Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sex Differences in Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in China

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background: Despite improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to combat cardiovascular disease (CVD) in recent decades, there are significant ongoing access gaps and sex disparities in prevention that have not been adequately quantified in China. Methods: A representative, cross-sectional, community-based survey of adults (aged ≥45 years) was conducted in 7 geographic regions of China between 2014 and 2016. Logistic regression models were used to determine sex differences in primary and secondary CVD prevention, and any interaction by age, education level, and area of residence. Data are presented as adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. Results: Of 47 841 participants (61.3% women), 5454 (57.2% women) had established CVD and 9532 (70.5% women) had a high estimated 10-year CVD risk (≥10%). Only 48.5% and 48.6% of women and 39.3% and 59.8% of men were on any kind of blood pressure (BP)–lowering medication, lipid-lowering medication, or antiplatelet therapy for primary and secondary prevention, respectively. Women with established CVD were significantly less likely than men to receive BP-lowering medications (OR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.65–0.95]), lipid-lowering medications (OR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.56–0.84]), antiplatelets (OR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.45–0.62]), or any CVD prevention medication (OR, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.52–0.73]). Women with established CVD, however, had better BP control (OR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.14–1.50]) but less well-controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.57–0.76]), and were less likely to smoke (OR, 13.89 [95% CI, 11.24–17.15]) and achieve physical activity targets (OR, 1.92 [95% CI, 1.61–2.29]). Conversely, women with high CVD risk were less likely than men to have their BP, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and bodyweight controlled (OR, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.38–0.55]; OR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.52–0.69]; OR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.48–0.63], respectively), despite a higher use of BP-lowering medications (OR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.01–1.45]). Younger patients (<65 years) with established CVD were less likely to be taking CVD preventive medications, but there were no sex differences by area of residence or education level. Conclusions: Large and variable gaps in primary and secondary CVD prevention exist in China, particularly for women. Effective CVD prevention requires an improved overall nationwide strategy and a special emphasis on women with established CVD, who have the greatest disparity and the most to benefit.
Anti-inflammatory effects of sacral nerve stimulation: a novel spinal afferent and vagal efferent pathway.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) was reported to improve TNBS-induced colitis in rats. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the SNS anti-inflammatory effect is mediated via the local sacral splanchnic nerve or the spinal afferent-vagal efferent-colon pathway. METHODS Under general anesthesia, rats were administrated with TNBS intra-rectally and bipolar SNS electrodes were implanted unilaterally at S3. The sacral and vagal nerves were severed at different locations for the assessment of the neural pathway. RESULTS SNS for 10 days improved colonic inflammation only in groups with intact afferent sacral nerve and vagus efferent nerve. SNS markedly increased acetylcholine and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10), and decreased myeloperoxidase and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-17A and TNFα) in colon tissues. SNS increased the number of c-fos positive cells in the brain stem and normalized vagal activity measured by spectral analysis of heart rate variability. CONCLUSIONS SNS exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on TNBS-induced colitis by enhancing vagal activity mediated mainly via the spinal afferent-brain stem-vagal efferent-colon pathway.
Paradoxical Higher Myocardial Wall Stress and Increased Cardiac Remodeling Despite Lower Mass in Females

Background Increased left ventricular (LV) mass is characterized by increased myocardial wall thickness and/or ventricular dilatation that is associated with worse outcomes. We aim to comprehensively compare sex‐stratified associations between measures of LV remodeling and increasing LV mass in the general population. Methods and Results Participants were prospectively recruited in the National Heart Center Singapore Biobank to examine health and cardiovascular risk factors in the general population. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was performed in all individuals. Participants with established cardiovascular diseases and abnormal cardiovascular magnetic resonance scan results were excluded. Global and regional measures of LV remodeling (geometry, function, interstitial volumes, and wall stress) were performed using conventional image analysis and novel 3‐dimensional machine learning phenotyping. Sex‐stratified analyses were performed in 1005 participants (57% males; 53±13 years). Age and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors were well‐matched in both sexes (P>0.05 for all). Progressive increase in LV mass was associated with increased concentricity in either sex, but to a greater extent in females. Compared with males, females had higher wall stress (mean difference: 170 mm Hg, P<0.0001) despite smaller LV mass (42.4±8.2 versus 55.6±14.2 g/m2, P<0.0001), lower blood pressures (P<0.0001), and higher LV ejection fraction (61.9±5.9% versus 58.6±6.4%, P<0.0001). The regions of increased concentric remodeling corresponded to regions of increased wall stress. Compared with males, females had increased extracellular volume fraction (27.1±2.4% versus 25.1±2.9%, P<0.0001). Conclusions Compared with males, females have lower LV mass, increased wall stress, and concentric remodeling. These findings provide mechanistic insights that females are susceptible to particular cardiovascular complications.
The relationship between Parkinson's disease symptoms and caregiver quality of life.

