Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Usefulness of the Polish versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment 7.2 and the Mini-Mental State Examination as screening instruments for the detection of mild neurocognitive disorder.

INTRODUCTION Screening tests are a key step in the diagnosis of dementia and should therefore be highly sensitive to the detection of mild neurocognitive disorders (NCD). The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) is the most commonly used screening method. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a newer and less well-known screening tool, which has none of the limitations of the MMSE. AIM The aim of this study was to analyse the reliability of the Polish versions of MoCA 7.2 vs MMSE in the detection of mild NCD among people aged over 60. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was carried out at the Department and Clinic of Geriatrics from September 2014 to March 2017. The study included 281 participants, 91 of whom were assigned to the group without NCD. The other 190 had been diagnosed with mild NCD. RESULTS In the analysis of the ROC curve of the MoCA 7.2 results, the AUC was 0.925 (p < 0.001). The optimal cut-off point for mild NCD was 23/24 points, with sensitivity and specificity of 83.2% and 79.1%. In the ROC curve of MMSE results, the AUC was 0.847 (p < 0.001). The optimal cut-off point for mild NCD was 27/28 points, with sensitivity and specificity of 75.8% and 66.7%. The difference between AUC MoCA 7.2 and MMSE was 0.078 (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS MoCA 7.2 detects mild NCD with more sensitivity than MMSE. We recommend using the cut-off point for MoCA of 23/24 points, because this is characterised by a higher sensitivity than the previously recommended cut-off point of 25/26 points. For the MMSE, the recommended cut-off point should be 27/28, which gives greater diagnostic accuracy than the previously recommended 25/26 points.
Diallel analysis for yield contributing characters in mungbean

Diallel analysis was done using 28 F1s obtained from 8 x 8 diallel mating design, excluding reciprocals for yield and its components. Highly significant gea and sea variances were observed. The additive gene effects were predominent. KDM-1, Tata mung local and PIP-3-62-3 were found to be the best general combiners and the crosses AKM 9504 x KDM-I, Kopergaon x KOMI and Tata mung local x KDM-l were observed to be superior cross combinations for yield contributing characters.
The Effects of Bi-Anodal tDCS Over the Prefrontal Cortex Regions With Extracephalic Reference Placement on Insight Levels and Cardio-Respiratory and Autonomic Functions in Schizophrenia Patients and Exploratory Biomarker Analyses for Treatment Response

Abstract Background We previously showed the efficacy of bi-anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions with extracephalic reference placement in improving negative symptoms in schizophrenia. In this ancillary investigation, the effects of this intervention on insight levels, other clinical outcomes, and cardio-respiratory and autonomic functions were examined and the potential of biomarkers for treatment response was explored. Methods Schizophrenia patients were randomly allocated to receive 10 sessions of bi-anodal tDCS over the PFC regions with extracephalic reference placement (2 mA, 20 minutes, twice daily for 5 weeks) or sham stimulation. We examined, in 60 patients at baseline, immediately after stimulation and at follow-up visits, the insight levels, other clinical outcomes, blood pressure, respiratory rate, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Results Insight levels as assessed by the abbreviated version of the Scale to Assess Unawareness in Mental Disorder in schizophrenia awareness of the disease, positive and negative symptoms dimensions, and beliefs about medication compliance as assessed by Medication Adherence Rating Scale were significantly enhanced by active stimulation relative to sham. No effects were observed on cognitive insight, other clinical outcomes, or cardio-respiratory and autonomic functions. Heart rate variability indices as biomarkers were not associated with the clinical response to the intervention. Conclusions Our results provide evidence for bi-anodal tDCS over the PFC regions with extracephalic reference placement in heightening the levels of insight into the disease and symptoms, as well as beliefs about medication compliance in schizophrenia, without impacting other clinical outcomes and cardio-respiratory/autonomic functions.
Phenotypic characteristics of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in Japan: results from a multicenter registry

