Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress and emotional reactions in Israel: a mixed-methods study

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact worldwide. This study sought to assess the pandemic's psychological impact on the Israeli public. Methods Using mixed methods we assessed Israeli adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. In the quantitative study, participants (N=1407) completed an online battery of measures assessing psychological variables and perceived threat related to COVID-19. Statistical analyses included tests for between-group differences and Pearson correlations. The qualitative study entailed in-depth, semistructured interviews conducted by telephone (N=38). Results The quantitative findings indicate that about 48% of the public had negative emotional reactions and 20% perceived they were liable to contract the virus. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between these feelings and the degree of perceived threat. Three major themes emerged from the qualitative study: 1) a sense of shock and chaos; 2) gradual adjustment to the new reality; and 3) fears and concerns for self and family members. The study's results revealed the following sources of participants’ emotional responses and sense of threat: health concerns regarding themselves and their loved ones; employment concerns; problems with children and spouses caused by being together at home; and difficulties entailed in working at home. Conclusions The study reveals many of the psychological variables and perceived threats related to COVID-19 in Israel. While social distancing may make people feel safer, it can also increase their feelings of isolation, stress and frustration and cause difficulties in many life situations. The findings point to the necessity of addressing the public's perceived susceptibility and emotional reactions about COVID-19.
Overexpression of NDRG2 promotes the therapeutic effect of pazopanib on ovarian cancer

Abstract Objectives Ovarian cancer is the second commonly seen cancer in the US, patients with ovarian cancer are commonly diagnosed in the advanced stage. Pazopanib is an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases and has been approved in treatment for carcinoma by FDA. N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) has been regarded as a cancer suppressor gene and presented an inhibition effect in cancer proliferation, invasion, and migration. Design: NDRG2 was overexpressed or inhibited in SKOV-3 cells, then experiments were performed to detect the apoptosis of cells. The expression or secretion of pro-cancer molecules was detected. And the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and the ASK1/JNK1 signaling pathway was detected. Methods The NDRG2 overexpression and inhibition model was firstly constructed in SKOV-3 cells, the apoptotic cells were detected using flow cytometry. The expression of cellular metastasis genes was detected using the qPCR method. The angiogenesis factors was detected using the ELISA method. Expression of each target protein was detected using western blotting analysis. Results NDRG2 overexpression and inhibition model were constructed in the SKOV-3 cell line, overexpression of NDRG2 enhanced the effect of pazopanib on inhibition of the expression of metastasis-related molecules and angiogenesis-related factors. The apoptosis process of cells was also enhanced after overexpression of NDRG2, and these effects were regulated by the activation of the ASK1/JNK1 signaling pathway. Limitations: The effect of NDRG2 in animal models and more cell lines needs to be explored in further study. Conclusions NDRG2 might be a therapeutic target in treatment for ovarian cancer.
Predicting Caregiver Burden in Informal Caregivers for the Elderly in Ecuador

Informal caregivers are the main providers of care for the elderly. The aim of this study is to examine the predictive value of different variables regarding caregivers and their elderly patients with respect to the caregiver’s burden. A convenience sample of 688 informal caregivers and 688 elderly people from Ecuador was surveyed. Only households with one caregiver and one elderly person were considered for the study. For informal caregivers, the following standardized measures were obtained: burden (Zarit Burden Interview), neuroticism (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised-Abbreviated, EPQR-A), caregiver’s general health (GHQ-12), and social support (modified Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, FSSQ11). For the elderly, we employed standardized measures of cognitive function (short portable mental status questionnaire, SPMSQ), Pfeiffer’s test, and functional dependency (Barthel scale/Index, BI). Females were over-represented in caregiving and reported significantly higher burden levels than those of males. In both male and female caregivers, the burden was best predicted by the time of caring, neuroticism, and elderly cognitive impairment. However, some predictors of burden were weighted differently in males and females. The functional independence of the elderly was a significant predictor of burden for male caregivers but not females, while caregiver competence was a significant predictor for females but not males. These variables accounted for more than 88% of the variability in informal caregivers.
A Latent Deprivation Perspective: Mechanisms Linking Volunteering to Mental Health in Later Life