OBJECTIVE Caregivers for individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) can experience high burden, which underlies the importance of examining the needs of caregivers to be able to support them in the caregiving role. The current study aims to assess the relationships among PD symptoms and four measures of caregiver quality of life (QOL; i.e., personal and social activities, anxiety and depression, self-care, and strain). METHOD Data from 181 caregiver/care recipient dyads (N = 362) were collected at a multidisciplinary PD clinic in a public, academic medical center in the southeastern United States at the time of the care recipient's first neuropsychological evaluation. RESULTS All PD symptoms were positively correlated with each other, as were all forms of caregiver QOL, and all PD symptoms were associated with each measure of caregiver QOL. A series of regressions suggested that demographics and PD symptoms predicted all four types of caregiver QOL, explaining 33% of the variance in caregiver personal and social activities, 24% in anxiety and depression, 28% in self-care, and 36% in strain. Female caregivers and those who provided care to male care recipients generally had worse QOL. Greater PD-related symptoms including difficulties with mobility, decreased emotional well-being, and greater nonmotor functioning impairment were unique predictors of reduced caregiver QOL. CONCLUSIONS PD symptoms are robustly related to caregiver QOL, with mobility and nonmotor symptoms as the primary drivers of this relationship. Interventions for PD caregivers should include strategies for managing mobility and nonmotor symptoms, as well as their QOL effects on caregivers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Do Stock Markets Underreact to Spinoff Announcements? The European Evidence

We examine whether European stock markets are efficient in valuing corporate spinoffs. Using several different return methodologies to adjust for cross-sectional return dependence, we find that post-spinoff firms in Europe do not earn significant long-run abnormal returns in the three-year post-spinoff period. Further analyses demonstrate that the accounting performance of post-spinoff firms is in line with several industry-based benchmarks, which is consistent with the evidence of insignificant long-run stock returns. Our results support the efficient markets hypothesis that stock markets do not underreact to corporate spinoff announcements.
The Relationship Between Nasal Septal Deviation and Paranasal Pneumatization.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of the presence and the severity of the nasal septal deviation (NSD) on the paranasal pneumatization. METHODS Initially, the deviated and contralateral sides was compared to evaluate the impact of the presence of NSD on pneumatization. Then, NSD classification groups were categorized according to the severity of deviation degree; 1: mild (<9°), 2: moderate (9°-15°), and 3: severe (>15°). Pneumatization of all paranasal sinuses, osteomeatal complex (OMC), frontoethmoid recess (FER) and variant structures were compared according to the NSD classification groups separately both for the deviated and the contralateral sides. RESULTS Although there was no statistically significant difference in pneumatization of the paranasal sinuses between the deviated and contralateral sides, a significant difference was observed in OMC and FER diameters. In the deviated side, there was statistically significant difference in ethmoid sinus volume, in FER and OMC diameters between NSD classification groups. In the contralateral side, FER and OMC diameters were found to be significantly different between group 1 and group 2 and between group 1 and group 3, respectively (P = 0.04 and 0.06, respectively). Both the presence and severity of the NSD did not statistically significant influence the pneumatization of variant structures, air cells and vital structures. CONCLUSION The severity of NSD effects the ethmoid sinus volume. The relationship of FER and OMC with NSD is evident, however this may not always be in a proportional pattern. The paranasal pneumatization did not affect Keros type, bone integrity of carotid canal and optic canal.
Successful use of guselkumab in the treatment of severe hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic incurable disease of apocrine gland-bearing skin characterised by double comedones, recurrent nodules, draining tracts and scarring predominantly in the axilla, groin and inframammary folds. Adalimumab and Infliximab are recommended for use in HS Hurley stage 2-3 and there are several reported cases and one case series of successful treatment with Ustekinumab which blocks the p40 subunit of IL-12 and IL-231 . We report a case of successful treatment of HS with a monoclonal antibody (Guselkumab) to the p19 subunit of IL-23.
Implementation of dupilumab in routine care of atopic eczema: results from the German national registry TREATgermany

