Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acute Kidney Injury After Neonatal Aortic Arch Surgery: Deep Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest Versus Moderate Hypothermia With Distal Aortic Perfusion

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication observed after neonatal aortic arch repair. We studied its incidence after procedures carried out using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) versus moderate hypothermia with distal aortic perfusion (MHDP), usually through the common femoral artery. In both groups, continuous regional cerebral perfusion (RCP) was used during the time required for aortic arch repair. Methods: A total of 125 neonates underwent aortic arch repair. Between 2007 and 2012, DHCA with RCP was used in 51 neonates. From 2013 to 2019, MHDP with RCP was performed on 74 newborns. Operative complexity was similar in both periods. Acute kidney injury was defined as a significant elevation of serum creatinine and was classified according to the neonatal modified n-KDIGO (neonatal Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) stages 1 to 3 (Kidney Disease Improving: Global Outcomes). Results: Acute kidney injury was observed in a total of 68 patients (68/125: 54.4%). In the majority (44/68: 64.7%), n-KDIGO stage 1 occurred. Stage 2 (n = 14) and stage 3 (n = 10) were observed more frequently after DHCA versus MHDP: 29.4% (15/51) versus 12.2% (9/74), P = . 02. At cardiopulmonary bypass end, lactate levels were significantly higher (P = .001) after DHCA: 3.4 (2.9-4.3) mmol/L compared to 2.7 (2.3-3.7) mmol/L after MHDP. Early mortality was 12% (15/125) in the entire cohort. It was 17.6% (9/51) after DHCA versus 8.1% (6/74) after MHDP, however not statistically significant (P = .16). Conclusion: Mild (stage 1) AKI occurred frequently after neonatal aortic arch repair. The use of MHDP was associated with a significantly lower incidence of moderate (stage 2) and severe (stage 3) AKI forms.
Determination of In and Sn Mass Fractions in Sixteen Geological Reference Materials by Isotope Dilution MC‐ICP‐MS

Mass fractions of Sn and In were determined in sixteen geological reference materials including basaltic/mafic (BCR‐2, BE‐N, BHVO‐1, BHVO‐2, BIR‐1, OKUM, W‐2, WS‐E), ultramafic (DTS‐2b, MUH‐1, PCC‐1, UB‐N) and felsic/sedimentary reference materials (AGV‐2, JA‐1, SdAR‐M2, SdAR‐H1). Extensive digestion and ion exchange separation tests were carried out in order to provide high yields (> 90% for Sn, > 85% for In), low total procedural blanks (~ 1 ng for Sn, < 3 pg for In) and low analytical uncertainties for the elements of interest in a variety of silicate sample matrices. Replicate analyses (n = 2–13) of Sn–In mass fractions gave combined measurement uncertainties (2u) that were generally < 3% and in agreement with literature data, where available. We present the first high‐precision In data for reference materials OKUM (32.1 ± 1.5 ng g−1), DTS‐2b (2.03 ± 0.25 ng g−1), MUH‐1 (6.44 ± 0.30 ng g−1) and PCC‐1 (3.55 ± 0.35 ng g−1) as well as the first Sn data for MUH‐1 (0.057 ± 0.010 μg g−1) and DTS‐2b (0.623 ± 0.018 μg g−1).
Sex and habitat differences in size and coloration of an amphibian's poison glands match differential predator pressures.

Chemical defenses are frequently accompanied by salient color patterns actively avoided by predators, a phenomenon referred to as aposematism. However, the production of both chemical defenses and pigments is costly, and is thus expected to be reduced under mild predator pressure. In this work, I compared the size and coloration of parotoid glands (two dorsal, external swollen structures that secrete toxins in toads) of male and female Epidalea calamita toads from agrosystems and from pine groves. I also quantified the predator attacks received by plasticine toad models, whose "parotoid glands" differed in size and color conspicuousness, exposed in each habitat. Predators avoided models with large and conspicuous parotoid glands, but models in agrosystems were more often attacked. Concerning actual toads, agrosystem and male individuals had larger parotoid glands, presumably implying greater production of chemical defenses than in pine grove and female conspecifics. These findings are aligned with previous research suggesting that both agrosystem toads and males in this system are subjected to a more intense predator pressure. Difference between parotoid gland and dorsum coloration was greater in agrosystem toads. A marked internal pattern could function as an aposematic signal, which could counteract increased predator pressure. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Domestication Shapes Recombination Patterns in Tomato

