Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B core-related antigen reflects viral replication and protein production in chronic hepatitis B patients

Abstract Background: Hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) is a promising disease-monitoring marker for chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We investigated correlations between HBcrAg with antiviral efficacy and virological and histological variables. Methods: One hundred and forty-five CHB patients from the mainland of China between August 2013 and September 2016 who underwent liver biopsy received entecavir therapy and had paired liver biopsy at 78 weeks. We analyzed correlations between HBcrAg and virological and histological variables in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and HBeAg-negative patients. We also explored the predictors of HBeAg loss after 78 weeks of antiviral therapy. Pearson correlation analysis and logistic forward stepwise regression were the main statistic methods. Results: HBeAg-positive patients (n = 93) had higher baseline HBcrAg (median 7.4 vs. 5.3 log10 U/mL P < 0.001) and greater HBcrAg declines (median 1.6 vs. 0.9 log10 U/mL P = 0.007) than HBeAg-negative patients after 78 weeks of therapy. At baseline, HBcrAg correlated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in both HBeAg-positive (r = 0.641, P < 0.001) and -negative patients (r = 0.616, P < 0.001), with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in HBeAg-positive patients (r = 0.495, P < 0.001), but not with anti-hepatitis B virus core antibody (anti-HBc). Weak correlations existed between HBcrAg, histology activity index (HAI; r = 0.232, P = 0.025), and Ishak fibrosis score (r = −0.292, P = 0.005) in HBeAg-positive patients. At 78 weeks, significant correlations existed only between HBcrAg and anti-HBc in HBeAg-positive (r = −0.263, P = 0.014) and HBeAg-negative patients (r = −0.291, P = 0.045). Decreased HBcrAg significantly correlated with reduced HBV DNA (r = 0.366, P = 0.001; r = 0.626, P < 0.001) and HBsAg (r = 0.526, P = 0.001; r = 0.289, P = 0.044) in HBeAg-positive and -negative patients, respectively, and with reduced HAI in HBeAg-positive patients (r = 0.329, P = 0.001). Patients with HBeAg loss (n = 29) showed a larger reduction in HBcrAg than those without (median 2.3 vs. 1.3 log10 U/mL, P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, decreased HBcrAg was an independent predictor of HBeAg loss (P = 0.005). Conclusions: HBcrAg reflects viral replication and protein production. Decreased HBcrAg could predict HBeAg loss after antiviral therapy. Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov: NCT01962155; https://www.clinicaltrials. gov/ct2/show/NCT01962155? term=NCT01962155&draw=2&rank=1
Age of First Exposure to Collision Sports Does Not Affect Patient Reported Outcomes in Women and Men Community Rugby Players

Supplemental digital content is available in the text. ABSTRACT Purpose This study aimed to determine the relationship between age of first exposure (AFE) to repetitive head impacts through contact/collision sports and patient-reported outcomes in community rugby players. Methods We recruited community rugby players older than 18 yr with at least 1 yr of contact rugby participation to complete an online survey. Participants completed the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), Short-Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) via Qualtrics. We used generalized linear models to examine the association between AFE (continuous) and patient-reported outcomes by sex, while controlling for cumulative years contact/collision sport history, age, and concussion history (yes/no). In addition, we used Mann–Whitney U tests to compare patient-reported outcomes between AFE <12 and AFE ≥12. Results A total of 1037 rugby players (31.6 ± 11.3 yr (range, 18–74 yr), 59.1% men) participated in this study. Whether analyzed continuously or dichotomously at age 12 yr, younger AFE was not associated with worse patient-reported outcomes for either men or women. Positive concussion history was a significant predictor of worse BSI-18 subscores, SF-12 subscores, and SWLS in women and worse BSI-18 subscores in men. Cumulative contact/collision sport history was a significant predictor of better BSI-18 Depression and SF-12 (Mental Component Summary) subscores in men only. In men and women, older age was a significant predictor of better BSI-18 Depression, Anxiety, and GSI subscores; better SWLS (in men only); and better SF-12 Mental Component Summary, but worse SF-12 (Physical Component Summary). Conclusions Younger AFE to contact/collision sport is not associated with worse patient-reported outcomes in early adult rugby players. Concussion history was predictive of worse patient-reported outcomes.
Safety and oncological outcome following radiofrequency ablation of small renal masses in a single center

