Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Microbial isolates and antibiotic sensitivity in patients hospitalized with odontogenic infections at a tertiary center over 10 years

Objectives This study investigated causative strains and their antibiotic sensitivity in patients who were hospitalized for maxillofacial odontogenic infections at a tertiary center in South Korea over the past 10 years with the aim of providing guidelines for the selection of appropriate empirical antibiotics. Materials and Methods Patients with head and neck fascial space abscesses due to odontogenic infections who underwent incision and drainage surgery with pus culture tests between 2013 and 2022 at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dankook University Hospital were included. The bacterial isolates and antibiotic sensitivity of each strain were analyzed for 2013-2022, 2013-2017, and 2018-2022. The affected fascial spaces were classified into primary, secondary, and deep neck spaces. Results In the 192 patients included in this study, 302 strains were detected. Viridans streptococcus had the highest frequency (51.7%), followed by Prevotella spp. (16.9%), Staphylococcus spp. (5.6%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.6%). The identification rate of viridans streptococcus significantly increased from 41.8% in 2013-2017 to 60.9% in 2018-2022. Viridans streptococcus showed an antibiotic sensitivity of 80.5% to ampicillin; the sensitivity to penicillin antibiotics decreased over the study period. Antibiotic susceptibility was approximately 94% for third-generation cephalosporins. K. pneumoniae, which was identified at a high percentage in patients with deep neck space infection, showed increasing antibiotic resistance to most antibiotics over the study period. Conclusion Viridans streptococcus was identified in head and neck fascial space abscesses with the highest frequency. Empirical antibiotics should be effective against this strain; penicillin antibiotics are considered inappropriate. For effective treatment of deep neck space abscesses, bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity tests performed as soon as possible are essential.
The new race-free equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate: should they be adopted for Asians?

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial and No Derivatives License (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution of the material without any modifications, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original works properly cited. In 2021, researchers of the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) published new CKD-EPI equations without race coefficients [1]. These equations showed acceptable estimation of the measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and the equation incorporating both creatinine and cystatin C showed better performance than the equations incorporating either creatinine or cystatin C alone. Therefore, the National Kidney Foundation and the American Society of Nephrology Task Force recommend the immediate adoption of the new equations and the use of cystatin C in all laboratories in the United States [2]. However, the publication of these new estimated GFR (eGFR) equations was largely driven by efforts to address healthcare disparities associated with racial diversity in the United States [3]. Because this change was based on social rather than biological issues in the United States, further scientific background should be collated to decide whether these new equations should be adopted in other countries. Two aspects must be evaluated for the adoption of the new equations: predictability and accuracy. Kim et al. [4] evaluated the predictive performance of the 2021 CKDEPI equations for cardiovascular disease and mortality using data from the KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD). This study showed that the 2021 CKD-EPI equations based on The new race-free equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate: should they be adopted for Asians?
The Association of Nonmodifiable Patient Factors on Antipsychotic Medication use in the Intensive Care Unit

Purpose We investigated the association of age, sex, race, and insurance status on antipsychotic medication use among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Materials and Methods Retrospective study of adults admitted to ICUs at a tertiary academic center. Patient characteristics, hospital course, and medication (olanzapine, quetiapine, and haloperidol) data were collected. Logistic regression models evaluated the independent association of age, sex, race, and insurance status on the use of each antipsychotic, adjusting for prespecified covariates. Results Of 27,137 encounters identified, 6191 (22.8%) received antipsychotics. Age was significantly associated with the odds of receiving olanzapine (P < .001), quetiapine (P = .001), and haloperidol (P = .0046). Male sex and public insurance status were associated with increased odds of receiving antipsychotics olanzapine, quetiapine, and haloperidol (Male vs Female: OR 1.13, 95% CI [1.04, 1.24], P = .0005; OR 1.22, 95% CI [1.10, 1.34], P = .0001; OR 1.28, 95% CI [1.17, 1.40], P < .0001, respectively; public insurance vs private insurance: OR 1.32, 95% CI [1.20, 1.46], P < .0001; OR 1.21, 95% CI [1.09, 1.34], P = .0004; OR 1.15, 95% CI [1.04, 1.27], P = .0058, respectively). Black race was also associated with a decreased odds of receiving all antipsychotics (olanzapine (P = .0177), quetiapine (P = .004), haloperidol (P = .0041)). Conclusions Age, sex, race, and insurance status were associated with the use of all antipsychotic medications investigated, highlighting the importance of investigating the potential impact of these prescribing decisions on patient outcomes across diverse populations. Recognizing how nonmodifiable patient factors have the potential to influence prescribing practices may be considered an important factor toward optimizing medication regimens.
Statin Use and the Risk of Subsequent Hospitalized Exacerbations in COPD Patients with Frequent Exacerbations

