Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 and Liver Damage: Narrative Review and Proposed Clinical Protocol for Critically ill Pediatric Patients

SARS-CoV-2 shares nearly 80% of its' genomic sequence with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, both viruses known to cause respiratory symptoms and liver impairment. The emergence of pediatric cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome related to the SARS-CoV-2 infection (PIM-TS) has raised concerns over the issue of hepatic damage and liver enzyme elevation in the critically ill pediatric population with COVID-19. Some retrospective cohorts and case series have shown various degrees of ALT/AST elevation in SARS-CoV-2 infections. A limited number of liver histopathological studies are available that show focal hepatic periportal necrosis. This liver damage was associated with higher levels of inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP), and pro-calcitonin. Proposed pathophysiological mechanisms include an uncontrolled exacerbated inflammatory response, drug-induced liver injury, direct viral infection and damage to cholangiocytes, hypoxic-ischemic lesions, and micro-thrombosis in the liver. Based on the physiopathological characteristics described, our group proposes a clinical protocol for the surveillance, evaluation, management, and follow-up of critically ill pediatric COVID-19 patients with liver damage.
Analysis of the Clinical Effects of the Combination of Mycophenolate Mofetil with Either Tacrolimus or Cyclophosphamide

OBJECTIVES: Here, we aimed to compare the clinical effects of mycophenolate mofetil combined with either tacrolimus or with cyclophosphamide on lupus nephritis (LN) and to analyze their influence on the expression of cystatin C and on transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-β1). METHODS: A total of 234 patients were randomly divided into two groups: group A, for mycophenolate mofetil combined with tacrolimus (n=117) and group B, for mycophenolate mofetil combined with cyclophosphamide (n=117). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was adopted to detect the expression levels of serum TGF-β1 and cystatin C before and after treatment. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate in group A was much higher than that in group B. The times of effectiveness and effect validity in group A were much lower than those in group B. The expression levels of serum TGF-β1 and cystatin C decreased slightly after treatment in the two groups, and those of group A were much lower than those of group B. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus showed better clinical efficacy on LN and was safer than that of mycophenolate mofetil and cyclophosphamide. Moreover, the drug combination of mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus greatly reduced the expression levels of serum TGF-β1 and cystatin C.
Potential Efficacy of Erythropoietin on Reducing the Risk of Mortality in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of erythropoietin (EPO) on mortality, neurological outcomes, and adverse event in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods We searched databases including PubMed, OVID, and the Cochrane Library from inception until October 18, 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare EPO treatment group and placebo in patients with TBI. Two authors independently processed the data and evaluated the quality of inclusion studies. Statistical analysis was performed with heterogeneity test with I2 and chi-square tests. We summarized the mortality, prognosis of neurological function, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) outcomes and presented as risk ratio (RR) or risk difference (RD) with a 95% CI. Results Seven RCTs accounting for 1180 patients were included after meeting the inclusion criteria. Compared with placebo, the overall mortality of EPO-treated patients was significantly reduced (RR 0.68 [95% CI 0.50-0.93]; p = 0.02). EPO therapy did not improve neurological prognosis (RR 1.21 [95% CI 0.93-1.15]; p = 0.16) or increase the occurrence of DVT (RR 0.83 [95% CI 0.61–1.13]; p = 0.242), which showed no significant difference. Conclusions The results showed that the administration of EPO may reduce the risk of mortality without enhancing the occurrence of DVT in TBI patients. However, the effect of EPO on neurological outcome remains indistinct. Through subgroup analysis, we demonstrated that the dose of EPO may be a potential factor affecting the heterogeneity in neurological function and that the follow-up duration may influence the stability of the result.
Thymoquinone Protects against Hyperlipidemia-Induced Cardiac Damage in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Deficient (LDL-R−/−) Mice via Its Anti-inflammatory and Antipyroptotic Effects

