Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
iStent versus iStent inject implantation combined with phacoemulsification in open angle glaucoma

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of iStent vs. iStent inject implantation combined with phacoemulsification. Methods: This single center retrospective comparative case series included subjects with open angle glaucoma who underwent iStent or iStent inject implantation combined with phacoemulsification with ≥1 year follow-up. The main outcome measures were in-group and between-group changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication number, proportion of eyes that achieved IOP ≤15 mmHg, and surgical success defined as 20% IOP reduction from baseline at 6/12 months. Univariate/multivariate regression analyses were done to identify predictors of surgical failure. Results: One hundred ninety-seven eyes of 148 patients were included (122 iStent, 75 iStent inject). Both groups achieved significant IOP and medication reduction at months 6/12 (P < 0.05). At month 6, IOP was significantly lower in iStent inject vs. iStent eyes (P = 0.003), but the difference was insignificant by month 12 (P = 0.172). Medication number was comparable in both groups at months 6/12 (P > 0.05). More iStent inject eyes achieved IOP ≤15 mmHg at month 6 (P = 0.003) and 12 (P = 0.047). Surgical success was comparable in both groups at months 6/12 (P > 0.05). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed similar cumulative rate of surgical failure at year-1 in both groups (P = 0.644). The multivariate model identified older age (P = 0.017) and lower baseline IOP (P = 0.002) as the strongest predictors of surgical failure. Conclusion: Compared to iStent, iStent inject achieved lower IOP at month 6 and higher proportion of eyes achieved IOP ≤15 mmHg at month 6/12. However, surgical success was similar in both groups. Predictors of surgical failure were older age and lower baseline IOP rather than the stent type.
SARS-CoV-2 infectivity correlates with high viral loads and detection of viral antigen and is terminated by seroconversion

Abstract Background From a public health perspective, effective containment strategies for SARS-CoV-2 should be balanced with individual liberties. Methods We collected 79 respiratory samples from 59 patients monitored in an outpatient center or in the intensive care unit of the University Hospital Regensburg. We analyzed viral load by quantitative real-time PCR, viral antigen by point-of-care assay, time since onset of symptoms and presence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the context of virus isolation from respiratory specimen. Results The odds ratio for virus isolation increased 1.9-fold for each log10 level of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and 7.4-fold with detection of viral antigen, while it decreased 6.3-fold beyond 10 days of symptoms and 20.0-fold with presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The latter was confirmed for B.1. 1.7 strains. The positive predictive value for virus isolation was 60.0% for viral loads above 10 7 RNA copies/mL and 50.0% for the presence of viral antigen. Symptom onset before 10 days and seroconversion predicted lack of infectivity with 93.8% and 96.0%. Conclusions Our data support quarantining patients with high viral load and detection of viral antigen, and lifting restrictive measures with increasing time to symptom onset and seroconversion. Delay of antibody formation may prolong infectivity.
Mortality among inpatients with bipolar disorders and COVID-19: a propensity score matching analysis in a national French cohort study

Abstract Background It remains unknown whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with bipolar disorders (BDs) are at an increased risk of mortality. We aimed to establish whether health outcomes and care differed between patients infected with COVID-19 with BD and patients without a diagnosis of severe mental illness. Methods We conducted a population-based cohort study of all patients with identified COVID-19 and respiratory symptoms who were hospitalized in France between February and June 2020. The outcomes were in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We used propensity score matching to control for confounding factors. Results In total, 50 407 patients were included, of whom 480 were patients with BD. Patients with BD were 2 years older, more frequently women and had more comorbidities than controls without a diagnosis of severe mental illness. Patients with BD had an increased in-hospital mortality rate (26.6% v. 21.9%; p = 0.034) and similar ICU admission rate (27.9% v. 28.4%, p = 0.799), as confirmed by propensity analysis [odds ratio, 95% confidence interval (OR, 95% CI) for mortality: 1.30 (1.16–1.45), p < 0.0001]. Significant interactions between BD and age and between BD and social deprivation were found, highlighting that the most important inequalities in mortality were observed in the youngest [OR, 95% CI 2.28 (1.18–4.41), p = 0.0015] and most deprived patients with BD [OR, 95% CI 1.60 (1.33–1.92), p < 0.001]. Conclusions COVID-19 patients with BD were at an increased risk of mortality, which was exacerbated in the youngest and most deprived patients with BD. Patients with BD should thus be targeted as a high-risk population for severe forms of COVID-19, requiring enhanced preventive and disease management strategies.
SALMONELLA ISOLATED FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK WILDLIFE ADMITTED TO A VETERINARY MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITAL

Abstract: The role of wildlife as a source of zoonotic Salmonella transmission is poorly understood, as are the clinical implications of this pathogen among wildlife species. Wildlife hospitals represent an important location to conduct Salmonella surveillance, given the wide variety of species admitted for medical and surgical care. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of fecal Salmonella shedding among wildlife admitted to a veterinary medical teaching hospital, to identify risk factors for infection, and to fully characterize the isolates. Voided fecal samples (birds and mammals) and cloacal swab samples (reptiles and amphibians) were collected between May 2018 and March 2020. Standard bacteriologic culture methods were used to detect Salmonella, and isolates were characterized via serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and whole-genome sequencing. Samples were collected from 348 wildlife patients representing 74 wildlife species, and the apparent prevalence of fecal Salmonella shedding was 1.4% (5/348; 95% confidence interval, 0.5–3.3%). Four serotypes were identified, and isolates were phenotypically susceptible to all antimicrobial agents tested. Two isolates were closely related to human clinical isolates, demonstrating the overlap between wildlife and human pathogens. Fecal Salmonella shedding among hospitalized wildlife appears to be uncommon, and the risk of either nosocomial or zoonotic Salmonella transmission is presumably low. Nevertheless, the occurrence of Salmonella in wildlife, particularly among common species found in a wide array of habitats, poses a potential threat to public health and may result in transmission to more-vulnerable wildlife populations.
Prevalence of Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Although the association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is well recognised, uncertainties remain about the magnitude of this problem. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing prevalence of PSC in IBD to investigate whether type of IBD, how presence of PSC was defined, sex, disease extent or location, time period, or geographical location influenced prevalence. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, and EMBASE Classic were searched (from inception to 10th April 2021) to identify observational studies recruiting ≥50 adult patients with IBD reporting prevalence of PSC. Data were extracted, and pooled prevalence, odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) calculated. RESULTS Of 1204 citations, 64 studies were eligible, containing 776,700 patients. Overall, pooled prevalence of PSC in IBD was 2.16%, and was highest in South America and lowest in Southeast Asia. Pooled prevalence in patients with UC, CD, or IBD-U was 2.47%, 0.96% and 5.01%, respectively. Pooled prevalence was significantly higher in UC versus CD (OR = 1.69; 95% CI 1.24-2.29). In subgroup analyses according to method used to define presence of PSC, the highest prevalence was 2.88% in studies performing both liver biochemistry and ERCP/MRCP, and the lowest was 1.79% in studies using a clinical diagnosis. Prevalence was generally higher in men, patients with more extensive, compared with left-sided, UC or ileocolonic or colonic, compared with ileal, CD. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide the first pooled estimates of the burden of PSC in IBD, as well as potential risk factors, which may be important in establishing a prompt diagnosis and initiating appropriate surveillance for relevant gastrointestinal malignancies.
Rapid Genomic Evolution Drives the Diversification of Male Reproductive Genes in Dung Beetles

Abstract The molecular basis for the evolution of novel phenotypes is a central question in evolutionary biology. In recent years, dung beetles have emerged as models for novel trait evolution as they possess distinct precopulatory traits such as sexually dimorphic horns on their head and thorax. Here, we use functional and evolutionary genomics to investigate the origins and the evolution of postcopulatory reproductive traits in male dung beetles. Male ejaculates that underlie postcopulatory sexual selection are excellent candidates to study novel trait evolution as they are complex, fast evolving, and often highly divergent in insects. We assemble de novo transcriptomes of male accessory glands and testes of a widespread dung beetle, Catharsius molossus, and we perform an evolutionary analysis of closely and distantly related insect genomes. Our results show there is rapid innovation at the genomic level even among closely related dung beetles. Genomic expansion and contraction drive the divergence of male reproductive traits and their functions. The birth of scores of completely novel reproductive genes is reinforced by the recruitment of these genes for high expression in male reproductive tissues, especially in the accessory glands. We find that male accessory glands of C. molossus are specialized for secretory function and express female, egg, and embryo-related genes as well as serine protease inhibitors, whilst the testes are specialized for spermatogenesis and sperm function. Finally, we touch upon putative functions of these evolutionary novelties using structure-function analysis as these proteins bear no homology to any other known proteins.
Use of saliva stress biomarkers to estimate novice male endoscopist’s stress during training in a high-end simulator