Background/Aims There are few published registry studies from Asia on pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Registry network data enable comparisons among ethnic groups. This study examined the characteristics of IBD in Japanese children and compared them with those in European children. Methods This was a cross-sectional multicenter registry study of newly diagnosed Japanese pediatric IBD patients. The Paris classification was used to categorize IBD features, and results were compared with published EUROKIDS data. Results A total of 265 pediatric IBD patients were initially registered, with 22 later excluded for having incomplete demographic data. For the analysis, 91 Crohn’s disease (CD), 146 ulcerative colitis (UC), and 6 IBD-unclassified cases were eligible. For age at diagnosis, 20.9% of CD, 21.9% of UC, and 83.3% of IBD-unclassified cases were diagnosed before age 10 years. For CD location, 18.7%, 13.2%, 64.8%, 47.3%, and 20.9% were classified as involving L1 (ileocecum), L2 (colon), L3 (ileocolon), L4a (esophagus/stomach/duodenum), and L4b (jejunum/proximal ileum), respectively. For UC extent, 76% were classified as E4 (pancolitis). For CD behavior, B1 (non-stricturing/non-penetrating), B2 (stricturing), B3 (penetrating), and B2B3 were seen in 83.5%, 11.0%, 3.3%, and 2.2%, respectively. A comparison between Japanese and European children showed less L2 involvement (13.2% vs. 27.3%, P< 0.01) but more L4a (47.3% vs. 29.6%, P< 0.01) and L3 (64.8% vs. 52.7%, P< 0.05) involvement in Japanese CD children. Pediatric perianal CD was more prevalent in Japanese children (34.1% vs. 9.7%, P< 0.01). Conclusions Upper gastrointestinal and perianal CD lesions are more common in Japanese children than in European children.
CDK12 globally stimulates RNA polymerase II transcription elongation and carboxyl-terminal domain phosphorylation

Abstract Cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) phosphorylates the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (pol II) but its roles in transcription beyond the expression of DNA damage response genes remain unclear. Here, we have used TT-seq and mNET-seq to monitor the direct effects of rapid CDK12 inhibition on transcription activity and CTD phosphorylation in human cells. CDK12 inhibition causes a genome-wide defect in transcription elongation and a global reduction of CTD Ser2 and Ser5 phosphorylation. The elongation defect is explained by the loss of the elongation factors LEO1 and CDC73, part of PAF1 complex, and SPT6 from the newly-elongating pol II. Our results indicate that CDK12 is a general activator of pol II transcription elongation and indicate that it targets both Ser2 and Ser5 residues of the pol II CTD.
Pneumococcal Vaccination Among Lupus Patients

Purpose Pneumococcal vaccination (PV) is indicated for the elderly (age ≥65 years) and those with chronic disease or who are immunosuppressed. We aimed to study the rate and predictors of recommendation/receipt of 23 valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) in immunosuppressed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Methods Data were obtained through self-report questionnaires and medical chart review of 150 SLE patients. Information on rheumatologist recommendation or receipt of PPSV23 in the preceding 5 years was collected if self-reported in a questionnaire or documented in the medical chart. Chart review was also done to collect data on patient demographics, physician characteristics (if patients had a primary care physician and rheumatologist's SLE patient volume), and the disease characteristics of SLE. Comparisons using χ2 or t tests and logistic regression analyses were conducted for predictors of recommendation/receipt of PV. Results The mean (SD) age was 47.4 (15.9) years; 90% were women. Sixty-five of 94 eligible patients for PV (based on immunosuppressive medications use or age) had been either recommended or administered PPSV23. On univariate logistic regression analysis, age, duration of disease, current use of hydroxychloroquine or mycophenolate, and rheumatologist's SLE patient volume were significant correlates of recommendation/receipt of PPSV23. However, on multivariate analysis, the only significant predictor was rheumatologist's SLE patient volume after adjusting for the above correlates such that with every 50 patients increase in SLE patient clinic volume, the odds of recommendation/receipt of PPSV23 increased by 2.37 times. Conclusions The volume of lupus patients that rheumatologists see is strongly associated with the likelihood that their SLE patients will have PPSV23 recommended and delivered, suggesting a volume outcome relationship.
Contactin-1 Is Reduced in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Parkinson’s Disease Patients and Is Present within Lewy Bodies