This study tests the hypothesis that the latent deprivation model (LDM) can be extended to volunteer work, by exploring the extent to which two potential latent benefits of volunteer work—purpose in life and perceived social status—mediate the negative relationship between volunteerism and mental health (measured as depressive symptoms). Structural equation modeling with the full-information maximum likelihood (FIML) was adopted to model a sample of 5887 respondents from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). The outcome was depressive symptoms; the independent variable was volunteering; and the mediators were “purpose in life” and “perceived social status. ” Findings show that purpose in life and perceived social status partially mediated the relationship between volunteering and depressive symptoms, with purpose in life having a more substantial effect than perceived social status. Implications for future research and practice are also discussed.
Zinc transporter 8 autoantibody in the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children

Background Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease related to the autoimmune response against pancreatic β-cells. Zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8), an islet-specific gene product localized to the β-cell insulin granule, was recently identified as an autoantigen in T1D. Purpose To evaluate the use of ZnT8 autoantibody (ZnT8A) for diagnosing T1D. Methods This case-control study was conducted at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia, from March to May 2019. Children younger than 18 years of age with T1D based on the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes guideline and healthy controls were included. We measured ZnT8A level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cutoff value, 0.315). Results There were 30 children with T1D (50.0% boys; mean age, 11.3±3.7 years) and 18 healthy controls (44.4% boys; mean age, 8.3±3.1 years); 1 patient in each group was Madurese, while the others were Javanese. Twenty-two of 30 subjects with T1D (73.3%) tested positive for ZnT8A compared to 5 of 18 controls (27.8%) (P=0.02; odds ratio, 7.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.93–26.52). When ZnT8A-positive and -negative T1D cases were compared, no differences were detected in age at diagnosis, duration of diabetes, presence of ketoacidosis, body mass index, glycosylated hemoglobin concentration, or C-peptide concentrations. Conclusion ZnT8A may be useful in the diagnosis of T1D.
Taste Interactions between Sweetness of Sucrose and Sourness of Citric and Tartaric Acid among Chinese and Danish Consumers

Tastes interact in almost every consumed food or beverage, yet many aspects of interactions, such as sweet-sour interactions, are not well understood. This study investigated the interaction between sweetness from sucrose and sourness from citric and tartaric acid, respectively. A cross-cultural consumer study was conducted in China (n = 120) and Denmark (n = 139), respectively. Participants evaluated six aqueous samples with no addition (control), sucrose, citric acid, tartaric acid, or a mixture of sucrose and citric acid or sucrose and tartaric acid. No significant difference was found between citric acid and tartaric acid in the suppression of sweetness intensity ratings of sucrose. Further, sucrose suppressed sourness intensity ratings of citric acid and tartaric acid similarly. Culture did not impact the suppression of sweetness intensity ratings of citric or tartaric acid, whereas it did influence sourness intensity ratings. While the Danish consumers showed similar suppression of sourness by both acids, the Chinese consumers were more susceptible towards the sourness suppression caused by sucrose in the tartaric acid-sucrose mixture compared to the citric acid-sucrose mixture. Agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis revealed clusters of consumers with significant differences in sweetness intensity ratings and sourness intensity ratings. These results indicate that individual differences in taste perception might affect perception of sweet-sour taste interactions, at least in aqueous solutions.
Nutrition Behaviors in Polish Adults before and during COVID-19 Lockdown

