Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D Mediates the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life Among Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND Depressive symptoms are common among patients with heart failure and are associated with poor quality of life. Vitamin D plays a role in the regulation of mood and depressive symptoms levels. Patients with heart failure can have lower levels of vitamin D. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, depressive symptoms, and quality of life among patients with heart failure in Jordan. METHODS A cross-sectional correlational comparative design was used in this study. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Arabic subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, quality of life was measured by the 36-item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire, and vitamin D was measured in plasma. Data were analyzed by independent-sample t test and multiple regression. RESULTS A total of 220 patients participated in this study, 70.5% of whom were men, and 57.3% had vitamin D deficiency (<30 ng/mL). Patients with vitamin D deficiency had higher levels of depressive symptoms compared with those with normal levels (mean [SD], 16.2 [4.3] vs 6.3 [2.3]; P ≤ .001). In multiple regression, according to the Baron and Kenny approach, depressive symptoms predicted quality of life and vitamin D levels. Vitamin D deficiency and higher levels of depressive symptoms were associated with poor quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Vitamin D levels partially mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and quality of life. Therefore, further research is needed to better understand the nature of the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, depressive symptoms, and quality of life among patients with heart failure.
Decline in Unintentional Lifting Velocity Is Both Load and Exercise Specific.

Beck, M, Varner, W, LeVault, L, Boring, J, and Fahs, CA. Decline in unintentional lifting velocity is both load and exercise specific. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-When monitoring the mean concentric velocity (MCV) for velocity-based resistance training, often a threshold in the decline in the MCV is used to regulate the number of repetitions performed. However, it is not clear if the decline in the MCV is affected by the type of exercise or the relative load used. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the decline in the MCV between the overhead press (OHP) and deadlift (DL) during sets to fatigue at different loads. Thirty individuals (23 ± 3 years) with current training experience with both the OHP and DL completed a 1 repetition maximum (1RM) protocol for the OHP and DL. Subjects then returned to the laboratory on 2 separate occasions and completed 1 set of the OHP and DL to volitional fatigue at either 70 or 90% of their 1RM in a randomized order. The open barbell system measured the MCV of all repetitions. The absolute and relative (%) decline in the MCV was calculated for each condition and compared between loads (70 vs. 90% 1RM) and between lifts (OHP vs. DL). An alpha level of 0.05 was used at the criterion for statistical significance. The absolute decline in the MCV was greatest for the 70% OHP condition (0.36 ± 0.12 m·s) followed by 90% OHP (0.19 ± 0.10 m·s), 70% DL (0.16 ± 0.08 m·s), and 90% DL (0.09 ± 0.06 m·s); all were significantly different from one another (p < 0.05) except for 70% DL vs. 90% OHP (p = 0.441). There was a greater relative decline in the MCV for the OHP compared with the DL (50.1 ± 11.8% vs. 28.5 ± 11.8%; p < 0.001) and for 70% 1RM compared with 90% 1RM (44.5 ± 12.0% vs. 34.1 ± 12.0%; p < 0.001). These data suggest the decline in the MCV is both exercise and load specific. Applying a uniform velocity decline threshold for velocity-based training may reduce training volume to different extents depending on the exercise and relative load used.
Information and Communication Technologies and the Geographical Concentration of Manufacturing Industries

Using the 2004 China economic census database, this paper examines the impact of information and communication technologies (ICT) on the geographical concentration of manufacturing industries, controlling for a broad set of other determinants of industrial agglomeration. Contrary to the argument that ICT leads to more dispersion, it is found that ICT promotes geographical concentration of industries. The results are robust to different measures of ICT, at different geographical levels and to the consideration of endogeneity.
Anti-TNF-α Therapy Exerts Intestinal Anti-inflammatory and Anti-apoptotic Effects After Massive Bowel Resection in a Rat

