Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Salt-Restriction Spoons and Its Associations with Urinary Sodium and Potassium in the Zhejiang Province of China: Results of a Population-Based Survey

In China, a major source of sodium is salt added during cooking. In this context, use of a salt-restriction spoon (SRS) has been promoted in public health campaigns and by health care providers. To describe use of and factors associated with SRS use, knowledge of correct use, and actual correct use. This study is a population-based, representative survey of 7512 residents, aged 18 to 69 years, of China’s Zhejiang Province. The survey, which was conducted in 2017 using a multistage random sampling strategy, collected demographic information, SRS use, and physical measurements; a 24-h urine collection was obtained from 1,496 of the participants. The mean age of the participants was 44.8 years, 50.1% were females, and over 1/3 (35.3%) were classified as hypertensive. Mean 24-h urinary sodium and potassium excretions were 167.3(72.2) mmol/24 h and 38.2(18.2) mmol/24 h, respectively. Only 12.0% (899/7512) of participants once used or were currently using SRS; of the 899 users, 73.4% knew how to use the SRS correctly, and just 46.5% actually used it correctly. SRS use was more commonly associated with behavioral factors rather than socio-demographic factors. Initiation of SRS use by health care providers was associated with correct technical knowledge of SRS. Lower sodium-to-potassium ratio was associated with SRS use, while SRS use was not associated with urinary sodium and potassium excretion. Use of SRS was uncommon in Zhejiang Province of China. Given that a common source of sodium in China is salt added during cooking, use of SRS is an appealing strategy, ideally as part of a multi-component campaign.
Advanced Techniques in the Percutaneous Ablation of Liver Tumours

Percutaneous ablation is an accepted treatment modality for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastases. The goal of curative ablation is to cause the necrosis of all tumour cells with an adequate margin, akin to surgical resection, while minimising local damage to non-target tissue. Aside from the ablative modality, the proceduralist must decide the most appropriate imaging modality for visualising the tumour and monitoring the ablation zone. The proceduralist may also employ protective measures to minimise injury to non-target organs. This review article discusses the important considerations an interventionalist needs to consider when performing the percutaneous ablation of liver tumours. It covers the different ablative modalities, image guidance, and protective techniques, with an emphasis on new and advanced ablative modalities and adjunctive techniques to optimise results and achieve satisfactory ablation margins.
Development and Characterization of Rice Husk and Recycled Polypropylene Composite Filaments for 3D Printing

Nowadays the use of natural fiber composites has gained significant interest due to their low density, high availability, and low cost. The present study explores the development of sustainable 3D printing filaments based on rice husk (RH), an agricultural residue, and recycled polypropylene (rPP) and the influence of fiber weight ratio on physical, thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of 3D printing parts. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the composite’s degradation process started earlier than for the neat rPP due to the lignocellulosic fiber components. Mechanical tests showed that tensile strength increased when using a raster angle of 0° than specimens printed at 90°, due to the weaker inter-layer bonding compared to in-layer. Furthermore, inter layer bonding tensile strength was similar for all tested materials. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed the limited interaction between the untreated fiber and matrix, which led to reduced tensile properties. However, during the printing process, composites presented lower warping than printed neat rPP. Thus, 3D printable ecofriendly natural fiber composite filaments with low density and low cost can be developed and used for 3D printing applications, contributing to reduce the impact of plastic and agricultural waste.
More Than Meets the Eye: Revisiting the Roles of Heat Shock Factor 4 in Health and Diseases