Synaptic degeneration is an early phenomenon in Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis. We aimed to investigate whether levels of synaptic proteins contactin-1 and contactin-2 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of PD patients are reduced compared to dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) patients and controls and to evaluate their relationship with α-synuclein aggregation. Contactin-1 and -2 were measured in CSF from PD patients (n = 58), DLB patients (n = 72) and age-matched controls (n = 90). Contactin concentration differences between diagnostic groups were assessed by general linear models adjusted for age and sex. Contactin immunoreactivity was characterized in postmortem substantia nigra, hippocampus and entorhinal cortex tissue of PD patients (n = 4) and controls (n = 4), and its relation to α-syn aggregation was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Contactin-1 levels were lower in PD patients (42 (36–49) pg/mL) compared to controls (52 (44–58) pg/mL, p = 0.003) and DLB patients (56 (46–67) pg/mL, p = 0.001). Contactin-2 levels were similar across all diagnostic groups. Within the PD patient group, contactin-1 correlated with t-α-syn, tTau and pTau (r = 0.30–0.50, p < 0.05), whereas contactin-2 only correlated with t-α-syn (r = 0.34, p = 0.03). Contactin-1 and -2 were observed within nigral and cortical Lewy bodies and clustered within bulgy Lewy neurites in PD brains. A decrease in CSF contactin-1 may reflect synaptic degeneration underlying Lewy body pathology in PD.
Multiplexed Nanomaterial-Based Sensor Array for Detection of COVID-19 in Exhaled Breath

This article reports on a noninvasive approach in detecting and following-up individuals who are at-risk or have an existing COVID-19 infection, with a potential ability to serve as an epidemic control tool. The proposed method uses a developed breath device composed of a nanomaterial-based hybrid sensor array with multiplexed detection capabilities that can detect disease-specific biomarkers from exhaled breath, thus enabling rapid and accurate diagnosis. An exploratory clinical study with this approach was examined in Wuhan, China, during March 2020. The study cohort included 49 confirmed COVID-19 patients, 58 healthy controls, and 33 non-COVID lung infection controls. When applicable, positive COVID-19 patients were sampled twice: during the active disease and after recovery. Discriminant analysis of the obtained signals from the nanomaterial-based sensors achieved very good test discriminations between the different groups. The training and test set data exhibited respectively 94% and 76% accuracy in differentiating patients from controls as well as 90% and 95% accuracy in differentiating between patients with COVID-19 and patients with other lung infections. While further validation studies are needed, the results may serve as a base for technology that would lead to a reduction in the number of unneeded confirmatory tests and lower the burden on hospitals, while allowing individuals a screening solution that can be performed in PoC facilities. The proposed method can be considered as a platform that could be applied for any other disease infection with proper modifications to the artificial intelligence and would therefore be available to serve as a diagnostic tool in case of a new disease outbreak.
Advanced patient-specific hyperthermia treatment planning

Abstract Hyperthermia treatment planning (HTP) is valuable to optimize tumor heating during thermal therapy delivery. Yet, clinical hyperthermia treatment plans lack quantitative accuracy due to uncertainties in tissue properties and modeling, and report tumor absorbed power and temperature distributions which cannot be linked directly to treatment outcome. Over the last decade, considerable progress has been made to address these inaccuracies and therefore improve the reliability of hyperthermia treatment planning. Patient-specific electrical tissue conductivity derived from MR measurements has been introduced to accurately model the power deposition in the patient. Thermodynamic fluid modeling has been developed to account for the convective heat transport in fluids such as urine in the bladder. Moreover, discrete vasculature trees have been included in thermal models to account for the impact of thermally significant large blood vessels. Computationally efficient optimization strategies based on SAR and temperature distributions have been established to calculate the phase-amplitude settings that provide the best tumor thermal dose while avoiding hot spots in normal tissue. Finally, biological modeling has been developed to quantify the hyperthermic radiosensitization effect in terms of equivalent radiation dose of the combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia treatment. In this paper, we review the present status of these developments and illustrate the most relevant advanced elements within a single treatment planning example of a cervical cancer patient. The resulting advanced HTP workflow paves the way for a clinically feasible and more reliable patient-specific hyperthermia treatment planning.
Hydrogel Electrolytes Based on Xanthan Gum: Green Route towards Stable Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

