Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Intention to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccine in China: Insights from Protection Motivation Theory

(1) Background: More coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines are gradually being developed and marketed. Improving the vaccination intention will be the key to increasing the vaccination rate in the future; (2) Methods: A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data on COVID-19 vaccination intentions, protection motivation and control variables. Pearson Chi-square test and multivariate ordered logistic regression models were specified to analyze the determinants of intention to receive COVID-19 vaccine; (3) Results: Although the vaccine was free, 17.75% of the 2377 respondents did not want, or were hesitant, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Respondents’ cognition of vaccine safety, external reward and response efficacy were positively related to COVID-19 vaccination intention, while age, income and response cost were negatively related to the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Professionals and people without medical insurance had the lowest intention to vaccinate; (4) Conclusions: The older aged, people without health insurance, those with higher incomes and professionals should be treated as the key intervention targets. Strengthening publicity and education about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, training vaccinated people and community leaders as propagandists for the vaccine, and improving the accessibility to the COVID-19 vaccine are recommended to improve COVID-19 vaccination intention.
Identification of diagnostic genes and vital microRNAs involved in rheumatoid arthritis: based on data mining and experimental verification

Background The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is complex. This study aimed to identify diagnostic biomarkers and transcriptional regulators that underlie RA based on bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification. Material and Methods We applied weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to analyze dataset GSE55457 and obtained the key module most relevant to the RA phenotype. We then conducted gene function annotation, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and immunocytes quantitative analysis (CIBERSORT). Moreover, the intersection of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and genes within the key module were entered into the STRING database to construct an interaction network and to mine hub genes. We predicted microRNA (miRNA) using a web-based tool (miRDB). Finally, hub genes and vital miRNAs were validated with independent GEO datasets, RT-qPCR and Western blot. Results A total of 367 DEGs were characterized by differential expression analysis. The WGCNA method divided genes into 14 modules, and we focused on the turquoise module containing 845 genes. Gene function annotation and GSEA suggested that immune response and inflammatory signaling pathways are the molecular mechanisms behind RA. Nine hub genes were screened from the network and seven vital regulators were obtained using miRNA prediction. CIBERSORT analysis identified five cell types enriched in RA samples, which were closely related to the expression of hub genes. Through ROC curve and RT-qPCR validation, we confirmed five genes that were specific for RA, including CCL25, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, and CXCL13. Moreover, we selected a representative gene (CXCL10) for Western blot validation. Vital miRNAs verification showed that only the differences in has-miR-573 and has-miR-34a were statistically significant. Conclusion Our study reveals diagnostic genes and vital microRNAs highly related to RA, which could help improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the disorder and provide theoretical support for the future exploration of innovative therapeutic approaches.
Anxiety and Depression in Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer and Waiting for Surgery: Prevalence and Associations with Socio-Demographic Variables

Background and Objectives: Cancer is a threatening-life disease with a significant psychological burden. The psychological morbidity varies according to the phases of the illness and is influenced by multiple socio-demographic factors, that are useful to consider in order to identify the categories of patients most at risk of developing psychiatric disorders. The present study analyzes, in a sample of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, the relationships between their levels of anxiety and depression and several socio-demographic characteristics. The study was cross-sectional. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and seventy eight women newly diagnosed with breast cancer completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale during the pre-surgical phase. Results: Findings show that almost 40% of the sample had clinically relevant anxious symptoms and about a quarter of the sample had significant depressive symptoms. Their prevalence was higher in widows. Moreover, depressive symptoms were higher in older women and anxious symptoms were higher in patients with a lower educational level. In the pre-surgical phase, women can suffer from clinically relevant anxiety and depression, especially the widows, older women, and women with a lower educational level. Conclusions: Identifying the most psychologically vulnerable patients, due to specific socio-demographic characteristics, is essential in order to provide adequate psycho-oncological treatments to the categories of patients, who are most at risk of developing psychopathological concerns.
Artificial Intelligence Based on Blood Biomarkers Including CTCs Predicts Outcomes in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: A Prospective Study

