Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased CD4+CD8+ Double-Positive T Cell in Patients with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Correlated with Disease Activity

Primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease that invades lacrimal glands, salivary glands, and other exocrine glands, but its pathogenic mechanism is still unclear. CD4+CD8+ double-positive T (DPT) cells have been discovered in recent years to play an important role in autoimmune diseases and viral infections, but the frequency and significance of DPT in primary Sjogren's syndrome are still unclear. This study detected the frequency of DPT in the peripheral blood of patients with pSS and detected the clinical indicators and cytokines in patients. We then analyzed the correlation between DPT and clinical indicators, cytokines, and disease activity scores. The results showed that the peripheral DPT frequency of pSS patients was significantly higher than that of healthy controls. The peripheral DPT frequency was negatively correlated with ESR, IgA, and IgG, and peripheral DPT frequency was positively correlated with anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Analysis of DPT and pSS disease activity scores found that DPT frequency had a negative correlation with ESSDAI and SSDAI. This study suggests that peripheral DPT may play a protective role in pSS. The frequency of peripheral DPT cells can be used as an indicator for disease activity. Regulating the expression of peripheral DPT cells is expected to become a new strategy for treatment of pSS.
Risk of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in Multiple Sclerosis Patient Treated With Natalizumab: A Systematic Review

Natalizumab, a monoclonal antibody acting on alpha4 integrin receptors, is frequently used to treat multiple sclerosis patients. The biggest downside is the risk of development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, an immune-related condition affecting mainly the central nervous system. The presence of the John Cunningham virus (JCV) and its reactivation is an important factor in the development of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This study highlights its different proposed mechanism and risk factors strongly related to natalizumab-induced progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. The pieces of literature will also be reviewed to look for a relation between the JCV and natalizumab-induced progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in multiple sclerosis treated patients. The articles were searched from three databases and reviewed systematically. The inclusion criteria for this study were patients aged 20-50 years, English language paper, full-text availability, and human studies, whereas articles on patients with AIDS and cancer-related disease prior to natalizumab treatment were excluded. Out of 6531 articles identified after applying the search strategy on three main databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and ResearchGate, a total of 32 articles were finalized for the review. This study follows the guidelines listed in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist 2009. The data collected from these finalized articles were pertaining to the risk factor related to natalizumab induced progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy and the mechanism related to its pathogenesis. Natalizumab is known to have the potential to cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in treated patients; here, we evaluate a close relationship of its related risk factors. The articles studied exhibit a close relationship between the length of natalizumab treatment and the presence of the JCV before infusion of natalizumab. From our analysis, it seems that the mechanism related to natalizumab-induced PML is strongly related to antigen-specific T cells and its effects. The frequency of monitoring and vigilance on the management of patients treated with natalizumab will help detect progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
Factors Affecting Cecal Intubation Time in Colonoscopy: Impact of Obesity

Objective This study aims to determine the factors that prolong cecal intubation time (CIT) and determine the effect of obesity on CIT measured using multiple indexes. Methods Patients who underwent elective colonoscopy between July 10, 2020, and January 20, 2021, were evaluated in this prospective observational study. Age, gender, constipation, bowel preparation, presence of diverticulosis, previous surgery history, auxiliary maneuver and additional analgesic requirement, cecum intubation length (CL) and obesity indices [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)] were analyzed. Factors affecting CIT were assessed by both univariate and multivariate logistic regression (LR) analyses. Results A total of 512 patients were analyzed. Mean CIT was 5.6 ± 1.6 min, and median CIT was 5.17 min. The CIT median was ≤5.17 min in 264 (51.5%) of the patients, and the CIT median was >5.17 min in 248 (48.5%). In the univariate LR results, young age, constipation, poor bowel preparation, increased CL, additional analgesic requirement, low WHtR, and low BMI (<25 kg/m2) were the factors that prolonged CIT (p <0.05). In the multivariate LR analysis results, WHtR >0.5 and BMI >30 kg/m2 were found to be independent factors that decrease CIT [OR: 0.01 (0.01 0.03) p <0.001; OR: 0.28 (0.13 0.57) p <0.001]. Conclusion Younger age, low WHtR, low BMI, increased CL, constipation, inadequate bowel preparation, and the use of extra analgesics were found to be associated with longer CIT. When all factors were evaluated together, obesity measured by only WHtR (>0.5) and BMI (>30 kg/m2) were the best predictors of decreased CIT.
The Possible Role of IVIG in the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation Accompanied by Fulminant Myocarditis in a 12-Year-Old Pediatric Patient

