Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comorbid Conditions in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Potential Therapeutic Targets for Unmet Needs

The management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has improved significantly due to advances in therapeutic agents, but it has also become apparent that there are issues that remain difficult to solve with the current treatment algorithm. COPD patients face a number of unmet needs concerning symptoms, exacerbations, and physical inactivity. There are various risk factors and triggers for these unmet needs, which can be roughly divided into two categories. One is the usual clinical characteristics for COPD patients, and the other is specific clinical characteristics in patients with comorbid conditions, such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, and bronchiectasis. These comorbidities, which are also associated with the diversity of COPD, can cause unmet needs resistance to usual care. However, treatable conditions that are not recognized as therapeutic targets may be latent in patients with COPD. We again realized that treatable traits should be assessed and treated as early as possible. In this article, we categorize potential therapeutic targets from the viewpoint of pulmonary and systemic comorbid conditions, and address recent data concerning the pathophysiological link with COPD and the impact of intervention on comorbid conditions in order to obtain evidence that could enable us to provide personalized COPD management.
T3 Critically Affects the Mhrt/Brg1 Axis to Regulate the Cardiac MHC Switch: Role of an Epigenetic Cross-Talk

The LncRNA my-heart (Mhrt) and the chromatin remodeler Brg1 inhibit each other to respectively prevent or favor the maladaptive α-myosin-heavy-chain (Myh6) to β-myosin-heavy-chain (Myh7) switch, so their balance crucially guides the outcome of cardiac remodeling under stress conditions. Even though triiodothyronine (T3) has long been recognized as a critical regulator of the cardiac Myh isoform composition, its role as a modulator of the Mhrt/Brg1 axis is still unexplored. Here the effect of T3 on the Mhrt/Brg1 regulatory circuit has been analyzed in relation with chromatin remodeling and previously identified T3-dependent miRNAs. The expression levels of Mhrt, Brg1 and Myh6/Myh7 have been assessed in rat models of hyperthyroidism or acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) treated with T3 replacement therapy. To gain mechanistic insights, in silico analyses and site-directed mutagenesis have been adopted in combination with gene reporter assays and loss or gain of function strategies in cultured cardiomyocytes. Our results indicate a pivotal role of Mhrt over-expression in the T3-dependent regulation of Myh switch. Mechanistically, T3 activates the Mhrt promoter at two putative thyroid hormone responsive elements (TRE) located in a crucial region that is necessary for both Mhrt activation and Brg1-dependent Mhrt repression. This newly identified T3 mode of action requires DNA chromatinization and is critically involved in mitigating the repressive function of the Brg1 protein on Mhrt promoter. In addition, T3 is also able to prevent the Brg1 over-expression observed in the post-IR setting through a pathway that might entail the T3-mediated up-regulation of miR-208a. Taken together, our data evidence a novel T3-responsive network of cross-talking epigenetic factors that dictates the cardiac Myh composition and could be of great translational relevance.
A 16-Channel Dense Array for In Vivo Animal Cortical MRI/fMRI on 7T Human Scanners

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to fabricate a novel RF coil exclusively for visualizing submillimeter tissue structure and probing neuronal activity in cerebral cortex over anesthetized and awake animals on 7T human scanners. Methods: A novel RF coil design has been proposed for visualizing submillimeter tissue structure and probing neuronal activity in cerebral cortex over anesthetized and awake animals on 7T human scanners: a local transmit coil was utilized to save space for auxiliary device installation; 16 receive-only loops were densely arranged over a 5 cm-diameter circular area, with a diameter of 1.3 cm for each loop. Results: In anesthetized macaque experiments, 60 μm T2*-weighted images were successfully obtained with cortical gyri and sulci exquisitely visualized; over awake macaques, bilateral activations of visual areas including V1, V2, V4, and MST were distinctly detected at 1 mm; over the cat, robust activations were recorded in areas 17 and 18 (V1 and V2) as well as in their connected area of lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) at 0.3 mm resolution. Conclusion: The promising brain imaging results along with flexibility in various size use of the presented design can be an effective and maneuverable solution to take one step close towards mesoscale cortical-related imaging. Significance: High-spatial-resolution brain imaging over large animals by using ultra-high-field (UHF) MRI will be helpful to understand and reveal functional brain organizations and the underlying mechanism in diseases.
Monocyte chemotactic protein-inducing protein 1 negatively regulating asthmatic airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion involving γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor signaling pathway in vivo and in vitro