Unexpected isolation, which has not yet been seen on a global scale, has created the conditions for evaluating nutrition in a situation of reduced spatial activity. The study aimed to assess the influence of lockdown on selected eating habits of Polish adults. An anonymous questionnaire was conducted, including questions about eating habits and self-reported anthropometric measurements, referring to “before” and “during” lockdown. We reported the findings of 312 adults (aged 41.12 ± 13.05 years). Overall, 64.1% of the participants were women, 77.7% urban inhabitants and 78.6% employed. The average length of social isolation was 50.79 ± 10.53 days. The majority (51.6%) of the respondents did not eat outside the house during lockdown (p < 0.0001). The number of meals eaten during the day during lockdown increased significantly, 11.2% of the respondents ate 5 and more meals (p < 0.0001). The percentage of people snacking between meals increased by 5.1% during lockdown (p = 0.0001). Eggs, potatoes, sweets, canned meat and alcohol were consumed considerably more commonly during lockdown, while fast-food products, instant soups and energy drinks were eaten or drunk significantly less frequently. A marked decrease in the number of daily servings of the following products was observed: bakery products, red meat, fast food, instant soups, sweet beverages and energy drinks. Conversely, the number of daily servings of sweets and canned meat significantly increased. Two thirds of the respondents reported body weight changes, with 45.86% of the participants being overweight during lockdown. Significant changes in the diet of Polish adults were found during lockdown due to COVID-19.
Long-term Oncologic Outcomes of Immediate Breast Reconstruction vs Conventional Mastectomy Alone for Breast Cancer in the Setting of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Importance An increasing number of patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) undergo immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) or skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) as surgical treatment. However, the oncologic efficacy and safety of this treatment sequencing strategy is unclear. Objective To compare the long-term oncologic outcomes of IBR with NSM/SSM and conventional mastectomy (CM) alone for breast cancer in the NACT setting. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective, propensity score-matched case-control study was conducted at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. A total of 1266 patients with breast cancer who underwent NACT followed by mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction between January 1, 2010, and November 30, 2016, were included. Data analysis was performed from July 1, 2019, to January 24, 2020. After propensity score matching, 323 patients who underwent IBR with NSM/SSM and 323 who underwent CM alone were selected for comparison of long-term oncologic outcomes. Main Outcomes and Measures The 5-year local recurrence-free survival, disease-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and overall survival rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank tests. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results After matching, the median follow-up periods were 67 (range, 17-125) months for the IBR group and 68 (range, 17-126) months for the CM-alone group. Median age of the women in the IBR group was 42 (range, 23-72) years; median age of those in the CM-alone group was 46 (range, 30-75) years. No significant differences were observed between the IBR and CM-alone groups in local recurrence (3.7% vs 3.4%; P = .83), regional recurrence (7.1% vs 5.3%; P = .33), or distant metastasis (17.3% vs 18.6%; P = .68) rates. There was also no significant difference between the IBR and CM-alone groups in 5-year local recurrence-free survival (95.6% vs 96.7%; HR, 1.124; 95% CI, 0.495-2.549; P = .78), disease-free survival (76.5% vs 79.9%; HR, 1.089; 95% CI, 0.790-1.500; P = .60), distant metastasis-free survival (82.5% vs 82.5%; HR, 0.941; 95% CI, 0.654-1.355; P = .74), or overall survival (92.0% vs 89.3%; HR, 0.847; 95% CI, 0.530-1.353; P = .49) rates. Conclusions and Relevance The long-term oncologic outcomes of IBR with NSM/SSM for breast cancer in this study appeared to be comparable to those of CM alone after NACT, suggesting the feasibility of IBR with NSM/SSM in the NACT setting.
Myringoplasty With an Ultrathin Cartilage-Perichondrium Complex Graft Versus Temporalis Fascia Graft: A Propensity Score–Matched Analysis