Abstract Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous CT-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for small renal masses (SRMs) at a large single-institution center during a period of 12 years. Materials and methods A total of 118 patients underwent RFA for SRM between July 2006 and July 2018 at our institution. We included demographic information, comorbidity, procedural details, and oncological outcome in the analysis. Survival analysis was performed using competing risk. Results 87 males and 31 females with median age 66 years underwent RFA. Median tumor size was 23 mm. Tumor biopsy was performed in 94% of cases, of which 56% were confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCCs). Twenty-eight patients had benign tumors or underwent treatment for recurrence of prior RCC. Median follow-up of 5 years. Median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 5. Major complications occurred in 1.7%. No change in kidney function was observed. The initial treatment response was 98%. Among patients treated for newly diagnosed radiological suspected RCC without Von Hippel-Lindau or benign biopsy (90 pts), the cumulative incidence of radiological recurrence after 5 and 10 years was 6.6% (95% CI: 0.8–12%) and 16% (95% CI: 4.2–28%), respectively. Three patients died of RCC during follow-up. The cumulative incidence of kidney cancer death was 4.5% (95% CI: 4.3–13%) after 10 years. The incidence of other-cause mortality was 50% (95% CI: 34–67%). Conclusion CT-guided RFA is a safe and effective treatment option for patients unsuitable for surgery. RFA is a good alternative to partial or radical nephrectomy for SRMs, although randomized trials comparing surgery to minimally invasive thermal ablation techniques are missing.
How Couple’s Relationship Lasts Over Time? A Model for Marital Satisfaction

High rates of divorce seem related to low marital satisfaction levels; however, there is still a lack of a model that can help understand the couple’s resilience and fragility throughout the life cycle. This research explores the role of communication patterns, their own and partner’s motivation for conjugality, cohesion and flexibility within a couple, and several sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., stage of the family life cycle) that can explain marital satisfaction. A sample of 331 Portuguese in a marital relationship completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and marital satisfaction measures, communication and conflict management competencies, cohesion and flexibility, and motivation. Adequate statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. Both measurement and structural model performed in the study presented a good fit, with five significant predictors of marital satisfaction (that accounted for 85% of the variability): intrinsic motivation (β = .64), communication (β = .31), families with young children (β = −.08), families with teenagers (β = −.07) and professional/academic status (β = .06). By identifying a model for marital satisfaction, this research provides clues regarding which aspects might need to be considered in couples’ clinical work to promote healthier relationships.
Impact of 1h oral glucose tolerance test on the clinical status of adult cystic fibrosis patients over a 4-year period

Objective To report the clinical profile associated with G60 and I60 over a 4-year prospective observational period in 2 large cohorts of adult patients with CF. Methods 319 patients were included (210 Canadian and 119 French) and classified according to their inclusion G60 (≥ or < 11.1 mmol/L) and the median inclusion I60 (≥ or < 24 mU/I). Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), body mass index (BMI) were collected on OGTT days. Linear mixed regression models were used to assess the effect of G60 and I60. Results High G60 was not associated to a lower FEV1 at inclusion and the follow-up decline was not higher in the high G60 group (Coefficient [95% CI]: -3.4 [-7.4;0.6], p = 0.0995.). There was no significant association between BMI and G60. Patients with high I60 tended to have a higher mean BMI (+0.5 kg/m2 [0.0 to 1.1], p = 0.05) but no interaction over time was observed. Conclusions High G60 is not associated with a lower lung function at inclusion nor its decline over a 4-year follow-up. High I60 is slightly associated to a higher weight at inclusion, but not with BMI evolution over time in adult patients.
Study of KTiOPO4 surface by x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and reflection high‐energy electron diffraction

Structural and electronic properties of the as‐grown (011) crystal face and the mechanically polished (001) surface of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO4 or KTP) have been investigated by core‐level x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and reflection high‐energy electron diffraction (RHEED). With XPS analysis the original element binding energies, Auger parameters for K 2p3/2 and P 2p core levels, relative element contents and valence band structure have been determined for both crystal cuts. A great depletion of O, K and P in the (011) face with respect to the (001) surface was discovered on comparison of element peak areas. The Ti 2p3/2 peak areas were virtually the same for both cuts investigated. The relative element contents at the (001) surface were very close to the formal composition of KTiOPO4, so it is optimal to use the polished (001) KTP surface cleaned by ion bombardment and the Ti 2p3/2 core level as standards for determination of the chemical composition of doped crystal surfaces. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival, and Prevalence in 2018

