Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics, inflammation and coagulation status in patients with immunological disease-related chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency

Background Immunological disease-related chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) is rarely reported. This study aimed to analyze clinical characteristics, inflammation, and coagulation status in patients with immunological disease-related CCSVI. Methods Patients with CCSVI were enrolled from 2017 to 2019 and divided into three cohorts based on their immunological disease backgrounds, including groups with confirmed autoimmune disease, with suspected/subclinical autoimmune disease, and with non-immunological etiology. Immunological, inflammatory, and thrombophilia biomarker assay in blood samples were obtained. Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher’s exact test was used to compare continuous variables or categorical variables between the CCSVI patients with or without the immunological etiology. Spearman’s correlation analysis was conducted among age, baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in the three groups. Results A total of 255 consecutive patients with CCSVI were enrolled, including three subgroups: CCSVI with confirmed autoimmune disease (n=41), CCSVI with suspected/subclinical autoimmune disease (n=116) and CCSVI with non-immunological etiology (n=98). In the first subgroup, a series of 41 cases was confirmed with eight different autoimmune diseases including antiphospholipid syndrome (n=18), Sjögren’s syndrome (n=8), immunoglobulin G4-related disease (n=7), Behçet’s disease (n=2), autoimmune hepatitis (n=2), Wegener's granulomatosis (n=2), systemic sclerosis (n=1) and AQP4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (n=1). Groups with immunological etiology did not show a higher incidence of thrombophilia or increased pro-inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., neutrophil, IL-6). However, patients with non-immunological etiology had a higher baseline level of CRP. Additionally, baseline PLR was moderately correlated to NLR and CRP in CCSVI patients with non-immunological etiology and suspected/subclinical autoimmune disease. Conclusions The formation of CCSVI may be based on the inflammatory process, facilitated by multiple risk factors, among which medical history of immunological diseases may play a significant role due to the intricate relationship between inflammation and coagulation. Moreover, CCSVI may also cause an independent inflammatory injury in venous walls, leading to focal stenosis or thrombus, without attacks from autoimmune antibodies.
Web-based calculator for biliary atresia screening in neonates and infants with cholestasis

Background Distinguishing biliary atresia from non-biliary atresia in patients with cholestasis is challenging, as these conditions have a similar clinical presentation. We developed and externally validated a screening model for biliary atresia and devised a web-based calculator for use in clinical settings. Methods A screening model was developed based on data from 227 cholestatic infants (82 and 145 with and without biliary atresia, respectively) and validated in 234 infants (90 and 144 with and without biliary atresia, respectively) admitted to three hospitals. Variables were selected from routine examination results using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method and entered into a logistic regression model to construct a biliary-atresia-risk–predicting equation. Cutoff values for risk stratification were estimated using model sensitivity, derived from the receiver-operating characteristic curves. Results The final screening model included seven variables (i.e., weight at admission, clay-colored stools, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and albumin levels at admission, abnormal gallbladder, triangular cord sign, and change in total bilirubin levels). The model generated an area under the curve of 0.94 with a sensitivity of 91.46 and specificity of 86.62 in the derivation cohort. This was confirmed in the validation cohort, as we found an area under the curve of 0.93 with a sensitivity of 93.1 and specificity of 80.15. Patients were stratified into three risk groups (low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups). Biliary atresia was excluded in the low-risk group. The high-risk group showed a higher detection rate of biliary atresia compared to the stool color screening method alone. This model was integrated into a user-friendly web-based system. Conclusions The screening tool had a high predictive value and may help in decision-making by physicians at tertiary and community hospitals.
Population attributable risk of excess weight, abdominal obesity and physical inactivity for type 2 diabetes in Chinese men and women

