Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lifetime Allergy Symptoms in IgG4‐Related Disease: A Case–Control Study

The etiology of IgG4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) is unknown, and there has been controversy over the significance of allergic conditions in IgG4‐RD. We examined the prevalence of lifetime allergy symptoms in IgG4‐RD and the association between these and IgG4‐RD.
Effects of stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the globus pallidus internus on refractory tic disorders

Abstract Objective To investigate the effect of stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the globus pallidus internus on refractory tic disorders. Materials and methods Forty patients with refractory tic disorders were enrolled between January 2015 and July 2017 to experience stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation in the globus pallidus internus. All clinical data, Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) scores, serum dopamine (SDA), and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were analyzed. Results Radiofrequency thermocoagulation was successfully performed in all patients. Periprocedural complications occurred in two patients (5.0%), one with fever (2.5%) and one with a urination disorder (2.5%); both returned to normal after treatment. After 12 months of follow-ups, excellent improvement was exhibited in 18 patients (45.0%), marked improvement in 10 (25.0%), good improvement in 9 (22.5%), and invalid in 3 (7.5%), with a total efficacy rate of 92.5% (37/40). Twenty-eight patients (70%) showed excellent or marked improvement without additional treatment after surgery. YGTSS scores were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased after compared with before thermocoagulation. SDA was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased 6 months (80.78 ± 18.82 ng/ml) and 12 months (75.65 ± 15.23 ng/ml) after compared with before (125.63 ± 35.26 ng/ml) surgery, whereas 5-HT was significantly (p < 0.05) increased 6 months (58.93 ± 16.88 ng/ml) and 12 months (62.63 ± 15.21 ng/ml) after compared with before (35.62 ± 3.41 ng/ml) surgery. Conclusion Stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation can be safely applied in the globus pallidus internus to treat refractory tic disorders, resulting in significant tic symptom relief and a decrease in SDA but increase in 5-HT.
Mutual synergies between reactive and active inhibitory systems of temperament in the development of children's disruptive behavior: Two longitudinal studies

Abstract Individual differences in two inhibitory temperament systems have been implicated as key in the development of early disruptive behaviors. The reactive inhibition system, behavioral inhibition (BI) entails fearfulness, shyness, timidity, and caution. The active inhibition system, or effortful control (EC) entails a capacity to deliberately suppress, modify, or regulate a predominant behavior. Lower scores in each system have been associated with more disruptive behaviors. We examined how the two systems interact, and whether one can alleviate or exacerbate risks due to the other. In two community samples (Study 1, N = 112, ages 2.5 to 4, and Study 2, N = 102, ages 2 to 6.5), we assessed early BI and EC, and future disruptive behaviors (observed disregard for rules in Study 1 and parent-rated externalizing problems in Study 2). Robustly replicated interactions revealed that for children with low BI (relatively fearless), better EC was associated with less disruptive behavior; for children with low EC, more BI was associated with less disruptive behavior. This research extends the investigation of Temperament × Temperament interactions in developmental psychology and psychopathology, and it suggests that reactive and active inhibition systems may play mutually compensatory roles. Those effects emerged after age 2.
Plant based cross-linkers for tissue engineering applications

Utility of plant-based materials in tissue engineering has exponentially increased over the years. Recent efforts in this area have been focused on substituting synthetic cross-linkers with natural ones derived from biological sources. These cross-linkers are essentially derived from the vegetative components of plants therefore suitably categorised as ‘green’ and renewable materials. Utilization of plant based cross-linkers in scaffolds and hydrogels offers several advantages compared to the synthetic ones. Natural compounds, like ferulic acid and genipin, when incorporated into scaffolds can promote cellular proliferation and growth, by regulation of growth factors. They participate in crucial activities, thus providing impetus for cell growth, function, differentiation and angiogenesis. Several natural compounds inherently possess anti-microbial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which enhance the inherent characteristics of the scaffolds. Versatility of natural cross-linkers can be exploited for diverse applications. Integrating such potent molecules can enable the scaffold to display relevant characteristics for each function. This review article focuses on the recent developments with plant based cross-linkers that are employed for scaffold synthesis and their applications, which may be explored to synthesize scaffolds suitable for diverse biomedical applications.
VR Porn as “Empathy Machine”? Perception of Self and Others in Virtual Reality Pornography

