Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk factors assessment of breast cancer among Iraqi Kurdish women: Case-control study

Background: To our knowledge, there is no international publication on risk factors of breast cancer among Kurdish women. There are several risk factors of breast cancer may differ in different geographical cultures. The aims of this study are to assess the established and probable risk factors of breast cancer among Iraqi Kurdish women as well as to investigate the effect of some Mediterranean food items on this issue. Materials and Methods: This retrospective case-control study was constructed in Sulaimanyah governorate-Iraq. Data were collected regarding socio-demographic characters, established risk factors, and dietary habits of 338 cases that were registered in Sulaimanyah Breast Center during January 2015-February 2019 with collection of same items for 338 age-matched controls. Results: The marriage was appeared to be a protective factor with (OR = 0.596, CI: 0.364-0.974, P = 0.039). Age at menarche ≥14 years has a protective effect with (OR: 0.326, P = 0.027) and 152 cases (45.0%) had menarche at ≤12 years compared to 56 controls (16.6%) with (P = 0.000). Numbers of children ≥ 3, regular exercise, and breastfeeding for >48 months duration have protective role. Consumption of fast foods and some Mediterranean foods weekly >2 times are risk factors, while taking stewed meat weekly one time, fish weekly ≥1 time, fruit daily>1 time and vegetables daily≥1 time, and black tea daily >3 cups have preventative effect on breast cancer. Conclusion: Among Kurdish women, some items of Mediterranean food have the same causative effect as fast food items. Marriages, consumption of stewed meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, and black tea may have preventative effect.
Profile of patients presenting with seizures as emergencies and immediate noncompliance to antiepileptic medications

Introduction: Seizure is a common manifestation of the many neurological conditions faced by primary care physicians. This study aims to determine the prevalence, etiology, and predictors of immediate noncompliance of adult patients presenting with seizures to the department of emergency (ED). Materials and Methods: We conducted this study in the ED of CMC, Vellore from November 2015 to February 2016. Retrospective chart review was used to gather specific data regarding these consecutive cases. Results: During the study period, 477 patients presented with seizures. The prevalence of nontrauma seizures in the ED was 2.3% [Figure 1]. The mean age was 41.4 ± 17.25 years. There was a male predominance (63.1%). About 11.7% had active seizures at presentation to the ED and less than a quarter (21.8%) were determined to have status epilepticus. Nearly 41% had new-onset seizures with common etiologies being idiopathic generalized epilepsy (22.6%), metabolic causes (17.9%), acute febrile illnesses (14.42%), and space-occupying lesions (12.3%). Among those with a history of seizures (58.9%), 87.9% were advised regular medications but 58.5% of them were immediately noncompliant. Phenytoin (58.6%), sodium valproate (20.5%), and levetiracetam (18%) were the most commonly used antiepileptics with 23% on multidrug therapy. About 60% were discharged stable from the ED. Univariate analysis showed chronic alcohol consumption (OR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1, 7.7) and female sex (OR: 1.45; 95% CI: 1–2.5) to be predictors of immediate noncompliance to antiepileptics. Conclusion: Common etiologies of new-onset seizures in the ED are idiopathic generalized epilepsy, metabolic causes, and acute febrile illnesses. More than half the patients with a known seizure disorder are immediately noncompliant to the advised medications. Knowledge among primary healthcare physicians about the importance of emphasizing compliance will greatly reduce the burden of seizures.
Neuroprotective Effects of Salidroside on Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Behavioral Impairment Involves the Dopaminergic System

Salidroside, a phenylpropanoid glycoside, is the main bioactive component of Rhodiola rosea L. Salidroside has prominent anti-stroke effects in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion models. However, the underlying mechanisms of its actions are poorly understood. This study examined the anti-stroke effects of salidroside in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced rat model of stroke and its potential mechanisms involving the dopaminergic system. Salidroside administration increased the levels of dopamine (DA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in the ipsilateral striatum after induction of transient ischemia, which were assessed using microdialysis with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). Furthermore, treatment with salidroside ameliorated neurobehavioral impairment, assessed with the modified neurological severity scores (mNSS), the balance beam test, and the foot fault test. Moreover, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) suggested that MCAO-induced reduction in monoamine oxidase (MAO) was inhibited by salidroside. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses revealed high level of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the ipsilateral striatal caudate putamen (CPu) after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, which could be further elevated by salidroside. In addition, salidroside could reverse the decreased immunoreactivity of TH in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). These results suggest that the anti-stroke effects of salidroside in MCAO-induced cerebral ischemia/reperfusion may involve the modulation of monoamine metabolism in the striatum and SNpc, which may be related to the function of the dopaminergic system in the rat brain.
Third Window Syndrome: Surgical Management of Cochlea-Facial Nerve Dehiscence