Objective We aimed to develop an ovarian cancer-specific predictive framework for clinical use platinum-sensitivity and prognosis using machine learning methods based on multiple biomarkers, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Patients and Methods We enrolled 156 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients, randomly assigned into the training and validation cohorts. Eight machine learning classifiers, including Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine, Gradient Boosting Machine, Conditional RF, Neural Network, Naive Bayes, Elastic Net, and Logistic Regression, were used to derive predictive information from 11 peripheral blood parameters, including CTCs. Through the advanced CanPatrol CTC-enrichment technique, we detect CTCs and classify them into subpopulations: epithelial, mesenchymal, and hybrids. Survival curves were generated by Kaplan–Meier method and calculated through the Log rank test. Results Machine learning techniques, especially the Random Forest classifier, were superior to conventional regression-based analyses in predicting multiple clinical parameters related to EOC. The values for the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for segregating EOC with advanced clinical stages and platinum-sensitivity were 0.796 (95% CI, 0.727–0.866) and 0.809 (95% CI, 0.742–0.876), respectively. Stepwise, we used the unsupervised clustering analysis to identify EOC subgroups with significantly worse overall survival (OS), especially in the advanced-stage group with the p-value of 0.0018 (HR, 2.716; 95% CI, 1.602–4.605) for progression-free survival (PFS) and 0.0037 (HR, 2.359; 95% CI, 1.752–6.390) for overall survival (OS). Conclusion Machine learning systems could provide risk stratification for EOC patients before initial intervention through blood variables, including circulating tumor cells. The predictive algorithms could facilitate personalized treatment options through promising pre-treatment stratification of EOC patients. Trial registration ChiCTR-DDD-16009601 Registered 25 October 2016.
High Seroprevalence of Toxocara Infection among Mentally Retarded Patients in Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran

Mentally retarded individuals are more likely to become infected with soil-transmitted infections including toxocariasis. The current study aimed to determine the serostatus of toxocariasis among institutionalized mentally retarded individuals in Hormozgan Province, in the south of Iran. Subjects of the study were 117 mentally disabled individuals, including children and adults, maintained in a charity-based institution. Three millilitres of venous blood was taken from each subject. While sampling, demographic features of the subject were documented in a questionnaire. An ELISA system based on Toxocara larvae excretory-secretory antigens (TES) was utilized to detect anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies in the sera of the patients. The mean age of the subject was 27.6 (±12.31) years and consisted of 55 (47%) males and 62 (53%) females. Out of 117 cases, 33 (28.2%) were seropositive for toxocariasis. The seroprevalence was higher in females (37.1%) than males (18.2%), and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Out of 117 subjects, 76 (64.9%) had severe and 41 (35.1%) had profound mental retardation. Anti-Toxocara antibodies were detected in 18 (23.7%) patients with severe and 15 (35.6%) patients with profound mental retardation. The highest seroprevalence rate of toxocariasis (44.4%) was observed in the age group of ≤10 years followed by 21–30 years old (36.7%). No statistically significant association was seen between the age and also the duration of residency in the care center and seropositivity of toxocariasis (p > 0.05). The current study represents the high prevalence of toxocariasis in mentally retarded patients in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. The elevated seroprevalence rate of toxocariasis in the current study indicates that these subjects constitute a high-risk group for Toxocara infection, which may be attributed to their behavioral patterns.
Cost Effectiveness of Different Initial Antimicrobial Regimens for Elderly Community-Acquired Pneumonia Patients in General Ward

