Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Dispersion is not Associated with Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease: Results from the European Prevention of Alzheimer's Dementia (EPAD) v500.0 Cohort.

BACKGROUND Cognitive dispersion, variation in performance across cognitive domains, is posited as a non-invasive and cost-effective marker of early neurodegeneration. Little work has explored associations between cognitive dispersion and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers in healthy older adults. Even less is known about the influence or interaction of biomarkers reflecting brain pathophysiology or other risk factors on cognitive dispersion scores. OBJECTIVE The main aim of this study was to examine whether higher cognitive dispersion was associated with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of amyloid-β (Aβ42), total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau), and amyloid positivity in a cohort of older adults at various severities of AD. A secondary aim was to explore which AD risk factors were associated with cognitive dispersion scores. METHODS Linear and logistic regression analyses explored the associations between dispersion and CSF levels of Aβ42, t-tau, and p-tau and amyloid positivity (Aβ42 < 1000 pg/ml). Relationships between sociodemographics, APOEɛ4 status, family history of dementia, and levels of depression and dispersion were also assessed. RESULTS Dispersion did not emerge as associated with any of the analytes nor amyloid positivity. Older (β= -0.007, SE = 0.002, p = 0.001) and less educated (β= -0.009, SE = 0.003, p = 0.009) individuals showed greater dispersion. CONCLUSION Dispersion was not associated with AD pathology, but was associated with age and years of education, highlighting individual differences in cognitive aging. The use of this metric as a screening tool for existing AD pathology is not supported by our analyses. Follow-up work will determine if dispersion scores can predict changes in biomarker levels and/or positivity status longitudinally.
Does Gender Influence the Relationship Between High Blood Pressure and Dementia? Highlighting Areas for Further Investigation.

BACKGROUND Gender differences have been noted in studies linking blood pressure to all-cause dementia, and the two most common forms of dementia: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). However, how gender modifies the relationship between blood pressure and dementia remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To review evidence for a gender modifying effect on the link between blood pressure and all-cause dementia. METHODS A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Sixteen out of 256 reviewed articles met inclusion criteria. RESULTS For women, higher midlife systolic blood pressure (SBP) and hypertension were both associated with greater risk of all-cause dementia, AD, and VaD, in six out of seven studies. Two of these studies reported higher midlife SBP/hypertension were associated with greater risk for all-cause dementia in women, but not men. One study reported higher midlife SBP associated with greater AD risk in women, but not men. However, another study reported that midlife hypertension associated with AD risk in men, but not women. No clear gender differences were reported in the relationship between late-life high blood pressure/hypertension with all-cause dementia or AD. CONCLUSION Studies rarely, and inconsistently, analyzed or reported gender effects. Therefore, interpretation of available evidence regarding the role of gender in blood pressure associated dementia was difficult. Several studies indicated higher midlife SBP was associated with greater risk of all-cause dementia for women, compared to men. Future studies should evaluate women-specific aging processes that occur in midlife when considering the association between blood pressure and dementia risk.
Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients With Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma.

PURPOSE Patients with cancer commonly report distress and fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) impacting quality of life and clinical outcomes. This study aims to test the association between emotional well-being and clinical characteristics of survivors with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS Survivors with localized RCC were invited to participate in this study through social media by the Kidney Cancer Research Alliance. Participants self-reported clinical characteristics, distress (Distress Thermometer), and FCR (Fear of Cancer Recurrence-7). Ordinal regression was used to test the association between emotional well-being and patient characteristics. RESULTS A total of 412 survivors were included in this analysis. Participants were mostly female (79.4%) and well educated (58.3%), with a median age of 54 years (range, 30-80 years) and median time since diagnosis of 17.5 months. More than one half were diagnosed with stage I disease (56.1%). Most patients (62.3%) had a clear understanding of their diagnosis. A high prevalence of moderate to severe distress (67.0%) and FCR (54.9%) was reported across all survivors of RCC. Higher FCR was associated with female gender, younger age, and lack of understanding of their diagnosis (P = .001), whereas more recent diagnosis was associated with higher distress levels (P = .01). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that FCR is a common problem that is persistent after therapy and that certain individuals, including female and younger patients, may be at particular risk of experiencing clinically relevant FCR.
INTERSPECIFIC AND INTRASPECIFIC COMPETITION AMONG PINWORMS IN THE HINDGUT OF PERIPLANETA AMERICANA

