638 [1.194–2.247], P=0.002), suicide intent (9.789 [1.026–93.404], P=0.047) and Injury Severity Score (1.091 [1.000–1.190], P=0.049) were identified as risk factors for mortality. Conclusion Suicidal falls were associated with poorer outcomes and a greater tendency to land feet first relative to accidental falls. Suicide intent was a risk factor for mortality.
The efficacy of amniotic membrane-mediated sequential double-barrier therapy for the treatment of postoperative intrauterine adhesions

Abstract To study the efficacy of using amniotic membrane, balloon and intrauterine device (IUD) as barrier therapy to prevent re-adhesion after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. A total of 45 patients diagnosed with intrauterine adhesions in Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital from June 2014 to December 2017 were included in this retrospective case control study. According to different postoperative isolation barrier methods, the patients were divided into group A (Foley balloon + fresh amniotic membrane Day1 + IUD Day7) (22 cases) and group B (Foley balloon Day1 + IUD Day7) (23 cases). Three months after the surgery, the second hysteroscopy was performed to observe the condition of the uterine cavity and the improvement of menstruation, and to monitor the thickness of the endometrium. The efficacy of hysteroscopic procedure in group A was significantly higher than that of group B (P < .05). After 3 months of treatment, the improvement rate of menstruation was significantly higher in group A than in group B (P < .05). Endometrial thickness in both group A and B was significantly increased compared with that before the surgery (P < .05). The postoperative endometrium of group A was significantly thicker than that of group B (P < .05). Amniotic membrane-mediated sequential double-barrier method is clinically feasible for preventing recurrent intrauterine adhesions.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus antibody prevalence in Mauritanian livestock (cattle, goats, sheep and camels) is stratified by the animal’s age

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is one of the most widespread zoonotic arthropod-borne viruses in many parts of Africa, Europe and Asia. It belongs to the family of Nairoviridae in the genus of Orthonairovirus. The main reservoir and vector are ticks of the genus Hyalomma. Livestock animals (such as cattle, small ruminants and camels) develop a viremias lasting up to two weeks with absence of clinical symptoms, followed by seroconversion. This study was carried out to assess risk factors that affect seroprevalence rates in different species. In total, 928 livestock animal samples (cattle = 201; sheep = 247; goats = 233; camels = 247) from 11 out of 13 regions in Mauritania were assayed for CCHFV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) (including a novel indirect camel-IgG-specific CCHFV ELISA). Inconclusive results were resolved by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA). A generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMM) was used to draw conclusions about the impact of certain factors (age, species, sex and region) which might have influenced the CCHFV antibody status of surveyed animals. In goats and sheep, about 15% of the animals were seropositive, whereas in cattle (69%) and camels (81%), the prevalence rate was significantly higher. On average, cattle and camels were up to twice to four times older than small ruminants. Interestingly, the seroprevalence in all species was directly linked to the age of the animals, i.e. older animals had significantly higher seroprevalence rates than younger animals. The highest CCHFV seroprevalence in Mauritania was found in camels and cattle, followed by small ruminants. The large proportion of positive animals in cattle and camels might be explained by the high ages of the animals. Future CCHFV prevalence studies should at least consider the age of surveyed animals in order to avoid misinterpretations.
Sea temperature effects on depth use and habitat selection in a marine fish community.

Understanding the responses of aquatic animals to temperature variability is essential to predict impacts of future climate change and to inform conservation and management. Most ectotherms such as fish are expected to adjust their behaviour to avoid extreme temperatures and minimize acute changes in body temperature. In coastal Skagerrak, Norway, sea surface temperature (SST) ranges seasonally from 0 to over 20 °C, representing a challenge to the fish community which includes both cold-, cool- and warm-water affinity species. By acoustically tracking 111 individuals of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), pollack (Pollachius pollachius) and ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) in 2015 - 2018, we examined how coexisting species within a fish community adjusted their behaviour (i.e. vertical distribution in the water column and habitat selection) to cope with the thermal variation. Mixed-effect models showed that thermal preference was a main driver of behaviour and habitat use of the fish community in a southern Norwegian fjord. Cod used colder waters, compared with pollack and ballan wrasse. Increases in SST during summer were associated with the use of deeper, colder waters by cod, especially by larger individuals, and conversely with the occupancy of shallower areas by pollack and ballan wrasse. During winter, when SST dropped and the thermal stratification reversed, pollack and ballan wrasse moved to deeper, relatively warmer areas, while cod selected shallower, colder habitats. Though habitat selection was affected by temperature, species-specific habitat selection was observed even when temperature was similar throughout habitats. This study shows how cohabiting fish species respond to thermal heterogeneity, suggesting that i) temperature regulates the access to the different depths and habitats and ii) behavioural plasticity may be an important factor for coping with temperature variability and potentially for adaptation to climate change.
Protective effects of zingerone on high cholesterol diet-induced atherosclerosis through lipid regulatory signaling pathway

Aim: A high cholesterol diet (HCD) is known to cause metabolic dysregulation, oxidative stress, cardiovascular diseases and atherogenesis. Zingerone is a pharmacologically active component of dry ginger. Zingerone has been shown to have a wide range of pharmacological properties, including scavenging free radicals, high antioxidant activity, suppressing lipid peroxidation and anti-inflammatory. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Zingerone on HCD-induced atherosclerosis in rats. Methods: Animals were divided into four categories (n = 6). Group I: normal control, Group II: zingerone control (20 mg/kg b.wt.), group III: HCD-induced atherosclerosis, Group IV: HCD + zingerone, respectively, for 8 weeks. Results: The HCD-fed rats resulted in a significant increase in an atherosclerotic lesion, lipid peroxidation, lipid profile, high-density lipoprotein concentration, cardiac markers, body weight, reduced antioxidant status, and displayed atherosclerosis. These findings were conventional by up-regulated expression of lipid regulatory genes like sterol-regulatory-element-binding protein-c (SREBP-c), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), liver X receptor–alpha (LXR-α), and down-regulated expression of acetyl-CoA oxidase (ACO), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-α) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1) in HCD-fed rats. These significant changes were observed in the zingerone-treated rats for the last 4 weeks. Conclusion: These findings suggest that zingerone reduced atherosclerosis by modulated the atherosclerotic lesion, lipid profile, antioxidant status and lipid regulatory gene expression in HCD-fed rats.
Vesicles of double hydrophilic pullulan and poly(acrylamide) block copolymers: a combination of synthetic- and bio-derived blocks

The formation of vesicular structures with average diameters from 200 to 300 nm consisting of double hydrophilic diblock copolymers pullulan-b-poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (Pull-b-PDMA) and pullulan-b-poly(N-ethylacrylamide) (Pull-b-PEA) in aqueous solution is described. Bio-derived pullulan was depolymerized and functionalized with alkyne endgroups. Furthermore, azide end functionalized acrylamide blocks PDMA and PEA were synthesized via RAFT polymerization. Individual blocks were conjugated via copper catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) to afford defined double hydrophilic block copolymers. Aqueous solutions of the synthesized block copolymers showed formation of completely hydrophilic vesicles that were observed via various techniques including dynamic light scattering (DLS), static light scattering (SLS), laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
A prospective randomized clinical trial comparing nepafenac, intravitreal triamcinolone and no adjuvant therapy for epiretinal membrane

To compare the efficacy of topical nepafenac 0.1% versus intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) at the conclusion of vitrectomy surgery versus no adjuvant therapy (NAT) in improving macular morphology post‐operatively in patients undergoing vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (ERM), as measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA).