Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“The night comes early for a woman”: Menopause and sexual activities among urban older Yoruba men and women in Ibadan, Nigeria

ABSTRACT This article explores older peoples’ perceptions of menopause and sexuality in old age. The research was exploratory, consisting of 12 vignette-based focus group discussions and 18 face-to-face semistructured interviews among older Yoruba men and women (60+). Findings revealed menopause as a biopsychosocial marker of aging that provides gendered spaces for women to abstain from or suppress their sexual desires and avoid a folk pregnancy- oyun iju(folk fibroid). Older men construe menopause and sexual refusals from their wives as opportunities for extramarital relations. Thus, both older men and women have differentiated perceptions and dispositions toward menopause, which have implications for their sexual health and well-being.
Detection and treatment of Candida auris in an outbreak situation: risk factors for developing colonization and candidemia by this new species in critically ill patients

ABSTRACT Background: Candida auris is an emerging, multidrug-resistant yeast causing hospital outbreaks. This study describes the first 24 months of the ongoing C. auris outbreak in our hospital and analyzes predisposing factors to C. auris candidemia/colonization. Research design and methods: A 12-month prospective, case-controlled study was performed including a total of 228 patients (114 colonized/candidemia and 114 controls). Data from the first 79 candidemia episodes and 738 environmental samples were also analyzed. Definitive C. auris identification was performed by ITS sequencing. Antifungal susceptibility was carried out by EUCAST methodology. Results: Polytrauma (32%), cardiovascular disease (25%), and cancer (17%) were the most common underlying condition in colonized/candidemia patients. Indwelling CVC (odds ratio {OR}, 13.48), parenteral nutrition (OR, 3.49), and mechanical ventilation (OR, 2.43) remained significant predictors of C. auris colonization/candidemia. C. auris was most often isolated on sphygmomanometer cuffs (25%) patient tables (10.2%), keyboards (10.2%), and infusion pumps (8.2%). All isolates were fully resistant to fluconazole (MICs >64 mg/L) and had significantly reduced susceptibility to voriconazole (GM, 1.8 mg/L). Conclusions: Predictor conditions to C. auris colonization/candidemia are similar to other Candida species. C. auris colonizes multiple patient’s environment surfaces. All isolates are resistant to fluconazole and had significant reduced susceptibility to voriconazole.
Multi-Platform Social Media Use: Little Evidence of Impacts on Adult Well-Being

Social media have become a near-ubiquitous part of our lives. The growing concern that their use may alter our well-being has been met with elusive scientific evidence. Existing literature often simplifies social media use as a homogeneous process. In reality, social media use and functions vary widely depending on platform and demographic characteristics of users, and there may be qualitative differences between using few versus many different social media platforms. Using data from the General Social Survey, an underanalyzed data source for this purpose, we characterize intensive social media users and examine how differential platform use impacts well-being. We document substantial heterogeneity in the demography of users and show that intensive users tend to be young, female, more likely to be Black than Hispanic, from high SES backgrounds, from more religious backgrounds, and from families with migration background, compared to both non-users and moderate users. The intensity of social media use seemed largely unrelated to well-being in both unadjusted models and in propensity-score models that adjusted for selection bias and demographic factors. Among middle-aged and older adults, however, intensive social media use may be slightly associated with depressive symptoms. Our findings indicate that although mediums of communication have changed with the advent of social media, these new mediums are not necessarily detrimental to well-being.
Macroscale intrinsic network architecture of the hypothalamus

Significance Control of multiple life-critical physiological and fundamental behavioral functions requires the hypothalamus. Here, we provide a comprehensive description and analysis of mammalian intrahypothalamic network organization at the level of gray matter regions (macroscale). Network analysis revealed deep top-level network integration, but regional organization of two second-level subsystems (or subnetworks) indicated partial separation between control of physiological functions and behavioral functions; furthermore, inclusion of dominant network nodes in the subnetwork associated prominently with physiological functions suggests network primacy for physiological control. Comparing network organization to inhibitory (GAD65) and excitatory (VGLUT2) neurotransmission-associated gene markers revealed a significant positive correlation between network centrality (dominance) and the inhibitory marker. We introduce a novel intrahypothalamic network model to guide future hypothesis-driven investigations into hypothalamic structure and function. Control of multiple life-critical physiological and behavioral functions requires the hypothalamus. Here, we provide a comprehensive description and rigorous analysis of mammalian intrahypothalamic network architecture. To achieve this at the gray matter region (macroscale) level, macroscale connection (macroconnection) data for the rat hypothalamus were extracted from the primary literature. The dataset indicated the existence of 7,982 (of 16,770 possible) intrahypothalamic macroconnections. Network analysis revealed that the intrahypothalamic macroconnection network (its macroscale subconnectome) is divided into two identical top-level subsystems (or subnetworks), each composed of two nested second-level subsystems. At the top-level, this suggests a deeply integrated network; however, regional grouping of the two second-level subsystems suggested a partial separation between control of physiological functions and behavioral functions. Furthermore, inclusion of four candidate hubs (dominant network nodes) in the second-level subsystem that is associated prominently with physiological control suggests network primacy with respect to this function. In addition, comparison of network analysis with expression of gene markers associated with inhibitory (GAD65) and excitatory (VGLUT2) neurotransmission revealed a significant positive correlation between measures of network centrality (dominance) and the inhibitory marker. We discuss these results in relation to previous understandings of hypothalamic organization and provide, and selectively interrogate, an updated hypothalamus structure–function network model to encourage future hypothesis-driven investigations of identified hypothalamic subsystems.
Continuous and discrete representations of feature-based attentional priority in human frontoparietal network

