Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of E-Cigarettes and Associated Factors among Youth in Thailand

Objective: The study explored e-cigarette use among youth and associated factors in Thailand. Methods: This was a cross sectional study of 6,045 seventh grade students selected using a multistage design. Self-administered questionnaires relating to the socio-demographic characteristics, history of cigarette and e-cigarette uses, friends’ and family’s use of e-cigarettes, knowledge and perception of e-cigarette use, history of alcohol uses, and life assets were gathered. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine the variables and their association with e-cigarette use. Results: Prevalence of ever e-cigarette use was 7.2% and current e-cigarette use was 3.7%. We found that current cigarette smoking (AOR 4.28, 95% CI: 2.05-8.94), parental e-cigarette use (AOR 6.08, 95% CI: 2.81-13.17), peer e-cigarette use (AOR 3.82, 95% CI: 2.19-6.65), peer approval of smoking (AOR 1.95, 95% CI: 1.11-3.41), and unaware of e-cigarettes’ risk (AOR 5.25, 95% CI: 2.67-10.34). were significantly associated with current use of e-cigarettes. Male sex, poor academic achievement, and poor life assets (power of wisdom) were only significantly associated with ever e-cigarette use. Conclusion: Prevalence of current e-cigarette use among Thai middle school students did not change significantly since the government banned importation and sales of e-cigarettes in 2015, suggesting that the Thai ban has been a success. Factors associated with e-cigarette use among Thai youth were consistent with other countries. Ever e-cigarette use, increased, but less than in countries without a ban. To strengthen efforts to prevent youth from e-cigarette use and addiction, the government should improve law enforcement, especially against online marketing and strengthen school-based anti-smoking programs to include e-cigarette lessons, educating parents and the public about the harm of e-cigarettes, including secondhand effects on non-users.
The biophysical principles underpinning muco-trapping functions of antibodies

ABSTRACT In addition to the classical immunological functions such as neutralization, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and complement activation, IgG antibodies possess a little-recognized and under-utilized effector function at mucosal surfaces: trapping pathogens in mucus. IgG can potently immobilize pathogens that otherwise readily diffuse or actively swim through mucus by forming multiple low-affinity bonds between the array of pathogen-bound antibodies and the mucin mesh. Trapping in mucus can exclude pathogens from contacting target cells, and facilitate their rapid elimination by natural mucus clearance mechanisms. Despite the fact that most infections are transmitted at mucosal surfaces, this muco-trapping effector function has only been revealed within the past decade, with the evidence to date suggesting that it is a universal effector function of IgG-Fc capable of immobilizing both viral and highly motile bacterial pathogens in all major mucosal secretions. This review provides an overview of the current evidence for Fc-mucin crosslinking as an effector function for antibodies in mucus, the mechanism by which the accumulation of weak Fc-mucin bonds by IgG bound to the surface of a pathogen can result in immobilization of antibody-pathogen complexes, and how trapping in mucus can contribute to protection against foreign pathogens.
Developmental potential of cryopreserved gonadal germ cells from 7-day-old chick embryos recovered using the PBS(-) method

ABSTRACT 1. A series of experiments were conducted to examine the developmental potential of cryopreserved gonadal germ cells (GGCs) recovered from both males and females on embryo day 7 (7 d-GGCs) using the PBS(-) method. Germline chimeras were produced by transferring 200 frozen/unfrozen 7 d-GGCs recovered from female/male Rhode Island Red (RIR) embryos into the dorsal aorta of 2-day-old female and male white leghorn (WL) embryos. 2. Germ-cell recipient embryos were hatched and raised to sexual maturity and progeny testing was conducted by mating with RIR of the opposite sex. Brown-feathered progeny chicks were hatched in all eight possible progeny testing combinations, except for male GGC recipients produced by transferring female GGCs. Furthermore, brown-feathered progeny chicks were hatched when frozen-thawed sperm from male germline chimeras, produced by transferring unfrozen 7d-GGCs, were inseminated in normal female RIR and female WL germline chimeras. 3. The results indicated that cryopreserved female/male GGCs from 7-day-old chick embryos, recovered using the PBS(-) method, were fully capable of developing into normal spermatozoa and ova in the gonad of recipient embryos under appropriate GGC donor/recipient combinations.
4-Phenylbutyric acid improves free fatty acid-induced hepatic insulin resistance in vivo