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for cardiac damage and cardiovascular disease. Increasing evidence has shown that dyslipidemia-related cardiac damage is associated with lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the major constituent of Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed or black cumin, and is globally used in folk (herbal) medicine for treating and preventing a number of diseases and conditions. Several studies have shown that TQ can protect against cardiac damage. This study is aimed at investigating the possible protective effects of TQ on hyperlipidemia-induced cardiac damage in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDL-R−/−) mice. Eight-week-old male LDL-R−/− mice were randomly divided into normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), and HFD and TQ (HFD+TQ) groups and were fed the different diets for eight weeks. Blood samples were obtained from the inferior vena cava in serum tubes and stored at -80°C until use. Some cardiac tissues were fixed in 10% formalin and then embedded in paraffin for histological evaluation. The remainder of the cardiac tissues was snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen for mRNA preparation or immunoblotting. The levels of metabolism-related factors, such as total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), were decreased in the HFD+TQ group compared with those in the HFD group. Periodic acid-Schiff staining demonstrated that lipid deposition was lower in the HFD+TQ group than in the HFD group. The expression of pyroptosis indicators (NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3), interleukin- (IL-) 1β, IL-18, and caspase-1), proinflammatory factors (IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)), and macrophage markers (cluster of differentiation (CD) 68) was significantly downregulated in the HFD+TQ group compared with that in the HFD group. Our results indicate that TQ may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia-induced cardiac damage.
Inhibition of CDK1 Reverses the Resistance of 5-Fu in Colorectal Cancer

Introduction Although the survival rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients can be improved by surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) affects the effect of chemotherapy and the prognosis of patients. An increasing number of studies showed that 5-Fu resistance was the main reason for the failure of colorectal cancer treatment. The poor prognosis of colorectal cancer greatly harms people’s health. This study aimed to clarify the correlation between cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and 5-Fu-induced tumor resistance. Materials and Methods Cell proliferation and invasion experiments showed that down-regulation of CDK1 inhibited fluorouracil-resistant CRC cell proliferation. The expression level of CDK1 was detected in 5-Fu-resistant CRC cells in vitro. Tumor growth was inhibited by down-regulation of CDK1 in tumor xenograft mouse models. Results We found that CDK1 was highly expressed in tumor tissues, especially in fluorouracil-resistant tissues. We also confirmed that the differential expression of 5-Fu in tumor tissues was related to tumor site, lymph node metastasis and stage. CDK1 promoted migration, invasion and inhibited apoptosis in 5-Fu-resistant CRC cells. Down-regulation of CDK1 inhibited fluorouracil-resistant CRC cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in vivo. Conclusion High expression of CDK1 may lead to poor clinical prognosis, and inhibition of CDK1 enhances 5-Fu sensitivity in CRC. Our research suggested that CDK1 may be used to predict 5-Fu efficacy and as a therapeutic target for CRC.
Risk Factors of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases-Producing Escherichia coli Community Acquired Urinary Tract Infections: A Systematic Review

Purpose The prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) has been increasing worldwide since the early 2000s. E. coli is found in 70–90% of community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTIs). We performed a systematic literature review to determine the risk factors for CA-UTI caused by ESBL-EC. Methods We searched the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science databases without language or date restriction up to March 2019. Two independent reviewers selected studies with quantified risk factors for CA-UTI due to ESBL-EC, and assessed their quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results Among the 5,597 studies identified, 16 observational studies (n=12,138 patients) met the eligibility criteria. The included studies were performed in various countries, and 14/16 were published after 2012. The most relevant risk factors for CA-UTI due to ESBL-EC identified were prior use of antibiotics (odds ratio (OR) from 2.2 to 21.4), previous hospitalization (OR: 1.7 to 3.9), and UTI history (OR: 1.3 to 3.8). Two risk factors were related to environmental contamination: travelling abroad, and swimming in freshwater. Conclusion Our findings could allow adapting empiric antibiotic treatments according to the patient profile. Further studies are needed to quantify the relationships between CA-UTI due to ESBL-EC and the environment.
Measuring optical absorption coefficient of pure water in UV using the integrating cavity absorption meter.