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text ABSTRACT Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of massive small bowel resection on proinflammatory cytokine intestinal expression and the effect of anti-TNF-α antibodies (ATA) on intestinal inflammation, epithelial cell turnover, and intestinal adaptation after bowel resection in rats. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 experimental groups: Sham-rats underwent bowel transection; Sham-ATA rats underwent bowel transection and were treated with ATA; SBS-animals underwent 75% bowel resection; and SBS-ATA rats underwent bowel resection and were treated with ATA similarly to Group B. Parameters of intestinal adaptation, enterocyte proliferation, and apoptosis were determined at sacrifice. TNF-α and apoptosis-related gene and protein levels were determined by Illumina's Digital Gene Expression (DGE) analysis, Real Time PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Results: From 25 genes related to TNF-α signalling that were investigated, 8 genes in the jejunum and 10 genes in the ileum were found to be up-regulated in resected versus sham animals. SBS rats demonstrated a significant increase in tissue and plasma TNF-α, IL-6 levels, intestinal mucosal TNF-α related gene expression, and microscopic parameters of inflammation. Treatment of resected animals with ATA resulted in a significant decrease in TNF-α levels, intestinal mucosal TNF-α-related gene expression, decreased number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and macrophages, and lower apoptotic index compared with SBS animals. Conclusions: In a rat model of SBS, ATA decreased plasma and tissue TNF-α levels, diminished mucosal inflammation, and inhibited cell apoptosis. Anti-apoptotic effects of ATA appear to be associated with an inhibited extrinsic apoptotic pathway.
Vascular performance of woody plants in a temperate rain forest: lianas suffer higher levels of freeze–thaw embolism than associated trees

Summary 1. The success of lianas in tropical rain forests has been linked to their wide xylem vessels that confer much higher hydraulic conductivity than tropical trees. In contrast, the poorer representation of lianas in temperate forests and high elevations might reflect lower competitiveness there, because of the vulnerability of high-performance xylem to freeze–thaw embolism. Nevertheless, the empirical evidence that support this idea is surprisingly scarce. 2. We assessed this hypothesis comparing the hydraulic performance of five lianas and nine trees coexisting in cold weather, by measuring wood traits, hydraulic conductivity, xylem embolism and root pressures. 3. Vessel diameters of lianas were on average twice those of trees (51� 3 vs. 23� 2 lm), resulting in an 18-fold difference in mean specific hydraulic conductivity (15� 5 vs. 1� 05 kg s � 1 m � 1 MPa � 1 ). Lianas on average suffered higher levels of freeze–thaw embolism than trees (29� 9 vs. 12� 8%), reducing their potential hydraulically supported competitive advantage; however, partially embolized lianas still had greater water transport capacity than trees. 4. Specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks) was well correlated with vessel size in lianas but not in trees; however, plants with big vessels were more vulnerable to freeze embolism. Although all species of lianas developed root pressures and these tended to be higher than trees, root pressure were insufficient to repair embolism in plants > c. 7 m tall. The magnitudes of root pressure were well correlated with vessel size in lianas, but this relationship was not observed in trees. 5. Synthesis: Our results show empirical evidence that hydraulic performance of temperate lianas exceed the performance of coexisting trees, in similar magnitude than its tropical counterparts. Nevertheless, this hydraulic advantage is reduced as a consequence of freeze embolism. Temperate lianas appear to employ a bet-hedging strategy entailing significant embolism in winter, but likely enabling rapid carbon gain during frost-free periods. Loss of winter carbon gain opportunities because of embolism may explain the low success of lianas in temperate rain forest. However, predicted future climatic scenarios could are likely to increase liana abundance in mid-latitudes and allow lianas to expand their ranges towards higher latitudes and elevations.
Immobilization and properties of Leuconostoc mesenteroids dextransucrase

Dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides (NRRL B‐512F) was purified by ultrafiltration and gel filtration chromatography in 54% yield. The specific activity of a heart cut was 58.6 U/mg; cumulative purification of that preparation was 247−fold. Of 13 carriers surveyed, only alkylamine porous silica gave immobilization efficiencies consistently above 15 %. Immobilization to silica changed the properties of dextransucrase relatively little, the optimum pH for activity remaining at 5.2, while that for stability decreased from pH 5.5−6 to pH 5.2. In short assays, highest activities of both soluble and immobilized dextransucrase occurred at 30°C. Activation energies below that temperature were 8.6 kcal/mol for the former form and 1.7 kcal/mol for the latter. Maximum stabilization of soluble dextransucrase was attained by 5mM Ca2+.
Intermittent parathyroid hormone promotes cementogenesis via ephrinB2‐EPHB4 forward signaling

Intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) promotes periodontal repair, but the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Recent studies found that ephrinB2‐EPHB4 forward signaling mediated the anabolic effect of PTH in bone homeostasis. Considering the similarities between cementum and bone, we aimed to examine the therapeutic effect of PTH on resorbed roots and explore the role of forward signaling in this process. In vivo experiments showed that intermittent PTH significantly accelerated the regeneration of root resorption and promoted expression of EPHB4 and ephrinB2. When the signaling was blocked, the resorption repair was also delayed. In vitro studies showed that intermittent PTH promoted the expression of EPHB4 and ephrinB2 in OCCM‐30 cells. The effects of PTH on the mineralization capacity of OCCM‐30 cells was mediated through the ephrinB2‐EPHB4 forward signaling. These results support the premise that the anabolic effects of intermittent PTH on the regeneration of root resorption is via the ephrinB2‐EPHB4 forward signaling pathway.
A New Phrynobatrachus from the Upper Guinean Rain Forest, West Africa, Including a Description of a New Reproductive Mode for the Genus

Abstract We describe a new species of Phrynobatrachus from the Western part of the Upper Guinean rain forest, West Africa. Phrynobatrachus phyllophilus sp. nov. differs from all other known West African Phrynobatrachus by a combination of morphological and acoustical characters. It is most similar to Phrynobatrachus guineensis from which P. phyllophilus is distinguished by its almost white belly, presence of only one dark bar on femur and tibia, shape of the thumb in reproductive males, advertisement call, reproductive mode, and selection of different forest types. Phrynobatrachus phyllophilus is the first known species of the genus that deposits small clutches of eggs rich in yolk on leaves, in close vicinity to extremely small puddles on the forest floor. Its preferred habitats are swampy areas of primary rain forest. We also describe the tadpole of P. phyllophilus and the advertisement call of P. guineensis.
Diagnostic and therapy of severe Clostridioides difficile infections in the ICU

Purpose of review The purpose of the review is to provide all the recent data focusing on the diagnostic and treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection in patients admitted in the ICU. Recent findings In the ICU, diagnosis remains complicated with a large number of alternative diagnosis. The treatment classically relies on vancomycin but fidaxomicin and fecal microbiota transplantation are now potential solutions in selected indications. Summary Data on ICU-related CDI remain limited and conflicting. To date, there is no unique and simple way to obtain a diagnosis for CDI, the combination of clinical signs and a two-step testing algorithm remains the recommended gold-standard. Two molecules can be proposed for first line treatment: vancomycin and fidaxomicin. Although metronidazole may still be discussed as a treatment option for mild CDI in low-risk patients, its use for ICU-patients does not seem reasonable. Several reports suggest that fecal microbiota transplantation could be discussed, as it is well tolerated and associated with a high rate of clinical cure. CDI is a dynamic and active area of research with new diagnostic techniques, molecules, and management concepts likely changing our approach to this old disease in the near future.
Novel evidence for retinoic acid‐induced G (Rig‐G) as a tumor suppressor by activating p53 signaling pathway in lung cancer

