Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Refinement of the motorised laminectomy-assisted rat spinal cord injury model by analgesic treatment

Usage and reporting of analgesia in animal models of spinal cord injury (SCI) have been sparse and requires proper attention. The majority of experimental SCI research uses rats as an animal model. This study aimed to probe into the effects of some commonly used regimens with NSAIDs and opioids on well-being of the rats as well as on the functional outcome of the model. This eight-week study used forty-two female Wistar rats (Crl: WI), randomly and equally divided into 6 treatment groups, viz. I) tramadol (5mg/kg) and buprenorphine (0.05mg/kg); II) carprofen (5mg/kg) and buprenorphine (0.05mg/kg); III) carprofen (5mg/kg); IV) meloxicam (1mg/kg) and buprenorphine (0.05mg/kg); V) meloxicam (1mg/kg); and VI) no analgesia (0.5 ml sterile saline). Buprenorphine was administered twice daily whereas other treatments were given once daily for five days post-operatively. Injections were given subcutaneously. All animals underwent dental burr-assisted laminectomy at the T10-T11 vertebra level. A custom-built calibrated spring-loaded 200 kilodynes force deliverer was used to induce severe SCI. Weekly body weight scores, Rat Grimace Scale (RGS), and dark-phase home cage activity were used as markers for well-being. Weekly Basso Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scores served as markers for functionality together with Novel Object Recognition test (NOR) at week 8 and terminal histopathology using area of vacuolisation and live neuronal count from the ventral horns of spinal cord. It was concluded that the usage of analgesia improved animal wellbeing while having no effects on the functional aspects of the animal model in comparison to the animals that received no analgesics.
The burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to dietary risk factors in Australia between 1990 and 2019

Unhealthy diet is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, there are no studies reporting the impact and trends of dietary risk factors on CVD in Australia. This study aimed to determine the burden of CVDs attributable to dietary risk factors in Australia between 1990 and 2019. We used data from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study and quantified the rate (per 100,000) of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years lived with a disability (YLDs), and years of life lost (YLLs) for 21 CVDs attributable to 13 dietary risk factors (eight food groups and five nutrients) in Australia by sex and age groups (≥25 years and over). In 2019, the age-standardised rates of deaths, YLDs, YLLs, and DALYs attributable to dietary risk factors attributable to CVDs in the Australian population were 26.5, 60.8, 349.9, and 410.8 per 100,000 in women and 46.1, 62.6, 807.0, and 869.6 in men. Between 1990 and 2019, YLLs consistently contributed more towards the rates of DALYs than YLDs. Over the 30-year period, CVD deaths, YLLs, and DALYs attributable to dietary risk factors declined in both women and men. The leading dietary risk factors for CVD deaths and DALYs were a diet high in red meat (6.1 deaths per 100,000 [3.6, 8.7] and 115.6 DALYs per 100,000 [79.7, 151.6]) in women and a diet low in wholegrains (11.3 deaths [4.4, 15.1] and 220.3 DALYs [86.4, 291.8]) in men. Sex differences were observed in the contribution of dietary risk factors to CVD over time such that the lowest rate of decrease in deaths and DALYs occurred with diets high in sodium in women and diets high in processed meat in men. Although the burden of diet-related CVD has decreased significantly in the Australian population over the past 30 years, diets low in wholegrains and high in red meat continue to contribute significantly to the overall CVD burden. Future nutrition programs and policies should target these dietary risk factors.
Effectiveness of education intervention, with regards to physical activity level and a healthy diet, among Middle Eastern adolescents in Malaysia: A study protocol for a randomized control trial, based on a health belief model