To determine the relative importance of inter- and intraspecific factors in regulating number and fecundity of pinworms in the hindgut of Periplaneta americana, repeated samples of roaches, each consisting of an adult male, an adult female, a late instar, and an early instar, were collected from each of 2 colonies, 1 colony (mixed) infected with Thelastoma sp. , Hammerschmidtiella diesingi, and Leidynema appendiculatum and the other (isolate) infected with only the last-named species. Roaches were dissected, volume of hindgut estimated, and the number of female worms of each species was recorded. Female worms were dissected and the number of uterine eggs was counted. Gut volume was a significant predictor of numbers of all species except H. diesingi, numbers of which were correlated positively with those of its 2 interspecific associates. There was little evidence of interspecific competition within the host. In the mixed colony, L. appendiculatum occurred with Thelastoma sp. less often than expected, but this was the only negative interspecific interaction observed. Fecundity was not significantly correlated with numbers of interspecifics but was strongly and negatively cor- related with numbers of intraspecifics in all species. Leidynema appendiculatum occurred at about the same intensity in isolate and mixed colonies. These results suggest that the number of each species is independently regulated. Typically this occurs through nonoverlapping niches, but all evidence points to there being broad niche overlap in the species. Unpublished findings suggest that L. appendiculatum and Thelastoma sp. limit their own numbers by intraspecific interference, a phenomenon reported in several other pinworms. Reduced fecundity is presumably a sublethal manifestation of this interference. We propose that intraspecific interference holds numbers of each species below carrying capacity and permits their coexistence despite broad niche overlap. Prevalence was below 50% in the mixed colony and was 100% in the isolate colony. This suggests that the community in the mixed colony is the result of a 2-stage process where interspecific effects play an important role in establishment of a species but where intraspecific effects dominate the in-host environment.
[ANEMIA IN PATIENTS AFTER HIP FRACTURE REPAIR SURGERY].

INTRODUCTION Hip fractures (HF) are common among the elderly. The prevalence increases with age and occurs more frequently among females. Up to 30% mortality rates have been observed during the first year following HF, with or without surgery. Additional implications may include functional and cognitive decline and significant morbidity. Many factors are associated with morbidity and mortality after HF repair surgery, including anemia. Anemia is present in approximately 50% of these patients upon admission to the hospital and its incidence increases further following surgery. The mean reduction in the hemoglobin level after surgery is estimated at 0.7-2.5 g/dL. There are several causes of anemia, some are patient dependent and some are related to the type of fracture and surgery. Anemia has a significant effect on the elderly patient in general, and on the patient's condition post-HF in particular. Anemia on admission is associated with short and long-term mortality, in addition to the length of stay, amount of blood transfusions, repeated hospitalizations, post-operative complications, poor functioning and a reduced quality of life. The most common treatment for anemic patients before and after HF repair surgery is the administration of blood transfusions. It has been common practice to administer blood transfusions when hemoglobin reaches a level of 8g/dL, however the effectiveness of this approach in older patients is not conclusive. Regarding other modalities, i.e., iron, erythropoietin and tranexamic acid, there are currently no clear guidelines in the literature and their effectiveness has not been fully established. Further research is needed to address these issues.
Numerical study for removing wax deposition by thermal washing for the waxy crude oil gathering pipeline

Exploring the wax removal process by numerical simulation is beneficial for guiding field operations. In this paper, enthalpy-porosity and volume of fluid (VOF) methods were adopted to simulate the melting process of wax in the crude oil gathering pipeline. The melting patterns and liquid fraction of the wax were used to validate the mathematical model. The results show that the wax melts quickly before the liquid fraction reaches 80%, while the remaining 20% melts very slowly. Since the water with higher density sinks to the lower part of the pipeline, the wax in the lower part of the pipeline melts first, while the wax in the upper part of the pipeline melts slowly. The water temperature and flow rate disproportionately affect the melting process. Increasing the water temperature and flow rate can accelerate the melting process, but the effects on shortening the melting time of wax gradually decrease. Increasing the flow rate, the heat transfer rate and the melting rate are increasing progressively, the change of flow rate also affects the outlet temperature of the pipeline.
Alzheimer's disease neuropathology in the hippocampus and brainstem of people with obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) involves intermittent cessations of breathing during sleep. People with OSA can experience memory deficits and have reduced hippocampal volume; these features are also characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD), where they are accompanied by neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques in the hippocampus and brainstem. We have recently shown reduced hippocampal volume to be related to OSA severity, and although OSA may be a risk factor for AD, the hippocampus and brainstems of clinically-verified OSA cases have not yet been examined for NFTs and Aβ plaques. The present study used quantitative immunohistochemistry to investigate post-mortem hippocampi of 34 people with OSA (18 females, 16 males; mean age 67 years) and brainstems of 24 people with OSA for the presence of NFTs and Aβ plaques. OSA severity was a significant predictor of Aβ plaque burden in the hippocampus after controlling for age, sex, BMI and CPAP use. OSA severity also predicted NFT burden in the hippocampus, but not after controlling for age. Although 71% of brainstems contained NFTs and 21% contained Aβ plaques, their burdens were not correlated with OSA severity. These results indicate that OSA accounts for some of the 'cognitively normal' individuals who have been found to have substantial Aβ burdens, and are currently considered to be at a prodromal stage of AD.
Comparative removal efficiencies of natural organic matter by conventional drinking water treatment plants in Zimbabwe and South Africa