Background Given the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Chinese population, it is necessary to estimate the T2DM incident attributable to obesity and physical inactivity. Methods We analyzed the data from the Shanghai Men’s and Women’s Health Studies, including 56,691 men and 70,849 women aged 40–74. The hazard ratios (HRs) and the population attributable risks (PARs) were calculated by Cox regression model and model-based estimation. Results A total of 3,315 male and 5,925 female cases were identified during 519,157 and 981,504 person-years, up to 31 December 2017. Excess weight, abdominal obesity were associated with the increased risks of T2DM both in women and men, while physical inactivity was only associated with an increased risk in men. A large proportion of T2DM incident cases can be attributed to excess body weight (women: 48.6%; men: 41.5%) and abdominal obesity (women: 50.4%; men: 30.3%). Physical activity was negatively associated with the risk of T2DM (Ptrend<0.01). The PARs adjusted for confounders were 3.6% for physical inactivity in men and 1.7% in women. Conclusions Excess weight and abdominal obesity accounted for a large proportion of T2DM incident cases in men and women; a small part of T2DM cases were attributed to physical inactivity in men. Weight control is of great significance in curbing the epidemic of diabetes.
Distinguishing sleep from wake with a radar sensor: a contact-free real-time sleep monitor

Abstract This work aimed to evaluate whether a radar sensor can distinguish sleep from wakefulness in real time. The sensor detects body movements without direct physical contact with the subject and can be embedded in the roof of a hospital room for completely unobtrusive monitoring. We conducted simultaneous recordings with polysomnography, actigraphy, and radar on two groups: healthy young adults (n = 12, four nights per participant) and patients referred to a sleep examination (n = 28, one night per participant). We developed models for sleep/wake classification based on principles commonly used by actigraphy, including real-time models, and tested them on both datasets. We estimated a set of commonly reported sleep parameters from these data, including total-sleep-time, sleep-onset-latency, sleep-efficiency, and wake-after-sleep-onset, and evaluated the inter-method reliability of these estimates. Classification results were on-par with, or exceeding, those often seen for actigraphy. For real-time models in healthy young adults, accuracies were above 92%, sensitivities above 95%, specificities above 83%, and all Cohen's kappa values were above 0.81 compared to polysomnography. For patients referred to a sleep examination, accuracies were above 81%, sensitivities about 89%, specificities above 53%, and Cohen's kappa values above 0.44. Sleep variable estimates showed no significant intermethod bias, but the limits of agreement were quite wide for the group of patients referred to a sleep examination. Our results indicate that the radar has the potential to offer the benefits of contact-free real-time monitoring of sleep, both for in-patients and for ambulatory home monitoring.
Comparison of Lateral Tooth Volume and Morphology Between Buccally and Palatally Localised Unilateral Impacted Maxillary Canine Cases on Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the lateral tooth volume and morphology differences between buccally and palatally localized unilateral impacted maxillary canine (IMC) patients with volumetric and linear measurements on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) records. CBCT records of 48 individuals with 24-buccally and 24-palatally localized unilateral IMCs were included to the study. The patients comprised 34 females, 14 males, with a mean age of 17.71 (±SD 6.63 years). This split-mouth, retrospective case-control, study consisted of buccally and palatally IMC group, and each group was categorized into 2 sub-groups as impacted and erupted side. Lateral tooth volume, tooth length, mesiodistal-buccolingual crown widths, mesiodistal- buccolingual root widths at cemento–enamel junction (CEJ), at 4 mm apical to CEJ, at 8 mm apical to CEJ, mesiodistal crown-root angle, arch perimeter measurements were performed on CBCT images. The data were analyzed by factorial design repeated measures ANOVA. Bonferroni test was used for post-hoc analysis. The total volume, mesiodistal - buccolingual crown widths, buccolingual root width of lateral incisor at CEJ were statistically smaller in palatally IMC group. The lateral incisor's length, and arch perimeter were statistically shorter, mesiodistal, buccolingual root widths at 8 mm apical to CEJ, and crown-root angle of the lateral were narrower on impacted side than erupted side. The volume and crown widths of lateral incisor are effective in sagittal localization of IMC. The shorter length, narrower apical root morphology and mesially inclined crown-root angle of lateral incisor are noteworthy on impacted sides, regardless of sagittal position of IMC.
The perceived impact of multiple sclerosis and self-management: The mediating role of coping strategies