Abstract Background Mounting evidence, consistent with our previous study, showed that γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) played an indispensable role in airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in asthma. Monocyte chemotactic protein-inducing protein 1 (MCPIP1) was a key negative regulator of inflammation. Recent studies showed that inflammation was largely suppressed by enhanced MCPIP1 expression in many inflammatory diseases. However, the role and potential mechanism of MCPIP1 in airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in asthma were still not well studied. This study was to explore the role of MCPIP1 in asthmatic airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in both mice and BEAS-2B cells, and its potential mechanism. Methods In vivo, mice were sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin (OVA) to induce asthma. Airway inflammation and mucus secretion were analyzed. In vitro, BEAS-2B cells were chosen. Interleukin (IL)-13 was used to stimulate inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in cells. MCPIP1 Lentiviral vector (LA-MCPIP1) and plasmid-MCPIP1 were used to up-regulate MCPIP1 in lung and cells, respectively. MCP-1, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), MCPIP1, and GABAARβ2 expressions were measured in both lung and BEAS-2B cells. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to observe the expression of GABAARβ2 in cells. Results MCPIP1 was up-regulated by LA-MCPIP1 (P < 0.001) and plasmid-MCPIP1 (P < 0.001) in lung and cells, respectively. OVA-induced airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion, OVA-enhanced MCP-1, TSLP, MUC5AC, and GABAARβ2 expressions, and OVA-reduced MCPIP1 were significantly blunted by LA-MCPIP1 in mice (all P < 0.001). IL-13-enhanced MCP-1, TSLP, MUC5AC, and GABAARβ2 expressions, and IL-13-reduced MCPIP1 were markedly abrogated by plasmid-MCPIP1 in BEAS-2B cells (all P < 0.001). Conclusion The results of this study suggested that OVA and IL-13-induced airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion were negatively regulated by MCPIP1 in both lung and BEAS-2B cells, involving GABAAR signaling pathway.
Incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after Coronavirus Disease

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged from China and rapidly spread to many other countries. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among patients with COVID-19 who were treated and discharged from a university hospital in Daegu, Korea. Methods: In total, 64 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and then hospitalized, treated and discharged from the university hospital between February and April 2020 participated in our study. We conducted telephone interviews with the participants and evaluated the presence of PTSD using the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5 (PCL-5) based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5; score range: 0–80). If a score of ≥33 was obtained, then a diagnosis of PTSD was made. We analyzed the association between PTSD and demographic and clinical characteristics using the Mann–Whitney U and chi-square tests. Results: In total, 13 patients had a PCL-5 score of ≥33, which indicated that 20.3% (n = 64) of the patients had PTSD. No significant differences were observed in demographic characteristics, including, sex, age, hospitalization time and duration after discharge, between patients with PTSD and those without PTSD. Conclusions: The prevalence rate of PTSD was 20.3% in patients with COVID-19 who had been hospitalized, treated and discharged. Accordingly, clinicians should be aware of the high possibility of PTSD among COVID-19 patients. Mental health interventions supporting the mental health of patients should be provided to affected patients.
Altered Brain Activation in Youth following Concussion: Using a Dual-task Paradigm

ABSTRACT A concussion is known as a functional injury affecting brain communication, integration, and processing. There is a need to objectively measure how concussions disrupt brain activation while completing ecologically relevant tasks. The objective of this study was to compare brain activation patterns between concussion and comparison groups (non-concussed youth) during a cognitive-motor single and dual-task paradigm utilizing functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in regions of the frontal-parietal attention network and compared to task performance. Youth with concussion generally exhibited hyperactivation and recruitment of additional brain regions in the dorsal lateral prefrontal (DLPFC), superior (SPC) and inferior parietal cortices (IPC), which are associated with processing, information integration, and response selection. Additionally, hyper- or hypo-activation patterns were associated with slower processing speed on the cognitive task. Our findings corroborate the growing literature suggesting that neural recovery may be delayed compared to the restoration of behavioral performance post-concussion. Concussion, near-infrared spectroscopy, dual-task paradigm, cognitive, motor, brain activation
Do shorter inter‐stimulus intervals in the go/no‐go task enable better assessment of response inhibition?

Young, Sutherland, and McCoy indicated that a Go/No‐Go Task (GNG) becomes more difficult as the inter‐stimulus intervals (ISIs) becomes shorter. However, is the number of commission errors under extremely short ISIs a useful metric for assessing response inhibition? This study challenges the assumption that a shorter ISI in the GNG enables better assessment of response inhibition. University students (N = 213) completed the GNG, the Conners Continuous Performance Test 3rd Edition (CCPT), and the Modified Stroop Task. The GNG comprised four blocks of 400, 600, 800, and 1000 ms ISIs, whereas the stimulus presentation was fixed at 250 ms. Consistent with Young et al., shorter ISIs in the GNG resulted in more commission errors. In the block with the shortest ISI, participants also failed more frequently in responses in go trials than in the other blocks, which appears to increase in error variance of commission errors. Consistent with this interpretation, the association between the number of commission errors in the block with 400 ms ISI and CCPT performance was weaker than those between the number of commission errors in other blocks and CCPT performance. It is concluded that using the number of commission errors in the condition with extremely short ISIs in the GNG might be inappropriate for assessing response inhibition.
The ecology of sandy beaches in southern Africa