Plasma free fatty acids (FFAs) are elevated in obesity and can induce insulin resistance via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. However, it is unknown whether hepatic insulin resistance caused by the elevation of plasma FFAs is alleviated by chemical chaperones. Rats received one of the following i.v. treatments for 48 h: saline, intralipid plus heparin (IH), IH plus the chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyric acid (PBA), or PBA alone and a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp was performed during the last 2 h. PBA co-infusion normalized IH-induced peripheral insulin resistance, similar to our previous findings with an antioxidant and an IκBα kinase β (IKKβ) inhibitor. Different from our previous results with the antioxidant and IKKβ inhibitor, PBA also improved IH-induced hepatic insulin resistance in parallel with activation of Akt. Unexpectedly, IH did not induce markers of ER stress in the liver, but PBA prevented IH-induced elevation of phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor-2α protein in adipose tissue. PBA tended to decrease circulating fetuin-A and significantly increased circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) without affecting markers of activation of hepatic protein kinase C-δ or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase that we have previously involved in hepatic insulin resistance in this model. In conclusion: (i) PBA prevented hepatic insulin resistance caused by prolonged plasma FFA elevation without affecting hepatic ER stress markers; (ii) the PBA effect is likely due to increased FGF21 and/or decreased fetuin-A, which directly signal to upregulate Akt activation.
Risk factors for poorer health literacy in patients with liver cirrhosis

Background Health literacy is a concept that refers to patients’ ability to manage their disease and the health system’s ability to guarantee access to services. There is evidence that health literacy impacts the health outcomes of patients with chronic diseases, but detailed information on this topic in patients with liver cirrhosis is scarce. It was the aim of this study to identify risk factors for poorer health literacy in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods 89 patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this study and health literacy was measured using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Covert hepatic encephalopathy (CHE) was diagnosed clinically according to the West-Haven Criteria (HE grade 1) and the PHES (minimal HE). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Based on the nine subscales of the HLQ, risk factors for poor health literacy were identified using linear regression models. Results Normalized HLQ scores ranged between 65–76%, while appraisal of health information had lowest score (65%) and ability to actively engage with healthcare providers had highest score (76%). Multivariable regression analyses revealed an association of poorer health literacy and liver function as determined by MELD score and complications of liver cirrhosis such as a history of ascites or CHE. Additionally, we identified modifiable or preventable factors such as depressive symptoms, a history of falls, and active smoking as risk factors for poorer health literacy. Conclusion Multiple factors seem to impact on health literacy in patients with liver cirrhosis. Addressing modifiable and preventable factors may improve health literacy.
Injuries Associated With Subsequent Child Maltreatment Diagnosis: By Age, Race, Gender, and Medicaid Status

This study examined injuries that may precede a child maltreatment (CM) diagnosis, by age, race/ethnicity, gender, and Medicaid status using a retrospective case–control design among child members of a large integrated healthcare system (N = 9152 participants, n = 4576 case). Injury categories based on diagnosis codes from medical visits were bruising, fractures, lacerations, head injury, burns, falls, and unspecified injury. Results showed that all injury categories were significant predictors of a subsequent CM diagnosis, but only for children < 3 years old. Specifically, fracture and head injury were the highest risk for a subsequent CM diagnosis. All injury types were significant predictors of maltreatment diagnosis for Hispanic children < 3 years, which was not the case for the other race/ethnicities. Overall, these findings suggest that all types of injury within these specific categories should have a more thorough assessment for possible abuse for children under 3 years. This work can inform the development of clinical decision support tools to aid healthcare providers in detecting abusive injuries.
The Association between Dietary Calcium Intake and Breast Cancer Risk among Iranian Women

Abstract Background: No information is available from Middle Eastern countries linking dietary calcium intake and odds of breast cancer. Objective This study was conducted to investigate the association between dietary calcium intake and odds of having breast cancer among Iranian women. Methods: In this population-based case-control study, 350 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases were recruited and 700 age-matched subjects were enrolled as controls. Dietary intakes were examined by the use of a 106-item validated FFQ. Total dietary calcium intake of each participant was computed by summing up calcium intake from all foods and dishes. The quartile cutoff points of energy-adjusted calcium intake was obtained in the control group. These cutoff points were used to classify all study participants into quartiles in terms of dietary calcium intake. Results: After adjustment for age and energy intake, we found that individuals in second quartile of calcium intake were 43% less likely to have breast cancer compared with those in the bottom quartile (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.38–0.86). This significant association disappeared after further controlling for other potential confounders including dietary factors and BMI (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.57–1.45). When the analyses were done by menopausal status, premenopausal women with the greatest calcium intake were 60% less likely to have breast malignancy than those with the lowest intake (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.16–0.99). Adjustment for potential confounders did not substantially influence this finding (OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.11–0.95). The association remained significant even after additional controlling for dietary covariates (OR: 021; 95% CI: 0.06–0.72) and BMI (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.04–0.93). No significant association was found between dietary calcium intakes and odds of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Discussion: Dietary calcium intake was protectively associated with odds of breast cancer in premenopausal women, but not in postmenopausal women. Further prospective investigations are needed to confirm these findings.
Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Spirituality and Perceived Ability to Provide Spiritual Care: A Mixed-Method Study