Rationale: The potential bene ﬁ ts of statins for the prevention of exacerbations in patients with COPD remains controversial. No previous studies have investigated the impact of statins on clinical outcomes in COPD patients with frequent exacerbations. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the use of statins and the risk of subsequent hospitalized exacerbations in COPD frequent exacerbators. Materials and Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. 139,223 COPD patients with a ﬁ rst hospitalized exacerbation between 2004 and 2012 were analyzed. Among them, 35,482 had a second hospitalized exacerbation within a year after the ﬁ rst exacerbation, and were de ﬁ ned as frequent exacerbators. 1:4 propensity score matching was used to create matched samples of statin users and non-users. The competing risk regression analysis model was used to evaluate the association between statin use and exacerbation risk. Results: The use of statins was associated with a signi ﬁ cantly reduced risk in subsequent hospitalized exacerbations in COPD patients after their ﬁ rst hospitalized exacerbation (adjusted subdistribution hazard ration [SHR], 0.89; 95% CI, 0.85 – 0.93, P <0.001). In frequent exacerbators, the SHR for subsequent hospitalized exacerbations in statins users was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.81 – 0.94, P =0.001). Subgroup analysis among frequent exacerbators demonstrated that the use of statins only provided a protective effect against subsequent hospitalized exacerbations in male patients aged 75 years and older, with coexisting diabetes mellitus, hypertension or cardiovascular disease, and no protective effect was observed in those with lung cancer or depression. Current use of statins was associated with a greater protective effect for reducing subsequent hospitalized exacerbation. Conclusion: The use of statins was associated with a signi ﬁ cant reduction in the risk of hospitalized exacerbations in COPD patients after a ﬁ rst hospitalized exacerbation and in speci ﬁ ed COPD frequent exacerbators.
Choline-mediated hepatic lipid homoeostasis in yellow catfish: unravelling choline’s lipotropic and methyl donor functions and significance of ire-1α signalling pathway

Abstract Choline plays a crucial role in hepatic lipid homeostasis by acting as a major methyl-group donor. However, despite this well-accepted fact, no study has yet explored how choline’s methyl-donor function contributes to preventing hepatic lipid dysregulation. Moreover, the potential regulatory role of Ire-1α, an ER-transmembrane transducer for the unfolded protein response (UPRer), in choline-mediated hepatic lipid homeostasis remains unexplored. Thus, this study investigated the mechanism by which choline prevents hepatic lipid dysregulation, focusing on its role as a methyl-donor and the involvement of Ire-1α in this process. To this end, a model animal for lipid metabolism, yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) were fed two different diets (adequate or deficient choline diets) in vivo for 10 weeks. The key findings of studies are as follows: 1. Dietary choline, upregulated selected lipolytic and fatty acid β-oxidation transcripts promoting hepatic lipid homeostasis. 2. Dietary choline ameliorated UPRer and prevented hepatic lipid dysregulation mainly through ire-1α signalling, not perk or atf-6α signalling. 3. Choline inhibited the transcriptional expression level of ire-1α by activating site-specific DNA methylations in the promoter of ire-1α. 4. Choline-mediated ire-1α methylations reduced Ire-1α/Fas interactions, thereby further inhibiting Fas activity and reducing lipid droplet deposition. These results offer a novel insight into the direct and indirect regulation of choline on lipid metabolism genes and suggests a potential crosstalk between ire-1α signalling and choline-deficiency-induced hepatic lipid dysregulation, highlighting the critical contribution of choline as a methyl-donor in maintaining hepatic lipid homeostasis.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Therapy in Acute Renal Failure: Possible Role of Hepatocyte Growth Factor