Background Fulminant myocarditis (FM) is a potentially lethal condition in children due to rapid progressive hemodynamic instability and cardiogenic shock. Patients with FM might show different clinical manifestations on emergency department admission. Case Herein, we describe the case of a 12-year-old girl who was admitted to our institution's emergency department due to complaints of abdominal pain and incessant vomiting. However, we detected an early onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) accompanied by FM. The patient's condition of AF and severe hemodynamic disorder was successfully treated in our institution's pediatric intensive care unit. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the co-occurrence of FM and AF successfully treated in childhood. This case report will serve as a guide for the treatment of cases with FM accompanied by AF.
The protective effects of steamed ginger on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and adiposity in diet-induced obese mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The steamed ginger has been shown to have antioxidative effects and a protective effect against obesity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of ethanolic extract of steamed ginger (SGE) on adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS The protective effects of SGE on adipogenesis were examined in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by measuring lipid accumulations and genes involved in adipogenesis. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND, 10% fat w/w), a high-fat diet (HFD, 60% fat w/w), and HFD supplemented with either 40 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg of SGE for 12 weeks. Serum chemistry was measured, and the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism was determined in the adipose tissue. Histological analysis and micro-computed tomography were performed to identify lipid accumulations in epididymal fat pads. RESULTS In 3T3-L1 cells, SGE significantly decreased lipid accumulation, with concomitant decreases in the expression of adipogenesis-related genes. SGE significantly attenuated the increase in body, liver, and epididymal adipose tissue weights by HFD. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in SGE fed groups compared to HFD. In adipose tissue, SGE significantly decreased adipocyte size than that of HFD and altered adipogenesis-related genes. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, steamed ginger exerted anti-obesity effects by regulating genes involved in adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cell and epididymal adipose tissue of DIO mice.
HDL Improves Cholesterol and Glucose Homeostasis and Reduces Atherosclerosis in Diabetes-Associated Atherosclerosis

Background and Aims Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), the main component of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), not only promotes reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in atherosclerosis but also increases insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells, suggesting that interventions which raise HDL levels may be beneficial in diabetes-associated cardiovascular disease (CVD). Previously, we showed that TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) deletion in Apolipoprotein Eknockout (Apoe−/−) mice results in diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis in response to a “Western” diet. Here, we sought to identify whether reconstituted HDL (rHDL) could improve features of diabetes-associated CVD in Trail−/−Apoe−/− mice. Methods and Results Trail−/−Apoe−/− and Apoe−/− mice on a “Western” diet for 12 weeks received 3 weekly infusions of either PBS (vehicle) or rHDL (containing ApoA-I (20 mg/kg) and 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl phosphatidylcholine). Administration of rHDL reduced total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels in Trail−/−Apoe−/− but not in Apoe−/− mice, with no change in weight gain observed. rHDL treatment also improved glucose clearance in response to insulin and glucose tolerance tests. Immunohistological analysis of pancreata revealed increased insulin expression/production and a reduction in macrophage infiltration in mice with TRAIL deletion. Furthermore, atherosclerotic plaque size in Trail−/−Apoe−/− mice was significantly reduced associating with increased expression of the M2 macrophage marker CD206, suggesting HDL's involvement in the polarization of macrophages. rHDL also increased vascular mRNA expression of RCT transporters, ABCA1 and ABCG1, in Trail−/−Apoe−/− but not in Apoe−/− mice. Conclusions. rHDL improves features of diabetes-associated atherosclerosis in mice. These findings support the therapeutic potential of rHDL in the treatment of atherosclerosis and associated diabetic complications. More studies are warranted to understand rHDL's mechanism of action.
Linguistic Isolation and Mortality in Older Mexican Americans: Findings from the Hispanic Established Populations Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly

Purpose: Limited English proficiency and increased language isolation are known to be associated with adverse health outcomes. It is not clear how neighborhood-level linguistic isolation may impact individual health and risk of death among Hispanic older adults. We examined the link between living in a linguistically isolated neighborhood and all-cause mortality among an older Mexican American cohort. Methods: Using a longitudinal sample of older Mexican Americans from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly, we calculated the days from the baseline interview (1993–1994) until observed death through five waves of follow-up (until 2004–2005) using Cox regression. A linguistically isolated neighborhood was defined as a census tract with more than 30% of linguistically isolated households. Results: Our results showed that living in a neighborhood with more than 30% of linguistically isolated households predicted higher mortality (hazard ratio: 1.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.04–1.50), after adjusting for age, sex, nativity, years of education, marital status, self-reported health status, number of chronic conditions, ever smoked, ever drank, and other neighborhood-level contextual factors. Conclusion: Living in a neighborhood with a high proportion of linguistically isolated households predicted higher mortality among older Mexican Americans. Addressing the social capital shortage in linguistically isolated neighborhoods is one way to address health disparities in the United States.
Secondary Gamma-Delta T-Cell Lymphoma Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) From Chronic Immunosuppression