Natural organic matter (NOM) influences the quality and treatability of drinking water; therefore, its removal is paramount. A few studies exist on NOM removal in developing countries, and comparative studies are even fewer globally. This study compared the removal efficiencies for bulk NOM and biodegradable organic carbon (BDOC) fractions of drinking water treatment plants in Zimbabwe (Z) and South Africa (S). NOM removal efficiency at the coagulation stage of plant Z and plant S was 11% and 13%, respectively. The fluorescence index (FI) for the raw water feeding plant Z (1.66) indicated a mixture of both microbial and terrestrially derived NOM, whereas for plant S the FI (4.08) showed terrestrially derived NOM. Based on the log‐transformed absorbance at the disinfection stage, plant S had a 58% greater opportunity to produce disinfection by‐products than plant Z. The BDOC results for plant Z showed humic fractions were the major substrates for bacterial assimilation, whereas the heterotrophic bacteria in plant S were not particularly selective toward DOC fractions. Overall, the plants had comparable NOM removal performances.
KRASG12C Inhibition with Sotorasib in Advanced Solid Tumors.

BACKGROUND No therapies for targeting KRAS mutations in cancer have been approved. The KRAS p.G12C mutation occurs in 13% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and in 1 to 3% of colorectal cancers and other cancers. Sotorasib is a small molecule that selectively and irreversibly targets KRASG12C. METHODS We conducted a phase 1 trial of sotorasib in patients with advanced solid tumors harboring the KRAS p.G12C mutation. Patients received sotorasib orally once daily. The primary end point was safety. Key secondary end points were pharmacokinetics and objective response, as assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), version 1.1. RESULTS A total of 129 patients (59 with NSCLC, 42 with colorectal cancer, and 28 with other tumors) were included in dose escalation and expansion cohorts. Patients had received a median of 3 (range, 0 to 11) previous lines of anticancer therapies for metastatic disease. No dose-limiting toxic effects or treatment-related deaths were observed. A total of 73 patients (56.6%) had treatment-related adverse events; 15 patients (11.6%) had grade 3 or 4 events. In the subgroup with NSCLC, 32.2% (19 patients) had a confirmed objective response (complete or partial response) and 88.1% (52 patients) had disease control (objective response or stable disease); the median progression-free survival was 6.3 months (range, 0.0+ to 14.9 [with + indicating that the value includes patient data that were censored at data cutoff]). In the subgroup with colorectal cancer, 7.1% (3 patients) had a confirmed response, and 73.8% (31 patients) had disease control; the median progression-free survival was 4.0 months (range, 0.0+ to 11.1+). Responses were also observed in patients with pancreatic, endometrial, and appendiceal cancers and melanoma. CONCLUSIONS Sotorasib showed encouraging anticancer activity in patients with heavily pretreated advanced solid tumors harboring the KRAS p.G12C mutation. Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related toxic effects occurred in 11.6% of the patients. (Funded by Amgen and others; CodeBreaK100 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03600883.).
Medicinal plants from Saudi Arabia and Indonesia: In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation on Vero and HEp-2 cells

Many types of naturally growing plants are used traditionally for the treatment of different types of cancers and infectious diseases. In this report, the cytotoxic activity of 30 medicinal plants, commonly used in folk medicine in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, was evaluated in vitro using Vero and HEp-2 cell lines. Plants were randomly chosen and harvested from different districts of both countries based on ethnobotanical information and subsequently extracted by methanol. Serial two-fold dilutions of each extract, starting from the concentration of 1000 µg/ml, were incubated with Vero and HEp-2 cells for 72 h. The cytotoxic effect of different extracts was in vitro characterized by identification of cellular alterations microscopically and cellular viability colormetrically. The plant extracts were classified according to the minimal toxic concentration and 50% cytotoxicity concentration indexes into three groups: highly cytotoxic (8 to 31 µg/ml), moderately cyototoxic (32 to 499 µg/ml) and low cyototoxic (500 to 1000 µg/ml). The results showed that the extracts of Juniperus phoenicea and Calotropis procera were highly cytotoxic on both cell lines to the minimal concentration of 1 µg/ml and may be well-considered as potential candidates for anticancer research. Two more extracts (Datura inoxia and Citrullus colocynthis) produced significant cytotoxicity to the minimum concentration of 16 µg/ml, with selective powerful activity of C. colocynthis on HEp-2 cells. The other extracts showed lower degrees of cytotoxicity and may be utilized for testing as antiviral agents using cell culture models. Key words: Calotropis procera, cell titer blue assay, cytotoxic activity, Juniperus phoenicea, medicinal plants, methanolic extracts.
Lockdown with a Price: The impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Prenatal Care and Perinatal Outcomes in a Tertiary Care Center.