Purpose The cost-effectiveness of different guideline-concordant antimicrobial regimens for elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was rarely discussed. This study attempts to explore the most appropriate cost-effectiveness of guideline-concordant antimicrobial regimen for elderly patients with CAP in general wards. Patients and Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective, 4:2:1 matched study enrolling 511 elderly patients with CAP hospitalized in general wards. Two hundred ninety-two patients prescribed with β-lactam monotherapy (group A), 146 patients prescribed with fluoroquinolone monotherapy (group B) and 73 patients prescribed with β-lactam/macrolide combination therapy (group C). Clinical outcomes and medical costs were analyzed by χ2 test for categorical variables or Kruskal–Wallis H-test for continuous variables. Results There were no statistical differences in imaging features, etiology and complications during hospitalization among these three groups. The rates of clinical failure occurrence, in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality and 60-day mortality also had no significant differences among group A, B and C patients; however, the median length of stay (LOS) in group A patients was 12.0 days, which was significantly higher than that in group B and C patients (both 10.0 days, p<0.02). The median total, drug, and antibiotic costs for one elderly CAP episode in group B patients were RMB 10368.4, RMB 3874.8, and RMB 1796.3, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in group A and C patients (p<0.01). Conclusion Non-inferiority of clinical failure occurrence and short-term mortality was observed in different guideline-concordant antimicrobial regimens for elderly patients with CAP in general wards; however, the median LOS and hospitalization-associated costs for one elderly CAP episode with fluoroquinolone monotherapy were significantly lowest, and this strategy was considered to be the most cost-effective strategy in general wards.
Rescue Therapies for H. pylori Infection in Italy

Background/Aims: Curing Helicobacter pylori infection remains challenging for clinicians, as no proposed first-line therapy achieves bacterial eradication in all treated patients so that several patients need two or more consecutive treatments. Bacterial culture with antibiotics susceptibility testing is largely unachievable in Italy, and empiric second-line and rescue therapies are generally used. This study aimed to identify what eradication regimens perform better in Italy, following first-line therapy failure. Methods: We performed a literature search on PubMed for studies on standard therapy regimens used as second-line or rescue treatments performed in adult patients. Studies including modified drug combinations were not considered. Both intention-to-treat and per- protocol analyses were computed for each therapy subgroup. Results: Data from 35 studies with a total of 4830 patients were eventually considered. As a second-line therapy, Pylera® (90.6%) and a sequential regimen (89.8%) achieved eradication rates significantly higher than other therapies. For third-line therapy, a levofloxacin-based regimen and Pylera® achieved comparable eradication rates (88.2% vs. 84.7%; p = 0.2). Among therapies used as fourth (or more) attempts, Pylera® and a rifabutin-based therapy achieved 77.4% and 66.4% cure rates, respectively (p = 0.013). A therapy sequence based on the type of first-line therapy used was proposed. Conclusions: Data obtained through our review indicate that standard therapies for H. pylori eradication can be used when following an appropriate sequence, allowing clinicians to improve the cure rate without resorting to bacterial culture.
Ab Initio Theory of Photoemission from Graphene

Angle-resolved photoemission from monolayer and bilayer graphene is studied based on an ab initio one-step theory. The outgoing photoelectron is represented by the time-reversed low energy electron diffraction (LEED) state ΦLEED*, which is calculated using a scattering theory formulated in terms of augmented plane waves. A strong enhancement of the emission intensity is found to occur around the scattering resonances. The effect of the photoelectron scattering by the underlying substrate on the polarization dependence of the photocurrent is discussed. The constant initial state spectra I(k||,ℏω) are compared to electron transmission spectra T(E) of graphene, and the spatial structure of the outgoing waves is analyzed. It turns out that the emission intensity variations do not correlate with the structure of the T(E) spectra and are caused by rather subtle interference effects. Earlier experimental observations of the photon energy and polarization dependence of the emission intensity I(k||,ℏω) are well reproduced within the dipole approximation, and the Kohn–Sham eigenstates are found to provide a quite reasonable description of the photoemission final states.
Dicopper(II)-EDTA Chelate as a Bicephalic Receptor Model for a Synthetic Adenine Nucleoside

