Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Osteobiologic Subtype Selection on Perioperative Complications and Hospital-Reported Charges in Single- and Multi-Level Lumbar Spinal Fusion

ABSTRACT Background: Over the last several decades, various osteobiologics including allograft, synthetics, and growth factors have been used for lumbar spinal fusion surgery. However, the data on these osteobiologic products remain controversial with conflicting evidence in the literature. This study evaluates the influence of osteobiologic type selection on perioperative complications and hospital-reported charges in single-level and multilevel lumbar fusion. Methods: Using the 2016 and 2017 Nationwide Readmission Database, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 125,143 patients who received lumbar fusion with either autologous tissue substitute, nonautologous tissue substitute, or synthetic substitute. This cohort was split into single-level and multilevel fusion procedures, and one-to-one age and sex propensity score matching was implemented. This resulted in cohorts each consisting of 1967 patients for single-level fusion, and cohorts each consisting of 1657 patients for multilevel fusion. Statistical analysis included one-way analysis of variance and Tukey multiple comparisons of means. Results: Autologous single-level fusion resulted in significantly more postoperative pain at 30-, 90-, and 180-day follow-up compared to fusion with nonautologous graft (P < .05). Multilevel fusion with autologous graft had higher rates of acute postsurgical anemia compared with synthetic (P = .021) and nonautologous (P = .016) alternatives, and less postsurgical infection when compared with nonautologous fusion (P = .0020). In addition, procedures using autologous osteobiologics were associated with significantly more neurological complications at 30 days (P = .049) and 90 days (P = .048) for multi-level fusion and at 30 days (P = .044) for single-level fusion compared with the nonautologous group. Lastly, for both cohorts, the total accrued inpatient hospital charges during admission for patients receiving nonautologous grafts were the most expensive and those for patients receiving autologous grafts were the least expensive. Conclusion: Significant differences were found between the groups with respect to rates of complications, including infection, postoperative pain, and neurologic injury. Furthermore, the hospital-reported charges of each procedure varied significantly. As the field of biologics continues to expand, it is important to continually evaluate the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of these novel materials and techniques. Level of Evidence: 3 Clinical Relevance: With increased utilization of osteobiologics and spinal fusion being a common procedure, longitudinal data on readmissions, and post-operative complications are critical in guiding evidence-based practice.
Downregulation of EphB2 by RNA interference attenuates glial/fibrotic scar formation and promotes axon growth

The rapid formation of a glial/fibrotic scar is one of the main factors hampering axon growth after spinal cord injury. The bidirectional EphB2/ephrin-B2 signaling of the fibroblast-astrocyte contact-dependent interaction is a trigger for glial/fibrotic scar formation. In the present study, a new in vitro model was produced by coculture of fibroblasts and astrocytes wounded by scratching to mimic glial/fibrotic scar-like structures using an improved slide system. After treatment with RNAi to downregulate EphB2, changes in glial/fibrotic scar formation and the growth of VSC4.1 motoneuron axons were examined. Following RNAi treatment, fibroblasts and astrocytes dispersed without forming a glial/fibrotic scar-like structure. Furthermore, the expression levels of neurocan, NG2 and collagen I in the coculture were reduced, and the growth of VSC4.1 motoneuron axons was enhanced. These findings suggest that suppression of EphB2 expression by RNAi attenuates the formation of a glial/fibrotic scar and promotes axon growth. This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Jiangsu Province, China (approval No. 2019-0506-002) on May 6, 2019.
3D-Guided Face Manipulation of 2D Images for the Prediction of Post-Operative Outcome After Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery

Cranio-maxillofacial surgery often alters the aesthetics of the face which can be a heavy burden for patients to decide whether or not to undergo surgery. Today, physicians can predict the post-operative face using surgery planning tools to support the patient’s decision-making. While these planning tools allow a simulation of the post-operative face, the facial texture must usually be captured by another 3D texture scan and subsequently mapped on the simulated face. This approach often results in face predictions that do not appear realistic or lively looking and are therefore ill-suited to guide the patient’s decision-making. Instead, we propose a method using a generative adversarial network to modify a facial image according to a 3D soft-tissue estimation of the post-operative face. To circumvent the lack of available data pairs between pre- and post-operative measurements we propose a semi-supervised training strategy using cycle losses that only requires paired open-source data of images and 3D surfaces of the face’s shape. After training on “in-the-wild” images we show that our model can realistically manipulate local regions of a face in a 2D image based on a modified 3D shape. We then test our model on four clinical examples where we predict the post-operative face according to a 3D soft-tissue prediction of surgery outcome, which was simulated by a surgery planning tool. As a result, we aim to demonstrate the potential of our approach to predict realistic post-operative images of faces without the need of paired clinical data, physical models, or 3D texture scans.
High-frequency spinal cord stimulation produces long-lasting analgesic effects by restoring lysosomal function and autophagic flux in the spinal dorsal horn

High-frequency spinal cord stimulation (HF-SCS) has been established as an effective therapy for neuropathic pain. However, the analgesic mechanisms involved in HF-SCS remain to be clarified. In our study, adult rat neuropathic pain was induced by spinal nerve ligation. Two days after modeling, the rats were subjected to 4 hours of HF-SCS (motor threshold 50%, frequency 10,000 Hz, and pulse width 0.024 ms) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The results revealed that the tactile allodynia of spinal nerve-injured rats was markedly alleviated by HF-SCS, and the effects were sustained for 3 hours after the stimulation had ceased. HF-SCS restored lysosomal function, increased the levels of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2) and the mature form of cathepsin D (matu-CTSD), and alleviated the abnormally elevated levels of microtubule-associated protein 1A/B-light chain 3 (LC3)-II and sequestosome 1 (P62) in spinal nerve-injured rats. HF-SCS also mostly restored the immunoreactivity of LAMP2, which was localized in neurons in the superficial layers of the spinal dorsal horn in spinal nerve-injured rats. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of 15 mg/kg chloroquine for 60 minutes reversed the expression of the aforementioned proteins and shortened the timing of the analgesic effects of HF-SCS. These findings suggest that HF-SCS may exhibit long-lasting analgesic effects on neuropathic pain in rats through improving lysosomal dysfunction and alleviating autophagic flux. This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of China Medical University, Shenyang, China (approval No. 2017PS196K) on March 1, 2017.
Clonal selection of stable aneuploidies in progenitor cells drives high-prevalence tumorigenesis

In this study Trakala et al. investigated how chromosome gains and losses, which are a frequent feature of human cancers, can overcome the detrimental effects of aneuploidy. They developed a novel mouse model that enables unprecedented levels of chromosome missegregation in the adult animal and their results show that the initial detrimental effects of random missegregation are outweighed by clonal selection, which is dependent on chromosomal location and the nature of specific genes and is sufficient to drive cancer.
Association between triglyceride-glucose index and thyroid function in euthyroid adults: The Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2015

Objectives Low-normal thyroid function is associated with numerous metabolic risk factors including insulin resistance (IR). Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a new surrogate marker of IR calculated by fasting triglyceride and glucose levels. Here, we investigated the association between thyroid function and TyG index in non-diabetic euthyroid adults. Methods This cross-sectional study was based on data from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2015 including 1482 individuals (741 men and 741 women). Serum thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels were measured. Results After adjusting for confounders, there was an inverse relationship of TyG index with fT4 in men (β = –0.094, P = 0.009) and a positive relationship of TyG index with TSH in women (β = 0.078, P = 0.018). The lowest fT4 tertile in men (P = 0.001) and the highest TSH tertile in women (P = 0.010) exhibited increased TyG index after adjusting for confounders. The lowest fT4 tertile also showed increased homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) only in men (P = 0.006). Odds ratios (ORs) for the high TyG index, which was defined as the highest TyG quartile decreased in the highest and second highest tertile of fT4 in men (OR = 0.41 and OR = 0.45, respectively; P < 0.001) and increased in highest tertile of TSH in women (OR = 1.81, P = 0.031) after adjusting for confounders. The OR for high HOMA-IR defined as the highest HOMA-IR quartile was also lower in the highest and second highest fT4 tertiles in men (both OR = 0.47; P = 0.003). Conclusions This is the first study to suggest that TyG index is a good surrogate marker of IR in evaluating its relationship with thyroid function.
Antibiotic-driven intestinal dysbiosis in pediatric short bowel syndrome is associated with persistently altered microbiome functions and gut-derived bloodstream infections