Cells encounter a myriad of endogenous and exogenous stresses that could perturb cellular physiological processes. Therefore, cells are equipped with several adaptive and stress-response machinery to overcome and survive these insults. One such machinery is the heat shock response (HSR) program that is governed by the heat shock factors (HSFs) family in response towards elevated temperature, free radicals, oxidants, and heavy metals. HSF4 is a member of this HSFs family that could exist in two predominant isoforms, either the transcriptional repressor HSFa or transcriptional activator HSF4b. HSF4 is constitutively active due to the lack of oligomerization negative regulator domain. HSF4 has been demonstrated to play roles in several physiological processes and not only limited to regulating the classical heat shock- or stress-responsive transcriptional programs. In this review, we will revisit and delineate the recent updates on HSF4 molecular properties. We also comprehensively discuss the roles of HSF4 in health and diseases, particularly in lens cell development, cataract formation, and cancer pathogenesis. Finally, we will posit the potential direction of HSF4 future research that could enhance our knowledge on HSF4 molecular networks as well as physiological and pathophysiological functions.
Shared Odds of Borrelia and Rabies Virus Exposure in Serbia

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-borne disease in Serbia and other European countries. Rabies is a fatal zoonosis distributed worldwide and is caused by the rabies virus. Professionals at risk of rabies—including veterinarians, hunters, communal service workers, and forestry workers—overlap with some professions at a higher risk of exposure to tick bites and tick-borne pathogen infections. We hypothesized that individuals identified by the public health system as at risk of rabies virus infection, and consequently vaccinated against rabies virus, also share a higher likelihood of Borrelia exposure. To test our hypothesis, a case-control study was carried out during 2019 in Serbia to determine the seroprevalence of anti-Borrelia antibodies in two case groups (individuals at risk and vaccinated against rabies virus) and a control group (individuals without risk of rabies). Individuals vaccinated against rabies following either “pre-exposure protocol” (PrEP, n = 58) or “post-exposure protocol” (PEP, n = 42) were considered as rabies risk groups and healthy blood donors (n = 30) as the control group. The results showed higher Borrelia seroprevalence in PrEP (17.2%; 10/58) and PEP (19.0%; 8/42) groups compared with the control group (6.67%; 2/30). Furthermore, odds ratio (OR) analysis showed that risk of rabies (in either the PrEP (OR = 2.91) or PEP (OR = 3.29) groups) is associated with increased odds of being seropositive to Borrelia. However, the difference in Borrelia seroprevalence between groups was not statistically significant (Chi-square (χ²) test p > 0.05). The shared odds of LB and rabies exposure found in this study suggest that, in countries where both diseases occur, the common citizen can be at risk of both diseases when in a risky habitat. These findings are important to guide physicians in targeting high-risk groups, and diagnose LB, and to guide decision-makers in targeting control and prevention measures for both infections in risk areas.
Development of novel polymeric materials for agroprocess intensification

The potential uses of hydrophilic nanostructured microporous polymers (PolyHIPE polymers) in agriculture were investigated with rye grass as a model plant. The basic material was crosslinked styrene-divinyl benzene polymer with a 90 vol % porosity. They were microwave-sulfonated to obtain hydrophilic polymers with water adsorption capacities of 10-fold and 18-fold with nominal pore sizes of 20 and 150 μm, respectively. The small-pore-size PolyHIPE polymer was rigid, whereas the large-pore-size polymer was spongy and adsorbed water rapidly. When this spongy polymer was used as a soil additive at 0.5 wt % with increasing water stress (normal, semiarid, and arid conditions), the dry biomass yield increased by about 30, 140, and 300%, respectively, after 21 days of cultivation compared with the control, which contained no sulfonated spongy PolyHIPE polymer. The rigid sulfonated PolyHIPE polymer did not show any statistically significant effect on the biomass yield.
Opiophobia in Emergency Department Healthcare Providers: A Survey in Western Switzerland

