Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stabilization of Damaged Articular Cartilage with Hydrogel‐Mediated Reinforcement and Sealing

Cartilage injuries and subsequent tissue deterioration impact millions of patients. Since the regeneration of functional hyaline cartilage remains elusive, methods to stabilize the remaining tissue, and prevent further deterioration, would be of significant clinical utility and prolong joint function. Finite element modeling shows that fortification of the degenerate cartilage (Reinforcement) and reestablishment of a superficial zone (Sealing) are both required to restore fluid pressurization within the tissue and restrict fluid flow and matrix loss from the defect surface. Here, a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel system is designed to both interdigitate with and promote the sealing of the degenerated cartilage. Interdigitating fortification restores both bulk and local pericellular tissue mechanics, reestablishing the homeostatic mechanotransduction of endogenous chondrocytes within the tissue. This HA therapy is further functionalized to present chemo mechanical cues that improve the attachment and direct the response of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells at the defect site, guiding localized extracellular matrix deposition to “seal” the defect. Together, these results support the therapeutic potential, across cell and tissue length scales, of an innovative hydrogel therapy for the treatment of damaged cartilage.
Smartphone electrocardiogram for QT interval monitoring in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients treated with Hydroxychloroquine.

INTRODUCTION The global pandemic of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to the re-purposing of medications, such as hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir-ritonavir in the treatment of the earlier phase of COVID-19 before the recognized benefit of steroids and antiviral. We aim to explore the corrected QT (QTc) interval and 'torsadogenic' potential of hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir-ritonavir utilising a combination of smartphone electrocardiogram and 12-lead electrocardiogram monitoring. MATERIALS AND METHODS Between 16-April-2020 to 30-April- 2020, patients with suspected or confirmed for COVID-19 indicated for in-patient treatment with hydroxychloroquine with or without lopinavir-ritonavir to the Sarawak General Hospital were monitored with KardiaMobile smartphone electrocardiogram (AliveCor®, Mountain View, CA) or standard 12-lead electrocardiogram. The baseline and serial QTc intervals were monitored till the last dose of medications or until the normalization of the QTc interval. RESULTS Thirty patients were treated with hydroxychloroquine, and 20 (66.7%) patients received a combination of hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir-ritonavir therapy. The maximum QTc interval was significantly prolonged compared to baseline (434.6±28.2msec vs. 458.6±47.1msec, p=0.001). The maximum QTc interval (456.1±45.7msec vs. 464.6±45.2msec, p=0.635) and the delta QTc (32.6±38.5msec vs. 26.3±35.8msec, p=0.658) were not significantly different between patients on hydroxychloroquine or a combination of hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir-ritonavir. Five (16.7%) patients had QTc of 500msec or more. Four (13.3%) patients required discontinuation of hydroxychloroquine and 3 (10.0%) patients required discontinuation of lopinavirritonavir due to QTc prolongation. However, no torsade de pointes was observed. CONCLUSIONS QTc monitoring using smartphone electrocardiogram was feasible in COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine with or without lopinavir-ritonavir. The usage of hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir-ritonavir resulted in QTc prolongation, but no torsade de pointes or arrhythmogenic death was observed.
Motor and Basic Cognitive Functions in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Undergoing Induction or Consolidation Chemotherapy

Children with acute leukemia (ALL) often suffer from several disease and treatment related side-effects during treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine the gross and fine motor functioning and basic cognitive performance of children (n = 25) with ALL who were undergoing induction or consolidation chemotherapy and to compare these characteristics to a normative group (n = 21) of age-matched typically developing children. We assessed the children’s motor functions with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition-Short Form and the Nine-hole Peg Test, and we used the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) to evaluate their cognitive performance. Compared to the normative group, children with ALL had lower scores on total motor proficiency and sub-tests scores of motor functions (p < .05), and on the Nine-hole Peg Test performance (p < .05); but their cognitive performance on the MMSE was not significantly different. Children with ALL would likely benefit from structured exercise and rehabilitative interventions during chemotherapy to prevent and/or ameliorate ALL-related motor dysfunction. We also suggest that their cognitive functioning should be further investigated with more extensive well-validated neurocognitive tests for children (e.g., the Wechsler intelligence scales).
Plant structural diversity alters sediment retention on and underneath herbaceous vegetation in a flume experiment

