Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vector-borne diseases: studies in human West Nile Virus and canine Lyme nephritis

Vector-borne diseases are a resurgent focus in public health. As concern about climate change mounts, the close relationship between these diseases and the environment has garnered growing attention. This dissertation examines the relationship between environment and vector-borne disease in both human and veterinary medical contexts and on both a local and national scale. The first study investigated using a novel Internet-based surveillance system for risk mapping of West Nile Virus (WNV) in the contiguous United States from 2007–2014, with meteorological, demographic, and land use variables as predictors. The study found that annual average temperature, minimum temperature, precipitation, and human population density were predictive of WNV reports, but that the novel surveillance data appeared to have systematic gaps that impair the utility of the model. However, the results may help to guide improvements in novel surveillance systems. The second study used the logistic regression model developed in the first study to predict the risk of WNV in the contiguous United States in 2050 and
The Many Faces of Medication‐Overuse Headache in Clinical Practice

The management of medication‐overuse headache (MOH) is multifaceted and headache experts have different views on the optimal strategy to tackle this type of secondary headache. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the literature on the management of MOH, and to highlight important considerations in the clinical evaluation of the MOH patient.
Systemic Therapy for Melanoma: ASCO Guideline.

PURPOSE To provide guidance to clinicians regarding the use of systemic therapy for melanoma. METHODS ASCO convened an Expert Panel and conducted a systematic review of the literature. RESULTS A systematic review, one meta-analysis, and 34 additional randomized trials were identified. The published studies included a wide range of systemic therapies in cutaneous and noncutaneous melanoma. RECOMMENDATIONS In the adjuvant setting, nivolumab or pembrolizumab should be offered to patients with resected stage IIIA/B/C/D BRAF wild-type cutaneous melanoma, while either of those two agents or the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib should be offered in BRAF-mutant disease. No recommendation could be made for or against the use of neoadjuvant therapy in cutaneous melanoma. In the unresectable/metastatic setting, ipilimumab plus nivolumab, nivolumab alone, or pembrolizumab alone should be offered to patients with BRAF wild-type cutaneous melanoma, while those three regimens or combination BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy with dabrafenib/trametinib, encorafenib/binimetinib, or vemurafenib/cobimetinib should be offered in BRAF-mutant disease. Patients with mucosal melanoma may be offered the same therapies recommended for cutaneous melanoma. No recommendation could be made for or against specific therapy for uveal melanoma. Additional information is available at www.asco. org/melanoma-guidelines.
HLA-B*1502 is associated with aromatic anticonvulsant drug-induced cutaneous adverse drug reactions among the Hakka population in China

Background The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between aromatic antiepileptic drug-induced cutaneous adverse drug reactions and HLA-B*1502 genotype in patients from the Hakka population in Meizhou. Methods A total of 214 epileptic patients taking aromatic (n = 94) or non-aromatic anticonvulsants (n = 120) were included in the study from September 2016 to May 2018. Clinical data for the patients were analyzed retrospectively and HLA-B*1502 genotype testing was carried out. Results Thirty patients were HLA-B*1502(+) (14.02%). The proportion of HLA-B*1502(−) genotype and incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) differed significantly between the two drug groups. In the aromatic anticonvulsant group, maculopapular eruption (MPE), Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and hypersensitivity syndrome (HSS) occurred in 10 patients, including eight HLA-B*1502(+) and two HLA-B*1502(−) patients. MPE, HSS, SJS, and TEN occurred in 26 patients in the non-aromatic anticonvulsant group, including one HLA-B*1502(+) and 25 HLA-B*1502(−) patients. There was a significant correlation between the proportions of HLA-B*1502(+) genotype and induced cutaneous adverse drug reactions in the two groups. Conclusions HLA-B*1502 is associated with aromatic anticonvulsant drug-induced cutaneous adverse drug reactions among the Hakka population in Meizhou, China.
Microbial contamination and infection risks of narghile besides hazards of tobacco.

OBJECTIVE Water-pipe smoking has become a serious public health threat worldwide. In order to raise awareness of adverse effects and transmission of bacteria via water-pipe smoking, we aimed to identify the bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance profiles that colonize different parts of waterpipes. METHODS We examined totally 182 water pipes from 7 lounges (in Turkey) used in public places and we collected 728 culture samples in total by microbiological methods. We used disposable sterile swabs to sample the inside and outside of the mouthpiece, and the handling piece and sterile injectors were used to collect 5 mL of water from the water pipe bowl. RESULTS There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in microbial contamination (growth/presence of bacteria and fungi) among the parts of the water pipes sampled. There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in the number of bacteria growing (microbial load) among the parts of the water pipes. Only one narghile lounge out of seven, which had 13 water pipes, had a hygiene procedure. The water jars are often contaminated with Gram-negative bacteria. CONCLUSION Water pipes, especially the interior and outer part of the mouthpieces and the handle, are colonized by microbes and pose a risk of infection. Procedures for water pipe hygiene should be developed, periods should be defined, and the owners and employees of establishments and water-pipe smokers should be educated in this regard. Water-pipe smoking is a threat to public health and should be regulated by the state.
Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients with hypertension

