Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trigeminal Neuralgia Diffusivities using Gaussian Process Classification and Merged Group Tractography.

Imaging of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) has demonstrated key DTI based diffusivity alterations in the trigeminal nerve, however imaging has primarily focused on the peripheral nerve segment due to previous limitations in reliably segmenting small fiber bundles across multiple subjects. We used Selective Automated Group Integrated Tractography (SAGIT) to study 36 TN subjects (right sided pain) and 36 sex matched controls, to examine the trigeminal nerve (CN V), pontine decussation (TPT), and thalamocortical fibers (S1). GP classifiers were trained by scrolling a moving window over CN V, TPT, and S1 tractography centroids. Fractional anisotropy (FA), generalized FA (GFA), radial diffusivity (RD), axial diffusivity (AD), and mean diffusivity (MD) metrics were evaluated for both groups, analyzing TN vs. control groups and affected vs. unaffected sides. Classifiers that performed at greater-or-equal-to 70% accuracy were included. GP classifier consistently demonstrated bilateral trigeminal changes, differentiating them from controls with an accuracy of 80%. Affected and unaffected sides could be differentiated from each other with 75% accuracy. Bilateral TPT could be distinguished from controls with at least 85% accuracy. TPT left-right classification achieved 98% accuracy. Bilateral S1 could be differentiated from controls, where the affected S1 RD classifier achieved 87% accuracy. This is the first TN study that combines group-wise merged tractography, machine learning classification, and analysis of the complete trigeminal pathways from the peripheral fibers to S1 cortex. This analysis demonstrates that TN is characterized by bilateral abnormalities throughout the trigeminal pathway compared with controls, as well as abnormalities between affected and unaffected sides.
Pro-atrial natriuretic peptide and pro-adrenomedullin before cardiac surgery in children. Can we predict the future?

Introduction and objective Pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (proANP) and pro-adrenomedullin (proADM) levels increase in acute heart failure and sepsis. After cardiac surgery, children may require increased support in the intensive care unit and may develop complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of proANP and proADM values, determined prior to cardiac surgery, for predicting the need for increased respiratory or inotropic support during the post-operative period. Methods This was a prospective study in children. Biomarkers were analyzed before surgery using a single blood test. The primary endpoints were the need for greater respiratory and/or inotropic support during the post-operative period. Secondary endpoints were the relationship between these biomarkers and complications after surgery. Results One hundred thirteen patients were included. ProANP and proADM were higher in children who required greater respiratory and inotropic support, especially proANP; for increased respiratory support, 578.9 vs. 106.6 pmol/L (p = 0.004), and for increased inotropic support, 1938 vs. 110.4 pmol/L (p = 0.002). ProANP had a greater AUC than proADM for predicting increased respiratory support after surgery: 0.791 vs. 0.724. A possible cut-off point for proANP could be ≥ 325 pmol/L (sensitivity = 66.7% and specificity = 88.8%). In the multivariate analysis, the logarithmic transformation of proANP was independently associated with the need for increased respiratory support (OR = 3.575). Patients who presented a poor outcome after cardiac surgery also had higher biomarker values (proADM, p = 0.013; proANP, p = 0.001). Conclusions Elevated proANP before cardiac surgery may identify which children will need more respiratory and inotropic support during the post-operative period.
Metabolic Analysis at the Nanoscale with Multi‐Isotope Imaging Mass Spectrometry (MIMS)

Incorporation of a stable‐isotope metabolic tracer into cells or tissue can be followed at submicron resolution by multi‐isotope imaging mass spectrometry (MIMS), a form of imaging secondary ion microscopy optimized for accurate isotope ratio measurement from microvolumes of sample (as small as ∼30 nm across). In a metabolic MIMS experiment, a cell or animal is metabolically labeled with a tracer containing a stable isotope. Relative accumulation of the heavy isotope in the fixed sample is then measured as an increase over its natural abundance by MIMS. MIMS has been used to measure protein turnover in single organelles, track cellular division in vivo, visualize sphingolipid rafts on the plasma membrane, and measure dopamine incorporation into dense‐core vesicles, among other biological applications. In this article, we introduce metabolic analysis using NanoSIMS by focusing on two specific applications: quantifying protein turnover in single organelles of cultured cells and tracking cell replication in mouse tissues in vivo. These examples illustrate the versatility of metabolic analysis with MIMS. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Home Infliximab Infusions Are Associated With Suboptimal Outcomes Without Cost Savings in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