Measuring Optical Absorption Coefficient of Pure Water in UV Using the Integrating Cavity Absorption Meter. (May 2008) Ling Wang, B.S., Peking University, P. R. China; M.S., Peking University, P. R. China Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Edward S. Fry The integrating cavity absorption meter (ICAM) has been used successfully to measure the low absorption coefficient of pure water. The ICAM produces an effective total path length of several meters or even longer, although the physical size of the instrument is only several centimeters. The long effective total path length ensures a high sensitivity that enables the ICAM to measure liquid mediums with low absorption. Compared to the conventional transmission type of instruments that were used to measure the same medium with the same path length, the ICAM eliminates the effect of scattering by introducing isotropic illumination in the medium, and consequently measures the true absorption coefficient of the medium in stead of the attenuation coefficient. The original ICAM was constructed with Spectralon and used in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 700 nm. Later studies showed that Spectralon is not suitable for measurements in the UV region because of its relatively lower reflectivity in this region and, even worse, the continuously decaying reflectivity under the exposure to UV radiation. Thus, we have developed a new way to construct the ICAM utilizing the material fumed silica. The
Nutrition gap in children, urban-rural: the key education and food. Colombia, 2015

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To analyze the nutritional situation of children under five years old from both urban and rural areas of Colombia. METHOD: Analytical study, based on cross-sectional data, collected from ENSIN-2015. The sample consisted of 12,256 children aged between 0 and 4 years old. We calculated the prevalence ratios (PR) with their respective 95% confidence interval (95%CI). PR were assessed by binomial regression models with malnutrition or overweight as the dependent variable and geographic area as the explanatory variable. We used context variables to adjust the estimated PR and control the confounder within. RESULTS: Acute malnutrition (weight-for-height) had a prevalence of 1.6%, while overweight had a 5.6% rate. No differences per geographic zone in the weight-for-height indicator were found. Stunted growth – chronic malnutrition – was higher in the rural area (PR = 1.2; 95%CI 1–1.53; p = 0.050). Prevalences adjusted by variables related to structural, social and economic developement showed that both the household chief's educational level and the food insecurity of the area account for malnutrition. CONCLUSION: The height-for-age indicator works better to establish development level. Measures against coverage, relevance and quality of education and access to food can harm the nutritional status of the children.
Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen Regulates EPO and Iron Recycling Protein Expressions in Anemic Rats with Chronic Kidney Disease: Accumulation of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-2α via ERK Signaling

Jian-Pi-Yi-Shen (JPYS), the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction, has been commonly used to treat chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its complications such as anemia. JPYS has been previously found to induce erythropoietin (EPO) production in HEK293T cells and CKD rats. However, the mechanism of JPYS in treating anemia of CKD rats has remained largely unknown. Here, we further extend our effort to investigate the translational control of hypoxia inducible factor- (HIF-) α protein via ERK signaling and the effect on iron recycling-related protein expression by JPYS, thus revealing the mechanism of JPYS in correcting anemia in CKD. Experimental CKD rats with anemia were induced by 5/6 nephrectomy. Rats were administrated orally with high dose (6.0 g/kg/d) and low dose (1.5 g/kg/d) of JPYS for 90 days. Serum hepcidin level was determined to evaluate iron homeostasis. The protein expressions of HIF-2α, erythropoietin (EPO), ferritin, and ferroportin (FPN) and the phosphorylation level of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) were detected by Western blot. The results showed that JPYS treatment significantly ameliorated kidney function by reducing increased levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), and urine protein (UPRO). Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Masson staining observation showed that the renal pathological damage was restored in JPYS-treated CKD rats. In parallel, JPYS markedly improved CKD anemia through upregulation of red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), and hematocrit (HCT). JPYS stimulated EPO and HIF-2α protein expressions in both the kidney and liver of CKD rats. Furthermore, JPYS induced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 protein. In addition, JPYS regulated protein expression of ferritin and FPN in both the liver and spleen of CKD rats and the serum level of hepcidin. In conclusion, JPYS induces the expression of EPO through ERK-mediated HIF-2α protein accumulation and regulates systemic iron recycling, supporting its role in promoting erythropoiesis and improvement of anemia in CKD.
HNRNPCL1, PRAMEF1, CFAP74, and DFFB: Common Potential Biomarkers for Sporadic and Suspected Lynch Syndrome Endometrial Cancer