ABSTRACT The dysfunction of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been observed in coronavirus infection disease (COVID-19) patients, but whether RAS inhibitors, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs), are associated with clinical outcomes remains unknown. COVID-19 patients with hypertension were enrolled to evaluate the effect of RAS inhibitors. We observed that patients receiving ACEI or ARB therapy had a lower rate of severe diseases and a trend toward a lower level of IL-6 in peripheral blood. In addition, ACEI or ARB therapy increased CD3 and CD8 T cell counts in peripheral blood and decreased the peak viral load compared to other antihypertensive drugs. This evidence supports the benefit of using ACEIs or ARBs to potentially contribute to the improvement of clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients with hypertension.
Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Neuroscience: Methodological and Ethical Challenges

Abstract Clinical neuroscience is increasingly relying on the collection of large volumes of differently structured data and the use of intelligent algorithms for data analytics. In parallel, the ubiquitous collection of unconventional data sources (e.g. mobile health, digital phenotyping, consumer neurotechnology) is increasing the variety of data points. Big data analytics and approaches to Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as advanced machine learning are showing great potential to make sense of these larger and heterogeneous data flows. AI provides great opportunities for making new discoveries about the brain, improving current preventative and diagnostic models in both neurology and psychiatry and developing more effective assistive neurotechnologies. Concurrently, it raises many new methodological and ethical challenges. Given their transformative nature, it is still largely unclear how AI-driven approaches to the study of the human brain will meet adequate standards of scientific validity and affect normative instruments in neuroethics and research ethics. This manuscript provides an overview of current AI-driven approaches to clinical neuroscience and an assessment of the associated key methodological and ethical challenges. In particular, it will discuss what ethical principles are primarily affected by AI approaches to human neuroscience, and what normative safeguards should be enforced in this domain.
The Associations Among Health-Promoting Lifestyle, eHealth Literacy, and Cognitive Health in Older Chinese Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Healthy lifestyles and health literacy are strongly associated with cognitive health in older adults, however, it is unclear whether this relationship can be generalized to health-promoting lifestyles and eHealth literacy. To date, no research has examined the interactive effect of health-promoting lifestyles and eHealth literacy on cognitive health. Objective: To examine the associations among health-promoting lifestyles, eHealth literacy, and cognitive health in older adults. Methods: Using a stratified cluster sampling method, we conducted a survey with older adults in four districts and two counties in Jinan (China). Older adults (n = 1201; age ≥ 60 years) completed our survey. We assessed health-promoting lifestyles, eHealth literacy, and cognitive health, and collected participants’ sociodemographic information. Results: Health-promoting lifestyles and eHealth literacy were significantly and positively associated with cognitive health (both p < 0.01). In addition, eHealth literacy was positively associated with health-promoting lifestyles. Moreover, the interaction of health-promoting lifestyle and eHealth literacy negatively predicted cognitive health (β = −0.465, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Health-promoting lifestyles and eHealth literacy were associated with the cognitive health of Chinese older adults, both independently and interactively. Further, eHealth literacy was associated with health-promoting lifestyles in older adults. Therefore, interventions regarding healthy lifestyles and eHealth literacy would benefit older adults.
Autologous transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells restores fertility in congenitally infertile mice

Significance Stem cell transplantation is widely used to rescue defects in stem cell-derived cells. However, it is generally impossible to rescue tissue dysfunction caused by defective microenvironment. In this study, we report that autologous spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) transplantation rescues congenital male infertility caused by Cldn11 deficiency. Cldn11-deficient mice lack spermatogenesis due to defects in the blood–testis barrier. However, WT or Cldn11-deficient SSC transplantation allowed development of fertile sperm from the donor cells in chemically castrated Cldn11-deficient mice. Because in vivo depletion of Cldn3 or Cldn5 restored endogenous spermatogenesis, complete spermatogenesis may be inhibited by the imbalance of claudin expression caused by Cldn11 deficiency. Our result suggests that some forms of male infertility can be rescued by autologous SSC transplantation. The blood–testis barrier (BTB) is thought to be indispensable for spermatogenesis because it creates a special environment for meiosis and protects haploid cells from the immune system. The BTB divides the seminiferous tubules into the adluminal and basal compartments. Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have a unique ability to transmigrate from the adluminal compartment to the basal compartment through the BTB upon transplantation into the seminiferous tubule. Here, we analyzed the role of Cldn11, a major component of the BTB, in spermatogenesis using spermatogonial transplantation. Cldn11-deficient mice are infertile due to the cessation of spermatogenesis at the spermatocyte stage. Cldn11-deficient SSCs failed to colonize wild-type testes efficiently, and Cldn11-deficient SSCs that underwent double depletion of Cldn3 and Cldn5 showed minimal colonization, suggesting that claudins on SSCs are necessary for transmigration. However, Cldn11-deficient Sertoli cells increased SSC homing efficiency by >3-fold, suggesting that CLDN11 in Sertoli cells inhibits transmigration of SSCs through the BTB. In contrast to endogenous SSCs in intact Cldn11-deficient testes, those from WT or Cldn11-deficient testes regenerated sperm in Cldn11-deficient testes. The success of this autologous transplantation appears to depend on removal of endogenous germ cells for recipient preparation, which reprogrammed claudin expression patterns in Sertoli cells. Consistent with this idea, in vivo depletion of Cldn3/5 regenerated endogenous spermatogenesis in Cldn11-deficient mice. Thus, coordinated claudin expression in both SSCs and Sertoli cells expression is necessary for SSC homing and regeneration of spermatogenesis, and autologous stem cell transplantation can rescue congenital defects of a self-renewing tissue.
Does Diabetes Distress Influence Clinical Response to an mHealth Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Intervention?

