Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Imaging Findings in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated with COVID.

Please see the Author Video associated with this article. Background: A multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C) has recently been described. Objective: To evaluate imaging findings of MIS-C associated with COVID-19. Subjects and Methods: Imaging studies and medical records of sixteen patients (0-20 years) admitted with MIS-C were retrospectively reviewed. Thoracic imaging studies were evaluated for parenchymal, mediastinal and hilar, and cardiovascular abnormalities. Abdominal imaging studies were evaluated for abnormalities of solid viscera, hollow viscera, peritoneum, as well as the mesentery and retroperitoneum. Studies were reviewed independently by two radiologists, and disagreements were resolved by a third, senior radiologist. Results: Sixteen patients were included (10 male and 6 female; 20 months - 20 years). All 16 patients presented with fever. Other presenting signs and symptoms included: vomiting (12; 75%), abdominal pain (11; 69%), rash (10;62.5%), conjunctivitis (8;50%), diarrhea (7;44%), headache (6;37.5%), and sore throat (5;31%). Shortness of breath and cough were each present in one patient. Chest radiograph demonstrated cardiomegaly (10; 62.5%), congestive heart failure or pulmonary edema (9; 56%), atelectasis (9; 56%), pleural effusions (7; 44%), adult respiratory distress syndrome (2; 12.5%) and pneumonia (1; 6%). Absolute interobserver agreement was 69-100%. Eight patients (50%) were evaluated for PE (6 [75%] by CT angiography [CTA] and 2 [25%] by ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy). In 2 (25%), CTA demonstrated a segmental PE. Abdominal imaging findings (US and CT) included small volume ascites (6; 38%), hepatomegaly (6; 38%), echogenic kidneys (5; 31%), bowel wall thickening (3; 19%), gallbladder wall thickening (3; 19%), mesenteric lymphadenopathy (2; 13%), splenomegaly (1; 6%), and bladder wall thickening (1; 6%). The frequencies of findings based on all the reviewed modalities were: cardiomegaly (12; 75%), pleural effusion (10; 63%) and atelectasis (10; 63%). 15 patients (94%) were discharged home (length of hospital stay 3-20 days). There were no mortalities. Conclusion: MIS-C associated with COVID-19 is characterized predominantly by cardiovascular abnormalities, though also solid visceral organ, gallbladder, and bowel abnormalities as well as ascites, reflecting a multisystemic inflammatory process. Clinical Impact: The constellation of imaging findings in the setting of COVID-19 may alert pediatric radiologists to the diagnosis of MIS-C prior to rapid deterioration of patients.
Three Alkaloids from an Apocynaceae Species, Aspidosperma spruceanum as Antileishmaniasis Agents by In Silico Demo-case Studies

This paper is focused on demonstrating with a real case that Ethnobotany added to Bioinformatics is a promising tool for new drugs search. It encourages the in silico investigation of “challua kaspi”, a medicinal kichwa Amazonian plant (Aspidosperma spruceanum) against a Neglected Tropical Disease, leishmaniasis. The illness affects over 150 million people especially in subtropical regions, there is no vaccination and conventional treatments are unsatisfactory. In attempts to find potent and safe inhibitors of its etiological agent, Leishmania, we recovered the published traditional knowledge on kichwa antimalarials and selected three A. spruceanum alkaloids, (aspidoalbine, aspidocarpine and tubotaiwine), to evaluate by molecular docking their activity upon five Leishmania targets: DHFR-TS, PTR1, PK, HGPRT and SQS enzymes. Our simulation results suggest that aspidoalbine interacts competitively with the five targets, with a greater affinity for the active site of PTR1 than some physiological ligands. Our virtual data also point to the demonstration of few side effects. The predicted binding free energy has a greater affinity to Leishmania proteins than to their homologous in humans (TS, DHR, PKLR, HGPRT and SQS), and there is no match with binding pockets of physiological importance. Keys for the in silico protocols applied are included in order to offer a standardized method replicable in other cases. Apocynaceae having ethnobotanical use can be virtually tested as molecular antileishmaniasis new drugs.
Association between dementia and psychiatric disorders in long-term care residents