ABSTRACT Previous studies suggest that human frontoparietal network represents feature-based attentional priority, yet the precise nature of the priority signals remains unclear. Here, we examined whether priority signals vary continuously or discretely as a function of feature similarity. In an fMRI experiment, we presented two superimposed dot fields moving along two linear directions (leftward and rightward) while varying the angular separation between the two directions. Subjects were cued to attend to one of the two dot fields and respond to a possible speed-up in the cued direction. We used multivariate analysis to evaluate how priority representation of the attended direction changes with feature similarity. We found that in early visual areas as well as posterior intraparietal sulcus and inferior frontal junction, the patterns of neural activity became more different as the feature similarity decreased, indicating a continuous representation of the attended feature. In contrast, patterns of neural activity in anterior intraparietal sulcus and frontal eye field remained invariant to changes in feature similarity, indicating a discrete representation of the attended feature. Such distinct neural coding of attentional priority across the frontoparietal network may make complementary contributions to enable flexible attentional control.
A Pediatric Review of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy

Abstract Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy is one of the most common forms of muscular dystrophies worldwide. It is a complex and heterogeneous disease secondary to insufficient epigenetic repression of D4Z4 repeats and aberrant expression of DUX4 in skeletal muscles. Type 1 facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is caused by contraction of D4Z4 repeats on 4q35, whereas type 2 FSHD is associated with mutations of the SMCHD1 or DNMT3B gene in the presence of a disease-permissive 4qA haplotype. Classical FSHD is a slowly progressive disorder with gradual-onset of muscle atrophy and a descending pattern of muscle weakness. In contrast, early-onset FSHD is associated with a large deletion of D4Z4 repeats and a more severe disease phenotype, including early loss of independent ambulation as well as extramuscular manifestations, such as retinal vasculopathy, hearing loss, and central nervous system (CNS) involvement. However, the correlation between D4Z4 repeats and disease severity remains imprecise. The current standard of care guidelines offers comprehensive assessment and symptomatic management of secondary complications. Several clinical trials are currently underway for FSHD. New and emerging treatments focus on correcting the transcriptional misregulation of D4Z4 and reversing the cytotoxic effects of DUX4. Other potential therapeutic targets include reduction of inflammation, improving muscle mass, and activating compensatory molecular pathways. The utility of disease-modifying treatments will depend on selection of sensitive clinical endpoints as well as validation of muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other biomarkers to detect meaningful changes in disease progression. Correction of the epigenetic defects using new gene editing as well as other DUX4 silencing technologies offers potential treatment options for many individuals with FSHD.
Performance of Several Enrichment Media in the Isolation of Salmonellae from Liquid Egg Products.

Ninety-seven samples of raw liquid whole egg and egg yolk were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella ; 51 samples (52%) were found positive. A comparative study was conducted on the performance of seven selective enrichment procedures in the isolation of Salmonella from liquid egg products: selenite-cystine broth incubated at 37°C and 43°C, Muller-Kauffmann tetrathionate broth at 43°C, modified Rappaport medium RIO/100 and RIO/10 also incubated at 43°C, the experimental broth of Greenwood et al. incubated at 37° and 43°C. The best results were obtained with tetrathionate broth which detected 96% of all positive samples. Differences in the rate of isolation by the tetrathionate broth, selenite-cystine broth, modified Rappaport medium RIO/100 and the experimental broth of Greenwood et al., all incubated at 43°C, were not significant as determined by paired χ2 test. Minor results were obtained with selenite-cystine broth and the experimental broth of Greenwood et al., both incubated at 37°C. Modified Rappaport medium RIO/100 proved to be more efficient than RIO/10.
Impact of sarcopenia on diaphragm muscle fatigue