Herein, we present the case of a 63-year-old female with a history of Behçet’s disease managed with long-term prednisone and azathioprine who initially presented for symptomatic anemia, which progressed to pancytopenia with neutropenic fever. Initial workup ruled out infectious etiologies but was indeterminate for immune-mediated or neoplastic causes. Bone marrow biopsy demonstrated a CD8+ gamma-delta T-cell neoplasm; however, imaging and skin biopsy pathology did not support hepatosplenic or cutaneous lymphoma involvement. By the 2017 World Health Organization (WHO) classifications, these findings were defined as gamma-delta peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (NOS). This is suspected to be secondary to chronic immunosuppression from long-term steroid and azathioprine use. The patient was treated with one cycle of the EPOCH chemotherapy regimen ((etoposide, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone), but the treatment course was complicated by an angioinvasive fungal infection and the patient subsequently transitioned to symptom-focused therapy in a hospice facility.
C19orf10 promotes malignant behaviors of human bladder carcinoma cells via regulating the PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways

Background: Chromosome 19 open reading frame 10 (C19orf10) is a myocardial repair mediator overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, its function and clinical value in bladder cancer (BC) have not been reported. This study aimed to investigate the role of C19orf10 in BC progression and explore underlying mechanisms. Methods: C19orf10 expression in BC tissues and human BC cell lines was assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot analysis. The correlation between the C19orf10 protein levels determined by immunohistochemical staining and the clinicopathological characteristics of 192 BC patients was evaluated. BC cell lines SW780, J82 and UMUC-3 were transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting C19orf10 or plasmids overexpressing C19orf10. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were measured by Cell Counting Kit-8, Colony formation, EdU incorporation and Transwell assays. The effect of small hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated stable C19orf10 knockdown on tumor formation was assessed in a xenograft mouse model. The expressions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways-related molecules were determined by western blot assay. Results: C19orf10 was significantly upregulated in the BC tissues and a panel of human BC cell lines. High expression of C19orf10 was positively associated with malignant behaviors in BC. C19orf10 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in SW780 and J82 cells, while C19orf10 overexpression in UMUC-3 cells resulted in opposite effects. In addition, C19orf10 silence in SW780 cells suppressed tumor growth in xenograft mice. Moreover, C19orf10 promotes the malignant behaviors and EMT of human bladder carcinoma cells via regulating the PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Conclusion: C19orf10 is overexpressed in BC and functions as an oncogenic driver that promotes cell proliferation and metastasis, and induces EMT of BC cells via mechanisms involving activation of the PI3K/AKT and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. This study provides valuable insight on targeting C19orf10 for BC treatment.
Impact of cholesterol-pathways on breast cancer development, a metabolic landscape

ApoB-lipoproteins and their components modulate intracellular metabolism and have been associated with the development of neoplastic phenomena, such as proliferation, anchorage-independent growth, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cancer invasion. In cancer cells, the modulation of targets that regulate cholesterol metabolism, such as synthesis de novo, endocytosis, and oxidation, are contributing factors to cancer development. While mechanisms associated with sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP-2)/mevalonate, the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) and liver X receptor (LXR) have been linked with tumor growth; metabolites derived from cholesterol-oxidation, such as oxysterols and epoxy-cholesterols, also have been described as tumor processes-inducers. From this notion, we perform an analysis of the role of lipoproteins, their association with intracellular cholesterol metabolism, and the impact of these conditions on breast cancer development, mechanisms that can be shared during atherogenesis promoted mainly by LDL. Pathways connecting plasma dyslipidemias in conjunction with the effect of cholesterol-derived metabolites on intracellular mechanisms and cellular plasticity phenomena could provide new approaches to elucidate the triggering factors of carcinogenesis, conditions that could be considered in the development of new therapeutic approaches.
Safely and Actively Aging in Place: Older Adults’ Attitudes and Intentions Toward Smart Home Technologies

As smart technology use is growing in residential environments, research on how such technologies can provide opportunities for safely and actively aging in place by integrating physical activity into daily routines and reducing sedentariness is scarce. This study investigated older adults’ intentions to use and attitudes toward currently available smart home technologies that could contribute to safe and active lives in and around home. The focus was on four representative technologies: smart lighting, smart door locks, smart fire prevention devices, and smart home systems/home automation. This paper presents the results of a sequential mixed-methods study comprised of online and in-person surveys (n = 129), and a focus group of community-dwelling older adults, aged 50+ (n = 15). Ordinal regression analyses indicated that perceived usefulness consistently predicts older adults’ attitudes and willingness to use smart home products. While smart fire prevention devices were viewed most favorably due to their potential safety benefits, perceived affordability significantly influenced older adults’ intentions to use them in their homes. The focus group findings underscore technology skepticism, privacy concerns and return on investment as significant determinants of attitudes toward the smart design products. The study has implications of designers and manufacturers by providing insights on how to prioritize smart home technology integrations to homes.
Quality of Life in Adult Patients Receiving Cervical Fusion for Fresh Subaxial Cervical Injury: The Role of Associated Spinal Cord Injury