Abstract We examine the relationship between dementia and psychiatric disorder diagnoses among long-term care residents in nursing homes across the state of Rhode Island (RI), USA. Observational clinical study. Two hundred fifty-five residents with and without the diagnosis of dementia were included in this study. Prevalence analysis was used to elucidate information on psychiatric disorders in the overall cohort, and among residents with dementia. Questions from the quality of life questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) that provides information on self-care, anxiety/depression, and resident's view of how healthy they are, were used to evaluate their association with dementia and psychiatric disorders. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to understand the relationship between dementia and mental illness diagnoses in long-term care facilities. Finally, a subgroup logistic regression analysis was performed for residents with Alzheimer disease. 65.1% of all residents suffered from at least 1 psychiatric disorder. Anxiety was the most common diagnosis (36.5%), followed by depression (28.6%), and insomnia (14.9%). There was a positive and statistically significant association between any mental illness diagnosis and dementia (adjusted OR: 3.73; 95% CI: 1.34–10.41). Bipolar disorder and insomnia were negatively and statistically significantly associated with dementia (adjusted OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.03–0.89 AND adjusted OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.16–0.96 respectively). Age and COPD were also statistically associated with dementia (adjusted OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03–1.11 AND adjusted OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.12–0.66). Alzheimer disease was positively and significantly associated with the diagnosis of any mental illness (adjusted OR: 3.77; 95% CI: 1.17–12.20). We studied the relationship between dementia and diagnoses of psychiatric disorders present in long-term care residents. We found that residents with a diagnosis of dementia were more likely to suffer from at least 1 psychiatric disorder. Further work is needed to establish the neuropathophysiological relationship between psychiatric disorders and dementia.
Preconception Blood Pressure and Its Change Into Early Pregnancy

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension are common complications of pregnancy associated with significant maternal and infant morbidity. Despite extensive research evaluating risk factors during pregnancy, most women who develop a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy are not considered high-risk and strategies for prevention remain elusive. We evaluated preconception blood pressure and its change into early pregnancy as novel risk markers for development of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. The EAGeR (Effects of Aspirin in Gestation and Reproduction) trial (2007–2011) randomized 1228 healthy women with a history of pregnancy loss to preconception-initiated low-dose aspirin versus placebo and followed participants for up to 6 menstrual cycles attempting pregnancy and throughout pregnancy if they became pregnant. Blood pressure was measured during preconception and throughout early gestation. The primary outcomes, preterm preeclampsia, term preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension, were abstracted from medical records. Among 586 women with a pregnancy >20 weeks’ gestation, preconception blood pressure levels were higher for preterm preeclampsia (87.3±6.7 mm Hg mean arterial pressure), term preeclampsia (88.3±9.8 mm Hg), and gestational hypertension (87.9±9.1 mm Hg) as compared with no hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (83.9±8.6 mm Hg). Change in blood pressure from preconception into very early pregnancy was associated with development of preeclampsia (relative risk, 1.13 [95% CI, 1.02–1.25] per 2 mm Hg increase in mean arterial pressure at 4 weeks’ gestation), particularly preterm preeclampsia (relative risk, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.01–1.45]). Randomization to aspirin did not alter blood pressure trajectory or risk of hypertension in pregnancy. Preconception blood pressure and longitudinal changes during early pregnancy are underexplored but crucial windows in the detection and prevention of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Registration— URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00467363.
The Influences of Bioinformatics Tools and Reference Databases in Analyzing the Human Oral Microbial Community