Abstract Objective Simulated endoscopic training can be challenging and stressful for the novice trainee. The absence of a reliable stress detection method during simulated endoscopic training makes estimating trainees’ mental stress difficult to quantify. This study concomitantly measures the responses of four saliva stress biomarkers and compares them to the video score (VS) achieved by novice endoscopists in a reproducibly stressful simulation environment. Methods Thirty-six male endoscopy naïve surgery residents were enrolled. After an orientation phase, a saliva specimen was collected for cortisol (sC), alpha-amylase (sAA), Chromogranin A (sCgA), and immunoglobulin A (sIgA) measurements (baseline phase, BL). Thereafter, the simulation exercise phase (E) started, practicing in the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery Skills module (GI-Bronch Mentor). Immediately after, a second saliva sample for measuring the above-cited biomarkers was collected. The whole experiment was videotaped, and the VS was calculated. The percentage (E-BL)diff of each of the four saliva biomarkers was calculated and examined for correlation to VS. Results sCgAdiff showed the best correlation with VS, followed by sAAdiff. Conclusions sCgA and sAA, are saliva stress biomarkers that are easy to collect non-invasively and showed the best correlation with novice endoscopist’s performance in our simulation setting, and therefore, they could be used for monitoring stress.
Early life gut microbiota is associated with rapid infant growth in Hispanics from Southern California

ABSTRACT We aimed to determine if the newborn gut microbiota is an underlying determinant of early life growth trajectories. 132 Hispanic infants were recruited at 1-month postpartum. The infant gut microbiome was characterized using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Rapid infant growth was defined as a weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) change greater than 0.67 between birth and 12-months of age. Measures of infant growth included change in WAZ, weight-for-length z-score (WLZ), and body mass index (BMI) z-scores from birth to 12-months and infant anthropometrics at 12-months (weight, skinfold thickness). Of the 132 infants, 40% had rapid growth in the first year of life. Multiple metrics of alpha-diversity predicted rapid infant growth, including a higher Shannon diversity (OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.07–3.29; p = .03), Faith’s phylogenic diversity (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.05–1.94; p = .03), and richness (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.08; p = .02). Many of these alpha-diversity metrics were also positively associated with increases in WAZ, WLZ, and BMI z-scores from birth to 12-months (pall<0.05). Importantly, we identified subsets of microbial consortia whose abundance were correlated with these same measures of infant growth. We also found that rapid growers were enriched in multiple taxa belonging to genera such as Acinetobacter, Collinsella, Enterococcus, Neisseria, and Parabacteroides. Moreover, measures of the newborn gut microbiota explained up to an additional 5% of the variance in rapid growth beyond known clinical predictors (R2 = 0.37 vs. 0.32, p < .01). These findings indicate that a more mature gut microbiota, characterized by increased alpha-diversity, at as early as 1-month of age, may influence infant growth trajectories in the first year of life.
Exploring the barriers for eye care among transgenders and commercial sex workers in Pune, Maharashtra

Purpose: To explore all possible barriers faced by transgenders (TG) and commercial sex workers (CSW) in accessing eye care in Pune city in western India. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted at a tertiary eye care center in Pune. Interview topic guides for face-to-face interviews and focused group discussions were developed. Comprehensive eye check-up was organized in the residential localities of TG and CSW communities in Pune. Those with severe visual impairment or blindness were identified. A sample of TGs and CSWs from this group was purposively selected and invited to participate in this study. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with each TG and CSW. A group of health care providers and NGO workers serving these communities were invited to participate in focused group discussions. All interviews/discussions were audio recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. A qualitative software (N vivo 12, QRS International, Australia) was used to identify various themes and subthemes under each domain of barriers. Results: A total of 24 people (6 each from TGs, CSWs, health care provider, and NGO worker groups) participated in this study. The most common barriers reported were social stigma, discrimination, poverty, financial exclusion, and mental health factors. Non availability of gender-neutral facilities in clinics was a unique barrier reported by TGs. Conclusion: Marginalized communities of TGs and CSWs in Pune face several previously unexplored and unique barriers for access to eye care despite the availability of services in the vicinity.
Joint attention and intelligence in children with autism spectrum disorder without severe intellectual disability

In children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), joint attention is regarded as a predictor of language function, social skills, communication, adaptive function, and intelligence. However, existing information about the association between joint attention and intelligence is limited. Most such studies have examined children with low intelligence. For this study, we investigated whether joint attention is related to intelligence in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without severe intellectual disability. We analyzed 113 children with ASD aged 40–98 months. Their Kaufman Assessment Battery (K‐ABC) Mental Processing Index (MPI) scores are 60 and more (mean 93.4). We evaluated their intelligence using K‐ABC and evaluated their joint attention using ADOS‐2. After we performed simple regression analyses using K‐ABC MPI and its nine subscales as dependent variables, using joint attention as the independent variable, we identified joint attention as a positive predictor of the MPI and its two subscales. From this result, we conclude that joint attention is related to intelligence in young children with ASD without severe intellectual disability. This result suggests a beneficial effect of early intervention targeting joint attention for children with ASD.
The prevalence of mental disorders among homeless people in high-income countries: An updated systematic review and meta-regression analysis