Low level of self-management in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered to be a predominant factor that leads to poor rehabilitation efficacy. Studies focusing on the relationship between self-management and psychological variables that can be modified could contribute to expanding the knowledge needed to propose interventional programs aiming at patient activation. This study aimed to analyze whether coping strategies play a mediating role in the association between the perceived impact of MS and level of self-management in people with MS. The cross-sectional study included 382 people with MS. The participants completed the Multiple Sclerosis Self-Management Scale—Revised, Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29, and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. The study hypothesis was evaluated using mediation analysis. The STROBE checklist specifically prepared for cross-sectional research was applied in this study for reporting. Results indicate that the emotion- and problem-focused strategies of coping can be treated as mediating the association between the MS impact and level of self-management in people with MS. A negative relationship was found between the perceived MS impact and problem-oriented coping, while a positive relationship was found between problem-oriented coping and self-management. Furthermore, a positive relationship was found between the MS impact and emotion-oriented coping, while a negative relationship was found between emotion-oriented coping and self-management. The indirect role of avoidance-oriented coping was not significant. Our study confirms the role played by coping strategies in individuals’ self-management. In MS, self-management determined by perceived MS impact can be controlled by decreasing emotional-coping while increasing problem-coping strategies. Our study imparts new knowledge regarding the potential interventions for improving the level of self-management in people with MS. It indicates that recognition of individuals’ illness perceptions as well as maladaptive coping strategies can help health professionals identify those who might be having lower level of self-management.
Impact of gender on patients hospitalized for SARS‐COV‐2 infection: A prospective observational study

Biological sex could affect the natural history of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. We enrolled all COVID‐19 patients admitted to two COVID‐19 hospitals in Milan in a prospective observational study. The primary outcome was death during the study period and the secondary outcome was critical disease at hospital admission. The association(s) between clinically relevant, noncollinear variables, and the primary outcome was assessed with uni‐ and multivariable Logistic regression models. A total of 520 patients were hospitalized of whom 349 (67%) were males with a median age 61 (interquartile range: 50–72). A higher proportion of males presented critically ill when compared to females (30.1% vs. 18.7%, p < .046). Death occurred in 86 (24.6%) males and 27 (15.8%) females (p = .024). In multivariable analysis age (per 10 years more) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.83 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 1.42–2.35], p < .0001), obesity (AOR: 2.17 [95% CI: 1.10–4.31], p = .026), critical disease at hospital admission (AOR 6.34 [95% CI: 3.50–11.48], p < .0001) were independently associated to higher odds of death whereas gender was not. In conclusion, a higher proportion of males presented critically ill at hospital admission. Age, critical disease at hospital admission, obesity, anemia, D‐dimer, estimated glomerular filtration rate, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase predicted death in hospitalized COVID‐19 patients.
Cathelicidin induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition to promote airway remodeling in smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important characteristic in the remodeling of airways that occurs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke is a potential driving factor of this EMT in COPD. However, the mechanisms by which cigarette smoke induce EMT remain uncertain. Cathelicidin has been implicated as a causal factor of airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in smoking-related COPD. This study aimed to investigate whether cathelicidin induces EMT to promote airway remodeling in this disease. Methods Human lung tissue was collected from smokers with COPD and smokers without COPD. The EMT markers E-cadherin and vimentin were examined by immunohistochemistry. Mouse models of COPD were established by taking mice with airway cathelin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP), the murine homologue of cathelicidin, either upregulated or downregulated by intranasal introduction of lentiviral vectors and then exposing them to cigarette smoke. E-cadherin and vimentin expression in the airways of the model mice was examined using immunofluorescence. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) converting enzyme (TACE), transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-α), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression was analyzed by Western blot. Additionally, NCI-H292 human airway epithelial cells, both with and without cathelicidin downregulation, were stimulated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and LL-37 synthetic peptide, a bioactive fragment of cathelicidin. This was done to confirm that the TACE/TGF-α/EGFR signaling pathway is activated in humans exposed to cigarette smoke. Results Significant EMT was found in the small airways of smokers both with and without COPD, as well as in the airways of COPD model mice. Downregulation of CRAMP in COPD mice, however, ameliorated airway EMT induced by cigarette smoke. Conversely, upregulation of CRAMP enhanced airway EMT in vivo; TACE, TGF-α, and EGFR were found to be involved in this process. In vitro, EMT induced by CSE and LL-37 was inhibited by blocking TACE, TGF-α, and EGFR expression. Conclusions Cathelicidin promotes airway EMT by activating the TACE/TGF-α/EGFR signaling pathway. This mediates smoking-induced airway remodeling in the pathogenesis of COPD.
Resting heart rate predicts all-cause mortality in sub-Saharan African patients with heart failure: a prospective analysis from the Douala Heart failure registry (Do-HF).