There is currently no criterion to select appropriate bioinformatics tools and reference databases for analysis of 16S rRNA amplicon data in the human oral microbiome. Our study aims to determine the influence of multiple tools and reference databases on α-diversity measurements and β-diversity comparisons analyzing the human oral microbiome. We compared the results of taxonomical classification by Greengenes, the Human Oral Microbiome Database (HOMD), National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) 16S, SILVA, and the Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) using Quantitative Insights Into Microbial Ecology (QIIME) and the Divisive Amplicon Denoising Algorithm (DADA2). There were 15 phyla present in all of the analyses, four phyla exclusive to certain databases, and different numbers of genera were identified in each database. Common genera found in the oral microbiome, such as Veillonella, Rothia, and Prevotella, are annotated by all databases; however, less common genera, such as Bulleidia and Paludibacter, are only annotated by large databases, such as Greengenes. Our results indicate that using different reference databases in 16S rRNA amplicon data analysis could lead to different taxonomic compositions, especially at genus level. There are a variety of databases available, but there are no defined criteria for data curation and validation of annotations, which can affect the accuracy and reproducibility of results, making it difficult to compare data across studies.
Influence of Hand Grip Strength on Surgical Outcomes After Surgery for Adult Spinal Deformity.

STUDY DESIGN A prospective observational study. OBJECTIVE This study was done to examine the influence of hand grip strength (HGS) on surgical outcomes of adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA No study has investigated the relation between hand grip strength and treatment outcome of adult spinal deformity correction surgery. METHODS A total of 78 consecutive patients who underwent adult spinal deformity correction surgery were included in this study. Patients were assigned to either the high HGS (≥ 26 kg for men and ≥ 18 kg for women, n = 26) or the low HGS (< 26 kg for men and < 18 kg for women, n = 52) based on their preoperative measurements. The Oswestry disability index (ODI), EQ-5D, and VAS for back pain were assessed preoperatively, and 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively. The primary outcome measure was ODI scores 12 months after surgery. The secondary outcome measures included the overall ODI scores, EQ-5D, and VAS for back pain, assessed at each time point during the 12-months follow-up. RESULTS The ODI score at 12 months after surgery was significantly lower in the high HGS group than the low HGS group (p < 0.001), which was best predicted by a multivariate regression model including age, gender, BMI, HGS, and preoperative ODI scores. The overall ODI score, EQ-5D and VAS for back pain had better outcomes in the high HGS group across each follow-up assessment (p < 0.001 for all follow-ups), while they improved significantly with time after surgery in both groups. CONCLUSIONS Patients with higher preoperative HGS displayed better surgical outcomes, in terms of disability and health-related quality of life at 12 months after reconstructive spinal surgery for ASD. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2.
Neurophysiological response properties of medullary pain-control neurons following chronic treatment with morphine or oxycodone: modulation by acute ketamine.

Descending facilitatory circuitry that involves the rostroventromedial medulla (RVM) exerts a significant role in the development of antinociceptive tolerance and hyperalgesia following chronic morphine treatment. The role of the RVM in the development of antinociceptive tolerance to oxycodone, another clinically used strong opioid, is not yet known. Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, attenuates opioid antinociceptive tolerance, but its effect on RVM cell discharge in opioid tolerant animals is not known. Here, we compared chronic effects of morphine and oxycodone on the discharge properties of RVM cells and attempted to attenuate chronic treatment-induced changes with ketamine. Parallel recordings of RVM cell discharge and limb withdrawal response were performed under light pentobarbital anesthesia in male rats following sustained systemic treatment with morphine or oxycodone at equianalgesic doses. Ongoing activity and the response to noxious heat and pinch were determined in pronociceptive RVM ON-cells and antinociceptive OFF-cells on the sixth treatment day. Proportions of RVM cell types were not changed. Chronic oxycodone induced antinociceptive tolerance both in limb withdrawal and RVM cell activity. Chronic morphine induced antinociceptive tolerance in limb withdrawal that was accompanied by pronociceptive heat response changes in RVM ON- and OFF-cells. A behaviorally subantinociceptive dose of acute ketamine reversed antinociceptive tolerance both to morphine and oxycodone in limb withdrawal and reversed the chronic morphine-induced pronociceptive discharge changes in RVM cells. The results indicate that an NMDA receptor-dependent descending pronociceptive circuitry involving the RVM has an important role in behavioral antinociceptive tolerance to morphine but not oxycodone.
Target Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds in Exhaled Breath for Lung Cancer Discrimination from Other Pulmonary Diseases and Healthy Persons