Background Among the most urgent public health challenges, of the twenty-first century, is obesity. This can be attributed to its relationship with several non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as well as premature mortality. Being overweight or obese is a major concern not only in high-income countries, but also in low-income and middle-income countries, particularly in urban areas. Several studies have highlighted the prevalence of obesity, among Middle Eastern-descent adolescents, studying in Arabic secondary schools, located in Malaysia. Intervention studies, directed at Middle Eastern adolescents in Malaysia, are limited. This paper, describes the protocol, for an integrated health education intervention process. Titled ‘Healthy lifestyle’, it is a primary prevention process, aimed at curbing obesity and disordered eating, among Middle Eastern secondary school adolescents, aged 13–14 years old, residing in Malaysia. Methods and anticipated results A cluster randomized controlled study will be conducted, involving 250 Middle Eastern adolescents, in Arabic schools in Malaysia. The participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. While the intervention group participates in six weeks of fortnightly six sessions (45 minutes per session), the control group will carry on with their regular curriculums, and normal physical activity routines. The variables which will be evaluated include anthropometric measurements, knowledge, attitude, daily routines, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, food assessment, eating attitudes test-26, and a structured questionnaire based on the HBM. Data will be collected from the intervention and control groups at baseline, post-intervention, and two months following the intervention. Data analysis will be performed by way of the SPSS Statistics software version 26. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) will be used, to test the effect of the intervention program, with regards to the selected variables (outcomes), between and within-group at baseline, as well as six weeks and two months following intervention, after adjusting for clustering. Outcomes will be assessed at each time point, along with a derived average over all three-time points; thus, ensuring that both the cumulative and overall effects are determined. Conclusions This trial will provide useful information for improving the knowledge, attitude, and practices of Middle Eastern adolescents, with regards to body weight status, physical activity level, nutrition status (BMI and dietary intake), and disordered eating. This will go a long way, towards ensuring their adherence to appropriate physical activities, and a healthy diet, to keep non-communicable diseases at bay. Trial registration This study is registered at NCT: NCT05694143.
Immunosuppressive therapy and COVID‐19 infection in patients with NMOSD

Abstract Introduction To evaluate whether treated with immunosuppressants in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) shows an effect on the severity and outcomes of COVID‐19 Omicron variant. Methods This is a substudy of a single‐center clinical trial involving human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC‐MSCs) in NMOSD patients. NMOSD patients with hUC‐MSCs treatment, NMOSD patients without hUC‐MSCs treatment, and matched healthy controls (HC) were included. Demographic information, NMOSD‐related clinical features, comorbidities, use of disease‐modifying therapy, COVID‐19 vaccination status, COVID‐19 clinical features, COVID‐19 clinical outcomes, and NMOSD‐related disease activity were obtained through online questionnaires or phone calls. Results The majority of NMOSD patients received long‐term treatment with mycophenolate mofetil (68.8%) or azathioprine (22.9%), and 50% received oral glucocorticoid. During the epidemic, 97.4% of NMOSD patients infected with COVID‐19 had asymptomatic or mild forms, with only two patients (2.6%) requiring hospitalization. None of these patients required tracheal intubation or admission to the intensive care unit. Clinical symptoms were found to be more prevalent in HC groups. Additionally, the HC groups had higher fever‐recorded temperatures. NMOSD patients who received hUC‐MSCs treatment had shorter disease duration than patients who did not receive hUC‐MSCs treatment. Discussion Immunosuppressant‐treated patients with NMOSD have a similar risk of COVID‐19 infection as the general population, but the disease duration is shorter and the clinical symptoms are less severe. Among our NMOSD patients who received hUC‐MSCs treatment, COVID‐19 outcomes were favorable, with no increased risk of severe COVID‐19. Prospective studies on immunotherapies are needed to help determine best treatment practices.
Effect of planned school breaks on student absenteeism due to influenza‐like illness in school aged children—Oregon School District, Wisconsin September 2014–June 2019