Opiophobia contributes to oligoanalgesia in the emergency department (ED), but its definition varies, and its association to healthcare providers’ personality traits has been scantly explored. Our purpose was to study the different definitions of opiophobia and their association with two personality traits of doctors and nurses working in EDs, namely the stress from uncertainty and risk-taking. We used three online questionnaires: the ‘Attitude Towards Morphine Use’ Score (ATMS), the Stress From Uncertainty Scale (SUS) and the Risk-Taking Scale (RTS). Doctors and nurses from nine hospital EDs in francophone Switzerland were invited to participate. The ATMS score was analyzed according to demographic characteristics, SUS, and RTS. The response rate was 56%, with 57% of respondents being nurses and 63% women. Doctors, less experienced and non-indigenous participants had a significantly higher ATMS (all p ≤ 0.01). The main contributors of the ATMS were the fear of side effects and of addiction. In multivariate analysis, being a doctor, less experience and non-indigenous status were predictive of the ATMS; each point of the SUS increased the ATMS by 0.24 point. The fear of side effects and of addiction were the major contributors of opiophobia among ED healthcare providers; opiophobia was also associated with their personality traits.
Comparison of Cerebellar Grey Matter Alterations in Bipolar and Cerebellar Patients: Evidence from Voxel-Based Analysis

The aim of this study was to compare the patterns of cerebellar alterations associated with bipolar disease with those induced by the presence of cerebellar neurodegenerative pathologies to clarify the potential cerebellar contribution to bipolar affective disturbance. Twenty-nine patients affected by bipolar disorder, 32 subjects affected by cerebellar neurodegenerative pathologies, and 37 age-matched healthy subjects underwent a 3T MRI protocol. A voxel-based morphometry analysis was used to show similarities and differences in cerebellar grey matter (GM) loss between the groups. We found a pattern of GM cerebellar alterations in both bipolar and cerebellar groups that involved the anterior and posterior cerebellar regions (p = 0.05). The direct comparison between bipolar and cerebellar patients demonstrated a significant difference in GM loss in cerebellar neurodegenerative patients in the bilateral anterior and posterior motor cerebellar regions, such as lobules I−IV, V, VI, VIIIa, VIIIb, IX, VIIb and vermis VI, while a pattern of overlapping GM loss was evident in right lobule V, right crus I and bilateral crus II. Our findings showed, for the first time, common and different alteration patterns of specific cerebellar lobules in bipolar and neurodegenerative cerebellar patients, which allowed us to hypothesize a cerebellar role in the cognitive and mood dysregulation symptoms that characterize bipolar disorder.
Tissue Microarrays to Visualize Influenza D Attachment to Host Receptors in the Respiratory Tract of Farm Animals

The trimeric hemagglutinin-esterase fusion protein (HEF) of influenza D virus (IDV) binds 9-O-acetylated sialic acid receptors, which are expressed in various host species. While cattle are the main reservoir for IDV, the viral genome has also been detected in domestic pigs. In addition, antibodies against IDV have been detected in other farm animals such as sheep, goats, and horses, and even in farmers working with IDV positive animals. Viruses belonging to various IDV clades circulate, but little is known about their differences in host and tissue tropism. Here we used recombinantly produced HEF proteins (HEF S57A) from the major clades D/Oklahoma (D/OK) and D/Oklahoma/660 (D/660) to study their host and tissue tropism and receptor interactions. To this end, we developed tissue microarrays (TMA) composed of respiratory tissues from various farm animals including cattle, domestic pigs, sheep, goats, and horses. Protein histochemical staining of farm animal respiratory tissue-microarrays with HEF proteins showed that cattle have receptors present over the entire respiratory tract while receptors are only present in the nasal and pharyngeal epithelium of pigs, sheep, goats, and horses. No differences in tropism for tissues and animals were observed between clades, while hemagglutination assays showed that D/OK has a 2-fold higher binding affinity than D/660 for receptors on red blood cells. The removal of O-acetylation from receptors via saponification treatment confirmed that receptor-binding of both clades was dependent on O-acetylated sialic acids.
Predicting the Risk of Metastases by PSMA-PET/CT—Evaluation of 335 Men with Treatment-Naïve Prostate Carcinoma