Purpose The current study provides national cancer statistics and their secular trends in Korea, including incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2018. Materials and Methods Incidence, survival, and prevalence rates of cancer were calculated using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, from 1999 to 2018, with survival follow-up until December 31, 2019. Deaths from cancer were assessed using causes-of-death data obtained from Statistics Korea. Crude and age-standardized rates (ASRs) for incidence, mortality, prevalence, and 5-year relative survival rates were calculated, and temporal trends for incidence and mortality rates were evaluated, with annual percentage changes. Results In 2018, newly diagnosed cancer cases and deaths from cancer were reported as 243,837 (ASR, 270.4 per 100,000) and 79,153 (ASR, 73.3 per 100,000), respectively. The overall cancer incidence rates increased by 3.3% annually from 1999 to 2012, and decreased by 5.4% annually from 2012 to 2015, thereafter, followed by nonsignificant changes. Cancer mortality rates have been decreasing since 2002, with more rapid decline in recent years (annual decrease of 2.7% from 2007 to 2014; 3.7% from 2014 to 2018). The 5-year relative survival between 2014 and 2018 was 70.3%, which contributed to prevalent cases reaching over 2 million by the end of 2018. Conclusion Cancer statistics have improved significantly during the past two decades. However, there remain important challenges to be solved, such as controlling cancers with low survival rates. Cancer statistics can be used to discover blind spots in cancer control, and as evidence for developing and implementing future cancer control strategies.
DISENTANGLING INTERPOLATION AND EXTRAPOLATION UNCERTAINTIES IN ECOLOGIAL NICHE MODELS: A NOVEL VISUALIZATION TECHNIQUE FOR THE SPATIAL VARIATION OF PREDICTOR VARIABLE COLINEARITY

– Environmental niche models (ENMs) are increasingly used in many scientific fields, with most studies requiring the application of the ENM to predict the likelihood of occurrence and/or environmental suitability in locations and time periods outside the range of the data set used to fit the model. Uncertainty in the quality of ENM predictions caused by errors of interpolation and extrapolation has been acknowledged for a long time, but the explicit consideration of the magnitude of such errors is, as yet, uncommon. Among other issues, the spatial variation in the colinearity of the environmental predictor variables used in the development of ENMs may cause misleading predictions when applying ENMs to novel locations and time periods. In this paper, we provide a framework for the spatially explicit identification of areas prone to errors caused by changes in the inter-correlation structure (i.e. their colinearity) of environmental predictors used for ENM development. The proposed method is compatible with all ENM algorithms currently employed, and expands the available toolbox for assessing the uncertainties rising from ENM predictions. We provide an implementation of the analysis as a script for the R statistical platform in an online appendix.
Positioning biologics in the management of moderate to severe Crohn's disease

Purpose of review Since there is a lack of head-to-head randomized controlled trials, little direction is provided from guidelines on the positioning of biologics for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). This review utilizes comparative effectiveness and safety results from real-world data and network meta-analyses to inform clinical practice for positioning of biological therapies in the treatment of moderate-to-severe CD. Recent findings We summarize the results of studies pertaining to the identification of predictors for response to biologics in CD. Recently published studies about the management of moderate-to-severe CD are discussed and a positioning algorithm is proposed for the therapeutic approach of these patients. Summary Different classes of biologics are comparable with regards to safety and almost similar in effectiveness in the management of CD. There are certain clinical scenarios in which one biologic is more effective than another. For instance, patients with a more aggressive disease phenotype such as fistulizing disease would benefit from infliximab over other biologics, whereas in older patients at a higher risk for infectious complications, it may be more appropriate to use ustekinumab or vedolizumab over the anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. More data pertaining to identifying predictors of response to the different available therapies and head-to-head comparison trials are needed to personalize our therapeutic approach of CD patients.
The struggle of a good friend getting old: cellular senescence in viral responses and therapy

Cellular senescence is a state of stable cell cycle arrest associated with macromolecular alterations and secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and molecules. Senescence‐associated phenotypes restrict damage propagation and activate immune responses, two essential processes involved in response to viral infections. However, excessive accumulation and persistence of senescent cells can become detrimental and promote pathology and dysfunctions. Various pharmacological interventions, including antiviral therapies, lead to aberrant and premature senescence. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms by which viral infections and antiviral therapy induce senescence. We highlight the importance of these processes in attenuating viral dissemination and damage propagation, but also how prematurely induced senescent cells can promote detrimental adverse effects in humans. We describe which sequelae due to viral infections and treatment can be partly due to excessive and aberrant senescence. Finally, we propose that pharmacological strategies which eliminate senescent cells or suppress their secretory phenotype could mitigate side effects and alleviate the onset of additional morbidities. These strategies can become extremely beneficial in patients recovering from viral infections or undergoing antiviral therapy.
Effectiveness of electrophysical modalities in the sensorimotor rehabilitation of radial, ulnar, and median neuropathies: A meta-analysis