Study purpose: This study's purpose was to explore nursing students’ spirituality and perceived ability to provide spiritual care. Design and methods: A convergent mixed method, cross-sectional design was used. A convenience sample included traditional nursing students in their second quarter (n = 53) and final quarter (n = 43) attending a faith-based university and accelerated final quarter nursing students (n = 45) attending a private secular university from two accredited nursing programs. Quantitative data were analyzed using a pairwise Spearman rank correlation and multivariate analysis of variance. Open-ended questions were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Quantitatively, as a student's spirituality increases, their perceived ability to provide spiritual care decreases. Qualitative findings revealed three categories: guidance to recognize spiritual needs, empathy and openness, and intertwined with religion. Conclusion: Quantitatively, nursing students reported their spirituality did not influence their perceived ability to provide spiritual care. Yet, qualitatively, students reported their spirituality assisted in their ability to provide spiritual care. However, students were unable to differentiate between spirituality and religion. Colleges of nursing need to ensure students learn the art of holistic nursing, which includes spirituality and religion along with opportunities to apply and reflect on their spirituality and perceived ability to provide spiritual care.
Does personality “Trump” ideology? narcissism predicts support for Trump via ideological tendencies

ABSTRACT Former US President Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory defied expectations. Trump was an unconventional candidate, and his presidency was true to form. What accounts for his popularity? Integrating work on narcissism with the dual-process motivational model of ideology, we propose that individuals higher in narcissism are more likely to adopt right-wing authoritarian and social-dominance oriented attitudes, which lead them to embrace socially and economically conservative policy positions, respectively. Thus, they are receptive to Trump’s anti-immigration stance, a centerpiece of his political messaging from the campaign trail to the White House. The present study (N = 302) yielded results consistent with this analysis: Right-wing authoritarianism and social-dominance orientation mediated the association between narcissism and Trump support, via social and economic conservatism and immigration attitudes. The study represents an initial test of a potentially generative framework on which future research can elaborate.
Molecular and Serological Prevalence of HCMV in Iranian Patients with Breast Cancer

Background: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is prevalent viral infection involved in several human cancers including breast cancer. The presence of HCMV genome in breast cancer tissue and footprint of viral last exposure patient’s serum are considered as important factor in the process of breast cancer development. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate molecular and serological epidemiology of HCMV in patients with breast cancer in Iran for first time. Methods: In our case-control study, 98 samples of breast tissue, including 49 cancerous (case) and 49 adjacent non-cancerous tissue were collected (control). In addition, we collected sera samples from all patients (n=49) and healthy individual (n=49). Seroprevalence of HCMV was assessed by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and detection of HCMV genome was performed using Nested-PCR method. Results: HCMV genome found in 16.3% (8/49) of cases tissue and 2% (1/49) of controls tissue. In patients group, the levels of anti-CMV IgG and IgM were 93.9% and 2% compared to 69.4% and 4.1% in healthy individuals, respectively. There was a statistically difference between the anti-CMV IgG in patients and healthy control (p= 0.002). We found 75% of (6/8) HCMV genome positive PCR samples were also positive for their anti-CMV IgG in cases which was statistically significant (p= 0.01). Conclusions: Our result showed significant presence of HCMV genome and anti-CMV IgG in patients, supporting the role of HCMV in breast cancer.
Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactors for Thermomechanical Pulping Pressate Treatment

Abstract A comparative study on the treatment of thermomechanical pulping (TMP) pressate between thermophilic (55 °C) and mesophilic (30 °C) membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs) was conducted under different cycle lengths (CLs) for over 114 days. The performance of the MABRs was evaluated in terms of soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and biofilm detachment. With a total influent COD of 3,700–4,100 mg/L, the soluble COD removal efficiency of thermophilic MABR (40–65 %) was slightly lower than that of mesophilic MABR (50–80 %) under different CLs. The level of effluent suspended solids (ESS) in treated effluent of the thermophilic MABR was generally higher than that of the mesophilic MABR, suggesting a more significant biofilm detachment from membrane surfaces in the thermophilic MABR. The performance of COD removal improved at the time five to ten days after each significant biofilm detachment. The results suggest that MABR is a promising technology for TMP pressate treatment and biofilm thickness control is important for achieving better performance.
Modified Renshen Wumei Decoction Alleviates Intestinal Barrier Destruction in Rats with Diarrhea

