Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adherence to Benzathine Penicillin G Secondary Prophylaxis and Its Determinants in Patients with Rheumatic Heart Disease at a Cardiac Center of an Ethiopian Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Purpose Benzathine penicillin G (BPG) monthly administration is the most effective method for secondary prophylaxis against acute rheumatic fever (ARF). BPG’s efficacy largely depends on adherence to treatment. This study was aimed at assessing adherence to BPG prophylaxis and its determinants among adult patients with rheumatic heart disease. Patients and Methods An institutional cross-sectional study design was used. One hundred and forty-five patients receiving monthly BPG at the Adult Cardiac Clinic of Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH) were interviewed. Their 1-year BPG prophylaxis administration record was also reviewed. The rate of adherence to BPG injection was determined by calculating the percentage of the administered drug from the total expected doses. Data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25. Both descriptive and logistic regression analyses were computed to describe different variables and assess factors associated with adherence, respectively. A p-value <0.05 was used to declare association. Results Among a total of 145 study participants involved, the majority (76.6%) of them had been receiving BPG for the last 10 years. The average adherence rate to monthly BPG injection was 80.60% with a range of 0% to 100%. However, only 101 (69.7%) of participants were taking ≥80% of their prescribed monthly BPG prophylaxis doses. Study participants with informal education 1.10 (0.023–46.96) and secondary school education 0.89 (0.10–8.11) were more and less likely to adhere to BPG injection, respectively, when compared with those who attended higher education programs. The regression analysis showed patients who were not admitted to the hospital (AOR: 26.22; CI: 2.55–269.70; p=0.006) and once admitted patients (AOR: 50.08; CI: 2.87–873.77; p=0.007) were more likely to adhere to their BPG injections than those admitted twice or more. The study participants who waited until the next appointment were also less adherent (AOR: 0.02; CI: 0.00–0.13; p=0.000) than those who went a few days later for receiving the missed/late dose. Conclusion The adherence rate to BPG injection among RHD patients was found to be high (80.60%). Patients’ admission status and their action on missed and/or late doses were found to be important determinants of adherence in this study.
Clinical and Survival Impact of Sex-Determining Region Y-Box 2 in Colorectal Cancer: An Integrated Analysis of the Immunohistochemical Study and Bioinformatics Analysis

Transcription factor sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) involves in the maintenance of cancer stem cells. However, the role of SOX2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of SOX2 on CRC. Studies were searched using electronic databases. The combined odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs: multivariate Cox survival analysis) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO datasets were further applied to validate the survival effect. The functional analysis of SOX2 was investigated. In this work, 13 studies including 2337 patients were identified, and validation data were enrolled from TCGA and GEO datasets. SOX2 expression was not significantly related to age, gender, microsatellite instability (MSI) status, clinical stage, histological grade, tumor size, pT-stage, lymph node metastasis, distal metastasis, and cancer-specific survival (CSS) but was correlated with worse overall survival (OS: n = 536 patients) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, TCGA data demonstrated similar results, with no significant correlation between SOX2 and pathological characteristics. Further validation data (OS: n = 1408 and disease-free survival (DFS): n = 1367) showed that SOX2 expression was correlated with worse OS (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.11–1.65, P=0.004) and DFS (HR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.04–1.62, P=0.02). The functional analyses showed that SOX2 involved in cell-cell junction, focal adhesion, extracellular matrix- (ECM-) receptor interaction, and MAP kinase activity. Our findings suggest that SOX2 expression may be correlated with the worse prognosis of CRC.
Markers of Hypoxia Correlate with Histologic and Endoscopic Severity of Colitis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Background Inflammation results in significant shifts in tissue metabolism. Recent studies indicate that inflammation and hypoxia occur concomitantly. We examined whether circulating and tissue markers of hypoxia could serve as surrogate indicators of disease severity in adult and pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods Serum and colonic biopsies were obtained from pediatric subjects with active IBD colitis and adult subjects with active and inactive ulcerative colitis, along with healthy non-colitis controls of all ages. Disease activity was evaluated by endoscopy and histopathology. Levels of serum hypoxia markers (macrophage inflammatory protein-3α [MIP-3α], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], and erythropoietin [EPO]) were measured. Results Children with active IBD colitis had higher levels of serum MIP-3α and VEGF compared to non-colitis controls (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively). In adult subjects with endoscopically active ulcerative colitis, serum MIP-3α and EPO were significantly elevated compared to non-colitis controls (both p<0.01). In parallel, analysis of colon tissue MIP-3α mRNA and protein in pediatric subjects revealed increased expression in those with IBD colitis compared to controls (p<0.05 and p<0.01 for mRNA and protein, respectively). Serum MIP-3α and VEGF significantly increased with histology grade. Conclusion Peripheral blood hypoxia markers may be useful indicators of disease activity for pediatric and adult IBD patients.
Long Non-Coding RNA Cancer Susceptibility 9 (CASC9) Up-Regulates the Expression of ERBB2 by Inhibiting miR-193a-5p in Colorectal Cancer