The German atopic eczema (AE)-registry TREATgermany is a non-interventional multicenter patient cohort study for adult patients with currently moderate-to-severe disease activity or current/previous anti-inflammatory systemic treatment.1,2 Dupilumab has demonstrated to be an effective treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe AE in clinical trials.3-5 Real world evidence is now needed to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in routine care.
Engineered Stem Cells Improve Neurogenic Bladder by Overexpressing SDF-1 in a Pelvic Nerve Injury Rat Model

There is still a lack of sufficient research on the mechanism behind neurogenic bladder (NB) treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of overexpressed stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) secreted by engineered immortalized mesenchymal stem cells (imMSCs) on the NB. In this study, primary bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) were transfected into immortalized upregulated SDF-1-engineered BM-MSCs (imMSCs/eSDF-1 + ) or immortalized normal SDF-1-engineered BM-MSCs (imMSCs/eSDF-1−). NB rats induced by bilateral pelvic nerve (PN) transection were treated with imMSCs/eSDF-1 + , imMSCs/eSDF-1 − , or sham. After a 4-week treatment, the bladder function was assessed by cystometry and voiding pattern analysis. The PN and bladder tissues were evaluated via immunostaining and western blotting analysis. We found that imMSCs/eSDF-1 + expressed higher levels of SDF-1 in vitro and in vivo. The treatment of imMSCs/eSDF-1 + improved NB and evidently stimulated the recovery of bladder wall in NB rats. The recovery of injured nerve was more effective in the NB+imMSCs/eSDF-1 + group than in other groups. High SDF-1 expression improved the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Apoptosis was decreased after imMSCs injection, and was detected rarely in the NB+imMSCs/eSDF-1 + group. Injection of imMSCs boosted the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase, p-AKT, and p-ERK in the NB+imMSCs/eSDF-1 + group than in other groups. Our findings demonstrated that overexpression of SDF-1 induced additional MSC homing to the injured tissue, which improved the NB by accelerating the restoration of injured nerve in a rat model.
Cell Biology International

The success in the identification of BCR/ABL tyrosine kinase role in the pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) went as far as to find a path to cure this leukemia; however, compensatory activation of leukomogenic signals get across the message that the small molecule inhibitors of oncogenic pathways, along with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, might be a beneficial approach in CML treatment. The results of the present study showed that the abrogation of the phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) pathway using pan‐PI3K inhibitor BKM120 exerted a cytotoxic effect against CML‐derived K562 cells through both the induction of p21‐mediated G2/M arrest and the stimulation of apoptosis. Notably, the apoptotic effect of the inhibitor was further confirmed by the molecular analysis showing that BKM120 significantly increased the expression of pro‐apoptotic genes. To the best of our knowledge, the involvement of autophagy in resistance to BKM120 has not been yet described and our study suggests for the first time that the elevation of autophagy‐related genes might serve as a compensatory pathway to cease the anti‐leukemic effect of BKM120 in K562; since we found a reinforced anti‐survival event when the cells were treated with BKM120 in combination with autophagy inhibitor. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that the abrogation of PI3K using BKM120 might be a befitting approach in CML treatment, either as a single agent or in a combined‐modal strategy; however, further evaluations including clinical trials and in vivo investigations are demanded to ascertain the safety and the efficacy of the inhibitor in treatment strategies.
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Against HIV-Positive Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Mixed-Method Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives: To systematically analyze and summarize the literature on intimate partner violence (IPV) against HIV-positive women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and to identify their risk factors for IPV. Method: A comprehensive review of the literature using the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) and Meta-Analyses of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) yielded 1,879 articles (PubMed = 1,251, Embase = 491, Web of Science = 132, and identified additional records = 5). Twenty were selected for quantitative and qualitative assessment and synthesis. We employed a random effects model with generic inverse variance method and estimated the odds ratios. Findings: Results indicated a high prevalence of physical, sexual, and emotional violence against women living with HIV/AIDS in SSA. Educational background, alcohol use, marital status, previous experiences with IPV, and employment status were identified as significant risk factors. We also assessed the methodological quality of the articles by examining publication bias and some heterogeneity statistics. Conclusion: There is limited research on IPV against HIV-positive women in SSA. However, the few existing studies agree on the importance of targeting HIV-positive women with specific interventions given their vulnerability to IPV and to address factors exacerbating these risks and vulnerabilities.
Cell proliferation and neurogenesis alterations in Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes mellitus mixed murine models