Abstract Background School‐aged children and school reopening dates have important roles in community influenza transmission. Although many studies evaluated the impact of reactive closures during seasonal and pandemic influenza outbreaks on medically attended influenza in surrounding communities, few assess the impact of planned breaks (i.e., school holidays) that coincide with influenza seasons, while accounting for differences in seasonal peak timing. Here, we analyze the effects of winter and spring breaks on influenza risk in school‐aged children, measured by student absenteeism due to influenza‐like illness (a‐ILI). Methods We compared a‐ILI counts in the 2‐week periods before and after each winter and spring break over five consecutive years in a single school district. We introduced a “pseudo‐break” of 9 days' duration between winter and spring break each year when school was still in session to serve as a control. The same analysis was applied to each pseudo‐break to support any findings of true impact. Results We found strong associations between winter and spring breaks and a reduction in influenza risk, with a nearly 50% reduction in a‐ILI counts post‐break compared with the period before break, and the greatest impact when break coincided with increased local influenza activity while accounting for possible temporal and community risk confounders. Conclusions These findings suggest that brief breaks of in‐person schooling, such as planned breaks lasting 9–16 calendar days, can effectively reduce influenza in schools and community spread. Additional analyses investigating the impact of well‐timed shorter breaks on a‐ILI may determine an optimal duration for brief school closures to effectively suppress community transmission of influenza.
Asian summer monsoon variability during the late glacial and Holocene inferred from the stable carbon isotope record of black carbon in the sediments of Muge Co, southeastern Tibetan Plateau, China

A sediment core from an alpine lake (Muge Co) from the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau was analyzed for sediment grain size distribution and the carbon isotopic composition of black carbon in order to reconstruct Asian summer monsoon variability over the last 12 ka. Five major climatic stages were identified: (1) From 12 to 10.5 cal. ka BP, a cold and dry climate prevailed, corresponding to the Younger Dryas in the North Atlantic; (2) from 10.5 to 9.2 cal. ka BP, precipitation increased rapidly but was interrupted by a pronounced cold and dry phase at about 10 cal. ka BP; (3) from 9.2 to 6.2 cal. ka BP, the Holocene climatic optimum was reached and maintained; (4) from 6.2 to 2.5 cal. ka BP, the climate gradually became cooler and drier; (5) from 2.5 cal. ka BP to the present, a climatic reversal toward wetter conditions occurred. The trend of our reconstructed Asian summer monsoon precipitation record is similar on orbital and millennium timescales to that of other records from the Asian monsoon region. Although the maximum monsoon intensity recorded in the Muge Co sediments lagged the peak of Northern Hemisphere insolation by ~3.0 ka, the strengthening trend was in phase with the rise in the Western Pacific Warm Pool sea surface temperature. Therefore, we suggest that the tropical ocean temperatures may have been the major driver of Asian summer monsoon precipitation in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. In addition, other factors such as sea-level rise and temperature in the North Atlantic region may have played an important role in the evolution of the Asian summer monsoon since the last deglaciation. However, human activity may have affected the monsoon proxies during the last 2.5 ka, and further studies are needed to distinguish the effects of climate and human disturbance.
The commercial promotion of electronic cigarettes on social media and its influence on positive perceptions of vaping and vaping behaviours in Anglophone countries: A scoping review

There is ongoing scientific and policy debate about the role e-cigarettes play in tobacco control, with concerns centring around unknown long-term effects, and the potential industry co-option of harm reduction efforts, including marketing to youths. There is substantial evidence of the influence of conventional cigarette promotion on smoking behaviours in Anglophone countries, and the popularity of social networking sites, as well as the lack of marketing regulations on the commercial promotion of electronic cigarettes online, suggest an urgent need to explore this topic further. This scoping review aims to map the existing evidence related to the influence of e-cigarette commercial promotion on social media on positive perceptions of vaping and vaping behaviours in core Anglophone countries. Searches were conducted in CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), Embase, Epistemonikos, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Science Citation Index, on the 21st of July 2022. From 1,385 studies, 11 articles were included in the final review, using diverse study designs, including focus groups, content analysis, cross-sectional studies, and experiments. The studies were primarily based in the U.S. and evidenced the association between the commercial promotion of e-cigarettes on social media with positive perceptions of vaping and vaping behaviours, particularly among young people, addressing diverse themes including celebrities’ sponsorship, e-liquid appeal (including flavours and nicotine levels), users’ engagement with ads, and other marketing strategies. Further, social networking sites commercially promoting e-cigarettes might increase positive attitudes towards vaping and vaping behaviours, particularly among youths. Future research should be conducted in broader settings, incorporate larger and diverse sample sizes, ensure research transparency, cover multiple social networking sites, emphasize ecological validity, and foment longitudinal studies.
Leveraging genetic correlations and multiple populations to improve genetic risk prediction for non-European populations