Sediment retention is a key ecosystem function provided by floodplains to filter sediments and nutrients from the river water during floods. Floodplain vegetation is an important driver of fine sediment retention. We aim to understand which structural properties of the vegetation are most important for capturing sediments. In a hydraulic flume experiment, we investigated this by disentangling sedimentation on and underneath 96 vegetation patches (40 cm x 60 cm). We planted two grass and two herb species in each patch and conducted a full-factorial manipulation of 1) vegetation density, 2) vegetation height, 3) structural diversity (small-tall vs tall-tall species combinations) and 4) leaf pubescence (based on trait information). We inundated the vegetation patches for 21 h in a flume with silt- and clay-rich water and subsequently measured the amount of accumulated sediment on the vegetation and on a fleece as ground underneath it. We quantified the sediment by washing it off the biomass and off the fleece, drying the sediment and weighting it. Our results showed that all manipulated vegetation properties combined (vegetation density and height, and the interaction of structural diversity and leaf pubescence) explained sedimentation on the vegetation (total R2 = 0.34). The sedimentation underneath the vegetation was explained by the structural diversity and the leaf pubescence (total R2 = 0.11). We further found that vegetation biomass positively affected the sedimentation on and underneath the vegetation. These findings are crucial for floodplain management strategies with the aim to increase sediment retention. Based on our findings, we can identify management strategies and target plant communities that are able to maximize a floodplain’s ability to capture sediments.
Development of hearing impairment inventory for religious duties of Muslim adult.

OBJECTIVE This study is a preliminary work to develop a Malay version questionnaire named 'Inventori Persepsi bagi Muslim yang Memiliki Masalah Pendengaran (IPM3P)' to assess the perception on Islamic understanding and practice among Muslim adults with hearing impairment. METHODS The scale development involved three phases: i) generation of domains based on the literature, ii) generation of sub-domains based on literature review and Islamic panel survey, and iii) generation of items. RESULTS Preliminary version of IPM3P consists of 59 items was produced, representing three domains: Obligation (18 items), Practice (21 items), and Difficulty (20 items), and seven sub-domains ('Ibadah', 'Aqidah', 'Muamalat', 'Tasawwuf', 'Akhlak','Da'wah', and 'Sirah'). CONCLUSION The preliminary version of IPM3P needs to be psychometrically tested. This pioneering study may become an impetus towards more research pertaining to understanding the effect of hearing loss towards religious life in the future in Malaysia.
Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Profiling of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Global High-Incidence Regions Identifies Crucial Genes and Potential Cancer Markers

This largest genome-wide DNA methylation study on ESCC from high-incidence populations of the world identifies functionally relevant and robust DNAme events that could serve as potential tumor-specific markers. Epigenetic mechanisms such as aberrant DNA methylation (DNAme) are known to drive esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), yet they remain poorly understood. Here, we studied tumor-specific DNAme in ESCC cases from nine high-incidence countries of Africa, Asia, and South America. Infinium MethylationEPIC array was performed on 108 tumors and 51 normal tissues adjacent to the tumors (NAT) in the discovery phase, and targeted pyrosequencing was performed on 132 tumors and 36 NAT in the replication phase. Top genes for replication were prioritized by weighting methylation results using RNA-sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and GTEx and validated by qPCR. Methylome analysis comparing tumor and NAT identified 6,796 differentially methylated positions (DMP) and 866 differential methylated regions (DMR), with a 30% methylation (Δβ) difference. The majority of identified DMPs and DMRs were hypermethylated in tumors, particularly in promoters and gene-body regions of genes involved in transcription activation. The top three prioritized genes for replication, PAX9, SIM2, and THSD4, had similar methylation differences in the discovery and replication sets. These genes were exclusively expressed in normal esophageal tissues in GTEx and downregulated in tumors. The specificity and sensitivity of these DNAme events in discriminating tumors from NAT were assessed. Our study identified novel, robust, and crucial tumor-specific DNAme events in ESCC tumors across several high-incidence populations of the world. Methylome changes identified in this study may serve as potential targets for biomarker discovery and warrant further functional characterization. Significance: This largest genome-wide DNA methylation study on ESCC from high-incidence populations of the world identifies functionally relevant and robust DNAme events that could serve as potential tumor-specific markers. Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals. org/content/canres/81/10/2612/F1.large. jpg. Graphical Abstract
Electrochemical Synthesis of Sensitive Layer of Polyaniline: Effects of Acid Doping on Ethylene Gas Sensing