Simple Summary Prostate carcinoma is the most common visceral cancer for men and the second most common cause of death. The early detection of micrometastasis may improve clinical outcome due to individual treatment approaches like early intensified therapy. Imaging using prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA-PET/CT) has a high potential of detecting even small metastases. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze data of 335 men with primary diagnosed prostate cancer and available PSMA-PET/CT with regard to characteristic PET-parameters and the detection of metastases. We observed that an increased accumulation of the PET-tracer measured in the primary tumor significantly correlates with the presence of distant metastases. The current results may be helpful in decision making of individual treatment escalation for a variety of men with aggressive disease which should improve clinical outcome. Abstract Men diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer are at high risk of local relapse or systemic progression after definitive treatment. Treatment intensification is highly needed for that patient cohort; however, no relevant stratification tool has been implemented into the clinical work routine so far. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to analyze the role of initial PSMA-PET/CT as a prediction tool for metastases. In total, 335 men with biopsy-proven prostate carcinoma and PSMA-PET/CT for primary staging were enrolled in the present, retrospective study. The number and site of metastases were analyzed and correlated with the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the intraprostatic, malignant lesion. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine sensitivity and specificity and a model was created using multiple logistic regression. PSMA-PET/CT detected 171 metastases with PSMA-uptake in 82 patients. A statistically significant higher SUVmax was found for men with metastatic disease than for the cohort without distant metastases (median 16.1 vs. 11.2; p < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) in regard to predicting the presence of any metastases was 0.65. Choosing a cut-off value of 11.9 for SUVmax, a sensitivity and specificity (factor 1:1) of 76.0% and 58.4% was obtained. The current study confirms, that initial PSMA-PET/CT is able to detect a relatively high number of treatment-naïve men with metastatic prostate carcinoma. Intraprostatic SUVmax seems to be a promising parameter for the prediction of distant disease and could be used for treatment stratification—aspects which should be verified within prospective trials.
Changes in Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 1 following Introduction of PCV10 and PCV13: Findings from the PSERENADE Project

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 (ST1) was an important cause of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) globally before the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) containing ST1 antigen. The Pneumococcal Serotype Replacement and Distribution Estimation (PSERENADE) project gathered ST1 IPD surveillance data from sites globally and aimed to estimate PCV10/13 impact on ST1 IPD incidence. We estimated ST1 IPD incidence rate ratios (IRRs) comparing the pre-PCV10/13 period to each post-PCV10/13 year by site using a Bayesian multi-level, mixed-effects Poisson regression and all-site IRRs using a linear mixed-effects regression (N = 45 sites). Following PCV10/13 introduction, the incidence rate (IR) of ST1 IPD declined among all ages. After six years of PCV10/13 use, the all-site IRR was 0.05 (95% credibility interval 0.04–0.06) for all ages, 0.05 (0.04–0.05) for <5 years of age, 0.08 (0.06–0.09) for 5–17 years, 0.06 (0.05–0.08) for 18–49 years, 0.06 (0.05–0.07) for 50–64 years, and 0.05 (0.04–0.06) for ≥65 years. PCV10/13 use in infant immunization programs was followed by a 95% reduction in ST1 IPD in all ages after approximately 6 years. Limited data availability from the highest ST1 disease burden countries using a 3 + 0 schedule constrains generalizability and data from these settings are needed.
Candidate Genes for the High-Altitude Adaptations of Two Mountain Pine Taxa

Mountain plants, challenged by vegetation time contractions and dynamic changes in environmental conditions, developed adaptations that help them to balance their growth, reproduction, survival, and regeneration. However, knowledge regarding the genetic basis of species adaptation to higher altitudes remain scarce for most plant species. Here, we attempted to identify such corresponding genomic regions of high evolutionary importance in two closely related European pines, Pinus mugo and P. uncinata, contrasting them with a reference lowland relative—P. sylvestris. We genotyped 438 samples at thousands of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, tested their genetic differentiation and population structure followed by outlier detection and gene ontology annotations. Markers clearly differentiated the species and uncovered patterns of population structure in two of them. In P. uncinata three Pyrenean sites were grouped together, while two outlying populations constituted a separate cluster. In P. sylvestris, Spanish population appeared distinct from the remaining four European sites. Between mountain pines and the reference species, 35 candidate genes for altitude-dependent selection were identified, including such encoding proteins responsible for photosynthesis, photorespiration and cell redox homeostasis, regulation of transcription, and mRNA processing. In comparison between two mountain pines, 75 outlier SNPs were found in proteins involved mainly in the gene expression and metabolism.
Disentangling Species Delineation and Guiding Conservation of Endangered Magnolias in Veracruz, Mexico