The disparity in genetic risk prediction accuracy between European and non-European individuals highlights a critical challenge in health inequality. To bridge this gap, we introduce JointPRS, a novel method that models multiple populations jointly to improve genetic risk predictions for non-European individuals. JointPRS has three key features. First, it encompasses all diverse populations to improve prediction accuracy, rather than relying solely on the target population with a singular auxiliary European group. Second, it autonomously estimates and leverages chromosome-wise cross-population genetic correlations to infer the effect sizes of genetic variants. Lastly, it provides an auto version that has comparable performance to the tuning version to accommodate the situation with no validation dataset. Through extensive simulations and real data applications to 22 quantitative traits and four binary traits in East Asian populations, nine quantitative traits and one binary trait in African populations, and four quantitative traits in South Asian populations, we demonstrate that JointPRS outperforms state-of-art methods, improving the prediction accuracy for both quantitative and binary traits in non-European populations.
Beliefs, awareness, use, and factors associated with herbal supplements usage among patients with chronic diseases–A cross-sectional insight from Alkharj, Saudi Arabia

Background Herbal supplements (HSs) are used to treat a variety of diseases and ailments. Individuals with chronic diseases are at a higher risk of having adverse events and drug interactions from the use of HSs. Aim This study determined the beliefs, awareness, use, and factors associated with HSs usage among patients with chronic diseases in Alkharj, Saudi Arabia. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with chronic diseases between February and June 2019. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at various out-patient clinics in different hospitals. Patients diagnosed with chronic diseases were included in the study. Data were analyzed by descriptive, comparative, and inferential statistics using SAS ver. 9.4. Results The study participants were consisted of 533 patients, with mean age 53.6 ±12.9 years. The most prevalent chronic diseases were diabetes mellitus (67.7%), followed by hypertension (54.8%), and hyperlipidemia (53.8%). Among the studied participants, 336 (63%) had used at least one HS, whereby the most commonly used HSs were ginger (74.7%), mint (72%), and cumin (66.7%). Almost 78% of HSs users did not consult any healthcare provider about their use. HSs use varied significantly between female and male participants (p<0.05), whereby 61.5% of female participants used HSs in comparison to the male participants (38.5%). Gender (AOR 0.328; 95% CI 0.139–0.772; p = 0.0107), number of chronic diseases (AOR 1.585; 95% CI 1.084–2.318; p = 0.0312), and hyperlipidemia (AOR 2.818; 95% CI 1.507–5.269; p = 0.0.0012) were the pure factors of HSs use among the studied patients. Conclusion The results of this study showed that HSs usage was high among patients with chronic diseases in Saudi Arabia. Concurrent usage of HSs with drugs should be well-discussed with healthcare providers to avoid potential adverse events or drug interactions especially among patients with chronic diseases.
Prevalence and Correlators of Diabetes Distress in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose To address the prevalence of diabetes distress (DD) and its correlators in adults with type 2 diabetes. Patients and Methods During 2021 and 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional study in three Class A tertiary comprehensive hospitals in China, and received 947 participants who completed a printed survey covering DD, demographic, diabetic, physiological, and psychosocial factors. We used Jonckheere-Terpstra, chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests to assess intergroup differences between different levels of DD. We used ordinal logistic regression analysis to analyze correlators of DD further. Results The prevalence of DD was 34.64%. In univariate analysis, those with lower satisfaction with financial status, longer durations of diabetes, more complications, higher glycemia, more severe insomnia, treatment by medications only, poorer lifestyle interventions, fewer self-care activities, more types and frequencies of insulin injections, and spending more money and time on treatment were susceptible to DD. Type D personality, negative illness perceptions, negative coping styles, and psychological effects of major life events were related to higher DD. Hope, self-efficacy, positive coping styles, and social support can reduce DD. In ordinal logistic regression analysis, hypoglycemic episode (β=−1.118, p=0.019, “have hypoglycemic” as reference) and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (β=0.090, p<0.001) were significant positive correlators for DD, while diet intervention (β=0.803, p=0.022, “have diet intervention” as reference), money spent on diabetes treatment (β<-0.001, p=0.035), and SES (β=−0.257, p<0.001) were significant negative correlators. Conclusion More than one-third of Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes experience moderate or high levels of DD. DD was associated with financial, diabetic, physiological, and psychosocial status.
Expression and processing of mature human frataxin after gene therapy in mice