ABSTRACT The usage of virtual reality (VR) pornography has risen in recent years. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the steep increase may be driven by an essential difference compared to traditional pornography, namely strong feelings of intimacy and the illusion of interaction with the porn actors. The present study is the first to systematically address this topic in an experimental design. Fifty healthy male participants watched two pornographic films on consecutive days in the laboratory, randomly one in VR and one traditional two-dimensional (2D) film. The perception of 2D and VR pornography was assessed using several self-report measures. Furthermore, the role of the social neuropeptide oxytocin in facilitating intimacy and interaction was studied. In the VR condition, participants felt more desired, more flirted with, more looked into the eyes. They were also more likely to feel connected with the actors and more likely to feel the urge to interact with them. Interestingly, saliva levels of oxytocin were related to the perceived eye-contact with the virtual persons indicating a role for the social neuropeptide in the perception of increased intimacy and interaction in VR. Thus, VR pornography seems to be a powerful tool to elicit the illusion of intimate sexual experiences.
Ropivacaine inhibits the proliferation and migration of colorectal cancer cells through ITGB1

ABSTRACT To study whether ropivacaine inhibits the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells through ITGB1 (Integrin beta-1). First, the effect of ropivacaine on cell proliferation and migration was detected by MTT and Transwell. DAPI staining, annexin V staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins to investigate the effect of ropivacaine on cell apoptosis. Using bioinformatics software to predict the potential drug targets of ropivacaine. RT-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence verify the distribution and expression of the drug target ITGB1, and detect its downstream-related proteins to further prove that ropivacaine affects colon cancer cells by acting on ITGB1 protein. 1. Ropivacaine significantly inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells and promoted their apoptosis 2. Ropivacaine could interact with ITGB1 protein, and inhibited the expression of ITGB1 protein in colon cancer cells, thereby affecting its downstream signaling pathway. Ropivacaine regulates the function of colon cancer cells by targeting the expression of ITGB1 protein and affecting the activation of its downstream signaling pathways. Abbreviation: Integrin beta-1 (ITGB1); 3-(45)-dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-35-di- phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT); 4. 6-diamimo-2-phenyl indole (DAPI); Reverse transcrption PCR (RT-PCR); Colorectal cancer (CRC); Local anesthetics (LA); voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC); dulbecco s modifed eade medium (DMEM); propidium iodide (PI); dodecyl sulf ate, sodium salt-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE); Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF); BCL2 associated X (Bax); Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK); extracellular signal-regulated kmase (ERK); alpha serme threcnime-proteim kinase (AKT); Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH); Tris-buffered salme with 0.1% Tween 20 (TBST); Similarty ensemble approach (SEA) Graphical abstract
Positron Emission Tomography Combined With Computed Tomography vs. No Positron Emission Tomography Combined With Computed Tomography for the Management of Patients With Resectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases and Synchronous Extrahepatic Disease