The Mexican state of Veracruz has suffered very high deforestation rates in the last few decades, and despite the establishment of protected areas and conservation projects, primary forest is now mainly persisting in mostly small, scattered, fragmented remnants. New species of Magnolia section Talauma in this state have been described with little to no reference to the already existing ones, potentially resulting in over-splitting, obscuring their taxonomic delineation and conservation status, and consequently conservation programs. To study the conservation units and their genetic diversity, we here employ 15 microsatellite markers on a highly representative sampling of 254 individuals of what are presumed to be five Magnolia species. The results support at least three species and maximum five main conservation units. We propose downgrading the latter to four, given morphological, ecological, demographical, and geographical considerations. Two out of the three sympatrically occurring species in the rainforest in the Los Tuxtlas volcanic area have weak genetic evidence to be considered separate species. Similarly, the individuals in the Sierra de Zongolica in central Veracruz, who bear a very high morphological and genetic similarity to Magnolia mexicana, have weak genetic evidence to be recognised as a separate species. Nonetheless, the individuals could be identified as Magnolia decastroi based on morphology, and further research including the full range of this species is recommended.
Assessment of γ-H2AX and 53BP1 Foci in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes to Predict Subclinical Hematotoxicity and Response in Somatostatin Receptor-Targeted Radionuclide Therapy for Advanced Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Simple Summary Assessment of the radiation-induced alterations in peripheral blood lymphocytes is a validated strategy for biological dosimetry and assessment of individual radiosensitivity. However, its clinical significance as a liquid biopsy for predicting hematotoxicity and treatment response when targeting tumor cells with ionizing radiation from a systemically administered radioligand is unexplored. The results from this study revealed that the analysis of radiation-induced foci in peripheral blood lymphocytes may hold potential for predicting both individual subclinical hematotoxicity and tumor response to somatostatin-receptor targeted radioligand therapy in patients with advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. These preliminary data provide the rationale for further studies evaluating analyses-guided treatment intensification in patients at high risk of early progression. Abstract Background: We aimed to characterize γ-H2AX and 53BP1 foci formation in patients receiving somatostatin receptor-targeted radioligand therapy, and explored its role for predicting treatment-related hematotoxicity, and treatment response. Methods: A prospective analysis of double-strand break (DSB) markers was performed in 21 patients with advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. γ-H2AX and 53BP1 foci formation were evaluated in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) at baseline, +1 h and +24 h after administration of 7.4 GBq (177Lu)Lu-DOTA-TATE. Hematotoxicity was evaluated using standard hematology. Therapy response was assessed using (68Ga)Ga-DOTA-TATE PET/CT before enrollment and after 2 cycles of PRRT according to the volumetric modification of RECIST 1.1. Results: DSB marker kinetics were heterogeneous among patients. Subclinical hematotoxicity was associated with γ-H2AX and 53BP1 foci formation (e.g., change in platelet count vs change in γ-H2AX+ cells between baseline and +1 h (r = −0.6080; p = 0.0045). Patients showing early development of new metastases had less γ-H2AX (p = 0.0125) and less 53BP1 foci per cell at +1 h (p = 0.0289), and demonstrated a distinct kinetic pattern with an absence of DSB marker decrease at +24 h (γ-H2AX: p = 0.0025; 53BP1: p = 0.0008). Conclusions: Assessment of γ-H2AX and 53BP1 foci formation in PBLs of patients receiving radioligand therapy may hold promise for predicting subclinical hematotoxicity and early treatment response.