The classic neuropathological features of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are accompanied by other complications, including alterations in adult cell proliferation and neurogenesis. Moreover recent studies have shown that traditional markers of the neurogenic process, such as doublecortin (DCX), may also be expressed in CD8+ T cells and ionized calcium‐binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1+) microglia, in the close proximity to senile plaques, increasing the complexity of the condition. Altered glucose tolerance, observed in metabolic alteratioins, may accelerate the neurodegenerative process and interfere with normal adult cell proliferation and neurogenesis. To further explore the role of metabolic disease in AD, we analyzed cell proliferation and neurogenesis using 5’‐bromo‐2’‐deoxyuridine and DCX immunohistochemistry in three different mouse models of AD and metabolic alterations: APP/PS1xdb/db mice, APP/PS1 mice on a long‐term high‐fat diet, and APP/PS1 mice treated with streptozotozin. As reported previously, an overall reduction in cell proliferation and neurogenesis was observed after streptozotocin administration. In contrast, an increase in cell proliferation and neurogenesis was detected in neurogenic niches in 14‐ and 26‐week‐old APP/PS1xdb/db mice, accompanied by a slight increase in cortical cell proliferation. While a similar trend was observed in animals on a high‐fat diet, differences were not statistically significant. We observed very few DCX+/CD8+ cells and no DCX+/Iba1+ cells were observed in the close proximity to senile plaques in any of the groups. Interestingly, metabolic parameters such as body weight and glucose and insulin levels were identified as reliable predictors of cell proliferation and neurogenesis in APP/PS1xdb/db mice. Furthermore, metabolic parameters were also associated with altered Aβ levels in the cortex and hippocampus of APP/PS1xdb/db mice. Altogether, our data suggest that metabolic disease may also interfere with central complications in AD.
The Value of a Coordination Game

The value of a game is the payoff a player can expect (ex ante) from playing the game. Understanding how the value changes with economic primitives is critical for policy design and welfare. However, for games with multiple equilibria, the value is difficult to determine. We therefore develop a new theory of the value of coordination games. The theory delivers testable comparative statics on the value and delivers novel insights relevant to policy design. For example, policies that shift behavior in the desired direction can make everyone worse off, and policies that increase everyone's payoffs can reduce welfare.
Evaluation of internet addiction and fear of missing out among nursing students.

PURPOSE This study was conducted to evaluate the internet addiction and fear of missing out (FoMO) among nursing students. DESIGN AND METHODS This descriptive study was conducted with 511 nursing students who consent to participate. RESULTS It was found that 3.8% (14 students) of the students participating in the research were "pathological internet users. " There was a positive correlation between internet addiction and FoMO (r = .332; P = .000). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The finding that addiction increases with the increase in the use of social media show us that the excessive use of social media is another risk that threatens the mental health of persons.
Risk factors and clinical outcomes of functional decline during hospitalisation in very old patients with acute decompensated heart failure: an observational study

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of functional decline during hospitalisation and its relationship with postdischarge outcomes in very old patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) hospitalisation. Design Prospective cohort study between 1 October 2014 and 31 March 2016. Setting A physician-initiated, multicentre study of consecutive patients admitted for ADHF in 19 hospitals throughout Japan. Participants Among 3555 patients hospitalised for ADHF (median age (IQR), 80 (71–86) years; 1572 (44%) women), functional decline during the index hospitalisation occurred in 528 patients (15%). Primary and secondary outcomes The primary outcome measure was a composite of all-cause death or heart failure (HF) hospitalisation after discharge. The secondary outcome measures were all-cause death, HF hospitalisation, and a composite of all-cause death or all-cause hospitalisation. Results The independent risk factors for functional decline included age ≥80 years (OR 2.71; 95% CI 2.09 to 3.51), female (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.67), prior stroke (OR 1.67; 95% CI 1.28 to 2.19), dementia (OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.74 to 2.95), ambulatory before admission (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.29 to 2.35), elevated body temperature (OR 1.91; 95% CI 1.31 to 2.79), New York Heart Association class III or IV on admission (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.07 to 2.22), decreased albumin levels (OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.32 to 2.34), hyponatraemia (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.10 to 2.03) and renal dysfunction (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.22 to 1.98), after multivariable adjustment. The cumulative 1-year incidence of the primary outcome in the functional decline group was significantly higher than that in the no functional decline group (50% vs 31%, log-rank p<0.001). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, the higher risk of the functional decline group relative to the no functional decline group remained significant (adjusted HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.24 to 1.71; p<0.001). Conclusions Independent risk factors of functional decline in very old patients with ADHF were related to both frailty and severity of HF. Functional decline during ADHF hospitalisation was associated with unfavourable postdischarge outcomes. Trial registration number NCT02334891, UMIN000015238.