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization classified coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) as a pandemic and recommends strict restrictions regarding most aspects of daily activities. OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether the pandemic has changed the prenatal care and pregnancy outcome in pregnant women without COVID-19. METHODS The authors conducted a cross-sectional study to describe changes in outpatient clinic visits and to compare the rates of cesarean and instrumental deliveries between two periods of time: March-April 2020 (during the COVID-19 outbreak) with March-April of the preceding year, 2019. RESULTS During the COVID-19 outbreak, visits to obstetric triage, gynecologic triage, high-risk clinic, and ultrasound units decreased by 36.4%, 34.7%, 32.8%, and 18.1%, respectively. The medical center experienced a 17.8% drop in the total number of births (610 births) compared with March and April 2019 (742 births). During the outbreak women were more likely to be nulliparous (33.3% vs. 27.6%, P = 0.02) and present with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (7.5% vs. 4%, P = 0.005) or gestational diabetes (13% vs. 10%, P = 0.03). More epidural analgesia was used (83.1% vs. 77.1%, P = 0.006). There were more operative vaginal deliveries during the outbreak (16.7% vs. 6.8%, P = 0.01). All other maternal and neonatal outcomes were comparable between the two periods. CONCLUSIONS The medical facility experienced a major decline in all aspects of the routine obstetrics activities during the time of the pandemic. The higher rate of operative vaginal deliveries among nulliparous may be associated with the pandemic effect on the rate of high-risk patients.
Temporal lung changes in high-resolution chest computed tomography for coronavirus disease 2019

Objective To evaluate temporal lung changes in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and to determine the appropriate computed tomographic (CT) follow-up time. Methods Eighty-six patients with two or more HRCT scans who were diagnosed with COVID-19 were included. The CT score and major CT findings were evaluated. Results Eighty-two (95.3%) patients had lesions on the initial HRCT scans. Most scans showed bilateral, multifocal lung lesions, with multiple lobes involved and diffuse distribution. For fifty-seven patients with type I (progress compared with the initial CT score), the CT score reached a peak at 12 days and the nadir at 36 days. For twenty-nine patients with type II (no progress compared with the initial CT score), the lowest CT score was reached at 23 days. On the final HRCT scans (>21 days), patients with a reticular pattern were older than those without a reticular pattern. Conclusion The appropriate follow-up time of CT scans is during the second week (approximately 12 days) and the fourth to fifth weeks (approximately 23–36 days) from the onset of illness. These times could help reduce the CT radiation dose and show timely changes in the course of the disease by CT.
Intensity-modulated particle beam radiation therapy in the management of olfactory neuroblastoma

Background To report the clinical experience and short-term efficacy in the management of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 12 ONB patients treated with particle beam radiation therapy (PBRT) between 12/2015 and 5/2019 at the Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center. Four (33.3%) patients presented with Kadish B ONB, and 8 (66.7%) presented with Kadish C or D disease. Eleven patients received proton radiotherapy (PRT) followed by a carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) boost, one patient received CIRT only. The 2-year survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Acute and late adverse events were summarized and scored according to the CTCAE (version 4.03). Results With a median follow-up of 17.5 (range, 2.53–49.9) months, all patients but 1 were alive. Eight patients were alive without evidence of disease, and 2 additional patients achieved partial response and remained alive with residual disease. One patient died of toxicity associated with salvage chemotherapy for distant metastasis and local failure. Another patient developed distant metastasis only and was alive at the time of the last follow-up. The 2-year OS, PFS, LRPFS, and DMFS rates were 83.3%, 75.8%, 87.5%, and 79.5%, respectively. No acute or late toxicities of ≥ grade 3 was observed. Conclusions Intensity modulated PBRT of ONB is well tolerated. While longer follow-up is needed, early outcomes suggested that PBRT is safe and effective for the treatment of ONB with minimal adverse events.
Preliminary Morphometric Study on Gill Development in Black Sea Bream (Acanthopagrus schlegeli)

The surface to volume ratio for the gill system was examined in larvae of the black sea bream by using positive transparencies of serial sections projected on a rectilinear grid. Morphometric data showed that the ratio for gill filaments decreases markedly at the transitional stage from yolk sac to exogenous food source. Larvae at the end of the yolk sac stage probably have considerable difficulties with gill respiration, as well as food searching.