The investigation of innovative electrolytes based on nontoxic and nonflammable solvents is an up-to-date, intriguing challenge to push forward the environmental sustainability of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Water is one of the best choices, thus 100% aqueous electrolytes are proposed in this work, which are gelled with xanthan gum. This well-known biosourced polymer matrix is able to form stable and easily processable hydrogel electrolytes based on the iodide/triiodide redox couple. An experimental strategy, also supported by the multivariate chemometric approach, is used here to study the main factors influencing DSSCs efficiency and stability, leading to an optimized system able to improve its efficiency by 20% even after a 1200 h aging test, and reaching an overall performance superior to 2.7%. In-depth photoelectrochemical investigation demonstrates that DSSCs performance based on hydrogel electrolytes depends on many factors (e.g., dipping conditions, redox mediator concentrations, etc.), that must be carefully quantified and correlated in order to optimize these hydrogels. Photovoltaic performances are also extremely reproducible and stable in an open cell filled in air atmosphere, noticeably without any vacuum treatments.
Evaluation of nutritional composition of some attached and drifted marine algae from Alexandria, Egypt -

Chemical composition of eight Egyptian marine macroalgae, Ulva lactuca and Enteromorpha linza (Chlorophyceae); Dictyota dichotoma, Sargassum vulgare and Cystoseira spinosa (Phaeophyceae); Pterocladia capillacea, Corallina officinalis and Jania rubens (Rhodophyceae), was determined. Water content in all algae analyzed was high (
Developing a Nomogram Model to Predict the Risk of Poor Chinese Handwriting in First Grade.

IMPORTANCE Few predictive models for later handwriting difficulties have been developed for kindergarteners. OBJECTIVE To develop a nomogram for the purpose of detecting the risk of later poor Chinese handwriting among Taiwanese kindergarteners. DESIGN One-year prospective longitudinal, observational study. SETTING Kindergarten and elementary school. PARTICIPANTS One hundred fifty-six kindergarteners were included. In first grade, they were grouped into the normal and poor handwriting groups on the basis of handwriting performance in first grade. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Participants received fine motor (FM), visual-perceptual (VP), and visual-motor integration tests in kindergarten and handwriting assessments in first grade. RESULTS Logistic regression results indicated that younger age at school entry and lower scores on measures of FM and VP in kindergarten increased the risk for later poor handwriting. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in the nomogram built with these risk factors was . 75, indicating that the nomogram had acceptable diagnostic value. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This nomogram could be used as a screening tool to detect kindergarteners at risk of poor Chinese handwriting in first grade. WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS This study is the first to establish a nomogram constructed with significant predictors in kindergarten of a child's probability of poor handwriting later in first grade. This predictive nomogram may help occupational therapists, educators, and parents identify at-risk kindergarteners early for the purpose of early interventions to prevent later poor Chinese handwriting.
Immunotherapy in Biliary Tract Cancer: Worthy of a Second Look

Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment landscape of several malignancies, the role of immunotherapy in biliary tract cancer (BTC) is currently under investigation and ICIs are still looking for their niche in this setting. In this Editorial, we discuss recently published data regarding ICIs in BTC, with a particular focus in terms of selection of patients and biomarker-driven trials.
Long-term Survival Outcomes of Laparoscopic Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer: Five-year Results of a Phase II Prospective Clinical Trial