Objective: This communication is the first assessment of outcomes after surgical repair of cochlea-facial nerve dehiscence (CFD) in a series of patients. Pre- and post-operative quantitative measurement of validated survey instruments, symptoms, diagnostic findings and anonymous video descriptions of symptoms in a cohort of 16 patients with CFD and third window syndrome (TWS) symptoms were systematically studied. Study design: Observational analytic case-control study. Setting: Quaternary referral center. Patients: Group 1 had 8 patients (5 children and 3 adults) with CFD and TWS who underwent surgical management using a previously described round window reinforcement technique. Group 2 had 8 patients (2 children and 6 adults) with CFD who did not have surgical intervention. Interventions: The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) were administered pre-operatively and post-operatively. In addition, diagnostic findings of comprehensive audiometry, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) thresholds and electrocochleography (ECoG) were studied. Symptoms before and after surgical intervention were compared. Main outcome measures: Pre- vs. post-operative DHI, HIT-6, and audiometric data were compared statistically. The thresholds and amplitudes for cVEMP in symptomatic ears, ears with cochlea-facial nerve dehiscence and ears without CFD were compared statistically. Results: There was a highly significant improvement in DHI and HIT-6 at pre- vs. post-operative (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The age range was 12.8–52.9 years at the time of surgery (mean = 24.7 years). There were 6 females and 2 males. All 8 had a history of trauma before the onset of their symptoms. The mean cVEMP threshold was 75 dB nHL (SD 3.8) for the operated ear and 85.7 dB (SD 10.6) for the unoperated ear. In contrast to superior semicircular canal dehiscence, where most ears have abnormal ECoG findings suggestive of endolymphatic hydrops, only 1 of 8 operated CFD ears (1 of 16 ears) had an abnormal ECoG study. Conclusions: Overall there was a marked improvement in DHI, HIT-6 and symptoms post-operatively. Statistically significant reduction in cVEMP thresholds was observed in patients with radiographic evidence of CFD. Surgical management with round window reinforcement in patients with CFD was associated with improved symptoms and outcomes measures.
Magnitude of malnutrition among underfive children in urban slums of commercial capital of India and its multifactorial causation: A community-based study

Context: Malnutrition in children is common globally and may result in both short- and long-term irreversible negative health outcomes. It is not a simple disease with single causative factor but it is a disease with multifactorial causation. Aims: 1) To estimate prevalence of malnutrition in underfive children using “Z” score. 2) To evaluate the role of epidemiological and maternal factors on the nutritional status of children. Settings and Design: Community-based cross-sectional study. Methods and Materials: Randomly 10 slums were selected and under five-year-old children and their mothers from urban slums were examined and interviewed. Statistical Analysis: Data was analyzed with SPSS ver 20 and appropriate tests were applied. Results: Four-hundred children were examined. According to Z score classification, 39.8%, 36.5%, and 24.8% of children are underweight, stunted, and wasted, respectively. Family size (P = 0.02, χ2 = 7.7), initiation of breastfeeding (P = 0.009, χ2 = 6.8), maternal education (P = 0.001, χ2 = 13.9), underweight mothers (P = 0.05, χ2 = 4.8), and maternal dietary intake (P = 0.03, χ2 = 6.5) are significantly associated with underweight children. Similarly, stunted children show strong association with increasing age of child (P = 0.001, χ2 = 18.1), birth weight (P = 0.006, χ2 = 7.6), and not seeking medical opinion (P = 0.03, χ2 = 7.0). Primary immunization (P = 0.05, χ2 = 3.5), maternal education (P = 0.002, χ2 = 12.4), employed mothers (P = 0.02, χ2 = 4.9), and underweight mothers (P = 0.05, χ2 = 5.3) are associated with wasting in children. Conclusions: This study reveals very high prevalence of malnutrition status among underfive children of urban slums of commercial capital of India. Various maternal and epidemiological factors affect child nutritional status.
Glucose transporter 1 expression in bladder carcinoma and its association with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 and Ki-67

Objective: To assess the expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) in urothelial carcinomas of urinary bladder and its relationship with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) protein and Ki67 proliferation index. Materials and Methods: Forty-three patients with urothelial carcinoma of bladder were included in the present study. Transurethral resection or cystectomy specimens of tumor were evaluated by histopathology. Grading and staging of these tumors were done followed by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against GLUT1, HER2, and Ki67. Results: Strong expression of GLUT1 score and Ki67 index were seen in higher grades and tumor node metastasis stages of urothelial carcinoma (P < 0.05). In the current study, HER2 overexpression was not significantly associated with tumor grade and stage (P > 0.05). Conclusions: GLUT1 expression showed moderate correlation with HER2 and good correlation with Ki67 index in urothelial carcinoma. Further studies may be needed to assess the role of GLUT1 in prognosis and therapy.
A Rat Model of Human Behavior Provides Evidence of Natural Selection Against Underexpression of Aggressiveness-Related Genes in Humans