Introduction Selected patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) and synchronous extrahepatic disease (EHD) are considered for surgery. Objectives To evaluate the change in surgical management and long-term survival (disease-free survival [DFS] and overall survival [OS]) for patients with CRLM and EHD who undergo positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET-CT) vs no PET-CT. Methods Patients with CRLM were enrolled in a trial evaluating the effect of PET-CT (vs no PET-CT) on surgical management, DFS, and OS. This is a sub-study of the trial, including only patients with synchronous EHD. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate risks for recurrence and death. Survival were described by Kaplan-Meier method and compared with log-rank test. Results Of 25 patients with EHD (PET-CT arm: 14/270 (5%) and no PET-CT arm: 11/134 (8%)), PET-CT changed surgical management in 14%, all of which avoided liver resection due to more extensive disease. Complete metastasectomy was achieved in 36% (5/14) and 72% (8/11), respectively. Respectively, PET-CT vs no PET-CT had statistically similar median DFS, 5.6 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6-18) vs 7.6 months (95% CI 2.9-15) and median OS, 42 months (95% CI 25-48) vs 29 months (95% CI 17-41). EHD was associated with worse DFS (hazard ratio HR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.41-2.52) and OS (HR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.6-3.83). Conclusions Preoperative PET-CT for the management of resectable CRLM did not improve long-term outcomes among patients who had synchronous EHD; however, it changed surgical management in a relatively significant proportion of patients.
Excess Isentropic Compressibilities of Binary Mixtures of N, N-Dimethylformamide with n-Alcohols at 303.1 5 K

Abstract An equation is given for the isentropic compressibility of an ideal binary solution and is used to calculate excess isentropic compressibilities of binary mixtures of N,N-dimethylformamide with methanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol and 1-hexanol. The results of these calculations indicate that all five binary systems exhibit negative deviations from ideality contrary to the earlier calculations of Rao and Reddy.
26Al MICROANALYSIS IN THE LEAF CELL ORGANELLES OF RUZIGRASS AND BARLEY BY ACCELERATOR MASS SPECTROMETRY (AMS)

The response to aluminum (Al) application was compared between an Al-tolerant plant, ruzigrass (Brachiaria ruziziensis), and two cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), Al-tolerant ‘Dayton’ and Al-sensitive ‘Kearney’, of Al at 1.0 mM level. The micro content of Al transportation and accumulation in leaf cell organelles (nuclei, mitochondria, and chloroplast) was determined by the 26Al tracer technique with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), which could detect atoms of the order of 107 of 26Al. In a short-time-exposure experiment, plants were immersed into 0.1 mM 27Al (containing 101 dpm/300 mL 26Al) for 5 hours. Then the leaves were separated and 27Al and 26Al were determined. Growth of shoots and roots of ruzigrass was not influenced at 1 mM AlCl3, but the growth of barley cultivars (Dayton and Kearney) was seriously affected. There was only a small difference in Al content in shoot (about 5 g g−1) among plant species or cultivars when total leaf 27Al was determined by the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP/AES) method at 0.1 mM level. While large differences in the Al content between plant cultivars in the leaf subcellular organelles were found by using 26Al with the AMS method, the amount was in the order of 1–10 pg per 1 mg of organelle protein. Ruzigrass accumulated about 4 or 5 times higher content (2.8 ng mg−1 of protein) of 27Al in the nuclei and 2 or 3 times higher content (0.2 ng mg−1 of protein) in the mitochondria than the two barley cultivars did. There was no difference in Al accumulation in the chloroplast among these three plant cultivars.
Effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines against community-acquired alveolar pneumonia attributable to vaccine-serotype Streptococcus pneumoniae among children.