Purpose To study postoperative Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) after instrumented fusion for fresh subaxial cervical trauma and the effect of spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods From a total of 65 patients, 17 (26%) patients suffered on admission from SCI. Twenty-five patients underwent anterior, 25 posterior, and 15 circumferential cervical surgery for a single cervical injury. Sagittal roentgenographic parameters were measured in 65 age-matched asymptomatic controls and in patients on admission, eight months postoperatively and at final follow-up (lower C2-C7 curvature, cervical sagittal vertical axis (cSVA), spinocranial angle (SCA), T1-slope, neck tilt (NT), thorax inlet angle (TIA), cervical tilt (CT), cranial tilt (CrT), and occiput–C2 angle (C0-C2)). In the last evaluation, SCI patients were compared with their counterparts without SCI using national validated HRQOL instruments (SF-36 and neck disability index (NDI)). Results Fusion included an average of 3 vertebrae (range 2-4 vertebrae). All 65 patients were followed for an average of 5.5 years, (range 3-7 years) postoperatively. In the last evaluation, 10 (15.4%) patients with incomplete SCI improved postoperatively at 1-2 grades. At the last observation, patients with SCI showed poorer HRQOL scores than their counterparts without SCI. In particular, each SF-36 domain score was correlated with SCA, T1-slope, cSVA, and CT. At baseline, patients showed higher NT, CrT, and C0-C2 angle than controls. Eight months postoperatively, cSVA, NT, TIA, and cranial tilt (CrT) were increased in patients. In the last observation, there was difference in the sagittal roentgenographic parameters between patients with SCI compared to those without SCI. Patients aged ≥55 years had postoperatively increased cSVA, NT, and CrT compared to their younger counterparts. Conclusion At the final observation, HRQOL scores were lower in patients with SCI than in their non-SCI counterparts, obviously because of the associated neurologic impairment. SF-36 scores correlated with several sagittal roentgenographic parameters. These correlations should be taken in consideration by spine surgeons when performing cervical spine surgery for fresh cervical spine injuries.
On the Impact of Sorbent Mobility on the Sorbed Phase Equilibria and Dynamics: A Study of Methane and Carbon Dioxide within the Zeolite Imidazolate Framework-8

The presented work aims at exploring the influence of the mobility of the sorbent framework on both the equilibrium and the kinetic properties of the sorbed phase by means of molecular dynamics computer experiments under isochoric–isothermal and isobaric–isothermal statistical ensembles for several host model options, combined by Widom averaging along the entire trajectory of the host–guest system toward rigorously obtained sorbate isotherms within a fully flexible lattice. The methodology is adapted to the study of the self-diffusivity and the collective (Maxwell–Stefan and transport) diffusivities of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) within the zeolite imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8). The simulation predictions are compared with measurements from pulsed-field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG NMR), as well as with recently conducted infrared microscopy (IRM) experiments elaborated on the basis of the current modeling in the flexible ZIF-8. The modeling results reveal a significant influence .
Effect of COVID-19-Associated Lockdown on Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy

Purpose To evaluate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related lockdown in the management of patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), including diabetic macular edema (DME), in a tertiary reference center in Greece. Methods In this retrospective study, we first compared the number of patients who were diagnosed with DR or DME in our clinic during the period of the lockdown and during the same period of the previous year. In addition, we included consecutive patients with DR or DME, who were followed up and treated regularly in our clinic and their appointments deferred due to lockdown, so as to compare the visual acuity, fundoscopy, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings prior to and post lockdown. Results During the lockdown period, there was a statistically significant decrease in patients with DR and DME as compared to the same period in the previous year. Regarding patients with previously diagnosed DME, there was a statistically significant worsening in their visual acuity and central retinal thickness after lockdown as compared to the last visit before lockdown (p<0.001 for both comparisons). Concerning patients diagnosed with DR and without DME before lockdown, 30% of patients with severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NDPR) and 8.3% of patients with quiescent proliferative DR (PDR) progressed to active PDR while four out of 107 patients (3.7%) developed DME during the lockdown. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that only the time interval between the last visit before lockdown and the first visit after the lockdown was associated with the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) change (p=0.017). Conclusions The COVID-19-related lockdown was related to the postponement in patient care, which resulted in significantly worse visual acuity outcomes in patients with DR.