Aggressiveness is a hereditary behavioral pattern that forms a social hierarchy and affects the individual social rank and accordingly quality and duration of life. Thus, genome-wide studies of human aggressiveness are important. Nonetheless, the aggressiveness-related genome-wide studies have been conducted on animals rather than humans. Recently, in our genome-wide study, we uncovered natural selection against underexpression of human aggressiveness-related genes and proved it using F1 hybrid mice. Simultaneously, this natural selection equally supports two opposing traits in humans (dominance and subordination) as if self-domestication could have happened with its disruptive natural selection. Because there is still not enough scientific evidence that this could happen, here, we verified this natural selection pattern using quantitative PCR and two outbred rat lines (70 generations of artificial selection for aggressiveness or tameness, hereinafter: domestication). We chose seven genes—Cacna2d3, Gad2, Gria2, Mapk1, Nos1, Pomc, and Syn1—over- or underexpression of which corresponds to aggressive or domesticated behavior (in humans or mice) that has the same direction as natural selection. Comparing aggressive male rats with domesticated ones, we found that these genes are overexpressed statistically significantly in the hypothalamus (as a universal behavior regulator), not in the periaqueductal gray, where there was no aggressiveness-related expression of the genes in males. Database STRING showed statistically significant associations of the human genes homologous to these rat genes with long-term depression, circadian entrainment, Alzheimer’s disease, and the central nervous system disorders during chronic IL-6 overexpression. This finding more likely supports positive perspectives of further studies on self-domestication syndromes.
The Interplay Between Innate Lymphoid Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment

The multifaceted roles of Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILC) have been widely interrogated in tumor immunity. Whereas, Natural Killer (NK) cells possess undisputable tumor-suppressive properties across multiple types of cancer, the other ILC family members can either promote or inhibit tumor growth depending on the environmental conditions. The differential effects of ILCs on tumor outcome have been attributed to the high degree of heterogeneity and plasticity within the ILC family members. However, it is now becoming clear that ILCs responses are shaped by their dynamic crosstalk with the different components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we will give insights into the molecular and cellular players of the ILCs-TME interactions and we will discuss how we can use this knowledge to successfully harness the activity of ILCs for anticancer therapies.
Prevalence and associated risk factors of antenatal depression among women attending antenatal clinics in primary health care centers in the Ministry of Health in Al-Ahsa City, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: This study was aimed to measure the prevalence and associated risk factors of antenatal depression (AD) among women attending antenatal clinics at primary care centers in the Ministry of Health in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 357 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at primary care centers, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia between April 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was used for collection of information including questions relevant to sociodemographic variables and a screening tool Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess the probable depression. Results: The prevalence of AD among pregnant women in Al-Ahsa is 31.9%. We found a significant association (P < 0.005) between AD and factors such as difficulty in sleeping, having a smoker husband, having one previous pregnancy, and having postabortion psychological complications. Conclusion: It was observed that depression prevails among pregnant ladies in Al-Ahsa city. Hence, in the present study, we tried to rule out the factors that led to depression in pregnant ladies during our antenatal care. In addition, we found that there is a need to train the physicians for asking questions (only two simple PHQ-2 questions) for the screening of depression during antenatal care visite.
Implications of a Family History of Diabetes and Rapid eGFR Decline in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Biopsy-Proven Diabetic Kidney Disease

Objective: This study aimed to identify the risk factors for a rapid decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and biopsy-proven diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Method: This was a retrospective cohort study. Patients with biopsy-proven DKD who had been followed-up for at least 1 year were enrolled. Baseline clinicopathological data and serum creatinine levels that had been measured at least three times during follow-up in our hospital were collected. Patients were allocated to two groups of rapid decliners and slow decliners according to the median eGFR slope. The associations between potential risk factors and rapid eGFR decline were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: A total of 128 eligible patients were enrolled and they had a mean age of 51.5 ± 10.7 years. During a median follow-up of 2 years, the median eGFR slope was −8.1 ± 14.4 mL/min/1.73 m2/year. The eGFR decline was significantly faster in patients with a family history of diabetes in first-degree relatives, nephrotic-range proteinuria, higher grades of glomerular pathology, and interstitial inflammation. No differences in the rate of the eGFR decline were observed in subgroups created according to sex, age, hypertension, glycosylated hemoglobin, diabetic retinopathy, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy. Logistic regression indicated that a family history of diabetes was independently associated with a rapid decline in eGFR, even after adjustment for factors including baseline eGFR and proteinuria. Conclusion: A family history of diabetes in first-degree relatives is independently associated with a rapid decline in eGFR in the current relatively young studied patients. Our findings suggested that early diagnosis and treatment is important for these patients.
Dental education in the Arabic language vs English language: A survey among Arab dentists