Modified Renshen Wumei decoction (MRWD), a famous traditional Chinese medicine, is widely used for treating persistent diarrhea. However, as the mechanism by which MRWD regulates diarrhea remains unknown, we examined the protective effects of MRWD on intestinal barrier integrity in a diarrhea model. In total, 48 male rats were randomly distributed to four treatment groups: the blank group (CK group), model group (MC group), Medilac-Vita group (MV group) and Chinese herb group (MRWD group). After a 21-day experiment, serum and colon samples were assessed. The diarrhea index, pathological examination findings and change in D-lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) contents illustrated that the induction of diarrhea caused intestinal injury, which was ameliorated by MV and MRWD infusion. Metabolomics analysis identified several metabolites in the serum. Some critical metabolites, such as phosphoric acid, taurine, cortisone, leukotriene B4 and calcitriol, were found to be significantly elevated by MRWD infusion. Importantly, these differences correlated with mineral absorption and metabolism and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathways. Moreover, it significantly increased the expression levels of TLR4, MyD88 and p-NF-κB p65 proteins and the contents of IL-1 and TNF-α, while the expression levels of occludin, claudin-1 and ZO-1 proteins decreased. These deleterious effects were significantly alleviated by MV and MRWD infusion. Our findings indicate that MRWD infusion helps alleviate diarrhea, possibly by maintaining electrolyte homeostasis, improving the intestinal barrier integrity, and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB axis.
Peripubertal Bisphenol A Exposure Imparts Detrimental Age-Related Changes in Body Composition, Cognition, and Hydrogen Sulfide Production Capacities

Aims: Peripubertal endocrine disruption has immediate and lifelong consequences on health, cognition, and lifespan. Disruption comes from dietary, environmental, and pharmaceutical sources. The plasticizer Bisphenol A (BPA) is one such endocrine disrupting chemical. However, it is unclear whether peripubertal BPA exposure incites long-lasting physiological, neuro-cognitive, and/or longevity-related metabolic impairments. Catabolism of cysteine via transsulfuration enzymes produces hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a redox-modulating gasotransmitter causative to endocrine and metabolic homeostasis and improved cognitive function with age. As thyroid hormone (TH) regulates hepatic H2S production and BPA is a TH receptor antagonist, we hypothesized that BPA exposure during peripubertal development impairs metabolic and neuro-cognitive/behavioral endpoints in aged mice, in part, due to altered peripheral and/or localized H2S production and redox status. Results: To test this, male C57BL/6J mice at 5 weeks of age were orally exposed daily for 5 weeks to 250 μg BPA/kg, defined as low dose group (LD BPA), or 250 mg BPA/kg, defined as high dose group (HD BPA). Both LD and HD BPA exposure decreased lean mass and increased fat mass accompanied by decreased serum total TH at advanced ages. In addition, LD BPA had an anxiogenic effect whereas HD BPA caused cognitive deficits. Notably, HD BPA disrupted tissue-specific H2S production capacities and/or protein persulfidation, with the former negatively correlated with memory deficits and oxidative stress. Innovation and Conclusion: These findings provide a potential mechanism of action for acute and long-term health impacts of BPA-induced peripubertal endocrine disruption and bolster the need for improved monitoring and limitation of adolescent BPA exposure. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 36, 1246–1267.
Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate stimulates StAR expression and progesterone production in human granulosa cells through the 67‐kDa laminin receptor‐mediated CREB signaling pathway

Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) is the most abundant and biologically active catechins extracted from green tea. The health benefits of EGCG have been extendedly studied. Ovarian steroidogenesis plays a pivotal role in maintaining normal reproductive function. Granulosa cells in the ovary are essential for steroid hormone production. To date, the effect of EGCG on steroidogenesis in human granulosa cells remains unclear. In the present study, we examine the physiological concentrations of EGCG on steroidogenesis in a steroidogenic human granulosa‐like tumor cell line, KGN. Our results demonstrate that treatment with EGCG upregulates steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression and increases progesterone (P4) production. EGCG does not affect the expression levels of other steroidogenesis‐related enzymes, such as P450 side‐chain cleavage enzyme, 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and aromatase. In addition, we identify the expression of 67‐kDa laminin receptor (67LR) in KGN cells. Moreover, EGCG‐induced StAR expression and P4 production require the 67LR‐mediated activation of the PKA‐CREB signaling pathway. These results provide a better understanding of the function of EGCG on ovarian steroidogenesis, which may lead to the development of alternative therapeutic approaches for reproductive disorders.