OBJECTIVES Biologic agents including infliximab are effective but costly therapies in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Home infliximab infusions are increasingly payer-mandated to minimize infusion-related costs. This study aimed to compare biologic medication use, health outcomes, and overall cost of care for adult and pediatric patients with IBD receiving home vs office- vs hospital-based infliximab infusions. METHODS Longitudinal patient data were obtained from the Optum Clinformatics Data Mart. The analysis considered all patients with IBD who received infliximab from 2003 to 2016. Primary outcomes included nonadherence (≥2 infliximab infusions over 10 weeks apart in 1 year) and discontinuation of infliximab. Secondary outcomes included outpatient corticosteroid use, follow-up visits, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, surgeries, and cost outcomes (out-of-pocket costs and annual overall cost of care). RESULTS There were 27,396 patients with IBD (1,839 pediatric patients). Overall, 5.7% of patients used home infliximab infusions. These patients were more likely to be nonadherent compared with both office-based (22.2% vs 19.8%; P = .044) and hospital-based infusions (22.2% vs 21.2%; P < .001). They were also more likely to discontinue infliximab compared with office-based (44.7% vs 33.7%; P < .001) or hospital-based (44.7% vs 33.4%; P < .001) infusions. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, the probabilities of remaining on infliximab by day 200 of therapy were 64.4%, 74.2%, and 79.3% for home-, hospital-, and office-based infusions, respectively (P < .001). Home infliximab patients had the highest corticosteroid use (cumulative corticosteroid days after IBD diagnosis: home based, 238.2; office based, 189.7; and hospital based, 208.5; P < .001) and the fewest follow-up visits. Home infusions did not decrease overall annual care costs compared with office infusions ($49,149 vs $43,466, P < .001). DISCUSSION In this analysis, home infliximab infusions for patients with IBD were associated with suboptimal outcomes including higher rates of nonadherence and discontinuation of infliximab. Home infusions did not result in significant cost savings compared with office infusions.
Bistable wave speed of the Lotka-Volterra competition model

This work deals with the speed sign of travelling waves to the Lotka-Volterra model with diffusion and bistable nonlinearity. We obtain new conditions for the determinacy of the sign of the bistable wave speed by constructing upper or lower solutions with an inside parameter to be adjusted. The established conditions improve or supplement the results in the references and give insight into the combined effect of system parameters on the propagation direction of the bistable wave.
Youth Involvement in the Decision to Start CGM Predicts Subsequent CGM Use

OBJECTIVE The ability of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to improve diabetes outcomes depends upon consistent use. To identify factors that facilitate long-term use of CGM, this study tested the hypothesis that youth involvement in the decision to initiate this therapy would influence subsequent CGM use and that CGM self-efficacy and satisfaction mediate this relationship. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Before initiating CGM, parent-youth dyads (i.e., pairs) from an academic endocrinology clinic completed assessments, including a measure of the child’s involvement in the decision to start CGM. Two months into CGM use, youth completed measures of CGM self-efficacy and satisfaction. Fidelity of CGM use between weeks 5 and 12 was accessed via a cloud-based data repository. Hypotheses were tested with linear mixed-effects models, accounting for patients clustered within provider and repeated measures within patients. RESULTS CGM use in 108 dyads (youth mean age 13.4 ± 2.7 years; 73% White) was positively predicted by baseline parent report of youth involvement in the CGM decision (P < 0.0001), and this relationship was mediated by youth’s perceptions of CGM self-efficacy (P < 0.0001) and hassle (P = 0.014). So, when the youth shared their opinions about CGM with parents and participated in the decision to start, they perceived higher self-efficacy and lower hassle at 2-month follow-up, which predicted more days of use. This pattern held in models adjusting for youth race and sex and family income. CONCLUSIONS To achieve maximum clinical benefit from CGM use, providers should facilitate youth involvement in the decision to initiate the device.
Serum lipoprotein (a) associates with a higher risk of reduced renal function: a prospective investigation

Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but analysis on Lp(a) and renal dysfunction is scarce. We aimed to investigate prospectively the association of serum Lp(a) with the risk of reduced renal function, and further investigated whether diabetic or hypertensive status modified such association. Six thousand two hundred and fifty-seven Chinese adults aged ≤40 years and free of reduced renal function at baseline were included in the study. Reduced renal function was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m2. During a mean follow-up of 4.4 years, 158 participants developed reduced renal function. Each one-unit increase in log10-Lp(a) (milligrams per deciliter) was associated with a 1.99-fold (95% CI 1.15–3.43) increased risk of incident reduced renal function; the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the highest tertile of Lp(a) was 1.61 (95% CI 1.03–2.52) compared with the lowest tertile (P for trend = 0.03). The stratified analysis showed the association of serum Lp(a) and incident reduced renal function was more prominent in participants with prevalent diabetes [OR 4.04, 95% CI (1.42–11.54)] or hypertension [OR 2.18, 95% CI (1.22–3.89)]. A stronger association was observed in the group with diabetes and high Lp(a) (>25 mg/dl), indicating a combined effect of diabetes and high Lp(a) on the reduced renal function risk. An elevated Lp(a) level was independently associated with risk of incident reduced renal function, especially in diabetic or hypertensive patients.
Bullying in Old Age: A Qualitative Study on Older Adults’ Perceptions About Being Bullied