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the language difficulties encountered by Arabic dental students and dentists in some aspects of their dental education and to determine their attitude towards the Arabization of the medical curriculum. Materials and Methods: A web-based self-administered questionnaire with 14 multiple-choice questions was designed and distributed online via google forms in the Arabic language. The online link was sent randomly to Arabic dental students, dental academic staff, and dental practitioners. The survey questions explored language problems during reading, attending lectures and scientific conferences, preparing scientific researches, taking deferent exams, and the attitudes towards Arabization. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used to analyze the responses to the questions. Results: There were 378 respondents for this study. Nevertheless, paying high attention to the importance of English language as the global language of communication, (70.6%) of the respondents believed that studying in Arabic is a basic requirement for the Arabs. Near percentage agreed that mastering their mother tongue is much easier than to acquire another language, which further facilitates studying and improves understanding. More than (65%) of the subjects preferred a mixture of both languages for attending lectures, conferences, and exams. But (68.3%) said that they use English when they search for any subject related to dentistry. Conclusion: There has been a consensus on the need for receiving knowledge in the Arabic language, and the importance of studying the mother tongue for enhancing understanding and memorization. The results demonstrated that the idea of teaching some dental courses in Arabic is not impossible and it might be the key to improve dental study for the Arabs. Consequently, a majority stated that there were obstacles in teaching dentistry in fully Arabic language due to the dominance of English language internationally and the weak possibilities of Arabization and translation in the Arab world.
Flexible Coordination of Flexible Limbs: Decentralized Control Scheme for Inter- and Intra-Limb Coordination in Brittle Stars' Locomotion

Conventional mobile robots have difficulties adapting to unpredictable environments or performing adequately after undergoing physical damages in realtime operation, unlike animals. We address this issue by focusing on brittle stars, an echinoderm related to starfish. Most brittle stars have five flexible arms, and they can coordinate among the arms (i.e., inter-arm coordination) as well as the many bodily degrees of freedom within each arm (i.e., intra-arm coordination). They can move in unpredictable environments while promptly adapting to those, and to their own physical damages (e.g., arm amputation). Our previous work focused on the inter-arm coordination by studying trimmed-arm brittle stars. Herein, we extend our previous work and propose a decentralized control mechanism that enables coupling between the inter-arm and intra-arm coordination. We demonstrate via simulations and real-world experiments with a brittle star-like robot that the behavior of brittle stars when they are intact and undergoing shortening or amputation of arms can be replicated.
Hongjingtian Injection Inhibits Proliferation and Migration and Promotes Apoptosis in High Glucose-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Background Hongjingtian injection (HJT) is administered in the treatment of vascular diseases, including diabetic angiopathies (DA). However, its underlying mechanisms have not been examined systematically. Methods In this research, we explored potential mechanisms of HJT through network pharmacology. HG-stimulated A7r5 cells served as the cell model. Cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis were investigated. The effects on key targets and the AKT pathway were verified by Western blotting in experiments with the AKT inhibitor LY294002 or activator SC79. Results Network analysis predicted that HJT targeted 10 candidate targets and 15 pathways including cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis in response to DA. Functional experiments showed that HJT markedly suppressed the proliferation and migration and promoted the apoptosis of HG-induced VSMCs, which validated the prediction. Mechanistically, HJT significantly downregulated the expression of pAKT, MMP9, and PCNA, upregulated the expression of p53 and cleaved caspase-3 and increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio compared with the HG group. SC79, an AKT activator, partially reversed the inhibitory effects of HJT on HG-induced VSMCs, confirming the involvement of the AKT pathway. Furthermore, the presence of the AKT inhibitor LY294002 had a similar inhibitory effect as HJT. Conclusion These findings systematically evaluate the potential mechanisms of HJT for the treatment of DA. HJT suppressed the proliferation and migration and promoted the apoptosis of HG-induced VSMCs partly by inhibiting the AKT pathway. Additionally, this study may provide a quick and effective way to investigate the molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine.
Mitigation of lampricide toxicity to juvenile lake sturgeon: the importance of water alkalinity and life stage

Lay Summary Young-of-the-year lake sturgeon living in waters of high alkalinity are susceptible to mortality when exposed to 3-trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM), a pesticide used to control invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes. This risk may be reduced, however, by delaying TFM treatments to late-summer/fall, when sturgeon are larger and accumulate TFM more slowly.