Background Homelessness continues to be a pressing public health concern in many countries, and mental disorders in homeless persons contribute to their high rates of morbidity and mortality. Many primary studies have estimated prevalence rates for mental disorders in homeless individuals. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the prevalence of any mental disorder and major psychiatric diagnoses in clearly defined homeless populations in any high-income country. Methods and findings We systematically searched for observational studies that estimated prevalence rates of mental disorders in samples of homeless individuals, using Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar. We updated a previous systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in 2007, and searched until 1 April 2021. Studies were included if they sampled exclusively homeless persons, diagnosed mental disorders by standardized criteria using validated methods, provided point or up to 12-month prevalence rates, and were conducted in high-income countries. We identified 39 publications with a total of 8,049 participants. Study quality was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tool for prevalence studies and a risk of bias tool. Random effects meta-analyses of prevalence rates were conducted, and heterogeneity was assessed by meta-regression analyses. The mean prevalence of any current mental disorder was estimated at 76.2% (95% CI 64.0% to 86.6%). The most common diagnostic categories were alcohol use disorders, at 36.7% (95% CI 27.7% to 46.2%), and drug use disorders, at 21.7% (95% CI 13.1% to 31.7%), followed by schizophrenia spectrum disorders (12.4% [95% CI 9.5% to 15.7%]) and major depression (12.6% [95% CI 8.0% to 18.2%]). We found substantial heterogeneity in prevalence rates between studies, which was partially explained by sampling method, study location, and the sex distribution of participants. Limitations included lack of information on certain subpopulations (e.g., women and immigrants) and unmet healthcare needs. Conclusions Public health and policy interventions to improve the health of homeless persons should consider the pattern and extent of psychiatric morbidity. Our findings suggest that the burden of psychiatric morbidity in homeless persons is substantial, and should lead to regular reviews of how healthcare services assess, treat, and follow up homeless people. The high burden of substance use disorders and schizophrenia spectrum disorders need particular attention in service development. This systematic review and meta-analysis has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018085216). Trial registration PROSPERO CRD42018085216.
The bright homunculus in our head: Individual differences in intuitive sensitivity to logical validity

Classic dual process theories of human reasoning attribute explicit reasoning to effortful, deliberative thinking. According to these models, intuitive processes lack any access to the formal rules of logic and probability and hence rely exclusively on superficial problem features to determine a response. However, in recent years, researchers have demonstrated that reasoners are able to solve simple logical or probabilistic problems relatively automatically, a capability which has been called “logical intuition. ” In four experiments, we instructed participants to judge the validity (Experiments 1 and 4), likeability (Experiments 1, 2, and 3), and physical brightness (Experiments 2, 3, and 4) of the conclusion to several reasoning problems. Brightness judgements were made by evaluating the font shade brightness of the argument’s conclusion. Participants were also asked to complete a range of individual differences measures, drawing on cognitive ability and cognitive style, to evaluate the extent to which “logical intuitions” were linked to measures of deliberative reasoning. The results showed that participants judged the conclusion of logically valid statements to be more valid, more likable, and more physically bright than invalid statements. Participants with higher cognitive ability and unlimited processing time showed greater effects of logical validity in their liking judgements (varied across experiments). However, these effects were absent in the brightness tasks, suggesting that logic effects observed under instructions to judge conclusion brightness are a purer measure of “logical intuition. ” We discuss the implications of our findings for recent dual process theories of human reasoning.
The RBS1 domain of Gemin5 is intrinsically unstructured and interacts with RNA through conserved Arg and aromatic residues

ABSTRACT Gemin5 is a multifaceted RNA-binding protein that comprises distinct structural domains, including a WD40 and TPR-like for which the X-ray structure is known. In addition, the protein contains a non-canonical RNA-binding domain (RBS1) towards the C-terminus. To understand the RNA binding features of the RBS1 domain, we have characterized its structural characteristics by solution NMR linked to RNA-binding activity. Here we show that a short version of the RBS1 domain that retains the ability to interact with RNA is predominantly unfolded even in the presence of RNA. Furthermore, an exhaustive mutational analysis indicates the presence of an evolutionarily conserved motif enriched in R, S, W, and H residues, necessary to promote RNA-binding via π-π interactions. The combined results of NMR and RNA-binding on wild-type and mutant proteins highlight the importance of aromatic and arginine residues for RNA recognition by RBS1, revealing that the net charge and the π-amino acid density of this region of Gemin5 are key factors for RNA recognition.