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of breath analysis to distinguish lung cancer (LC) patients from patients with other respiratory diseases and healthy people. The population sample consisted of 51 patients with confirmed LC, 38 patients with pathological computed tomography (CT) findings not diagnosed with LC, and 53 healthy controls. The concentrations of 19 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were quantified in the exhaled breath of study participants by solid phase microextraction (SPME) of the VOCs and subsequent gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were used to identify significant differences between subgroups. Machine learning methods were used to determine the discriminant power of the method. Several compounds were found to differ significantly between LC patients and healthy controls. Strong associations were identified for 2-propanol, 1-propanol, toluene, ethylbenzene, and styrene (p-values < 0.001–0.006). These associations remained significant when ambient air concentrations were subtracted from breath concentrations. VOC levels were found to be affected by ambient air concentrations and a few by smoking status. The random forest machine learning algorithm achieved a correct classification of patients of 88.5% (area under the curve—AUC 0.94). However, none of the methods used achieved adequate discrimination between LC patients and patients with abnormal computed tomography (CT) findings. Biomarker sets, consisting mainly of the exogenous monoaromatic compounds and 1- and 2- propanol, adequately discriminated LC patients from healthy controls. The breath concentrations of these compounds may reflect the alterations in patient’s physiological and biochemical status and perhaps can be used as probes for the investigation of these statuses or normalization of patient-related factors in breath analysis.
Extension of distribution of Pseudodiaptomus marinus , an introduced copepod, in the North Sea

Pseudodiaptomus marinus was described from eastern Asian waters and has subsequently been spread in the Indo-Pacific region, but has only been found in European waters since 2007. The presence of the species in inshore waters of the Southern Bight of the North Sea, in Calais Harbour and off Gravelines was noted in 2010 and 2011. The present records from the Continuous Plankton Recorder survey extend the known distribution northwards and across the Southern Bight between The Netherlands and British coasts. Net hauls for biological monitoring in the German exclusive economic zone add a location further north and east in the German Bight. Spread of the species to inshore waters of the eastern North Sea and to the Baltic is predicted.
Imaging of the scrotum: role of MRI L'imaging dello scroto: ruolo della RM

Abstract Purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate theusefulness of imaging for correct clinical and therapeuticmanagement of patients with scrotal disease. Materials and methods. Between 2000 and 2007, 801patients with suspected scrotal disease underwent colourDoppler ultrasonography (CDUS) at our centre. In 46patients, the CDUS study was followed by magneticresonance imaging (MRI). Results. CDUS revealed an inflammatory process in 277patients (34.58%), testicular trauma in 112 (13.9%),funicular torsion or torsion of the vestigial remnant in 44(5.4%), findings suggestive of testicular neoplasm in 35(4.3%) and no abnormality in 41.5%. MRI, used to furtherinvestigate the CDUS findings in 46 cases, showed threecases of intraparenchymal haematoma, one of intrascrotalcavernous body rupture, one of testicular abscess withintrascrotal fistula, two of testicular infarction and 15 ofneoplasm. MRI allowed the exclusion of focalabnormalities in ten patients with testicular microlithiasis,in three with chronic orchitis and in four with atrophicinvolution. MRI confirmed the finding of inguinal herniain three cases.
Infrageneric phenetic relations in new world Panicum (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae): a numerical analysis