Objective To compare endoscopic myringoplasty using the cartilage-perichondrium complex as a graft (test group) with temporalis fascia microscopic myringoplasty (control group). Study Design A retrospective cohort study. Setting Department of Otorhinolaryngology in a tertiary Chinese hospital. Methods Data were collected on patients between 2017 and 2019. To balance the baseline characteristics between groups, we performed a propensity score–matched analysis, and 44 patients were included in each group. Hearing improvement and eardrum closure rates were compared, and risk factors affecting them were analyzed. Results In the control and test groups, 90.90% and 86.36% of patients had a mean air-bone gap ≤20 dB after the surgery, respectively (P = .843). The air conduction (AC) threshold gain at each frequency was similar in the 2 groups (P > .05). The closure rates were 95.45% and 93.18%, respectively (P = .645). The air-bone gap improved significantly after surgery, F(1, 61) = 6.729, P = . 012. Age, group, middle ear mucosal status, and location of the perforation did not affect the change in air-bone gap or the drum closure rate (P > .05). However, there was an interaction between the change in air-bone gap and the size of the perforation, F(1, 61) = 11.067, P = 0001. Conclusion Endoscopic myringoplasty using a cartilage-perichondrium complex graft is comparable with traditional surgery. Age, location of the perforation, and middle ear mucosal status did not significantly affect the change in air-bone gap or the drum closure rate. A perforation size ≥50% was always associated with a better air-bone gap improvement.
Tissue engineered axon‐based “living scaffolds” promote survival of spinal cord motor neurons following peripheral nerve repair

Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) impacts millions annually, often leaving debilitated patients with minimal repair options to improve functional recovery. Our group has previously developed tissue engineered nerve grafts (TENGs) featuring long, aligned axonal tracts from dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons that are fabricated in custom bioreactors using the process of axon “stretch‐growth. ” We have shown that TENGs effectively serve as “living scaffolds” to promote regeneration across segmental nerve defects by exploiting the newfound mechanism of axon‐facilitated axon regeneration, or “AFAR,” by simultaneously providing haptic and neurotrophic support. To extend this work, the current study investigated the efficacy of living versus nonliving regenerative scaffolds in preserving host sensory and motor neuronal health following nerve repair. Rats were assigned across five groups: naïve, or repair using autograft, nerve guidance tube (NGT) with collagen, NGT + non‐aligned DRG populations in collagen, or TENGs. We found that TENG repairs yielded equivalent regenerative capacity as autograft repairs based on preserved health of host spinal cord motor neurons and acute axonal regeneration, whereas NGT repairs or DRG neurons within an NGT exhibited reduced motor neuron preservation and diminished regenerative capacity. These acute regenerative benefits ultimately resulted in enhanced levels of functional recovery in animals receiving TENGs, at levels matching those attained by autografts. Our findings indicate that TENGs may preserve host spinal cord motor neuron health and regenerative capacity without sacrificing an otherwise uninjured nerve (as in the case of the autograft) and therefore represent a promising alternative strategy for neurosurgical repair following PNI.
ON THE IDENTITY OF ORTHOMUS HESPERICUS MOTSCHULSKY, 1849 (COLEOPTERA: CARABIDAE: PTEROSTICHINI)

Orthomus hespericus Motschulsky, 1849, formerly placed by different authors as questionable synonym of either O. velocissimus akbensis Mateu, 1955 or O. velocissimus andalusiacus Mateu, 1957, is treated here as junior subjective synonym of O . barbarus barbarus (Dejean, 1828). A lectotype of O. hespericus Motschulsky is designated. O. rectangulus (Fairmaire, 1859) represents a possible junior subjective synonym of O . berytensis (Reiche & Saulcy, 1855). The treatment of Carabus rectangulus Cuvier, 1833, as a junior secondary homonym of Feronia rectangula Fairmaire, 1849 is rejected. A corrected version of the checklist of the species of Orthomus is included.
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Ukrainian Iris Species: A Fresh Look on Their Antioxidant Content and Biological Activities