Management of acute renal failure depends first on correction of the metabolic abnormalities like the correction of hyperkalemia and correction of metabolic acidosis then treatment of the cause as correction of the hypovolemic state during shock or immunosuppressive therapy for glomerulonephritis [3]. Although a number of agents and growth factors have been proven effective in the amelioration of ARF in otherwise healthy animals, no significantly effective new therapy has been introduced into clinical practice in decades. It is for these reasons that fundamentally new strategies for the treatment of ARF are needed.
Overexpression of Prr11 promotes tumorigenic capability and is associated with progression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

is one of the most common malignancies of gastrointestinal tract in the world, and the long-term prognosis for ESCC patients still remains dismal due to the lack of effective early diagnosis biomarkers. Materials and methods: Western blot and immunochemistry were used to determine the expression of PRR11 in 201 clinicopathologically characterized ESCC specimens. The effects of PRR11 on stem cell-like traits and tumorigenicity were examined by tumor sphere formation assay and SP assays in vitro and by a tumorigenesis model in vivo. The mechanism by which PRR11 mediated Wnt/ β -catenin signaling was explored using luciferase reporter, immunochemistry, and real time-PCR (RT-PCR) assays. Results: We found that PRR11 was markedly upregulated, at the level of both transcription and translation, in ESCC cell lines as compared with normal esophageal epithelial cells (NECCs). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that 69.2% parafﬁn-embedded archival ESCC specimens exhibited high levels of PRR11 expression, and multivariate analysis revealed that PRR11 upregulation might be an independent prognostic indicator for the survival of patients with ESCC. Furthermore, overexpression of PRR11 dramatically enhanced, whereas inhibition of PRR11 reduced the capability of cancer stem cell (CSC)-like phenotypes and tumorigenicity of ESCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanically, we demonstrated PRR11-enhanced tumorigenicity of ESCC cells via activating Wnt/ β -catenin signaling, and PRR11 expression is found to be signiﬁcantly correlated with β -catenin nuclear location in ESCC. Conclusion: Our ﬁndings suggest that the PRR11 might represent a novel and valuable prognostic marker for ESCC progression and play a role during the development and progression of this malignancy.
EZH2 and matrix co-regulate phenotype and KCNB2 expression in bladder smooth muscle cells.

BACKGROUND Partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBO) is a widespread cause of urinary dysfunction and patient discomfort, resulting in immense health care costs. Previously, we found that obstruction is associated with altered regulation of epigenetic machinery and altered function. Here we examined if PBO and chronic bladder obstructive disease (COBD) affect epigenetic marks in a proof of principle gene and explored mechanisms of its epigenetic regulation using in vitro models. METHODS Archival obstruction tissues from COBD had been created in 200-250 g female Sprague-Dawley rats by surgical ligation of the urethra for 6 weeks, followed by removal of the suture and following animals for 6 more weeks. Obstruction (PBO) is the 6-week ligation only. Sham ligations comprise passing the suture behind the urethra. Histone3 lysine27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) was studied by immunostaining and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)/PCR. The interaction of matrix with KCNB2 regulation was studied in human bladder SMC plated on damaged matrix and native collagen and treated with vehicle or UNC1999. Cells were analyzed by immunostaining for cell phenotype, and western blotting for KCNB2, H3K27me3 and EZH2. Effects of conditioned media from these cells were also examined on cell phenotype. siRNA against KCNB2 was examined for effects on cell phenotype and gene expression by RT-qPCR. RESULTS H3K27me3 increased by immunofluorescence during PBO, and by ChIP/PCR during COBD in the CpG Island (CGI) as well as 350 bp upstream. Obstruction vs. sham also showed an increase in H3K27me3 deposition. In SMC in vitro, EZH2 inhibition restored KCNB2 expression and partially restored SMC phenotype. CONCLUSIONS Regulation of KCNB2 at the promoter demonstrated dynamic changes in H3K27me3 during COBD and obstruction. In vitro models suggest that matrix plays a role in regulation of EZH2, H3K27me3 and KCNB2, which may play a role in the regulation of smooth muscle phenotype in vivo.
Overexpression of Plg-RKT protects against adipose dysfunction and dysregulation of glucose homeostasis in diet-induced obese mice