Friedreich’s ataxia is a degenerative and progressive multisystem disorder caused by mutations in the highly conserved frataxin (FXN) gene that results in FXN protein deficiency and mitochondrial dysfunction. While gene therapy approaches are promising, consistent induction of therapeutic FXN protein expression that is sub-toxic has proven challenging, and numerous therapeutic approaches are being tested in animal models. FXN (hFXN in humans, mFXN in mice) is proteolytically modified in mitochondria to produce mature FXN. However, unlike endogenous hFXN, endogenous mFXN is further processed into N-terminally truncated, extra-mitochondrial mFXN forms of unknown function. This study assessed mature exogenous hFXN expression levels in the heart and liver of C57Bl/6 mice 7–10 months after intravenous administration of a recombinant adeno-associated virus encoding hFXN (AAVrh.10hFXN) and examined the potential for hFXN truncation in mice. AAVrh.10hFXN induced dose-dependent expression of hFXN in the heart and liver. Interestingly, hFXN was processed into truncated forms, but found at lower levels than mature hFXN. However, the truncations were at different positions than mFXN. AAVrh.10hFXN induced mature hFXN expression in mouse heart and liver at levels that approximated endogenous mFXN levels. These results demonstrate that AAVrh.10hFXN may induce expression of therapeutic levels of mature hFXN in mice.
Investigating how tamsulosin combined with levofloxacin impacts wound healing in patients with chronic prostatitis who may also have perineal or urethral wounds

Abstract Chronic prostatitis, which frequently manifests with perineal or urethral ulcers, can have substantial impact on the quality of life experienced by affected individuals. Present treatment approaches primarily target the alleviation of symptoms and control of complications. In patients with chronic prostatitis, this investigation examined the potential synergistic effects of tamsulosin and levofloxacin on urinary function and urethral and perineal wounds healing. This cross‐sectional observational study was carried out at Chongqing Western Hospital, China, from February to November 2023. The participants comprised 88 males aged 40–75 years who had been clinically diagnosed with chronic prostatitis and complications that accompany the wound healing process. The participants were equally distributed into two groups: one assigned to the treatment group, which received a daily combination of levofloxacin (500 mg) and tamsulosin (0.4 mg) and other to receive conventional care. The wound healing rate and improvement in urinary function were the primary outcomes evaluated monthly for 9 months. Patient satisfaction and symptom amelioration were secondary outcomes, in addition to the surveillance of adverse effects. In comparison to the control, treatment group exhibited significantly higher rate of wound closure (78.08% at 1 month and 79.38% at 9 months) and urinary function improvement (66.69% at 1 month and 67.95% at 9 months). In addition, the treatment group exhibited a greater degree of symptom amelioration; however, a rise in adverse effects was observed. In every domain, patient satisfaction scores were significantly higher in the treatment group. Thus the combination of tamsulosin and levofloxacin improved urinary function and wound repair in patients with chronic prostatitis, while also exhibiting tolerable profile of adverse effects.