What is the central question of this study? Is the residual force generated by the diaphragm muscle after repeated activation reduced with sarcopenia, and is the residual force generated after fatiguing activation sufficient to sustain ventilatory behaviours of diaphragm muscle in young and old rats? What is the main finding and its importance? After diaphragm muscle fatigue, the residual specific force after 120 s of repeated stimulation was unaffected by ageing and was sufficient to accomplish ventilatory behaviours, but not expulsive manoeuvres (e.g. coughing). The inability to perform expulsive behaviours might underlie the increased susceptibility of older individuals to respiratory tract infections.
Diploid Genome Assembly of the Wine Grape Carménère

In this genome report, we describe the sequencing and annotation of the genome of the wine grape Carménère (clone 02, VCR-702). Long considered extinct, this old French wine grape variety is now cultivated mostly in Chile where it was imported in the 1850s just before the European phylloxera epidemic. Genomic DNA was sequenced using Single Molecule Real Time technology and assembled with FALCON-Unzip, a diploid-aware assembly pipeline. To optimize the contiguity and completeness of the assembly, we tested about a thousand combinations of assembly parameters, sequencing coverage, error correction and repeat masking methods. The final scaffolds provide a complete and phased representation of the diploid genome of this wine grape. Comparison of the two haplotypes revealed numerous heterozygous variants, including loss-of-function ones, some of which in genes associated with polyphenol biosynthesis. Comparisons with other publicly available grape genomes and transcriptomes showed the impact of structural variation on gene content differences between Carménère and other wine grape cultivars. Among the putative cultivar-specific genes, we identified genes potentially involved in aroma production and stress responses. The genome assembly of Carménère expands the representation of the genomic variability in grapes and will enable studies that aim to understand its distinctive organoleptic and agronomical features and assess its still elusive extant genetic variability. A genome browser for Carménère, its annotation, and an associated blast tool are available at http://cantulab.github. io/data.
Routine Postoperative Admission to the Intensive Care Unit Following Repair of Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis: Is it Necessary?

BACKGROUND Cranial vault surgery for craniosynostosis is generally managed postoperatively in the intensive care unit (ICU). The purpose of the present study was to examine our center's experience with the postoperative management of otherwise healthy patients with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (NSC) without routine ICU admission. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of patients with NSC operated using a variety of vault reshaping techniques in our pediatric center between 2009 and 2017 was carried out. Patients with documented preexisting comorbidities that would have required admission to the ICU regardless of the surgical intervention were excluded. RESULTS A total of 102 patients were included in the study. Postoperatively, 100 patients (98%) were admitted as planned to a general surgical ward following observation in the recovery room. Two patients (2%) required ICU admission due to adverse intraoperative events. There were no patients who required transfer to the ICU from the recovery area or surgical ward. Within the surgical ward cohort, 6 patients (6%) had minor postoperative complications that were readily managed on the surgical floor. Postoperative anemia requiring transfusion was the most common complication. CONCLUSION The results from this study suggest that otherwise healthy patients with NSC undergoing cranial vault surgery can potentially be safely managed without routine admission to the ICU postoperatively. Key elements are proper preoperative screening, access to ICU should an adverse intraoperative event occur and necessary postoperative surgical care. The authors hope that this experience will encourage other craniofacial surgeons to reconsider the dogma of routine ICU admission for this patient population.
Influence of Processing on Bacteriological Quality of Frozen Shrimp.