Abstract Meiotic recombination is a biological process of key importance in breeding, to generate genetic diversity and develop novel or agronomically relevant haplotypes. In crop tomato, recombination is curtailed as manifested by linkage disequilibrium decay over a longer distance and reduced diversity compared with wild relatives. Here, we compared domesticated and wild populations of tomato and found an overall conserved recombination landscape, with local changes in effective recombination rate in specific genomic regions. We also studied the dynamics of recombination hotspots resulting from domestication and found that loss of such hotspots is associated with selective sweeps, most notably in the pericentromeric heterochromatin. We detected footprints of genetic changes and structural variants, among them associated with transposable elements, linked with hotspot divergence during domestication, likely causing fine-scale alterations to recombination patterns and resulting in linkage drag.
Tramadol versus codeine and the short‐term risk of cardiovascular events in patients with non‐cancer pain: A population‐based cohort study

The effect of tramadol on the cardiovascular system is largely unknown. There is concern that, with its multimodal mechanism of action to increase serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the body, it could increase the risk of arterial ischaemia and cardiovascular events. We aimed to compare the short‐term risk of cardiovascular events with the use of tramadol to that of codeine among patients with non‐cancer pain.
Case Series of Laser Therapy of Eyelid Peripunctal Benign Tumor.

Objectives: This study is the first time to explore the feasibility of CO2 laser treating some eyelid lacrimal puncta benign tumor. Background: Eyelid lacrimal papillae is special anatomy region. Treatment of eyelid peripunctal tumor is relatively intractable and needs reconstruction of the lacrimal passage in most of the time. We use super pulse CO2 laser to treat peripunctal benign tumor and appears to be effective. Materials and methods: It contained 12 participants treated with super pulse CO2 laser photocoagulation without lacrimal duct silicone tube placement. The areas of lesions were as follows: eight cases were located in the upper eyelid lacrimal puncta, four cases in the lower lacrimal puncta. Super pulse CO2 laser was used to treat it. The follow-up period was 4 weeks, 24 weeks, and 3 years after treatment. Histological diagnoses were obtained in all patients. Results: All patients were satisfactory after treatment with their cosmetic outcomes, and the wounds are dry, with no infections. No patient has functional damage, secondary epiphora, and lacrimal drainage system obstruction. Complete epithelialization occurs 2-4 weeks after treatment and forms normal epithelium. It showed no obvious scars or notches after treatment, and only temporarily less hyperpigmentation is in the treated area than the circumambient normal skin. During the follow-up period, there were no complications and no relapses were observed. Conclusions: Super pulse CO2 laser therapy for eyelid peripunctal benign tumors without lacrimal duct silicone tube placement sometime appears to be available, effective, and well-tolerated alternative to traditional surgery in the clinic, especially for selected disease. The IRB proved number is 2016034.
Long‐term outcomes of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with invasion depth of pathological T1a‐muscularis mucosae and T1b‐submucosa by endoscopic resection followed by appropriate additional treatment

Endoscopic resection (ER) is indicated for a wide range of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs). We examined the long‐term outcomes in patients with pathological (p) invasion of ESCC into the T1a‐muscularis mucosae (MM) and T1b‐submucosa (SM) after ER, for which data on prognosis are limited.
Applications of single-cell genomics and computational strategies to study common disease and population-level variation