Purpose Despite an increased acceptance of laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) in early gastric cancer (EGC), there is insufficient evidence for its oncological safety in advanced gastric cancer (AGC). This is a prospective phase II clinical trial to evaluate the feasibility of LG with D2 lymph node dissection (LND) in AGC. Materials and Methods The primary endpoint was set as 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). The eligibility criteria were as follows: 20-80 years of age, cT2N0-cT4aN3, American Society of Anesthesiologists score of 3 or less, and no other malignancy. Patients were enrolled in this single-arm study between November 2008 and May 2012. Exclusion criteria included cT4b or M1, or having final pathologic results as EGC. All patients underwent D2 lymphadenectomy. Three-year DFS rates were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results A total of 157 patients were enrolled. The overall local complication rate was 10.2%. Conversion to open surgery occurred in 11 patients (7.0%). The mean follow-up period was 55.0±20.4 months (1–81 months). The cumulative 3-year DFS rates were 76.3% for all stages, and 100%, 89.3%, 100%, 88.0%, 71.4%, and 35.3% for stage IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC, respectively. Recurrence was observed in 37 patients (23.6%), including hematogenous (n=6), peritoneal (n=13), locoregional (n=1), distant node (n=8), and mixed recurrence (n=9). Conclusions In addition to being technically feasible for treatment of AGC in terms of morbidity, LG with D2 LND for locally advanced gastric cancer showed acceptable 3-year DFS outcomes. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01441336
Novel homozygous variant of carbonic anhydrase 8 gene expanding the phenotype of cerebellar ataxia, mental retardation, and disequilibrium syndrome subtype 3

We report the case of an 11‐year‐old Syrian girl born to consanguineous parents, who presents an ataxic gait from early childhood. On clinical examination, she presented a severe static ‐ kinetic cerebellar syndrome, walking without support is possible for short distances only. Strikingly, three consecutive MRIs did not show any sign of cerebellar abnormalities, but a brain positron emission tomography (PET) using [18F]‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) demonstrated a clear decrease in glucose metabolism in the cerebellum as well as the anterior and medial temporal lobe bilaterally. A clinical exome analysis identified a novel homozygous c.251A > G (p.Asn84Ser) likely pathogenic variant in the carbonic anhydrase 8 (CA8) gene. CA8 mutations cause cerebellar ataxia, mental retardation, and disequilibrium syndrome subtype 3 (CAMRQ3), a rare genetically autosomal recessive disorder, only described in four families, so far with the frequent observation of quadrupedal gait. The proband differed with other reported CA8 mutations by the absence of clear cerebellar signs on brain MRI and the presence of focal seizures. This report expands the clinical spectrum associated with mutations in CA8 and illustrates the possible discrepancy between (mild) neuro‐radiological images (MRI) and (severe) clinical phenotype in young individuals. In contrast, the observation of clear cerebellar abnormal metabolic findings suggests that the FDG‐PET scan may be used as an early marker for hereditary ataxia.
Management of Acute Pain From Non–Low Back, Musculoskeletal Injuries

BACKGROUND Patients and clinicians can choose from several treatment options to address acute pain from non-low back musculoskeletal injuries. PURPOSE To assess the comparative effectiveness of outpatient treatments for acute pain from non-low back musculoskeletal injuries by performing a network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to 2 January 2020. STUDY SELECTION Pairs of reviewers independently identified interventional RCTs that enrolled patients presenting with pain of up to 4 weeks' duration from non-low back musculoskeletal injuries. DATA EXTRACTION Pairs of reviewers independently extracted data. Certainty of evidence was evaluated by using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach. DATA SYNTHESIS The 207 eligible studies included 32 959 participants and evaluated 45 therapies. Ninety-nine trials (48%) enrolled populations with diverse musculoskeletal injuries, 59 (29%) included patients with sprains, 13 (6%) with whiplash, and 11 (5%) with muscle strains; the remaining trials included various injuries ranging from nonsurgical fractures to contusions. Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) proved to have the greatest net benefit, followed by oral NSAIDs and acetaminophen with or without diclofenac. Effects of these agents on pain were modest (around 1 cm on a 10-cm visual analogue scale, approximating the minimal important difference). Regarding opioids, compared with placebo, acetaminophen plus an opioid improved intermediate pain (1 to 7 days) but not immediate pain (≤2 hours), tramadol was ineffective, and opioids increased the risk for gastrointestinal and neurologic harms (all moderate-certainty evidence). LIMITATIONS Only English-language studies were included. The number of head-to-head comparisons was limited. CONCLUSION Topical NSAIDs, followed by oral NSAIDs and acetaminophen with or without diclofenac, showed the most convincing and attractive benefit-harm ratio for patients with acute pain from non-low back musculoskeletal injuries. No opioid achieved benefit greater than that of NSAIDs, and opioids caused the most harms. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Safety Council. (PROSPERO: CRD42018094412).