Lung cancer is one of most common malignancies worldwide. We have previously identified retinoic acid‐induced gene G (Rig‐G) as a tumor suppressor in not only acute promyelocytic leukemia, but also in other solid tumors. However, the clinical significance of Rig‐G and the underlying mechanism(s) for its biological function in lung cancer remain largely unexplored. Herein, we first compared the expression of Rig‐G between lung cancer (n = 138) and normal tissues (n = 23), from public‐available data sets and our patient cohort. We further analyzed the correlation of Rig‐G expression with key clinico‐pathological features and survival outcomes in a multi‐site clinical cohort of 300 lung cancer patients. Functional studies for Rig‐G were performed in cell lines, and an animal model to support clinical findings. We found that Rig‐G was frequently downregulated in lung cancer tissues and cell lines, and correlated with poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. Overexpression of Rig‐G led to significantly reduced cell growth and suppressed migration in A549 and NCI‐H1944 cells, accompanied by reduced epithelial‐mesenchymal transition. Likewise, restoration of Rig‐G in Lewis lung carcinoma cells permitted development of fewer cancer metastases versus controls in an animal model. Gene expression profiling results identified p53 pathway as a key downstream target of Rig‐G, and p53 inhibition by pifithrin‐α caused abrogation of tumor‐suppressive effects of Rig‐G in lung cancer. In conclusion, we, for the first time, have identified Rig‐G as a novel and important tumor suppressor, which may serve as a potential therapeutic target for restoring p53 expression in lung cancer patients.
Evaluation of gingival displacement using foam cord and retraction cord: An in vivo study

Aims and Objectives: Newer gingival displacement materials such as magic foam are available now and hence, there is a need to assess those materials with the commonly used gingival retraction cord. This study aimed to evaluate the gingival displacement width obtained using plain retraction cord and magic foam cord on an unprepared mandibular molar. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients in the age group of 20–30 years satisfying the inclusion criteria were selected. For each patient, pre- and post-displacement impressions were made using regular body addition silicone. The predisplacement impression served as the control. Gingival displacement procedures were performed in the buccal gingival sulcus of unprepared 1st mandibular molar. Both pre- and post-displacement impressions were sectioned and evaluated using a profile projector. The values were tabulated and analyzed using SPSS 16 software. Results: There was an increase of 62.4% in width of the gingival sulcus when displaced with cord and 61.6% increase using magic foam cord. The retraction cord provided 0.8% more gingival displacement when compared to the magic foam cord, which was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Weighing the pros and cons, it can be concluded that magic foam cord could be preferred over plain retraction cord as both methods provided almost the same amount of gingival retraction, and magic foam cord caused less trauma to the gingiva, was less time consuming, and easy to use.
Age at diagnosis and health-related quality of life are associated with fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: Data from the Almenara Lupus Cohort

Objective To define the factors associated with fatigue in Mestizo patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Methods This is a cross-sectional study of SLE patients from a single center cohort. Visits were performed every six months. For these analyses, the first visit between October 2017 and December 2018 was included. Demographic and clinical characteristics as well as treatment were recorded at every visit. Fatigue was ascertained with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-FT), Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) with the LupusQoL, disease activity with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index –2 K (SLEDAI-2K), and damage with the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC)/American College of Rheumatology damage index (SDI). Prednisone use was recorded as current daily dose. Immunosuppressive drugs and antimalarial use were recorded as current, past or never. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed using linear regression models. For the multivariable analyses, model selection followed a backward elimination procedure. Results Two hundred and twenty-six patients were evaluated. The mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 35.6 (13.1) years, 211 (93.4%) were female; and disease duration was 11.0 (7.3) years. The mean SLEDAI and SDI were 2.4 (3.5) and 1.3 (1.5), respectively. The mean FACIT-FT was 33.1 (10.8). On the multivariable analysis, age at diagnosis and some domains of HRQoL (physical health, emotional health and fatigue) remained associated. Conclusions Age at diagnosis is negatively associated with fatigue whereas HRQoL domains like physical health, emotional health and fatigue are positively associated with fatigue.
Dream enactment behavior: review for the clinician.