Significant demographic changes and a growing aging population increasingly emphasize the importance of assessing phenomena of violence against older adults, who constitute a vulnerable population. Therefore, bullying in old age is a poorly studied phenomena, but of growing importance. This study aims to analyze the perspectives of bullying in old age, using qualitative research at a cross-national level. We interviewed 173 older participants aged 65–91 years. Participants were Portuguese and English and lived in the community. Participants were subjected to semi-structured interviews. All the interviews went through a process of content analysis. Sample recruitment occurred through initial telephone contact, followed by a request to participate. Outcomes of content analysis produced seven themes, all of them associated with bullying experiences such as compromised learning capacity, loss of sense of agency and decision-making, asexuality, less attractive appearance, less social skills, gender discrimination, and less financial resources. Portuguese older adults felt mostly bullied for their loss of sense of agency and decision-making, less attractive appearance, less social skills, and less financial resources, while English participants mostly felt bullied for their compromised learning capacity, gender discrimination, and asexuality. The themes identified as being the most prominent in bullying are valuable guidelines for social policies and interventions toward bullying among older adults. Considering the scarcity of studies on bullying in older adults, this study is relevant for understanding the experience of older adults in relation to being bullied and for implementing psychosocial intervention programs including bullying situations that affect community-dwelling older adults.
Development of a Deep Learning Model to Identify Lymph Node Metastasis on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With Cervical Cancer

Key Points Question Can deep learning identify preoperative noninvasive lymph node metastasis diagnosis in cervical cancer? Findings This diagnostic study including a total of 479 patients developed a deep learning model to preoperatively and noninvasively identify lymph node metastasis on magnetic resonance imaging, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.933 in the independent validation cohort. The predicted lymph node metastasis probability was significantly associated with prognosis of cervical cancer. Meaning Findings from this study suggest that deep learning can be used as a preoperative noninvasive tool for diagnosing lymph node metastasis in cervical cancer.
Identification of key genes in calcific aortic valve disease by integrated bioinformatics analysis

Abstract Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is highly prevalent in our aging world and has no effective pharmaceutical treatment. Intense efforts have been made but the underlying molecular mechanisms of CAVD are still unclear. This study was designed to identify the critical genes and pathways in CAVD by bioinformatics analysis. Microarray datasets of GSE12644, GSE51472, and GSE83453 were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and functional and pathway enrichment analysis was performed. Subsequently, the protein–protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed with Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes and was visualized with Cytoscape to identify the most significant module. Hub genes were identified by Cytoscape plugin cytoHubba. A total of 179 DEGs, including 101 upregulated genes and 78 downregulated genes, were identified. The enriched functions and pathways of the DEGs include inflammatory and immune response, chemotaxis, extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, complement and coagulation cascades, ECM receptor interaction, and focal adhesion. The most significant module in the PPI network was analyzed and genes among it were mainly enriched in chemotaxis, locomotory behavior, immune response, chemokine signaling pathway, and extracellular space. In addition, DEGs, with degrees ≥ 10 and the top 10 highest Maximal Chique Centrality (MCC) score, were identified as hub genes. CCR1, MMP9, VCAM1, and ITGAX, which were of the highest degree or MCC score, were manually reviewed. The DEGs and hub genes identified in the present study help us understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of CAVD and might serve as candidate therapeutic targets for CAVD.
Interactions between functionalised silica nanoparticles and Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilm matrix: A focus on the protein corona

Biofilms are microbial communities embedded in an extracellular polymeric matrix and display an enhanced tolerance to the action of antimicrobials. The emergence of novel functionalised nanoparticles is considered a promising avenue for the development of biofilm-specific antimicrobial technologies. However, there is a gap in the understanding of interactions between nanoparticles and the biofilm matrix. Particularly, questions are raised on how nanoparticle charge and surface groups play a role in aggregation when in contact with biofilm components. Herein we present the synthesis of four types of silica nanoparticles and undertake an analysis of their interactions with Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilm matrix. The effect of the biofilm matrix components on the charge and aggregation of the nanoparticles was assessed. Additionally, the study focused on the role of matrix proteins, with the in-depth characterisation of the protein corona of each nanoparticle by Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry experiments. The protein corona composition is dependent on the nanoparticle type; non-functionalised nanoparticles show less protein selectivity, whereas carboxylate-functionalised nanoparticles prefer proteins with a higher isoelectric point. These outcomes provide insights into the field of biofilm-nanoparticle interactions that can be valuable for the design of new nano-based targeting systems in future anti-biofilm applications.
Consumer Identity Inventory: A New Tool For Segmenting Online Consumers?