Background Higher resting heart rate (HR) is associated with mortality amongst Caucasians with heart failure (HF), but its significance has yet to be established in sub-Saharan Africans in whom HF differs in terms of characteristics and etiologies. We assessed the association of HR with all-cause mortality in patients with HF in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods The Douala HF registry (Do-HF) is an ongoing prospective data collection on patients with HF receiving care at four cardiac referral services in Douala, Cameroon. Patients included in this report were followed-up for 12 months from their index admission, for all-cause mortality. We used Cox-regression analysis to study the association of HR with all-cause mortality during follow-up. Results Of 347 patients included, 343 (98.8%) completed follow-up. The mean age was 64±14 years, 176 (50.7%) were female, and median admission HR was 85 bpm. During a median follow-up of 12 months, 78 (22.7%) patients died. Mortality increased steadily with HR increase and ranged from 12.2% in the lower quartile of HR (≤69 bpm) to 34.1% in the upper quartile of HR (>100 bpm). Hazard ratio of 12-month death per 10 bpm higher HR was 1.16 (1.04-1.29), with consistent effects across most subgroups, but a higher effect in participants with hypertension vs. those without (interaction P=0.044). Conclusions HR was independently associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in this study, particularly among participants with hypertension. The implication of this finding for risk prediction or reduction should be actively investigated.
Official ERS technical standard: Global Lung Function Initiative reference values for static lung volumes in individuals of European ancestry

Background Measurement of lung volumes across the life course is critical to the diagnosis and management of lung disease. The aim of the study was to use the Global Lung Function Initiative methodology to develop all-age multi-ethnic reference equations for lung volume indices determined using body plethysmography and gas dilution techniques. Methods Static lung volume data from body plethysmography and gas dilution techniques from individual, healthy participants were collated. Reference equations were derived using the LMS (lambda-mu-sigma) method and the generalised additive models of location shape and scale programme in R. The impact of measurement technique, equipment type and being overweight or obese on the derived lung volume reference ranges was assessed. Results Data from 17 centres were submitted and reference equations were derived from 7190 observations from participants of European ancestry between the ages of 5 and 80 years. Data from non-European ancestry populations were insufficient to develop multi-ethnic equations. Measurements of functional residual capacity (FRC) collected using plethysmography and dilution techniques showed physiologically insignificant differences and were combined. Sex-specific reference equations including height and age were developed for total lung capacity (TLC), FRC, residual volume (RV), inspiratory capacity, vital capacity, expiratory reserve volume and RV/TLC. The derived equations were similar to previously published equations for FRC and TLC, with closer agreement during childhood and adolescence than in adulthood. Conclusions Global Lung Function Initiative reference equations for lung volumes provide a generalisable standard for reporting and interpretation of lung volumes measurements in individuals of European ancestry. The GLI Network has developed all-ages reference equations for lung volumes for populations of European ancestry. The unification of GLI lung function reference equations will improve the interpretation of lung function in patients with lung disease. https://bit.ly/3hHZR1N
Vibrational predissociation in argon complexes of 3‐amino‐s‐tetrazine and 3‐amino‐6‐methyl‐s‐tetrazine: Evidence for extreme mode‐selectivity