Ethylene gas is released from plants as a hormone during a certain stage of life cycle and induces ripeness in fruits and blooming of flowers. The early detection and control amount of ethylene gas in storage can prevent wastage of the entire stock. The aims of this research were to fabricate ethylene sensor based on polyaniline (PANi) and to investigate the effect of acid doping on an improvement of its sensitivity. Electrochemically synthesized conductive layer of PANi was prepared via an in situ radical polymerization by repeating potential cycling in the range of -0.3 to 1.0 V relative to the silver reference electrode and platinum counter electrode. The PANi films were deposited on interdigitated electrode of gold substrate. These emeraldine bases of PANi were doped with five different acids doping (such as HCl, H2SO4, H3PO4, TSA, and DBSA) at particular concentration. The influences of types and amount of acid on the sensitivity of acid doping PANi on ethylene gas were investigated. The PANi-dope films were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). The morphology of PANi film was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The magnitude sensing of doping PANi in terms of types and amount of acid against ethylene gas was presented. Introduction
Management and outcomes of a COVID‐19 outbreak in a nursing home with predominantly Black residents

Few studies present clinical management approaches and outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreaks in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). We describe outcomes of a clinical management pathway for a large COVID‐19 outbreak in an urban SNF with predominantly racial minority (>90% black), medically complex, older residents.
Starvation induces an increase in intracellular calcium and potentiates the progesterone‐induced mouse sperm acrosome reaction

We have recently reported two different methodologies that improve sperm functionality. The first method involved transient exposure to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187, and the second required sperm incubation in the absence of energy nutrients (starvation). Both methods were associated with an initial loss of motility followed by a rescue step involving ionophore removal or addition of energy metabolites, respectively. In this work, we show that starvation is accompanied by an increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i). Additionally, the starved cells acquire a significantly enhanced capacity to undergo a progesterone‐induced acrosome reaction. Electrophysiological measurements show that CatSper channel remains active in starvation conditions. However, the increase in [Ca2+]i was also observed in sperm from CatSper null mice. Upon starvation, addition of energy nutrients reversed the effects on [Ca2+]i and decreased the effect of progesterone on the acrosome reaction to control levels. These data indicate that both methods have common molecular features.
Oligometastatic prostatic cancer recurrence: role of salvage lymph node dissection (sLND) and radiation therapy-stereotactic body radiation therapy (RT-SBRT)

Purpose of review Metastases directed therapy (MDT) is an increasingly utilized modality in patients with oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPC) recurrence. The purpose of our review is to discuss the recent literature on the safety and oncologic outcomes of this treatment approach. Recent findings Metastases directed therapy, in particular, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and salvage lymph node dissection (sLND), has shown promising efficacy in patients with OMPC. Many case series report favorable outcomes with MDT as compared to hormonal deprivation therapy alone or surveillance. Of the few case series investigating the use of MDT as part of a multimodality approach in castrate-resistant OMPC, more favorable outcomes in comparison to the use of systemic treatment alone are reported. Summary With the recent advances in imaging techniques, particularly molecular imaging, management of OMPC has progressed rapidly in the last few years. The feasibility and benefits of MDT in OMPC have been demonstrated in prospective and retrospective series. Further prospective studies investigating the role of MDT to define optimal patient subgroups and management strategies are warranted.
Hypoxia-induced microRNA-155 overexpression in extracellular vesicles promotes renal cell carcinoma progression by targeting FOXO3

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a form of cancer arising from the renal epithelium, with high mortality rates that have reached stable levels over the past decade. The tumor microenvironment is an essential regulator of tumor progression and survival, and extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an important facet of this microenvironment. Herein, we explored the impact of hypoxia-induced miR-155 expression in EVs on FOXO3 expression in RCC cells and their associated oncogenic activity. We found that RCC patients exhibited elevated miR-155 expression in EVs relative to healthy controls, suggesting that this miRNA may be important in the context of RCC progression. We then characterized EVs produced from RCC cell lines (Caki-1 and 786-O) under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, revealing that hypoxia-induced EVs contained higher levels of miR-155 and promoted cell proliferation. Then, we identified FOXO3 as a miR-155 target. Lastly, hypoxia-induced EVs were found to be able to significantly inhibit FOXO3 activation via facilitating miR-155 up-regulation. Together, these findings indicate that hypoxia can promote the upregulation of miR-155 in EVs and that this miRNA can act in RCC cells to suppress FOXO3 expression, thereby enhancing cellular tumor progression.
Attentional shifting differences in autism: Domain general, domain specific or both?