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine whether baseline levels of diabetes distress (DD) impacted clinical benefit from a mobile health (mHealth) diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) intervention (“Dulce Digital”). Methods This secondary analysis included the full sample of 126 Hispanic adults (mean age = 48.43 years, SD = 9.80) with type 2 diabetes and glycosylated hemoglobin A1C >7.5% enrolled from a Federally Qualified Health Center in a randomized, nonblinded clinical trial that compared Dulce Digital to usual care. Dulce Digital participants received educational/motivational, medication reminders, and blood glucose monitoring prompt text messages over 6 months. Results Baseline levels of DD prospectively moderated the effect of Dulce Digital (vs usual care) on glycemic control over 6 months, such that Dulce Digital participants with higher DD experienced relatively greater benefit from the intervention. The effect of the intervention on A1C change was 178% larger among individuals experiencing moderate/high versus no/low DD. Conclusions Although research has found DD to be associated with poorer self-management and clinical outcomes, individuals already distressed about their diabetes may benefit from a lower-burden mHealth DSME/S approach.
Green conversion of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural to furan‐2,5‐dicarboxylic acid by heterogeneous expression of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural oxidase in Pseudomonas putida S12

Transforming petrochemical processes into bioprocesses has become an important goal of sustainable development. The chemical synthesis of 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is expensive and environmentally unfavourable. The study aims to investigate a whole‐cell biocatalyst for efficient biotransformation of HMF to FDCA. For the first time, a genetically engineered Pseudomonas putida S12 strain expressing 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural oxidase (HMFO) was developed for the biocatalytic conversion of HMF to FDCA. This whole‐cell biocatalyst produced 35.7 mM FDCA from 50 mM HMF in 24 h without notable inhibition. However, when the initial HMF concentration was elevated to 100 mM, remarkable inhibition on FDCA production was observed, resulting in a reduction of FDCA yield to 42%. We solve this substrate inhibition difficulty by increasing the inoculum density. Subsequently, we used a fed‐batch strategy by maintaining low HMF concentration in the culture to maximize the final FDCA titre. Using this approach, 545 mM of FDCA was accumulatively produced after 72 hs, which is the highest production rate per unit mass of cells to the best of our knowledge.
Supervised pulmonary tele-rehabilitation versus pulmonary rehabilitation in severe COPD: a randomised multicentre trial