ABSTRACT Surgical removal of the intestine, lifesaving in catastrophic gastrointestinal disorders of infancy, can result in a form of intestinal failure known as short bowel syndrome (SBS). Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major challenge in pediatric SBS management. BSIs require frequent antibiotic therapy, with ill-defined consequences for the gut microbiome and childhood health. Here, we combine serial stool collection, shotgun metagenomic sequencing, multivariate statistics and genome-resolved strain-tracking in a cohort of 19 patients with surgically-induced SBS to show that antibiotic-driven intestinal dysbiosis in SBS enriches for persistent intestinal colonization with BSI causative pathogens in SBS. Comparing the gut microbiome composition of SBS patients over the first 4 years of life to 19 age-matched term and 18 preterm controls, we find that SBS gut microbiota diversity and composition was persistently altered compared to controls. Commensals including Ruminococcus, Bifidobacterium, Eubacterium, and Clostridium species were depleted in SBS, while pathobionts (Enterococcus) were enriched. Integrating clinical covariates with gut microbiome composition in pediatric SBS, we identified dietary and antibiotic exposures as the main drivers of these alterations. Moreover, antibiotic resistance genes, specifically broad-spectrum efflux pumps, were at a higher abundance in SBS, while putatively beneficial microbiota functions, including amino acid and vitamin biosynthesis, were depleted. Moreover, using strain-tracking we found that the SBS gut microbiome harbors BSI causing pathogens, which can persist intestinally throughout the first years of life. The association between antibiotic-driven gut dysbiosis and enrichment of intestinal pathobionts isolated from BSI suggests that antibiotic treatment may predispose SBS patients to infection. Persistence of pathobionts and depletion of beneficial microbiota and functionalities in SBS highlights the need for microbiota-targeted interventions to prevent infection and facilitate intestinal adaptation.
A Concussion Education Programme for Motorsport Drivers: A Field-Based Exploratory Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Objective Concussion education strategies that improve knowledge and attitudes long term are needed. This exploratory study piloted an interactive concussion education program, adopting concepts from the learning sciences and attitude change literature, for the underserved and high-risk population of motorsports. Method Forty UK motorsport drivers (ages 16–20 years) participated. The workshop group received a two-phased workshop-based program. The comparison group received a concussion leaflet. Participants completed an adapted version of the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (RoCKAS-ST) at pre-, post- and 2-month follow-up. Within-group analysis for the workshop group explored the differential effect of the individual difference variable, Need for Cognition (NfC), and effectiveness was explored through post-workshop questionnaires and interviews. Results Unlike the comparison group, the workshop group showed a significant improvement in knowledge over time (F(2,58) = 45.49, p < . 001, η2p = . 61). Qualitative data indicated workshop-program participants developed safer attitudes toward concussion following programming. Preliminary evidence suggested individuals’ responses to concussion education aligned with differences in NfC. Conclusion This study piloted the first concussion education program for motorsport drivers and explored whether aligning educational provision with the NfC construct may help to improve program effectiveness. Findings are relevant to addressing the public health issue of concussion through educational approaches.
The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the prevalence of respiratory tract pathogens in patients with community-acquired pneumonia in Germany

ABSTRACT We show a shift in the prevalence of respiratory viral pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our data support the efficiency of non-pharmaceutical interventions on virus circulation except for rhinoviruses. The consequences of an altered circulation on subsequent winter seasons remain unclear and support the importance of systematic virological surveillance.
“What Has Kept Me Alive”: Transgender Communities and Support