Introduction People with ulnar, radial or median nerve injuries can present significant impairment of their sensory and motor functions. The prescribed treatment for these conditions often includes electrophysical therapies, whose effectiveness in improving symptoms and function is a source of debate. Therefore, this systematic review aims to provide an integrative overview of the efficacy of these modalities in sensorimotor rehabilitation compared to placebo, manual therapy, or between them. Methods We conducted a systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines. We perform a literature review in the following databases: Biomed Central, Ebscohost, Lilacs, Ovid, PEDro, Sage, Scopus, Science Direct, Semantic Scholar, Taylor & Francis, and Web of Science, for the period 1980–2020. We include studies that discussed the sensorimotor rehabilitation of people with non-degenerative ulnar, radial, or median nerve injury. We assessed the quality of the included studies using the Risk of Bias Tool described in the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Interventions and the risk of bias across studies with the GRADE approach described in the GRADE Handbook. Results Thirty-eight studies were included in the systematic review and 34 in the meta-analysis. The overall quality of evidence was rated as low or very low according to GRADE criteria. Low-level laser therapy and ultrasound showed favourable results in improving symptom severity and functional status compared to manual therapy. In addition, the low level laser showed improvements in pinch strength compared to placebo and pain (VAS) compared to manual therapy. Splints showed superior results to electrophysical modalities. The clinical significance of the results was assessed by effect size estimation and comparison with the minimum clinically important difference (MCID). Conclusions We found favourable results in pain relief, improvement of symptoms, functional status, and neurophysiological parameters for some electrophysical modalities, mainly when applied with a splint. Our results coincide with those obtained in some meta-analyses. However, none of these can be considered clinically significant. Trial registration PROSPERO registration number CRD42020168792; https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/PROSPERO/display_record. php? RecordID=168792.
Overexpression of Long Noncoding RNA LBX2-AS1 Promotes the Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer

Background: LBX2 antisense RNA 1 (LBX2-AS1), a long noncoding RNA, has been identified to be closely associated with the progression of various cancers. However, the role of LBX2-AS1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) is still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression and function of LBX2-AS1 in CRC. Material and Methods: Expression data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases and results obtained from clinical samples/patients were used to determine the correlation between LBX2-AS1 expression and pathological stages, overall survival (OS). Furthermore, knockdown of LBX2-AS1 in CRC cells using the short interfering RNA (siRNA) technique, and observed its biological functions using western blotting, quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry assay in the CRC cell line. Results: Our study demonstrated that the expression levels of LBX2-AS1 were higher in CRC cell lines than in normal colon mucosal cell lines. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that CRC patients with high LBX2-AS1 expression levels had poor OS. Furthermore, knockdown of LBX2-AS1 in CRC cells could attenuate the proliferative ability of CRC cells in vitro, which is associated with decreased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 3, CDK6, and CCND1 and enhanced expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A. Conclusions: LBX2-AS1 plays a crucial role in the tumorigenesis of CRC, providing a potential therapeutic target for CRC patients.
Horizontal Gene Transfer and Gene Duplication of β-Fructofuranosidase Confer Lepidopteran Insects Metabolic Benefits

Abstract Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a potentially critical source of material for ecological adaptation and the evolution of novel genetic traits. However, reports on posttransfer duplication in organism genomes are lacking, and the evolutionary advantages conferred on the recipient are generally poorly understood. Sucrase plays an important role in insect physiological growth and development. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of insect β-fructofuranosidase transferred from bacteria via HGT. We found that posttransfer duplications of β-fructofuranosidase were widespread in Lepidoptera and sporadic occurrences of β-fructofuranosidase were found in Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. β-fructofuranosidase genes often undergo modifications, such as gene duplication, differential gene loss, and changes in mutation rates. Lepidopteran β-fructofuranosidase gene (SUC) clusters showed marked divergence in gene expression patterns and enzymatic properties in Bombyx mori (moth) and Papilio xuthus (butterfly). We generated SUC1 mutations in B. mori using CRISPR/Cas9 to thoroughly examine the physiological function of SUC. BmSUC1 mutant larvae were viable but displayed delayed growth and reduced sucrase activities that included susceptibility to the sugar mimic alkaloid found in high concentrations in mulberry. BmSUC1 served as a critical sucrase and supported metabolic homeostasis in the larval midgut and silk gland, suggesting that gene transfer of β-fructofuranosidase enhanced the digestive and metabolic adaptation of lepidopteran insects. These findings highlight not only the universal function of β-fructofuranosidase with a link to the maintenance of carbohydrate metabolism but also an underexplored function in the silk gland. This study expands our knowledge of posttransfer duplication and subsequent functional diversification in the adaptive evolution and lineage-specific adaptation of organisms.