INTRODUCTION Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia among children. However, owing to diagnostic limitations, the protection conferred by pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) against pediatric pneumonia attributable to vaccine-serotype pneumococci remains unknown. METHODS We analyzed data on vaccination and nasopharyngeal pneumococcal detection among children <5 years old with community-acquired alveolar pneumonia (CAAP; "cases") and those without respiratory symptoms ("controls"), who were enrolled in population-based prospective surveillance studies in southern Israel between 2009-18. We measured PCV-conferred protection against carriage of vaccine-serotype pneumococci via the relative risk of detecting these serotypes among vaccinated versus unvaccinated controls. We measured protection against progression of vaccine serotypes from carriage to CAAP via the relative association of vaccine-serotype detection in the nasopharynx with CAAP case status, among vaccinated and unvaccinated children. We measured PCV-conferred protection against CAAP attributable to vaccine-serotype pneumococci via the joint reduction in risks of carriage and disease progression. RESULTS Our analyses included 1,032 CAAP cases and 7,743 controls. At ages 12-35 months, a PCV13 schedule containing two primary doses and one booster dose provided 87.2% (95% confidence interval: 8.1-100.0%) protection against CAAP attributable to PCV13-serotype pneumococci, and 92.3% (-0.9-100.0%) protection against CAAP attributable to PCV7-serotype pneumococci. Protection against PCV13-serotype and PCV7-serotype CAAP was 67.0% (-424.3-100.0%) and 67.7% (-1962.9-100.0%), respectively, at ages 36-59 months. At ages 4-11 months, two PCV13 doses provided 98.9% (-309.8-100.0%) and 91.4% (-191.4-100.0%) against PCV13-serotype and PCV7-serotype CAAP. CONCLUSIONS Among children, PCV-conferred protection against CAAP attributable to vaccine-targeted pneumococcal serotypes resembles protection against vaccine-serotype invasive pneumococcal disease.
A review of the pathophysiology of functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea in women subject to psychological stress, disordered eating, excessive exercise or a combination of these factors

Functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea (FHA) is a common form of secondary amenorrhoea without an identifiable structural cause. Suppression of gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) pulsatility results in reduced luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, with subsequent reduction in oestradiol, anovulation and cessation of menstruation. GnRH pulsatility suppression is a recognized complication of psychological stress, disordered eating, low body weight, excessive exercise or a combination of these factors.
Patient satisfaction with physiotherapists is not inferior to surgeons in an arthroplasty review clinic: non-inferiority study of an expanded scope model of care.

ObjectiveThis study evaluated whether the satisfaction of patients attending a physiotherapy-led postarthroplasty review out-patient clinic was non-inferior to that of patients attending traditional surgeon clinics.MethodsUsing a modified nine-item Visit-Specific Satisfaction Instrument (VSQ-9), 50 patients attending the physiotherapy clinic and 50 patients attending surgeon clinics were surveyed. Sample means (±s.d.) were calculated for each domain of the VSQ-9. Non-inferiority testing was performed using 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the adjusted mean difference to examine whether normalised patient satisfaction scores in the physiotherapy group were no worse than those in the surgeon group.ResultsBoth groups were satisfied (overall domain; 100% of both groups rated good-excellent). Based on mean item score, there was strong evidence that the satisfaction of the physiotherapy group was non-inferior to that of the surgeon group (adjusted mean difference (physiotherapy - surgeon) in mean score 5.1 (95% CI -0.3, 10.4). Furthermore, the mean differences in all but one of the nine domains were in favour of the physiotherapy group in this study.ConclusionThe satisfaction of patients attending a physiotherapy arthroplasty review clinic is not inferior to that of patients attending traditional surgeon clinics.What is known about the topic? A substitution model of care where an advanced practice physiotherapist reviews routine postarthroplasty patients instead of surgeons originated in the UK and has been adopted in Canada and Australia to address the increasingly overloaded public out-patient health services. Evidence of clinical and cost effectiveness has been demonstrated but, to the best of the authors' knowledge, only one paper has evaluated consumer engagement, and that paper was in a Canadian population.What does this paper add? This study evaluated the satisfaction of patients in an Australian public healthcare system and was able to demonstrate that patients seen by physiotherapists were no less satisfied than those seen by surgeons in traditional clinics. The findings support those reported in the Canadian study. This is an important step in the development and acceptance of these substitution model of care innovations locally.What are the implications for practitioners? The results of this study will provide an important addition to the evidence of the clinical efficacy of this model of care: that of consumer acceptance. This will assist with planning, expansion and rollout of similar initiatives in Australia.
On the role of the cellular prion protein in the uptake and signaling of pathological aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases

ABSTRACT Neurodegenerative disorders are associated with intra- or extra-cellular deposition of aggregates of misfolded insoluble proteins. These deposits composed of tau, amyloid-β or α-synuclein spread from cell to cell, in a prion-like manner. Novel evidence suggests that the circulating soluble oligomeric species of these misfolded proteins could play a major role in pathology, while insoluble aggregates would represent their protective less toxic counterparts. Recent convincing data support the proposition that the cellular prion protein, PrPC, act as a toxicity-inducing receptor for amyloid-β oligomers. As a consequence, several studies focused their investigations to the role played by PrPC in binding other protein aggregates, such as tau and α-synuclein, for its possible common role in mediating toxic signalling. The biological relevance of PrPC as key ligand and potential mediator of toxicity for multiple proteinaceous aggregated species, prions or PrPSc included, could lead to relevant therapeutic implications. Here we describe the structure of PrPC and the proposed interplay with its pathological counterpart PrPSc and then we recapitulate the most recent findings regarding the role of PrPC in the interaction with aggregated forms of other neurodegeneration-associated proteins.
3D RNA-seq: a powerful and flexible tool for rapid and accurate differential expression and alternative splicing analysis of RNA-seq data for biologists

ABSTRACT RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of gene expression and alternative splicing should be routine and robust but is often a bottleneck for biologists because of different and complex analysis programs and reliance on specialized bioinformatics skills. We have developed the ‘3D RNA-seq’ App, an R shiny App and web-based pipeline for the comprehensive analysis of RNA-seq data from any organism. It represents an easy-to-use, flexible and powerful tool for analysis of both gene and transcript-level gene expression to identify differential gene/transcript expression, differential alternative splicing and differential transcript usage (3D) as well as isoform switching from RNA-seq data. 3D RNA-seq integrates state-of-the-art differential expression analysis tools and adopts best practice for RNA-seq analysis. The program is designed to be run by biologists with minimal bioinformatics experience (or by bioinformaticians) allowing lab scientists to analyse their RNA-seq data. It achieves this by operating through a user-friendly graphical interface which automates the data flow through the programs in the pipeline. The comprehensive analysis performed by 3D RNA-seq is extremely rapid and accurate, can handle complex experimental designs, allows user setting of statistical parameters, visualizes the results through graphics and tables, and generates publication quality figures such as heat-maps, expression profiles and GO enrichment plots. The utility of 3D RNA-seq is illustrated by analysis of data from a time-series of cold-treated Arabidopsis plants and from dexamethasone-treated male and female mouse cortex and hypothalamus data identifying dexamethasone-induced sex- and brain region-specific differential gene expression and alternative splicing.
“You are not alone”: a qualitative study to explore barriers to ART initiation and implications for a proposed community-based youth treatment club among young adults newly diagnosed with HIV in South Africa

ABSTRACT In South Africa, despite universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) availability, 60% of persons living with HIV (PLWH) ages 15–24 are not on treatment. This qualitative study aimed to identify barriers to ART initiation and the implications for a proposed community-based Youth Treatment Club to improve ART initiation for young PLWH in limited-resource, high HIV-prevalence communities in Cape Town, South Africa. Recruiting participants at community testing sites from 2018 to 2019, we conducted semi-structured interviews, informed by Social Action Theory (SAT), with 20 young adults, ages 18- to 24-years-old, newly diagnosed with HIV, along with 10 healthcare providers. Through systematic qualitative analysis, we found that young PLWH face barriers to treatment initiation in three SAT domains: (1) stigmatizing social norms (social regulation processes); (2) challenges coping with a new diagnosis (self-regulation processes); and (3) anticipated stigma in the clinic environment (contextual factors). Participants shared that a proposed community-based Youth Treatment Club for newly diagnosed youth would be an acceptable strategy to promote ART initiation. They emphasized that it should include supportive peers, trained facilitator support for counseling and education, and a youth-friendly environment.