Numerical studies based on 64 characters placed 188 American species of the genus Panicum L. in 23 sections clustered in five major groups. The same major groups were obtained when the five characters that define the subgenera were excluded from the analyses. Groups 1 and 2 included C4 species. Species with an outer parenchymatous sheath in group 1 corresponded to subg. Panicum, whereas species with a single mestome sheath in group 2 corresponded to subg. Agrostoides. Group 3 included the intermediate C3–C4 species belonging to subg. Steinchisma. C3 sections were clustered together but arranged in a different way than previous classifications. Group 4 included sections from subg. Phanopyrum with basic chromosome number x = 10, whereas group 5 included the other sections of Phanopyrum with x = 9 together with sections from subg. Dichanthelium also with x = 9. The two subgroups of subg. Phanopyrum are not only different in chromosome number but also in inflorescence type and upper anthecium ornamentation. O.
Factors affecting the bag size of the common eider Somateria mollissima in Denmark, 1980–2000

Abstract Based on data compiled from the official Danish Bag Record and from the annual wing surveys of waterfowl, analyses of long-term trends in the bag of common eiders Somateria mollissima were performed for the period 1958–2000, while more detailed analyses of factors affecting bag size were made for the period 1980–1999. The bag size increased from ca 100,000 in the late 1950s to ca 140,000 in the 1970s and 1980s. During the 1990s, the bag size decreased to ca 83,000 in parallel with a decrease in the number of eiders wintering in Danish waters and in parallel with a significant decrease in the number of eider hunters. Assessed from both national and regional developments in bag size, hunter numbers and numbers of eiders bagged per hunter during 1980–1999, there were no indications that bag size was related to the number of wintering eiders. Stepwise multiple regression on data from 1983–1999 showed that the number of eider hunters significantly explained 71.3% of the variation in bag size, and the annual juvenile:adult female ratio in October significantly explained 10.6% of the variation. Marked decreases in the number of eider hunters during the mid-1980s and between the hunting seasons of 1992/93 and 1993/94 coincide with public debates and introductions of legislative restrictions on waterfowl hunting in Denmark. My results stress the importance of detailed analyses of factors contributing to variation in the bag size of waterfowl before accepting an apparent correlation between bag size and population size.
Urinary tract infection in apparently healthy individuals in Ile-Ife, Nigeria: Detection of predominant microorganisms and antibiotics susceptibility profile

The incidence of urinary tract infections in apparently healthy individuals was conducted in Ile ‐Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. A total of 500 urine samples were collected from apparently healthy subjects who have not taken antibiotic therapy at least one month prior to the time of sample collection. The age of chosen ones ranged between 1 and 70 years. Thereafter, 27.2% of the volunteers were positive for significant bacteriuria. The most predominant pathogen isolated was Escherichia coli (66.18%) while other isolates include Klebsiella pneumonia (2.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (8.09%), Proteus mirabilis (6.62%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.94%) and Staphylococcus faecalis (3.68%) of the total bacterial isolates. The occurrence of rate of causative organism differs significantly by both age and sex among the volunteers.
Correlation Between Tumor-Associated Macrophage and Immune Checkpoint Molecule Expression and Its Prognostic Significance in Cutaneous Melanoma

The association between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the expression of immune checkpoint molecules has not been well described in cutaneous melanoma. We evaluated the correlations between the expression of markers of TAMs, cluster of differentiation 163 (CD163), and immune checkpoint molecules, programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), and lymphocyte activating gene-3 (LAG-3). We also determined their relationships with the clinicopathological features and disease outcomes in melanoma. Diagnostic tissues collected from melanoma patients were evaluated using immunohistochemistry for CD163, PD-1, and LAG-3 expression. CD163 expression positively correlated with PD-1 and LAG-3 expression. High expression of both CD163 and PD-1 expressions was significantly associated with negative prognostic factors and worse prognosis than high expression of the single markers. High co-expression of CD163 and LAG-3 was associated with poor clinicopathological indexes of melanoma and worse survival compared to the high expression of the single markers. The expression of immune checkpoint molecules PD-1 and LAG-3 positively correlated with the M2-TAM density in melanoma tissue. Simultaneous high M2-TAM density and immune checkpoint molecules expression acted as independent poor prognostic factors in cutaneous melanoma.