The advent and rapid development of single-cell technologies have made it possible to study cellular heterogeneity at an unprecedented resolution and scale. Cellular heterogeneity underlies phenotypic differences among individuals, and studying cellular heterogeneity is an important step toward our understanding of the disease molecular mechanism. Single-cell technologies offer opportunities to characterize cellular heterogeneity from different angles, but how to link cellular heterogeneity with disease phenotypes requires careful computational analysis. In this article, we will review the current applications of single-cell methods in human disease studies and describe what we have learned so far from existing studies about human genetic variation. As single-cell technologies are becoming widely applicable in human disease studies, population-level studies have become a reality. We will describe how we should go about pursuing and designing these studies, particularly how to select study subjects, how to determine the number of cells to sequence per subject, and the needed sequencing depth per cell. We also discuss computational strategies for the analysis of single-cell data and describe how single-cell data can be integrated with bulk tissue data and data generated from genome-wide association studies. Finally, we point out open problems and future research directions.
Environmental Enrichment for Pig welfare during Transport

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the effects of environmental enrichment for pigs during transportation in different phases of their productive cycle. Two trials were conducted, the first during transportation of pigs from the piglet production unit (PPU) to the nursery (n = 250) and the second during the transportation of nonhuman animals from the finishing unit (FU) to the slaughterhouse (n = 120). This work was an observational study with five environmental enrichments: Control – no enrichment; object – use of enrichment objects in the truck; aroma – use of lavender aroma in the truck; music – music in the truck; and vehicle sound. Animal behavior during transportation, respiratory rate, skin surface temperature, and skin lesion score were assessed. Piglets from the treatment music had the lowest frequency of agonistic behaviors during transportation from the farrowing to the nursery and lower skin temperature after transportation. Piglets from the control had the highest respiratory rate prior to transportation. Pigs familiarized with vehicle noises spent most of their time lying during the trip to the slaughterhouse. The creation of a familiar environment to pigs seems promising in enhancing animal well-being during transportation.
Effects of Epichloë festucae var. lolii fungal endophyte strains associated with Lolium perenne on root exudate chemistry and microbial communities in the rhizosphere

EFFECTS OF EPICHLOË FESTUCAE VAR. LOLII FUNGAL ENDOPHYTE STRAINS ASSOCIATED WITH LOLIUM PERENNE ON ROOT EXUDATE CHEMISTRY AND MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES IN THE RHIZOSPHERE Aurora Patchett Advisor: University of Guelph, 2018 Professor J.A. Newman Identifying key metabolites that are changing in the Lolium perenne Epichloë festucae var. lolii metabolome will contribute to our understanding of their role in the belowground microfood-web and subsequently in ecosystem level processes. I designed two glasshouse studies to investigate the role of a plant-fungal endophyte symbiosis in shaping the grass-fungal metabolome and the microbial community in the rhizosphere. I tested the influence of several strains of E. festucae var. lolii on L. perenne growth and the composition of root exudate metabolites in hydroponic and soil mediums, and on the composition of microorganisms in a soil medium using metabolomic and next-generation sequencing techniques. I found that plant and endophyte growth, and the metabolomic profiles of root exudate and rhizosphere soils saw significant endophyte strain specific effects. While, compositions of the microbial communities in the rhizosphere had only subtle, and mostly non-significant changes as a result of endophyte soil conditioning treatments. The significant results of the metabolomics analyses provide a strong rational for more targeted investigations of the root exudate grass-fungal endophyte metabolome.
Incidence and risk factors for pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit

Abstract OBJECTIVES The incidence of pneumomediastinum (PNMD), its causes of development and its effect on prognosis in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are not clear. METHODS Between March 2020 and December 2020, 427 patients with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit were analysed retrospectively. Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) for initial invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) variables such as initial peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), PaO2/FiO2 (P/F ratio), tidal volume, compliance and positive end-expiratory pressure was evaluated regarding PNMD development. RESULTS The incidence of PNMD was 5.6% (n = 24). PNMD development rate was 2.7% in non-invasive MV and 6.2% in MV [odds ratio (OR) 2.352, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.541–10.232; P = 0.400]. In the multivariate analysis, the independent risk factors affecting the development of PNMD were PIP (OR 1.238, 95% CI 1.091–1.378; P < 0.001) and P/F ratio (OR 0.982, 95% CI 0.971–0.994; P = 0.004). P/F ratio (AUC 0.815, 95% CI 0.771–0.854), PIP (AUC 0.780, 95% CI 0.734–0.822), compliance (AUC 0.735, 95% CI 0.677–0.774) and positive end-expiratory pressure (AUC 0.718, 95% CI 0.668–0.764) were the best predictors for PNMD development. Regarding the multivariate analysis, independent risk factors affecting mortality were detected as age (OR 1.015, 95% CI 0.999–1.031; P = 0.04), comorbidity (OR 1.940, 95% CI 1.100–3.419; P = 0.02), mode of breathing (OR 48.345, 95% CI 14.666–159.360; P < 0.001), PNMD (OR 5.234, 95% CI 1.379–19.857; P = 0.01), positive end-expiratory pressure (OR 1.305, 95% CI 1.062–1.603; P = 0.01) and tidal volume (OR 0.995, 95% CI 0.992–0.998; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS PNMD development was associated with the initial P/F ratio and PIP. Therefore, it was considered to be related to both the patient and barotrauma. PNMD is a poor prognostic factor for COVID-19.
Separable actions of acetylcholine and noradrenaline on neuronal ensemble formation in hippocampal CA3 circuits

In the hippocampus, episodic memories are thought to be encoded by the formation of ensembles of synaptically coupled CA3 pyramidal cells driven by sparse but powerful mossy fiber inputs from dentate gyrus granule cells. The neuromodulators acetylcholine and noradrenaline are separately proposed as saliency signals that dictate memory encoding but it is not known if they represent distinct signals with separate mechanisms. Here, we show experimentally that acetylcholine, and to a lesser extent noradrenaline, suppress feed-forward inhibition and enhance Excitatory–Inhibitory ratio in the mossy fiber pathway but CA3 recurrent network properties are only altered by acetylcholine. We explore the implications of these findings on CA3 ensemble formation using a hierarchy of models. In reconstructions of CA3 pyramidal cells, mossy fiber pathway disinhibition facilitates postsynaptic dendritic depolarization known to be required for synaptic plasticity at CA3-CA3 recurrent synapses. We further show in a spiking neural network model of CA3 how acetylcholine-specific network alterations can drive rapid overlapping ensemble formation. Thus, through these distinct sets of mechanisms, acetylcholine and noradrenaline facilitate the formation of neuronal ensembles in CA3 that encode salient episodic memories in the hippocampus but acetylcholine selectively enhances the density of memory storage.
A BTB-TAZ protein is required for gene activation by Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S multimerized enhancers

Abstract The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) BTB-TAZ DOMAIN PROTEIN 2 (BT2) contains an N-terminal BTB domain, a central TAZ zinc-finger protein–protein interaction domain, and a C-terminal calmodulin-binding domain. We previously demonstrated that BT2 regulates telomerase activity and mediates multiple responses to nutrients, hormones, and abiotic stresses in Arabidopsis. Here, we describe the essential role of BT2 in activation of genes by multimerized Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S (35S) enhancers. Loss of BT2 function in several well-characterized 35S enhancer activation-tagged lines resulted in suppression of the activation phenotypes. Suppression of the phenotypes was associated with decreased transcript abundance of the tagged genes. Nuclear run-on assays, mRNA decay studies, and bisulfite sequencing revealed that BT2 is required to maintain the transcriptionally active state of the multimerized 35S enhancers, and lack of BT2 leads to hypermethylation of the 35S enhancers. The TAZ domain and the Ca++/calmodulin-binding domain of BT2 are critical for its function and 35S enhancer activity. We further demonstrate that BT2 requires CULLIN3 and two bromodomain-containing Global Transcription factor group E proteins (GTE9 and GTE11), to regulate 35S enhancer activity. We propose that the BT2-CULLIN3 ubiquitin ligase, through interactions with GTE9 and GTE11, regulates 35S enhancer activity in Arabidopsis.
Emulsifying properties and functional compositions of sugar beet pectins extracted under different conditions