None Dream enactment behavior commonly occurs on occasion in normal children and adults. Disruptive and frequent dream enactment behavior may come to the attention of the clinician either as the primary reason for consultation or as a prominent characteristic of patients with other sleep disorders. Questioning patients with chronic neurologic and psychiatric disorders may also reveal previously unrecognized behavior. In the absence of sleep pathology, process of dream enactment likely begins with active, often emotionally charged dream content that may occasionally break through the normal REM sleep motor suppressive activity. Disrupted sleep resulting from many possible causes such as circadian disruption, sleep apnea or medications may also disrupt at least temporarily the motor suppressive activity in REM sleep, allowing dream enactment to occur. Finally, pathological neurological damage in the context of degenerative, auto immune and infectious neurological disorders may lead to chronic recurrent and severe dream enactment behavior. Evaluating the context, frequency and severity of dream enactment behavior is guided first and foremost with a structured approach to the sleep history. Physical exam and selected testing support the clinical diagnosis. Understanding the context and the likely cause is essential to effective therapy.
Dementia in People with a Turkish Migration Background: Experiences and Utilization of Healthcare Services

Background: As the proportion of older people with migration background (PwM) increases, the proportion of older PwM with dementia might also increase. Dementia is underdiagnosed in this group and a large proportion of PwM with dementia and family caregivers are not properly supported. Healthcare utilization is lower among older migrant populations. Thus, a better understanding of how PwM and family caregivers perceive their situation and how they experience healthcare services is needed to improve utilization of the healthcare system. Objective: Analyze how family caregivers of PwM with dementia experience their situation, why healthcare services are utilized less often, and what can be done to reverse this. Methods: Eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with people with Turkish migration background caring for PwM with dementia. Qualitative content analysis was used for data analysis. Results: Daily care was performed by one family member with the support of others. Healthcare services were used by most participants. Participants identified a need for better access to relevant information and incorporation of Turkish culture into healthcare services. Conclusion: PwM face similar challenges in taking care of persons with dementia as those without migration background. There is a willingness to use services, and services embracing Turkish culture would help to reduce hesitance and make affected people feel more comfortable, thereby increasing utilization and satisfaction. A limitation of this study is that participants were already connected to health services, which may not reflect the help-seeking behavior of those in the Turkish community who are not involved in healthcare.
Myelodysplastic syndromes: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk stratification and management

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a very heterogeneous group of myeloid disorders characterized by peripheral blood cytopenias and increased risk of transformation to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Myelodysplastic syndromes occur more frequently in older males and in individuals with prior exposure to cytotoxic therapy.
Nocturnal Hypoxemia and High Circulating TNF-α Levels in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Objective Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a form of pulmonary hypertension caused by persistent thromboemboli of the pulmonary arteries, and one of its etiological factors may be inflammation. Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is reportedly an important complication of pulmonary hypertension. However, the association between SDB and inflammation in CTEPH has been undefined. This prospective observational study analyzed the association between the severity of SDB, pulmonary hemodynamic parameters and the systemic inflammation level in patients with CTEPH. Methods CTEPH patients admitted for a right heart catheter (RHC) examination were consecutively enrolled from November 2017 to June 2019 at the pulmonary hypertension center in Chiba University Hospital. Patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) were also enrolled as a control group. All patients underwent a sleep study using a WatchPAT 200 during admission. Results The CTEPH patients showed worse nocturnal hypoxemia, oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and apnea-hypopnea index than the IPAH patients. Among these factors, only the nocturnal mean percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) was negatively correlated with the pulmonary hemodynamic parameters. The circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) level was also high in the CTEPH group, and a multivariate analysis showed that the nocturnal mean SpO2 was the most important predictive factor for a high TNF-α level. Conclusion We showed that CTEPH patients had high serum TNF-α levels and that the nocturnal mean SpO2 was a predictive factor for serum TNF-α levels. Further investigations focused on nocturnal hypoxemia and the TNF-α level may provide novel insight into the etiology and new therapeutic strategies for CTEPH.