Individuals’ sense of who they are as consumers influence their consumption behaviors. In this context, "consumer identity" may be used as an alternative segmentation criterion that may help to explain the variation in consumption patterns. This study aims to offer a Consumer Identity Inventory (CSI) to measure consumption-specific identities and investigate the efficiency of an approach of using those identities to segment the online buyers. In this context, we conducted two studies in Turkey. In the first study, we explored 60 consumer identities through Twenty-Statement-Test (TST) that is conducted on 186 participants. Then, CSI was formed based on the findings of TST. In the second study, we examined the relationships between consumer identities and online buying tendency using the data collected from 343 participants through a survey. Results revealed 19 consumer identities that promote online buying and 19 identities that discourage online buying. Findings are discussed in detail, implications for future research and suggestions for online retailers were provided.
Clinical application of Fluciclovine PET, choline PET and gastrin-releasing polypeptide receptor (bombesin) targeting PET in prostate cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of this review is to explore the clinical application of different PET radiopharmaceuticals in prostate cancer (PCa), beyond inhibitors of the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). RECENT FINDINGS Choline PET represented in the last decades the standard of reference for PET imaging in PCa and has been recently included in clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of metastasis-directed therapy in oligo-metastatic disease. Fluciclovine, as synthetic amino acid, has been proposed for investigating PCa. The results obtained by the first prospective studies led to FDA approval in 2016 in patients with biochemical recurrence. Recently, phase II/III trials explored its accuracy compared with PSMA PET and its impact on patient management. Imaging the gastrin-releasing polypeptide receptor (GRPR) recently drawn attention. Radio-labelled GRPR antagonists have the potential to be used as theranostic agents. Further evaluation is needed to understand the relation between GRPR expression and hormonal-resistant PCa, and for tumors characterized by heterogeneity of receptors expressed (e.g. PSMA-negative) on their cell surface. SUMMARY Other new generation PET tracers may play an important role in PCa, namely in case of PSMA-negative phenotypes.
Impact of Health Warning Labels on Cigarette Packs in India: Findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2016–17

Abstract Two rounds of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) were conducted in 2009-10 and 2016-17 in India. These two surveys provide national comparable data on tobacco usage and its related aspects in India. This study used the data from GATS 2016-17 to examine the salience and impact of cigarette pack pictorial health warnings (PHWs) on quit intention among current cigarette smokers in India. The nationally representative survey interviewed 74, 037 respondents aged ≥15 years with an overall response rate of 92.9% using a multi-stage sampling method. Results of multivariate analysis showed that the strongest predictor for quit intention because of health warnings was “ever made a quit attempt in the past 12 months” and buying cigarette packs instead of loose cigarettes. Compared to GATS 2009-10, GATS 2016-17 observed an increase in salience of cigarette health warnings by 16% and increase in the impact of PHWs on quit intention by 50%. PHWs have a significant impact on intention to quit among cigarette smokers in India with a rising trend. The efforts of Government of India in terms of periodic introduction of new PHWs and increase in the size of warning labels to 85% of the cigarette packs is laudable. The study results support ban on loose cigarettes and warrants stricter implementation of the act prohibiting sale of loose cigarettes.
Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging is superior to skeletal scintigraphy for the detection of bone metastatic tumors: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE The meta-analysis aims to compare the diagnostic performance of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and skeletal scintigraphy (SS) for the detection of skeletal metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched Medline, Scopus, Embase and Cochrane library databases for identifying fifteen eligible studies with a total of 1939 participants, and the quality of these studies was assessed according to Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) guidelines. Sensitivities, specificities, diagnostic odds ratios (DOR), positive likelihood ratios (PLR), and negative likelihood ratios (NLR) were calculated. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves (sROC) were generated using bivariate models for whole-body MRI and skeletal scintigraphy. RESULTS Whole-body MRI had higher but comparable patient-based higher specificity compared to SS (99% vs. 95%). However, it had markedly higher sensitivity (94% vs. 80% respectively), DOR (966 vs. 82), and LPR (54.4 vs 17.1). LNR of whole-body MRI was <0.1 (0.06), while LNR of SS was >0.1 (0.22). The area under curves (AUC) for whole-body MRI and SS were 0.99 and 0.95 respectively. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that both whole-body MRI and SS have good diagnostic performance. However, MRI is superior for diagnostics of bone metastases, as it has higher sensitivity, higher diagnostic accuracy, and can be used for both confirmation and exclusion of metastatic bone disease.