Line and finished product samples (668) from two shrimp processing plants located at the Karachi fish harbor were collected and examined bacteriologically. Frozen shrimp samples (100) collected from Plant A had the following bacterial profile: average (geometric) total aerobic plate count 9.4 × 106 CFU/g; MPN coliforms 94/g; and MPN fecal coliforms 41/g. The bacterial profile of 114 frozen shrimp samples from Plant B were 8.3 × 106 CFU/g, 180/g and 133/g for total plate count, MPN coliform and MPN fecal coliforms, respectively. Samples (126) of raw and laboratory-processed (simulating commercial processing) shrimp were also examined. Processing conditions of Plant A were better and resulted in a better quality end-product as compared to that of Plant B. Three of 338 samples from Plant B yielded Salmonella . The composition of microbial flora was nearly the same for both species of shrimps from both plants. Pseudomonads were the predominant microflora followed by Micrococcus sp. When shrimp were handled expeditiously under good sanitary conditions in the laboratory, the bacterial counts were significantly lower than on shrimp from the plants. Laboratory-processed shrimp had an average (geometric) total aerobic plate count of 8.1 × 105 CFU/g and average (geometric) coliform and fecal coliform MPNs were <3/g.
Sagittal Alignment Profile Following Selective Thoracolumbar/Lumbar Fusion in Patients with Lenke Type 5C Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective case series. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to report the sagittal outcome measures in patients with Lenke type 5C adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) undergoing thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) fusion surgery. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Previous studies have demonstrated coronal correction of Lenke type 5C AIS by selective TL/L fusion surgery. However, little is known about the sagittal influence of selective TL/L curve correction in Lenke type 5C AIS. METHODS Thirty-nine patients with Lenke type 5C AIS underwent selective posterior TL/L curves fusion (mean age, 15.9 ± 2.1 years). Preoperative and postoperative radiographic and clinical parameters were analyzed at a minimum 2-year follow-up period. Radiographic parameters were compared between patients with Lenke sagittal modifier normal (Group N) to those with Lenke sagittal modifier minus (Group M). RESULTS The main TL/L Cobb angle was 46.3° ± 7.7° preoperatively and 20.7° ± 5.3° (p < 0.0001) at 2-year follow-up. Also, thoracic kyphosis (TK) (T1-12) angle was 29.0° ± 11.3° preoperatively and 36.4° ± 10.3° at follow-up (p < 0.001), and TK (T5-12) angle was 18.1° ± 10.2° preoperatively and 25.9° ± 8.9° at follow-up (p < 0.001). The cervical lordosis (CL) was 9.6° ± 11.6° preoperatively and 6.1° ± 10.9° at follow-up (p = 0.037). Compared to the Lenke sagittal modifier groups, preoperative TK (T1-12), TK (T5-12), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TLK), and CL were significantly different from both the groups; and after the surgery, no significant differences in these parameters were observed between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION After the selective TL/L posterior fusion surgery in patients with Lenke type 5C AIS, the sagittal alignment profile, including TK, TLK, C7 sagittal vertical axis, T1 slope, and CL, was significantly changed. With regard to the sagittal aspect, selective TL/L surgery was more likely to affect Group M than Group N. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.
The systemic immune‐inflammation index is associated with an increased risk of incident cancer—A population‐based cohort study

Several studies found that the systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII) is a prognostic factor for mortality in patients with solid tumors. It is unknown whether an increased SII in generally healthy individuals reflects a risk for developing cancer. Our objective was to investigate the association between the SII and incident cancers in a prospective cohort study. Data were obtained from the Rotterdam Study; a population‐based study of individuals aged ≥45 years, between 2002 and 2013. The SII at baseline was calculated from absolute blood counts. The association between the SII and the risk of any solid incident cancer during follow‐up was assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. Individuals with a prior cancer diagnosis were excluded. Data of 8,024 individuals were included in the analyses. The mean age at baseline was 65.6 years (SD 10.5 years) and the majority were women. During a maximum follow‐up period of 10.7 years, 733 individuals were diagnosed with cancer. A higher SII at baseline was associated with a 30% higher risk of developing a solid cancer (HR of 1.30 [95% CI; 1.11–1.53]), after adjustment for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, BMI and type 2 diabetes. The absolute cumulative 10‐year cancer risk increased from 9.7% in the lowest quartile of SII to 14.7% in the highest quartile (p‐value = 0.009). The risk of developing cancer was persistent over time and increased for individuals with the longest follow‐up. In conclusion, a high SII is a strong and independent risk indicator for developing a solid cancer.
Characteristics of hospitalized adult patients with laboratory documented Influenza A, B and Respiratory Syncytial Virus – A single center retrospective observational study

Introduction The epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of hospitalized adult patients with Influenza A (FluA), Influenza B (FluB) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) have not been thoroughly compared. The aim of this study was to describe the differences between these viruses during 3 winter seasons. Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted consisting of all the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnoses of FluA, FluB and RSV among adults during 2015–2018, in one regional hospital. Epidemiology, clinical symptoms and outcome-related data were comparatively analyzed. Results Between November 2015 and April 2018, 759 patients were diagnosed with FluA, FluB or RSV. Study cohort included 539 adult patients (306 FluA, 148 FluB and 85 RSV). FluB was predominant during the winter of 2017–18. RSV caused 15.7% of hospitalizations with diagnosed viral infection and in comparison to influenza, had distinct epidemiological, clinical features and outcomes, including older age (74.2 vs 66.2, p = 0.001) and higher rates of co-morbidities; complications including bacterial pneumonia (31 vs 18%, p = 0.02), mechanical ventilation (20 vs 7%, p = 0.001), and viral-related death (13 vs 6.6%, p = 0.04). FluA and FluB had similar epidemiology, clinical symptoms and outcomes, but vaccinated patients were less prone to be hospitalized with FluB as compared with FluA (3 vs 14%, p = 0.001). Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and falls were common (8.7 and 8.5% respectively). Conclusions FluA and FluB had similar epidemiological, clinical features and contributed equally to hospitalization burden and complications. RSV had a major impact on hospitalizations, occurring among the more elderly and sick populations and causing significantly worse outcomes, when compared to influenza patients. Vaccination appeared as a protective factor against hospitalizations with FluB as compared with FluA.