Atypical attention is considered to have an important role in the development of autism. Yet, it remains unclear whether these attentional difficulties are specific to the social domain. This study aimed to examine attentional orienting in autistic and non-autistic adults from and to non-social and social stimuli. We utilised a modified gap–overlap task with schematic images (Experiment 1: autistic = 27 and non-autistic = 26) and photographs (Experiment 2: autistic = 18 and non-autistic = 17). Eye-tracking data (i.e. saccadic latencies) were then compared across condition and type of stimulus (social or non-social) using multilevel modelling. Autistic adults exhibited mostly typical gap and overlap effects, as well as a bias towards social stimuli. Yet, autistic participants benefitted from exogenous disengagement when orienting to social information more than non-autistic participants. Neither a domain general nor social domain–specific account for attentional atypicalities in autism was supported separately. Yet, subtle combined domain differences were revealed in the gap condition. Lay abstract Previous research has shown that autistic individuals look at other people less and orient to them more slowly than others. Yet, it is still unclear if this represents general visual differences (e.g. slower looking at any new information, social or not) or a uniquely social difference (e.g. only slower looking to humans but not objects). Here, we aimed to examine how quickly autistic and non-autistic adults look to and away from social (i.e. faces) and non-social information (i.e. squares and houses). We used an attentional shifting task with two images where sometimes the first image disappears before the new image appears (makes it easier to notice the new image) and other times it stays on the screen when the new image appears. In Experiment 1, we showed schematic faces and squares to 27 autistic and 26 non-autistic adults, and in Experiment 2, we showed photographs of faces and houses to 18 autistic and 17 non-autistic adults. In general, autistic adults looked at the new non-social or social images similarly to non-autistic adults. Yet, only autistic adults looked at new social information faster when the first image disappeared before the new image appeared. This shows that autistic individuals may find it easier to notice new social information if their attention is not already occupied.
18F-fluciclovine PET/CT detection of biochemical recurrent prostate cancer in patients with PSA levels <2.00 ng/mL

Objective To establish the detection rate of prostate cancer recurrence following definitive therapy by 18F-fluciclovine PET/computed tomography (CT) in patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels less than 2.00 ng/mL. Methods In this retrospective study, 78 patients with a PSA level of less than 2.00 ng/mL were selected from the 211 patients who underwent at least one 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT scan at our institution for the detection of biochemical recurrent prostate cancer between April 2017 and December 2018. Inherent differences in the characteristics of patients with and without a positive scan were investigated for possible associations using multivariable analysis. Results One or more positive sites of recurrence were identified in 44 out of 78 patients (56.4%). Patients with a Gleason score between 8 and 10 were more likely to have a positive scan compared to patients with Gleason scores of 6–7 [adjusted odds ratio: 3.53, 95% confidence interval (1.13–10.99), P = 0.03]. No other significant association was found between PSA, T classification, and detection rate. Conclusion 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT demonstrated a detection rate of 56.4% among patients with a PSA below 2.0 ng/mL. The results of this study support the use of 18F-fluciclovine PET/CT for the detection of recurrent prostate cancer at lower PSA levels, even at PSA levels less than 0.5 ng/mL.
Treatment for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease

Purpose of review This review provides an overview of the current treatments for systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) and proposes a conceptual framework for disease management with case scenarios. Recent findings Broad treatment categories include traditional cytotoxic therapies, biologic disease-modifying rheumatic drugs, antifibrotic agents, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and lung transplantation. The optimal use of each option varies depending on SSc-ILD severity, progression, and comorbidities of individual patients. A high-quality randomized controlled trial demonstrated nintedanib's ability to retard decline of lung function in patients with limited and diffuse cutaneous disease, with established ILD. Tocilizumab, recently approved by the FDA, provides a unique intervention in those with early SSc associated with ILD with elevated acute-phase reactants: two well designed trials showed lung function preservation in phase 2 and phase 3 trials. Summary Stratifying patients based on key SSc-ILD characteristics (e.g. severity, risk of progression, comorbid disease presentation) may provide a useful guide for practitioners treating SSc-ILD.
Percutaneous Tracheostomy With a Demistifier Canopy in the COVID-19 Era: A Safe Technique in the Intensive Care Unit

Background: Endoscopic percutaneous tracheostomy (PT) is a safe technique that is performed frequently by otolaryngologists and intensivists. New challenges have been identified in order to maintain the safety of this procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic. A novel approach, using a modified demistifier canopy, was developed during the first wave of the pandemic and implemented for 17 consecutive percutaneous tracheostomies in order to enhance procedural safety. Methods: A protocol was developed after performing a literature review of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients. A multidisciplinary tracheostomy team was established, including the departments of otolaryngology, critical care, and respiratory therapy. Simulation was performed prior to each PT, and postoperative debriefings were done. Results: A protocol and technical description of PT using a modified demistifier canopy covering was written and video documented. Data were collected on 17 patients who underwent this procedure safely in our tertiary care hospital. There were no procedure-related complications, and no evidence of COVID-19 transmission to any member of the health care team during the study period. Conclusion: As patients continue to recover from COVID-19, their need for tracheostomy will increase. The technique described provides a safe, multidisciplinary method of performing PT in COVID-19 patients.