In the extensive field of metal ions, their interactions with nucleic acids, and their constituents, the main aim of this work is to develop a metal chelate suitable to recognize two molecules of an adenine nucleoside. For this purpose, the dinuclear chelate Cu2 (µ-EDTA) (ethylenediaminetetraacetate(4-) ion (EDTA)) is chosen as a bicephalic receptor model for N9-(2-hydroxyethyl)adenine (9heade). A one-pot synthesis is reported to obtain the compound [Cu2(µ2-EDTA)(9heade)2(H2O)4]·3H2O, which has been characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and various spectral, thermal, and magnetic methods. The complex unit is a centro-symmetric molecule, where each Cu (II) center is chelated by a half-EDTA, and is further surrounded by an N7-dentate 9heade nucleoside and two non-equivalent trans-O-aqua molecules. The metal chelate-nucleoside molecular recognition is referred to as an efficient cooperation between the Cu-N7(9heade) coordination bond and a (9heade)N6-H···O(carboxyl, EDTA) interligand interaction. Theoretical calculations are also made to account for the relevance of this interaction. The extreme weakness with which each water molecule binds to the metal center disturbs the thermal stability and the infrared (FT-IR) and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of the compound.
Liveweight and Sex Effects on Instrumental Meat Quality of Rubia de El Molar Autochthonous Ovine Breed

Simple Summary A total of 84% of the autochthonous livestock breeds in Spain are in danger of extinction. This decline is mainly produced because they are not very productive and the farmers have been oriented to the most productive breeds, neglecting the rest. There are many factors that push us to conserve autochthonous breeds with little census. These animals are very adapted to their environment, so they are the ones that best exploit the geographical characteristics of their area; besides, their products have a high quality and these breeds have very beneficial genetic components: they are a source of very useful and not sufficiently known gene variants that make them a genetic heritage of undoubted value. If they become extinct, we would be losing an irreplaceable genetic quality. Rubia de El Molar sheep, an autochthonous breed of Madrid, Spain, is currently in serious danger of disappearing. In this work, the meat quality of lambs from Rubia de El Molar breed was studied to test both weight and sex effects on meat quality, assessed by means of instrumental methods. This is the first work that studies the instrumental quality of Rubia de El Molar suckling lamb meat. Abstract The effects of sex and weight on instrumental meat quality characteristics of Rubia de El Molar autochthonous ovine breed were studied. Four weight groups (10, 15, 20 and 25 kg, each of the groups with seven males and seven females) were assessed. A decrease of longissimus thoracis muscle (LT) lightness from 43.39 for 10 kg lambs to 38.84 for 25 kg group was observed. LT redness and yellowness indices and chromaticity values increased as weight increased. The percentage of juice expelled increased from 11.52 (10 kg) to 17.15 (15 kg). The percentage of intramuscular fat in biceps femoris (BF) and supraespinatus (SE) muscles increased as weight increased. Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) in raw meat and hardness in cooked meat increased as liveweight increased. However, a decrease in the amount of soluble collagen in quadriceps femoris (QF), biceps femoris (BF) and infraespinatus (IE) muscles was observed as weight increased. Sex effect was only observed for intramuscular fat content in QF and BF muscles (2.4% in males and 2.9 in females) and WBSF in raw meat (26.12 N for males and 21.25 N for females). Weight had a greater effect than sex on Rubia de El Molar meat quality characteristics.
Synthesis and In Vivo Evaluation of Insulin-Loaded Whey Beads as an Oral Peptide Delivery System