ABSTRACT Transgender (trans) people in the United States experience staggering marginalization. To survive, trans people turn to their communities for support. In this study, I use in-depth interviews with 10 trans people living in “Townsville” to explore the social support trans and LGBTQ communities provide to trans members. What types of support are available? How does this support enable survival? How do differences in communities influence support? I found four types of support: emotional, institutional, bodily, and financial. The focus and composition of communities determined the types of support provided, and communities were divided based on gender and class. By concentrating on the contexts in which support occurs, my study adds to trans studies and sexualities scholarship concerned with how local trans and LGBTQ communities are experienced.
Anticipation of novel environments enhances memory for incidental information

Novelty is a potent driver of learning, but little is known about whether anticipation of novelty can enhance memory for incidental information. Here, participants incidentally encountered objects while they actively navigated toward novel or previously familiarized virtual rooms. Across immediate and delayed surprise memory tests, participants showed superior recollection for incidental objects encountered while anticipating novel as compared with familiarized rooms. Furthermore, memory for incidental objects correlated positively with between-participants average curiosity about novel rooms but negatively with within-participants trial-specific curiosity. Our findings contribute to the growing literature on how salient processes impact memory for incidental material.
Assessment of salivary thiocyanate levels and pH in the saliva of smokers and nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis – A comparative study

Background: It has been speculated that the pathogenesis of diseases prompted by cigarette smoking includes oxidative damage by free radicals. Though, definitive evidence that smoking may cause the oxidative modification of target molecules in vivo is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to estimate and compare the levels of salivary Thiocyanate (SCN) and power of hydrogen (pH) in the saliva of smokers and nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis (ChP). Materials and Methods: A study population consisted of 60 male systemically healthy subjects in the age group of 20-65 years that was further divided into three groups: Group 1: 20 Healthy nonsmokers, who never smoked. Group 2: 20 nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis. Group 3: 20 smokers with chronic periodontitis. Unstimulated saliva was collected for at least 5 mins and clinical parameters; salivary pH and SCN thiocyanate levels were assessed using the spectrophotometric method. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Inc 21.0, Chicago, II, United States of America. Results: Data showed that the mean salivary SCN level, periodontal parameters were higher in smokers with chronic periodontitis as compared to nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis and healthy subjects (P < 0.05.) Post Hoc tests multiple comparisons Tukey Honest Significant Difference (HSD) among three groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Salivary thiocyanate levels remain increased by smoking in addition to the impact of periodontitis, and these results also indicated a significant change in the pH depending on the severity of the periodontal condition in smokers. Thus, the measurement of salivary thiocyanate may prove to be useful in the early detection of periodontal disease. The salivary pH shows significant changes and, consequently, relevant to the severity of the periodontal disease. Salivary pH may thus be used as a quick chairside diagnostic biomarker.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the growth regulating factor (GRF) family in Jatropha curcas

GRF genes have been confirmed to have important regulatory functions in plant growth, development and response to abiotic stress. Although the genome of Jatropha curcas is sequenced, knowledge about the identification of the species’ GRF genes and their expression patterns is still lacking. In this study, we characterized the 10 JcGRF genes. A detailed investigation into the physic nut GRF gene family is performed, including analysis of the exon-intron structure, conserved domains, conserved motifs, phylogeny, chromosomal locations, potential small RNA targets and expression profiles under both normal growth and abiotic stress conditions. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the 10 JcGRF genes were classified into five groups corresponding to group I, II, III, IV and V. The analysis of conserved domains showed that the motifs of JcGRF genes were highly conserved in Jatropha curcas. Expression analysis based on RNA-seq and qRT-PCR showed that almost all JcGRF genes had the highest expression in seeds, but very low expression was detected in the non-seed tissues tested, and four JcGRF genes responded to at least one abiotic stress at at least one treatment point. Our research will provide an important scientific basis for further research on the potential functions of JcGRF genes in Jatropha curcas growth and development, and response to abiotic stress, and will eventually provide candidate genes for the breeding of Jatropha curcas.
Comparison of Different Pulse Modulation Modes for Holmium:YAG Laser Lithotripsy Ablation in a Benchtop Model.