ABSTRACT The plasminogen receptor, Plg-RKT, is a unique cell surface receptor that is broadly expressed in cells and tissues throughout the body. Plg-RKT localizes plasminogen on cell surfaces and promotes its activation to the broad-spectrum serine protease, plasmin. In this study, we show that overexpression of Plg-RKT protects mice from high fat diet (HFD)-induced adipose and metabolic dysfunction. During the first 10 weeks on the HFD, the body weights of mice that overexpressed Plg-RKT (Plg-RKT-OEX) were lower than those of control mice (CagRosaPlgRKT). After 10 weeks on the HFD, CagRosaPlgRKT and Plg-RKT-OEX mice had similar body weights. However, Plg-RKT-OEX mice showed a more metabolically favourable body composition phenotype. Plg-RKT-OEX mice also showed improved glucose tolerance and increased insulin sensitivity. We found that the improved metabolic functions of Plg-RKT-OEX mice were mechanistically associated with increased energy expenditure and activity, decreased proinflammatory adipose macrophages and decreased inflammation, elevated brown fat thermogenesis, and higher expression of adipose PPARγ and adiponectin. These findings suggest that Plg-RKT signalling promotes healthy adipose function via multiple mechanisms to defend against obesity-associated adverse metabolic phenotypes.
The changing spectrum of infection with BCMA and GPRC5D targeting bispecific antibody (bsAb) therapy in patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma

There is a paucity of granular data on infection risk with B-cell maturation antigen (BMCA) and GPRC5D bispecific antibodies (bsAb) in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). The aim of our multi-institutional study was to characterize the incidence, etiologies, and risk factors of infections from the start of therapy to the last follow-up or 90 days after study exit. A total of 66 patients received BCMA bsAb monotherapy, 15 GPRC5D bsAb monotherapy, and 15 GPRC5D bsAb combination therapy with daratumumab and/or pomalidomide. While the infection rate per 100 days was 0.57 for BCMA bsAb, it was 0.62 for GPRC5D bsAb combination and 0.13 for GPRC5D bsAb monotherapy; P=0.05. The proportion of infections that were grade ≥3 was higher in the BCMA bsAb group compared to the GPRC5D groups (58% vs. 36%; P=0.04). Grade 5 events were observed in 8% (n=8) of the patients, all treated with BCMA bsAb. The 9 month cumulative incidence of any grade of infection was similar in the BCMA and GPRC5D-combination groups (57% and 62%) and significantly higher than in the GPRC5D-mono group (16%); P=0.012. The cumulative incidence of grade ≥3 infections was highest in the BCMA group reaching 54% at 18 months; P=0.06. Multivariate analysis showed that BCMA bsAb therapy or GPRC5D combination therapy, history of previous infections, baseline lymphopenia, and baseline hypogammaglobulinemia were significantly associated with a higher risk of grade ≥3 infections. Our results indicate that BCMA bsAb and GPRC5D-combination therapies in RRMM are associated with higher cumulative incidence of infection and grade ≥3 infection compared to GPRC5D bsAb mono.
Liver Re-transplantation in Adults: Indications and Outcomes Analysis of a 23-year Experience in a Single Center in Argentina.