The major groups of antioxidant compounds (isoflavonoids, xanthones, hydroxycinnamic acids) in the rhizome methanol extracts of four Ukrainian Iris sp. (Iris pallida, Iris hungarica, Iris sibirica, and Iris variegata) were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using HPLC-DAD and UPLC-MS/MS. Gallic acid, caffeic acid, mangiferin, tectoridin, irigenin, iristectorigenin B, irisolidone, 5,6-dihydroxy-7,8,3′,5′-tetramethoxyisoflavone, irisolidone-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, germanaism B, and nigricin were recognized by comparing their UV/MS spectra, chromatographic retention time (tR) with those of standard reference compounds. I. hungarica and I. variegata showed the highest total amount of phenolic compounds. Germanaism B was the most abundant component in the rhizomes of I. variegata (7.089 ± 0.032 mg/g) and I. hungarica (6.285 ± 0.030 mg/g). The compound analyses showed good calibration curve linearity (r2 > 0.999) and low detection and quantifications limit. These results validated the method for its use in the simultaneous quantitative evaluation of phenolic compounds in the studied Iris sp. I. hungarica and I. variegata rhizomes exhibited antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by the HPLC-ABTS system and NRF2 expression assay and anti-inflammatory activity on respiratory burst in human neutrophils. Moreover, the extracts showed anti-allergic and cytotoxic effects against cancer cells. Anti-coronavirus 229E and lipid formation activities were also evaluated. In summary, potent antioxidant marker compounds were identified in the examined Iris sp.
Effect of Inulin, Honey and Gum Acacia on Growth of Human Faecal Potential Probiotic Lactobacilli

Lactobacilli are considered potentially probiotic organism because of its health beneficial effects. In the present investigation, total 3 isolates of Lactobacilli species were isolated from human faecal samples. Recovered isolates were identified on the basis of their morphological, biochemical and fermentation patterns and were further grown in presence of prebiotics (inulin, honey and gum acacia) at different concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0%) during 0-24 h at intervals. In view of all the observations and results, it was clear that among the three prebiotics, honey (0.5% during 0-6 h interval) was utilized efficiently giving highest specific growth rate (μ). Based on the results of this study, it is quite clear that Lactobacillus plantarum could be further selected as a potential probiotic.
CD8+ T cells are present at low levels in the white matter with physiological and pathological aging

The presence and functional role of T cell infiltration in human brain parenchyma with normal aging and neurodegeneration is still under intense debate. Recently, CD8+ cells have been shown to infiltrate the subventricular zone in humans and mice with a deleterious effect on neural stem cells. However, to which extent T cell infiltration in humans also occurs in other regions such as cortical areas and, especially, white matter (WM) has not yet been addressed. In this work, we report a low-grade infiltration of T cells (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+) in the WM of aged individuals that is also observed at similar levels in patients with neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer´s disease). In particular, CD3+ and CD8+ cells were increased in perivascular and parenchymal WM and cortical regions (enthorinal cortex). These results reveal that T cell infiltration in brain parenchyma occurs with physiological and pathological aging in several regions, but it seems to be lower than in the subventricular zone neurogenic niche.
The impact of emotional health on assisted reproductive technology outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract This systematic review and meta-analysis has addressed ongoing controversy surrounding the association between pre-treatment anxiety, stress and depression and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. Medline, Embase and PsycINFO were searched up to November 2019. The eligibility criterion was observational studies reporting the association between pre-treatment anxiety, stress or depression and ART outcomes in men, women or couples undergoing ART. The association between pre-treatment anxiety, stress and depression and ART outcomes were extracted, and meta-analyses carried out if ≥3 studies assessed the same outcome over the same number of cycles and reported results homogeneously. The review reports a potential association between decreased sperm motility and increased male state anxiety, but no significant association between women’s pre-treatment emotional health and ART outcomes in terms of live birth, clinical pregnancy, chemical pregnancy, oocyte retrieval, embryos transferred or fertilization. Meta-analyses showed no significant standardized mean difference (SMD) for anxiety/stress and clinical or chemical pregnancy, or depression and clinical or chemical pregnancy.