Purpose To investigate the genes of patients with sporadic endometrial cancer (EC) and suspected Lynch syndrome (LS)-related EC in the Chinese population. Identification of meaningful mutation sites can provide theoretical basis for molecular targeted therapy, aiming to improve the prognosis of patients with EC. Methods We recruited 388 patients with EC for mismatch repair (MMR) immunohistochemistry and MLH1 methylation analysis. Based on the results, they were divided into four groups: MMR without deletion group (sporadic EC group 1); MLH1&PMS2 deletion and MLH1 methylation group (sporadic EC group 2); MSH2 and/or MSH6 deletion group (suspected LS group); and unclassified group (remainder cases). Patients from each group were randomly screened for whole-exome sequencing detection. Genome Analysis Toolkit, VarScant, MuTect, and CONTRA were used to detect the insertions/deletions, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and copy number variations. Gene Ontology term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed with Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery. Protein–protein interaction analysis was accomplished through the STRING database. Results The MMR immunohistochemistry results were positive (without MMR deletion) and negative in 299 patients and 89 patients, respectively. The 32, 10, 13, and 7 patients in the sporadic EC group 1, sporadic EC group 2, suspected LS group, and unclassified group were randomly selected for whole-exome sequencing, respectively. These three groups had a total of 86 common mutation sites, which were distributed on 26 genes. Among the top 30 common high-frequency mutation sites, 12, 5, 4, and 3 mutation sites were located on HNRNPCL1, PRAMEF1, HNRNPCL2, and CFAP74, respectively. Protein–protein interaction analysis showed that DFFB was associated with the most genes. There were some differences in the number of specific mutations in the families of different LS-related EC proband. Conclusion HNRNPCL1, PRAMEF1, CFAP74, and DFFB may be potential biomarkers for EC or LS-related EC.
Multiple data revealed two new species of the Asian horned toad Megophrys Kuhl & Van Hasselt, 1822 (Anura, Megophryidae) from the eastern corner of the Himalayas

Abstract Multiple disciplines can help to discover cryptic species and resolve taxonomic confusions. The Asian horned toad genus Megophryssensu lato as a diverse group was proposed to contain dozens of cryptic species. Based on molecular phylogenetics, morphology, osteology, and bioacoustics data, the species profiles of Megophrys toads in the eastern corner of Himalayas in Medog County, Tibet Autonomous Region, China was investigated. The results indicated that this small area harbored at least four Megophrys species, i.e., M. medogensis, M. pachyproctus, Megophrys zhouisp. nov., and Megophrys yeaesp. nov., the latter two being described in this study. Additionally, the mitochondrial DNA trees nested the low-middle-elevation and high-elevation groups of M. medogensis into a monophyletic group, being in discordance with the paraphyletic relationship between them revealed in the nuclear DNA trees. The findings highlighted the underestimated biodiversity in Himalayas, and further indicated that the Megophrys toads here have been probably experienced complicated evolutionary history, for example, introgression between clades or incomplete lineage sorting and niche divergences in microhabitats. Anyway, it is urgent for us to explore the problems because these toads are suffering from increasing threats from human activities and climatic changes.
First contribution to the doryctine fauna (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Doryctinae) of Farasan Archipelago, Saudi Arabia, with new records and the description of a new species