Background Liver re-transplantation (re-LT) represents the only treatment for patients with irreversible graft failure. Objective The aim of the current study was to describe the outcomes of both, patient and graft, after re- LT, at a high-volume referral center. Methods Our population consisted of patients, with liver disease, who underwent re-LT in our institution between January 1996 and December 2019. Results 49 patients met the inclusion criteria. The patient's overall survival (OS) for the first year was 85% (Confidence Intervals (CI) 71-92) and 70% at five years (CI 53-82). In our population, three (6.12%) patients presented loss of graft and were included again in the transplant list; of these, one agreed to a new transplant while the remaining two died. This gave us graft survival results similar to those obtained for the re-LT patient; 85% at one year (CI 71-92) and 70% at 5 years (CI 53-82). Conclusion Our study shows that re-LT is a valid and safe treatment for both early graft dysfunction and for transplanted patients who again present end-stage liver disease, showing a satisfactory long-term evolution, with parameters comparable to primary transplantation.
Assessing the passage of obstacles by fish. Concepts, design and application

6 Biodiversity is currently undergoing one of the most intense and rapid crises of mass extinction that the planet Earth has ever known and humanity is, without any doubt, the essential cause of the drastic losses. Among the many factors are chemical pressures in the form of water, soil and air pollution as well as in the form of climate change, excessive use of natural resources (hunting, fishing, cutting of forests, etc.), and physical pressures such as the destruction or loss of access to the habitats required by numerous species for their survival. The impact of physical pressures and in particular the fragmentation of habitats is today better understood and has been amply demonstrated. The international community has progressively acknowledged this issue and responded with a number of legal texts. In the European Union, the Water framework directive (WFD) is a prime example. The objective of the texts is generally to preserve and to restore ecological continuity and ecological corridors in order to slow or to stop at least part of the loss of biodiversity now taking place. Before taking action in favour of ecological continuity, it is necessary to assess the degree to which natural areas have been modified and to identify the situations creating the greatest problems. In aquatic ecosystems, hydraulic structures are one of the main causes of degraded ecological continuity, particularly for fish whose survival depends on their freedom of movement. An assessment of the impact of structures on the movement of fish is a prerequisite to determining the seriousness of problems in the field and identifying the priorities for action. To date, these assessments have generally been carried out by a small number of highly specialised experts. However, the massive (yet often unsuspected) numbers of transverse obstacles on rivers (over 70 000 obstacles have already been inventoried in France thanks to the characterisation reports for the WFD) created a pressing need for a simple, robust and standardised method for assessments that could be used by a large number of persons active in the environmental and territorial-planning fields. Onema responded to the challenge and coordinated the development of a protocol to assess the impact of obstacles to flow on the movement of the main fish species in continental France.
The significance of historical troponin elevation in acute heart failure: Not as reassuring as previously assumed

Historical cardiac troponin (cTn) elevation is commonly interpreted as lessening the significance of current cTn elevations at presentation for acute heart failure (AHF). Evidence for this practice is lacking. Our objective was to determine the incremental prognostic significance of historical cTn elevation compared to cTn elevation and ischemic heart disease (IHD) history at presentation for AHF.
UNVEILING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DYNAMIC ARTERIAL ELASTANCE: AN INSIGHTFUL APPROACH TO ASSESSING ARTERIAL LOAD IN AN ENDOTOXIN SHOCK MODEL

ABSTRACT Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dynamic arterial elastance (EaDyn) and the pulsatile and steady components of arterial load in an endotoxin shock model using a two-element Windkessel model and to describe the behavior of EaDyn in this model. Methods: Ten female Yorkshire pigs were administered lipopolysaccharide intravenously to induce endotoxin shock, while three female pigs served as the control group. Measurements of EaDyn (ratio between pulse pressure variation and stroke volume variation), effective arterial elastance, arterial compliance (Cart), and systemic vascular resistance were taken every 30 min in the endotoxin group until shock was induced. In the control group, these variables were measured every 30 min for 3 h. Subsequently, a fluid load was administered to both groups, and measurements were repeated every 30 min. After 1 hour of shock induction, the endotoxin group was divided into two subgroups: one receiving norepinephrine (END-NE) and the other not receiving it (END-F). Results: EaDyn showed an association with Cart, while pulse pressure variation was connected to both pulsatile and steady components, and stroke volume variation was solely associated with steady components. In addition, EaDyn exhibited higher values in the END groups than in the control group when shock was achieved. Furthermore, after the administration of norepinephrine, EaDyn displayed higher values in END-F than in END-NE. Conclusions: The EaDyn variable helps identify changes in the pulsatile component of arterial load, providing valuable guidance for management strategies aimed at improving cardiac performance.