Rationale Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an effective, key standard treatment for people with COPD. Nevertheless, low participant uptake, insufficient attendance and high drop-out rates are reported. Investigation is warranted of the benefits achieved through alternative approaches, such as pulmonary tele-rehabilitation (PTR). Objective To investigate whether PTR is superior to conventional PR on 6 min walk distance (6MWD) and secondarily on respiratory symptoms, quality of life, physical activity and lower limb muscle function in patients with COPD and FEV1 <50% eligible for routine hospital-based, outpatient PR. Methods In this single-blinded, multicentre, superiority randomised controlled trial, patients were assigned 1:1 to 10 weeks of groups-based PTR (60 min, three times weekly) or conventional PR (90 min, two times weekly). Assessments were performed by blinded assessors at baseline, end of intervention and at 22 weeks’ follow-up from baseline. The primary analysis was based on the intention-to-treat principle. Measurements and main results The primary outcome was change in 6MWD from baseline to 10 weeks; 134 participants (74 females, mean±SD age 68±9 years, FEV1 33%±9% predicted, 6MWD 327±103 metres) were included and randomised. The analysis showed no between-group differences for changes in 6MWD after intervention (9.2 metres (95% CI: −6.6 to 24.9)) or at 22 weeks’ follow-up (−5.3 metres (95% CI: −28.9 to 18.3)). More participants completed the PTR intervention (n=57) than conventional PR (n=43) (χ2 test p<0.01). Conclusion PTR was not superior to conventional PR on the 6MWD and we found no differences between groups. As more participants completed PTR, supervised PTR would be relevant to compare with conventional PR in a non-inferiority design. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02667171), 28 January 2016.
Effects of Wearing Foot Acupressure Insole on Edema and Fatigue of Lower Extremity in Hospital Nurses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of wearing foot acupressure insole on edema and fatigue of lower extremity in hospital nurses. The foot acupressure insole may effectively be used to prevent undesirable health effects such as venous disease of lower extremity in hospital nurses and improve their quality of life. They were divided into the following three groups: 1) foot acupressure insole group (n = 20), 2) elastic compression stockings group (n = 19), and 3) control group (n = 16). Repeated measures of edema and fatigue of lower extremity were obtained for the three groups. Laboratory values, circumferences of ankle and calf, and fatigue were repeatedly measured once for three consecutive days before and after work. Data were descriptively analyzed by calculating the frequencies, percentage, means, and standard deviation using SPSS/WIN 18.0 Statistics program. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measured ANOVA, χ2-test, and Duncan test were used for statistical analysis. There was significant (p = 0.022) difference in calf edema among the three groups during the study period. Neurological or sensual fatigue was more significantly (p = 0.025) reduced in the foot acupressure insole group than in the other two groups. In conclusion, our data suggest that wearing foot acupressure insole may be used as an effective intervention tool to relieve edema and fatigue of lower extremity in hospital nurses.
Peri-implant Soft Tissue Management: Cairo Opinion Consensus Conference

Peri-implant soft tissues play a role of paramount importance, not only on the esthetic appearance, but also on the maintenance and long-term stability of implants. The present report presents the conclusions from the Consensus Conference of the South European North African Middle Eastern Implantology & Modern Dentistry Association (SENAME) (4–6 November 2016, Cairo, Egypt). The conference focused on the topic of the soft tissue around dental implants, and in particular, on the influence of implant configurations on the marginal soft tissues, soft tissue alterations after immediate, early or delayed implant placement and immediate loading, the long-term outcomes of soft tissue stability around dental implants, and soft tissue augmentation around dental implants. Thirty world experts in this field were invited to take part in this two-day event; however, only 29 experts were in the final consensus voting process.
Improving Protein-Ligand Docking Results with High-Throughput Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) relies on classical scoring functions that often fail to reliably discriminate binders from non-binders. In this work, we present a high-throughput protein-ligand complex MD simulations that uses the output from AutoDock Vina to improve docking results in distinguishing active from decoy ligands in DUD-E (directory of useful decoy, enhanced) dataset. MD trajectories are processed by evaluating ligand binding stability using RMSD (root-mean-square deviations). We select 56 protein targets (of 7 different protein classes) and 560 ligands (280 actives, 280 decoys) and show 22% improvement in ROC AUC (area under the curve, receiver operating characteristics curve), from an initial value of 0.68 (AutoDock Vina) to a final value of 0.83. MD simulation demonstrates a robust performance across all 7 different protein classes. In addition, predicted ligand binding modes are moderately refined during MD simulations. These results systematically validate the reliability of physics-based approach to evaluate protein-ligand binding interactions.
Exercise and insulin resistance in PCOS: muscle insulin signalling and fibrosis

Objective Mechanisms of insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain ill defined, contributing to sub-optimal therapies. Recognising skeletal muscle plays a key role in glucose homeostasis we investigated early insulin signalling, its association with aberrant transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-regulated tissue fibrosis. We also explored the impact of aerobic exercise on these molecular pathways. Methods A secondary analysis from a cross-sectional study was undertaken in women with (n = 30) or without (n = 29) PCOS across lean and overweight BMIs. A subset of participants with (n = 8) or without (n = 8) PCOS who were overweight completed 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training. Muscle was sampled before and 30 min into a euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp pre and post training. Results We found reduced signalling in PCOS of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Exercise training augmented but did not completely rescue this signalling defect in women with PCOS. Genes in the TGFβ signalling network were upregulated in skeletal muscle in the overweight women with PCOS but were unresponsive to exercise training except for genes encoding LOX, collagen 1 and 3. Conclusions We provide new insights into defects in early insulin signalling, tissue fibrosis, and hyperandrogenism in PCOS-specific insulin resistance in lean and overweight women. PCOS-specific insulin signalling defects were isolated to mTOR, while gene expression implicated TGFβ ligand regulating a fibrosis in the PCOS-obesity synergy in insulin resistance and altered responses to exercise. Interestingly, there was little evidence for hyperandrogenism as a mechanism for insulin resistance.