The physical features, macrofauna and meiofauna of four exposed sandy beaches along the southern coast of South Africa were quantitatively investigated. All beaches had medium to fine sands with relatively poor to moderate macrofauna and very rich meiofauna. The results are compared with the present knowledge of the southern African coastline. Sandy beaches types around the southern African coastline are summarized according to geomorphology and wave action and three Zoogeographie provinces are recognized. The macrofauna is dominated by crustaceans, mostly scavengers, on the warmer east coast and by molluscs, mostly filterfeeders, on the temperate south coast. Relationships between diversity and abundance of macrofauna, beach slope and particle size are analysed in detail. Intertidal zonation of macrofauna is described and a zonation scheme based on crustaceans proposed. Relationships between meiofauna composition and particle size are described as well as intertidal distribution patterns of the meiofauna.
Objective and subjective sleep measures are associated with neurocognition in aging adults with and without HIV

Abstract Objective: Poor sleep quality is related to worse neurocognition in older adults and in people with HIV (PWH); however, many previous studies have relied only on self-report sleep questionnaires, which are inconsistently correlated with objective sleep measures. We examined relationships between objective and subjective sleep quality and neurocognition in persons with and without HIV, aged 50 and older. Method: Eighty-five adults (PWH n = 52, HIV-negative n = 32) completed comprehensive neuropsychological testing to assess global and domain-specific neurocognition. Objective sleep quality was assessed with wrist actigraphy (total sleep time, efficiency, sleep fragmentation) for five to 14 nights. Subjective sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results: Objective and subjective sleep measures were unrelated (p’s > 0.30). Compared to HIV-negative participants, PWH had greater sleep efficiency (80% vs. 75%, p = 0.05) and were more likely to be using prescription and/or over the counter sleep medication (p = 0.04). In the whole sample, better sleep efficiency (p < 0.01) and greater total sleep time (p = 0.05) were associated with better learning. Less sleep fragmentation was associated with better learning (p < 0.01) and recall (p = 0.04). While PWH had slightly stronger relationships between total sleep time and sleep fragmentation, it is not clear if these differences are clinically meaningful. Better subjective sleep quality was associated with better executive function (p < 0.01) and working memory (p = 0.05); this relationship was primarily driven by the HIV-negative group. Conclusions: Objective sleep quality was associated with learning and recall whereas subjective sleep quality was associated with executive function and working memory. Therefore, assessing objective and subjective sleep quality could be clinically useful, as they are both related to important domains of cognition frequently impacted in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders as well as neurodegenerative disorders associated with aging. Future studies should evaluate if behavioral sleep interventions can improve neurocognition.
‘Not Left in Limbo’: Service User Experiences of Mental Health Nurse Prescribing in Home Care Settings

Abstract Prescribing in mental health nursing in the Republic of Ireland is still an unusual occurrence and despite an uptake in prescriber training, this does not often translate to practice. Recent Irish research, however, has identified that nurse prescribing when offered, is perceived to enhance care and offer better delivery of services. Since the legislation was introduced in the Republic of Ireland to enable nurses and midwives to prescribe in May 2007, there are now 1,123 nurses registered to prescribe medication. Mental health nurses, however, do not tend to be a priority when it comes to training in prescribing; in the UK it took two years after nurse prescribing was rolled out to extend the scheme to mental health nursing. Although nurse and other professional perspectives explored this topic, there is limited research specifically detailing the experience of service users in long term care who are prescribed by mental health nurse practitioners in a home care setting. This research follows a qualitative exploratory research design using thematic analysis to explore service user (n = 12) experiences of mental health nurse prescribing. The following four themes emerged from the analysis: ‘empowerment and trust’; ‘person-centered care’; ‘time and flexibility’ and ‘collaborative approach’. Results indicate a positive and rich experience of nurse prescribing, which facilitate a more trusting, holistic and autonomous therapeutic relationship. Future research looking at other issues relating to medication including reduction and support for coming off where appropriate is recommended
Factors affecting beef consumption in the valley of Mexico

The objective of this study was to know the factors that determine the consumption of beef in the Metropolitan Area of the Valley of Mexico, using logit and probit modeling (nominal variable) with 400 surveys. The results showed that significant variables that determine the probability of purchasing beef are schooling, number of members per family, meat preference, family income, and presence of disease in the individual. The largest marginal effects on the purchase decision were provided by the income and the meat preference variables, while the price was not significant. The main factors that determine the consumption of beef are schooling and the number of members in the family, while the meat preference and income are dismissed.
No association between blood count levels and whole-blood cobalt and chromium levels in 1,900 patients with metal-on-metal hip arthroplasty