ABSTRACT Extraction conditions have important effects on the characteristics of sugar beet pectin (SBP). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to study the impact of different extraction parameters on pectin yield, protein, ferulic acid, and galacturonic acid contents as well as on the emulsifying properties. Results indicated that pH was the main factor influencing pectin yield (ranging from 6.7 to 24.6%). Protein content varied from 0.5 to 6%, while ferulic acid content (ranging from 1.55 to 2.42%) was slightly influenced by the extraction conditions. Droplet sizes of the emulsions stabilized by different SBPs varied from 1.12 to 4.12 µm. Furthermore, according to the correlation analysis, protein content–pectin yield and ferulic acid–pectin yield demonstrated good correlations, respectively. Based on the present study, SBP with different functional components could be extracted as per relevant practical objectives. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Antiviral therapy and immunotherapy of COVID-19

The pharmacological treatment of COVID-19 has evolved in the months since the description of the disease. Published observational studies and, above all, clinical trials have highlighted drugs that are useful as well as ruled out any benefit from other drugs used at the beginning of the pandemic. The pathogenesis of the disease has suggested that patients may benefit from the administration of both antivirals, mainly in the earliest stages, and anti-inflammatory/immunomodulatory medications in more advanced stages. We present a short review of the drugs used and under investigation for the treatment of COVID-19.
Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) and International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) recommendations for the management of patients with bipolar disorder with mixed presentations

The 2018 Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) and International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) guidelines provided clinicians with pragmatic treatment recommendations for bipolar disorder (BD). While these guidelines included commentary on how mixed features may direct treatment selection, specific recommendations were not provided—a critical gap which the current update aims to address.
The role of an anterior approach in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis-associated cervical fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE Cervical fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis can have devastating neurological consequences. Currently, several surgical approaches are commonly used to treat these fractures: anterior, posterior, and anterior-posterior. The relative rarity of these fractures has limited the ability of surgeons to objectively determine the merits of each. The authors present an updated systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the utility of anterior surgical approaches relative to posterior and anterior-posterior approaches. METHODS After a comprehensive literature search of the PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases, 7 clinical studies were included in the final qualitative and 6 in the final quantitative analyses. Of these studies, 6 compared anterior approaches with anterior-posterior and posterior approaches, while 1 investigated only an anterior approach. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated where appropriate. RESULTS A meta-analysis of postoperative neurological improvement revealed no statistically significant differences in gross rates of neurological improvement between anterior and posterior approaches (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.10-1.59; p = 0.19). However, when analyzing the mean change in neurological function, patients who underwent anterior approaches had a significantly lower mean change in postoperative neurological function relative to patients who underwent posterior approaches (mean difference [MD] -0.60, 95% CI -0.76 to -0.45; p < 0.00001). An identical trend was seen between anterior and anterior-posterior approaches; there were no statistically significant differences in gross rates of neurological improvement (OR 3.05, 95% CI 0.84-11.15; p = 0.09). However, patients who underwent anterior approaches experienced a lower mean change in neurological function relative to anterior-posterior approaches (MD -0.46, 95% CI -0.60 to -0.32; p < 0.00001). There were no significant differences in complication rates between anterior approaches, posterior approaches, or anterior-posterior approaches, although complication rates trended lower in patients who underwent anterior approaches. CONCLUSIONS The results of this review and meta-analysis demonstrated the varying benefits of anterior approaches relative to posterior and anterior-posterior approaches in treatment of cervical fractures associated with ankylosing spondylitis. While reports demonstrated lower degrees of neurological improvement in anterior approaches, they may benefit patients with less-severe injuries if lower complication rates are desired.