For many diabetics, daily, lifelong insulin injections are required to effectively manage blood glucose levels and the complications associated with the disease. This can be a burden and reduces patient quality of life. Our goal was to develop a more convenient oral delivery system that may be suitable for insulin and other peptides. Insulin was entrapped in 1.5-mm beads made from denatured whey protein isolate (dWPI) using gelation. Beads were then air-dried with fumed silica, Aerosil®. The encapsulation efficiency was ~61% and the insulin loading was ~25 µg/mg. Dissolution in simulated gastric-, and simulated intestinal fluids (SGF, SIF) showed that ~50% of the insulin was released from beads in SGF, followed by an additional ~10% release in SIF. The omission of Aerosil® allowed greater insulin release, suggesting that it formed a barrier on the bead surface. Circular dichroism analysis of bead-released insulin revealed an unaltered secondary structure, and insulin bioactivity was retained in HepG2 cells transfected to assess activation of the endogenous insulin receptors. Insulin-entrapped beads were found to provide partial protection against pancreatin for at least 60 min. A prototype bead construct was then synthesised using an encapsulator system and tested in vivo using a rat intestinal instillation bioassay. It was found that 50 IU/kg of entrapped insulin reduced plasma glucose levels by 55% in 60 min, similar to that induced by subcutaneously (s.c.)-administered insulin (1 IU/kg). The instilled insulin-entrapped beads produced a relative bioavailability of 2.2%. In conclusion, when optimised, dWPI-based beads may have potential as an oral peptide delivery system.
Vascular Effects of the Polyphenolic Nutraceutical Supplement Taurisolo®: Focus on the Protection of the Endothelial Function

Preservation of vascular endothelium integrity and functionality represents an unmet medical need. Indeed, endothelial dysfunction leads to decreased nitric oxide biosynthesis, which is prodromic of hypertension and hypercoagulability. In this panorama, the nutraceutical supplement Taurisolo®, a polyphenolic extract from Aglianico cultivar grape, rich in catechin and procyanidins, was evaluated as a vasoprotective, vasorelaxing, anti-hypertensive and anti-coagulant agent in: cell lines, isolated vessels, in vivo models of chronic hypertension and hypercoagulability, and in clinical tests of endothelial reactivity. Taurisolo® demonstrated to fully protect vascular cell viability from oxidative stimulus at 100 µg/mL and evoke vasorelaxing effects (Emax = 80.6% ± 1.9 and pEC50 = 1.19 ± 0.03) by activation of the Sirtuins-AMPK-pathway. Moreover, Taurisolo®, chronically administered at 20 mg/Kg/die in in vivo experiments, inhibited the onset of cardiac hypertrophy (heart weight/rat weight = 3.96 ± 0.09 vs. 4.30 ± 0.03), hypercoagulability (decrease of fibrinogen vs. control: p < 0.01) and hypertension (mean of Psys: 200 ± 2 vs. control 234 ± 2 mmHg) and improved endothelial function (Emax = 88.9% ± 1.5 vs. control 59.6% ± 3.6; flow-mediated dilation in healthy volunteers after 400 mg twice daily for 8 weeks vs. baseline: p = 0.019). In conclusion, Taurisolo® preserves the vascular function against ox-inflamm-ageing process and the consequent cardiovascular accidents.
ICG-001, an Inhibitor of the β-Catenin and cAMP Response Element-Binding Protein Dependent Gene Transcription, Decreases Proliferation but Enhances Migration of Osteosarcoma Cells

High-grade osteosarcomas are the most frequent malignant bone tumors in the pediatric population, with 150 patients diagnosed every year in France. Osteosarcomas are associated with low survival rates for high risk patients (metastatic and relapsed diseases). Knowing that the canonical Wnt signaling pathway (Wnt/β-catenin) plays a complex but a key role in primary and metastatic development of osteosarcoma, the aim of this work was to analyze the effects of ICG-001, a CBP/β-catenin inhibitor blocking the β-catenin dependent gene transcription, in three human osteosarcoma cell lines (KHOS, MG63 and 143B). The cell proliferation and migration were first evaluated in vitro after ICG-001 treatment. Secondly, a mouse model of osteosarcoma was used to establish the in vivo biological effect of ICG-001 on osteosarcoma growth and metastatic dissemination. In vitro, ICG-001 treatment strongly inhibits osteosarcoma cell proliferation through a cell cycle blockade in the G0/G1 phase, but surprisingly, increases cell migration of the three cell lines. Moreover, ICG-001 does not modulate tumor growth in the osteosarcoma mouse model but, rather significantly increases the metastatic dissemination to lungs. Taken together, these results highlight, despite an anti-proliferative effect, a deleterious pro-migratory role of ICG-001 in osteosarcoma.