Background and purpose — The accelerated wear of poorly functioning metal-on-metal (MoM) hip implants may cause elevated whole-blood cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) levels. Hematological and endocrinological changes have been described as the most sensitive adverse effects due to Co exposure. We studied whether there is an association between whole-blood Co/Cr levels and leukocyte, hemoglobin, or platelet levels. Patients and methods — We analyzed whole-blood Co and Cr values and complete blood counts (including leukocytes, hemoglobin, platelets) from 1,900 patients with MoM hips. The mean age at the time of whole-blood metal ion measurements was 67 years (SD 10). The mean time from primary surgery to whole-blood metal ion measurement was 8.2 years (SD 3.0). The mean interval between postoperative blood counts and metal ion measurements was 0.2 months (SD 2.7). Results — The median Co value was 1.9 µg/L (0.2–225), Cr 1.6 µg/L (0.2–125), mean leukocyte count 6.7 × 109/L (SD 1.9), hemoglobin value 143 g/L (SD 13), and platelet count 277 × 109/L (SD 70). We did not observe clinically significant correlations between whole-blood Co/Cr and leukocyte, hemoglobin, or platelet counts. Interpretation — Elevated whole-blood Co and Cr values are unlikely to explain abnormal blood counts in patients with MoM hips and the reason for possible abnormal blood counts should be sought elsewhere.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Intentions towards HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis among Nursing Students in Spain

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Among the preventive approaches proposed to control this disease is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), whose effectiveness depends on the medication adherence. The aim of the present study was to determine the knowledge and attitudes about PrEP among a sample of Spanish nursing students as well as their intentions of receiving it in case it was indicated. An observational cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. A total of 570 nursing students from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), ≥18 years old and of both sexes were invited to self-complete a questionnaire between February and March 2020. A total of 352 students decided to participate in the study. Participants had low knowledge [overall knowledge score 1(0–2)] and a neutral attitude towards PrEP. The intention of receiving PrEP improved significantly after the completion of the questionnaire and the administration of information about PrEP (p = 0.039; before: 23.58% and after: 93.77%). Nursing staff play an important role in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, so their training in preventive strategies, such as PrEP, could help to reduce the incidence of new cases of HIV infection.
Effects of a blue‐blocking screen filter on accommodative accuracy and visual discomfort

The prescription of blue‐blocking (B‐B) filters for the management of visual symptoms and signs associated with the use of electronic devices is routinely performed by eye care specialists. However, the utility of B‐B filters is a matter of debate and discussion by the scientific community due to the lack of evidence supporting their use. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of using B‐B filters on the dynamics of the accommodative response and pupil size and perceived levels of visual discomfort, while performing a 30‐min reading task at a close distance in subjects who routinely use electronic devices.
Habitual Nightly Fasting Duration, Eating Timing, and Eating Frequency are Associated with Cardiometabolic Risk in Women

Nightly fasting duration (NFD) and eating timing and frequency may influence cardiometabolic health via their impact on circadian rhythms, which are entrained by food intake, but observational studies are limited. This 1-year prospective study of 116 US women (33 ± 12y, 45% Hispanic) investigated associations of habitual NFD and eating timing and frequency with cardiovascular health (CVH; American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7 score) and cardiometabolic risk factors. NFD, eating timing and frequency, and nighttime eating levels were evaluated from 1-week electronic food records completed at baseline and 1 y. In multivariable-adjusted linear regression models, longer NFD was associated with poorer CVH (β = −0.22, p = 0.016 and β = −0.22, p = 0.050) and higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (β = 1.08, p < 0.01 and β = 1.74, p < 0.01) in cross-sectional and prospective analyses, respectively. Later timing of the first eating occasion at baseline was associated with poorer CVH (β = −0.20, p = 0.013) and higher DBP (β = 1.18, p < 0.01) and fasting glucose (β = 1.43, p = 0.045) at 1 y. After adjustment for baseline outcomes, longer NFD and later eating times were also associated with higher waist circumference (β = 0.35, p = 0.021 and β = 0.27, p < 0.01, respectively). Eating frequency was inversely related to DBP in cross-sectional (β = −1.94, p = 0.033) and prospective analyses (β = −3.37, p < 0.01). In cross-sectional analyses of baseline data and prospective analyses, a higher percentage of daily calories consumed at the largest evening meal was associated with higher DBP (β = 1.69, p = 0.046 and β = 2.32, p = 0.029, respectively). Findings suggest that frequent and earlier eating may lower cardiometabolic risk, while longer NFD may have adverse effects. Results warrant confirmation in larger multi-ethnic cohort studies with longer follow-up periods.