Abstract The doryctine wasp species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Farasan Archipelago (Saudi Arabia) are studied here for the first time. Six species are reported, of which Mimodoryctes arabicus Edmardash, Gadallah & Soliman is described and illustrated as a new species. Neoheterospilus sp. is most probably a new species but further collecting should be done to obtain the female. Four species are new records for Saudi Arabia as well as for the whole Arabian Peninsula: Dendrosotinus ferrugineus (Marshall, 1888), Hecabalodes anthaxiae Wilkinson, 1929, Mimodoryctes proprius Belokobylskij, 2001, and Rhaconotus (Rhaconotus) carinatus Polaszek, 1994. The newly recorded species are re-described and illustrated.
Effect and Comparison of Luteolin and Its Derivative Sodium Luteolin-4′-sulfonate on Adipogenic Differentiation of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells through AMPK-Mediated PPARγ Signaling

Luteolin is a common phytochemical from the flavonoid family with a flavone structure. Studies reported several bioactivities for luteolin and similar flavones. Attenuating the increased adipogenesis of bone marrow cells (hBM-MSCs) has been regarded as a therapeutic target against osteoporotic bone disorders. In the present study, the potential roles of luteolin and its sulfonic acid derivative luteolin-OSO3Na in regulating adipogenic differentiation of hBM-MSCs were investigated. Adipo-induced cells were treated with or without compounds, and their effect on adipogenesis was evaluated by adipogenic marker levels such as lipid accumulation and PPARγ pathway activation. Luteolin hindered the adipogenic lipid accumulation in adipo-induced hBM-MSCs. Immunoblotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis results indicated that luteolin downregulated PPARγ and downstream factors of C/EBPα and SREBP1c expression which resulted in inhibition of adipogenesis. Luteolin-OSO3Na showed similar effects; however, it was significantly less effective compared to luteolin. Investigating p38, JNK, and ERK MAPKs and AMPK activation indicated that luteolin suppressed the MAPK phosphorylation while stimulating AMPK phosphorylation. On the other hand, luteolin-OSO3Na was not able to notably affect the MAPK and AMPK activation. In conclusion, this study suggested that luteolin inhibited adipogenic differentiation of hBM-MSCs via upregulating AMPK activation. Replacing its 4′-hydroxyl group with sulfonic acid sodium salt diminished its antiadipogenic effect indicating its role in regulating AMPK activation. The general significance is that luteolin is a common phytochemical with various health-beneficial effects. The current study suggested that luteolin may serve as a lead compound for developing antiosteoporotic substances with antiadipogenic properties.
Characteristics of Physical Fitness and Cardiometabolic Risk in Chinese University Students with Normal-Weight Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose To (i) describe the characteristics of physical fitness and cardiometabolic risk in Chinese university students with normal-weight obesity (NWO); (ii) assess the association between NWO with physical fitness and cardiometabolic risk. Methods A total of 249 participants from the 2018 Shanghai University of Sport Alumni Health Cohort Study in China formed the study cohort. NWO was defined as normal body mass index (17.9–23.9 kg/m2 for males; 17.2–23.9 kg/m2 for females) but with excess body-fat percentage (≥20% for males; ≥30% for females). Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Physical-fitness scores were calculated from a battery of sex-specific tests. Cardiometabolic risk was calculated using a continuous clustered risk (MetS) score. Results We found that 16.7% of male and 45.3% of female university students were classified as having NWO. Participants with NWO showed worse cardiorespiratory fitness than those with normal weight (NW) (male NWO (37±8) vs male NW (41±6) mL/kg/min, p<0.01; female NWO (31±4) vs female NW (33±6) mL/kg/min, p<0.01). NWO was associated negatively with the fitness score (OR = 0.853; 95% CI = 0.793–0.917) and was associated positively with the MetS score (1.280; 1.162–1.410). Conclusion University students with NWO were characterized by higher cardiometabolic risk and lower levels of physical fitness. Our findings implied that university students with NWO should be mindful of the potential hidden health risks of excess body fat and participate in exercise to enhance physical fitness.