Introduction: Manipulation of Holmium:YAG (Ho:YAG) laser parameters such as pulse energy, frequency, and duration can impact laser lithotripsy ablation efficiency. In 2017, Lumenis introduced Moses™ Technology which uses pulse modulation to enhance the delivery of energy from fiber to stone as well as to minimize stone retropulsion. Since the introduction of Moses™ Technology, other companies have brought additional pulse modulation concepts to market. The purpose of this in vitro study is to compare the pulse characteristics and stone ablation efficiency of Lumenis' Moses™ Technology with Quanta's Vapor Tunnel™. Methods: Submerged BegoStone phantoms were systematically ablated using either the Lumenis MOSES™ Pulse 120H or the Quanta Litho 100 clinical laser system. Two pulse energies (0.4J and 1J), three fiber-stone standoff distances (0.5, 1, 2mm), and all available pulse duration and modulation modes for each laser were tested in combination. Fiber speed was adjusted to scan across the stone surface at either 1 pulse/mm or 10 pulses/mm to form single pulse craters or an ablation trough, respectively. Volumes of single craters and 1 mm trough segments were imaged and quantified using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: Ablation volumes decreased with decreasing pulse energy and increasing standoff distance. Statistically significant variability was seen between pulse types at every tested parameter set. Among pulse modulation modes, Moses Distance was superior at 0.5mm in all testing and at 2mm in trough testing. Vapor Tunnel was superior in 2mm single crater testing. All modulated pulses performed similarly at 1mm. Conclusions: In this benchtop model of laser lithotripsy, stone ablation was significantly impacted by pulse type. Moses Distance demonstrated superior or non-inferior stone ablation at most tested parameters. Vapor Tunnel maintained its efficacy the best as standoff distance increased. Future work should focus on the mechanistic differences of these modes relative to other traditional laser pulse modes.
Impaired generation of mature neurons due to extended expression of Tlx by repressing Sox2 transcriptional activity

As a master regulator of the dynamic process of adult neurogenesis, timely expression and regulation of the orphan nuclear receptor Tailless (Tlx) is essential. However, there is no study yet to directly investigate the essential role of precise spatiotemporal expressed Tlx. Here, we generated a conditional gain of Tlx expression transgenic mouse model, which allowed the extended Tlx expression in neural stem cells (NSCs) and their progeny by mating with a TlxCreERT2 mouse line. We demonstrate that extended expression of Tlx induced the impaired generation of mature neurons in adult subventricular zone and subgranular zone. Furthermore, we elucidated for the first time that this mutation decreased the endogenous expression of Sox2 by directly binding to its promoter. Restoration experiments further confirmed that Sox2 partially rescued these neuron maturation defects. Together, these findings not only highlight the importance of shutting‐off Tlx on time in controlling NSC behavior, but also provide insights for further understanding adult neurogenesis and developing treatment strategies for neurological disorders.
Combined Effects and Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Pakchoi Grown in Polluted Soil

Pakchoi was tested with a pot experiment to assess absorption by the plant from soil contaminated by heavy metals including Cd,Pb,and Cu,either separately or in binary metal combinations.The results showed that the complex function of the elements in the soil influenced the growth of pakchoi.It was discovered that the height of pakchoi decreased by 1～6 cm,while yields decreased 4%～35% in the test.Binary metal combinations of Cd+Cu,Cd+Pb,and Pb+Cu produced two types of interactions;synergistic and antagonistic responses.Cd was more mobile than either Pb,or Cu and migrated upwards easily,while Pb prone to accumulate in the root of the plant.The absorption coefficient of test metals in pakchoi edible parts was in an order: CdCuPb.