We have investigated the vibrational predissociation of argon complexes of 3‐amino‐s‐tetrazine (AT) and 3‐amino‐6‐methyl‐s‐tetrazine (AMT). Twelve vibrational levels of complexes of the form AT–Arn, where n=1, 2, and 3, were examined. The dissociation rate of the binary AT–Ar complex varied from 3×106 s−1 to >4×108 s−1 depending on the initially excited mode, with the fastest rate corresponding to the lowest energy vibration. Even levels with vibrational energies over five times that needed to break the van der Waals bond still showed significant amounts of fluorescence from the unfragmented complex. Photodissociation of the AT–Ar2 complex can yield two different dissociation products, AT and AT–Ar. The ratio of these photoproducts varied greatly among different vibrational modes. The 16b2 level of AT–Ar2 at +462 cm−1 gives primarily the AT photoproduct, while the 16a2 level at +505 cm−1 gives exclusively the AT–Ar photoproduct. The two levels of AT–Ar3 which were studied both appear to show only partial fragmentation. We examined the basic spectroscopy of AMT using vibrationally resolved fluorescence excitation spectroscopy, and assigned a number of vibrational levels in both the ground and excited states. We then used this information to measure the branching ratios and dissociation rates for seven vibrational levels of AMT–Ar. These vibrational predissociation rates show strong qualitative differences from similar data for tetrazine–Ar and aminotetrazine–Ar complexes. Finally, these results were compared to similar work on other tetrazine derivatives to attempt to account for this strong mode‐selective behavior.We have investigated the vibrational predissociation of argon complexes of 3‐amino‐s‐tetrazine (AT) and 3‐amino‐6‐methyl‐s‐tetrazine (AMT). Twelve vibrational levels of complexes of the form AT–Arn, where n=1, 2, and 3, were examined. The dissociation rate of the binary AT–Ar complex varied from 3×106 s−1 to >4×108 s−1 depending on the initially excited mode, with the fastest rate corresponding to the lowest energy vibration. Even levels with vibrational energies over five times that needed to break the van der Waals bond still showed significant amounts of fluorescence from the unfragmented complex. Photodissociation of the AT–Ar2 complex can yield two different dissociation products, AT and AT–Ar. The ratio of these photoproducts varied greatly among different vibrational modes. The 16b2 level of AT–Ar2 at +462 cm−1 gives primarily the AT photoproduct, while the 16a2 level at +505 cm−1 gives exclusively the AT–Ar photoproduct. The two levels of AT–Ar3 which were studied both appear to show only partial .
Evaluation of two concepts of fertilization for wheat in a calcareous soil of Bangladesh

Two popular concepts of soil fertilization, basic cation saturation ratio (BCSR) and sufficiency level of available nutrients (SLAN), were tested on a calcareous soil (Aeric haplaquept) during 1995-1996 at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Regional Station Rajshahi using wheat as a test crop. According to BCSR concept the soil was deficient in potassium (K) and according to SLAN concept it was deficient in phosphorus (P), respectively. Potassium dose of 120 kg ha-1 [to attain 2% saturation of total cation exchange capacity (CEC) according to BCSR] along with other two doses (0 and 60 kg K ha-1) and P dose of 50 kg ha-1 (to attain available P at sufficiency level) along with other two doses (0 and 100 kg P ha-1) were compared in a randomized complete block design. The application of 50 kg P ha-1 significantly increased plant height, spikes m-2, grains per spike, grain and straw yields of wheat over 0 kg P ha-1 with or without K but increasing P dose from 50 to 100 kg P ha-1 did not give additional yields. The agronomic parameters and yields were not affected significantly by K application. Similar results were also observed in nutrient content and nutrient uptake. Thus, SLAN concept appeared as an effective tool for fertilizer recommendation for the calcareous soil while BCSR gave no apparent result there.