Background Emerging studies have reported that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were crucial regulators in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). LncRNA susceptibility 9 (CASC9) was involved in several cancers; however, its role in CRC remains unknown. Methods RT-PCR was done to probe the expression of CASC9 and miR-193a-5p in CRC samples. CRC cell lines (HCT116 and SW480) were used as cell models. The biological influence of CASC9 on cancer cells was studied using CCK-8 assay, Transwell assay and TUNEL assay in vitro, and subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor model in vivo. Interaction between CASC9 and miR-193a-5p was investigated by bioinformatics analysis, RT-PCR, and luciferase reporter assay. The expression level of the downstream gene of miR-193a-5p, erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (ERBB2), was tested by Western blot. Results CASC9 was significantly up-regulated in CRC samples, while miR-193a-5p was markedly down-regulated. Overexpression of CASC9 promoted viability, migration and invasion of CRC cells, while overexpression of miR-193a-5p had the opposite effect. CASC9 could down-regulate miR-193a-5p via sponging it, and there was a negative relevancy between CASC9 and miR-193a-5p in CRC samples. CASC9 also enhanced the expression levels of ERBB2, while this effect could be reversed by co-transfection with miR-193a-5p. Conclusion CASC9, an oncogenic lncRNA, was abnormally up-regulated in CRC tissues, and it could indirectly modulate the expression of ERBB2 via reducing the expression level of miR-193a-5p.
Correlation Between Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Sarcopenia in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Foot Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose The present study was designed to determine the relationships between sarcopenia and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic foot disease (DFD) respectively. Patients and Methods A total of 1104 patients with T2DM and 257 patients with DFD were included in the study, which was designed as a cross-sectional study. Body composition was assessed using dual-energy X-ray-absorptiometry (DXA). The diagnosis of sarcopenia was based on the Baumgartner criteria. DPN was assessed by Neuropathy symptom score (NSS) and Neuropathy disability score (NDS), and the severity of neuropathy was divided into non-neuropathy symptom (NS), Mild NS, Moderate NS and Severe NS according to NSS. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the relations of sarcopenia and DPN in patients with T2DM and NSS in patients with DFD, respectively. Results The prevalence of DPN was 80.0% in T2DM patients with sarcopenia and 70.3% in non-sarcopenia patients (P=0.007). Logistic regression analyses showed DPN was one of the independent risk factors for sarcopenia in T2DM patients (OR 1.564 [95% CI: 1.004, 2.435], P=0.048). The prevalence of DPN had no statistical significance in DFD patients with or without sarcopenia. However, the NSS of DFD patients with sarcopenia was higher than that of non-sarcopenia patients. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, NSS was determined to be associated with sarcopenia in DFD patients (OR 1.387[95% CI: 1.074, 1.789], P=0.012). The appendicular lean mass (ALM) of DFD patients without NS was higher than patients with mild, moderate and severe NS (20.71±2.73 vs 16.57±3.62 vs 17.99±3.54 vs 17.23±3.29 Kg, P=0.028). Conclusion DPN is an independent risk factor for sarcopenia in patients with T2DM and NSS is also independently correlated with sarcopenia in patients with DFD, with the latter being more obvious with the aggravation of neurological symptoms in DFD patients.
Targetting Exosomes as a New Biomarker and Therapeutic Approach for Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly occurs in old age and involves progressive cognitive impairment. AD has become a major global issue for public health, with approximately 24 million people currently affected by the disease. Estimates indicted that this number will quadruple by 2050. Because of the high incidence of AD, there is an urgent need to develop new strategies to diagnose and treat AD. Many recent studies have indicated the multiple, yet somewhat controversial, roles of exosomes in AD. Although the underlying mechanisms by which exosomes play a role in AD are still unknown, current evidence suggests that exosomes can carry and spread toxic amyloid-beta, and hyperphosphorylated tau, between cells, and then induce apoptosis, thus contributing to the loss of neurons. In addition, exosomes appear to possess the ability to reduce brain amyloid-beta, and tau hyperphosphorylation, and transfer neuroprotective substances between neural cells. The accumulating data brings hope that the application of exosomes may be helpful for early diagnostics and the identification of new therapeutic targets for AD. Here, we summarized the various roles of exosomes, and how they might relate to the pathogenesis of AD. We also highlight the potential application of exosomes as a therapeutic option in AD therapy.
Chemical compositions and antifungal activities of Satureja macrosiphon against Candida and Aspergillus species

Background and Purpose: Despite the various applications of Satureja species, there are limited data in this domain. Regarding this, the present study was conducted to investigate the essential oil (EO) biological activity of S. macrosiphon species in Iran. Materials and Methods: The EO of S. macrosiphon flowers was obtained by hydrodistillation. Chemical compositions of the EO were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were measured by means of the broth microdilution method. The estimation of antibiofilm and cytotoxic activities was also accomplished using the tetrazolium salt and MTT assays, respectively. Results: A total of 26 components were identified in the EO with linalool as the main constituent (28.46%). A MIC range value of 0.25-8 μL/mL was obtained against all of the tested fungi. The EO inhibited the biofilm development of the Candida tested strains at a concentration of 4-8 μL/mL. Cytotoxicity (IC50) of EO against the HeLa cell was greater than the MIC concentration (6.49 μL/mL). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it was concluded that the EO of S. macrosiphon has the potential for further use as an antifungal agent.
The lncRNA BCYRN1 Functions as an Oncogene in Human Glioma by Downregulating miR-125a-5p in vitro

Introduction Numerous studies have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are deregulated in many cancers and exert their functions through multiple cancer-related biological processes. Glioma is the most common primary malignant central nervous system tumor and has a high fatality rate in adults. In current study, we aimed to determine the role and functional mechanism of the lncRNA BCYRN1 in glioma. Methods Gain-of-function and loss-of function approaches were used to investigate the function of BCYRN1. The effects of BCYRN1 on glioma cell proliferation, migration and invasion were evaluated using MTS, Transwell and wound-healing assays. The correlation between the expression of BCYRN1 and miR-125a-5p was verified by quantitative real-time PCR. Results The upregulation of BCYRN1 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells. Meanwhile, the knockdown of BCYRN1 had the opposite effects. BCYRN1 was negatively correlated with miR-125a-5p. Additionally, TAZ, the endogenous target of miR-125a-5p, could be regulated by BCYRN1 in RNA and protein levels. A miR-125a-5p inhibitor restored BCYRN1 siRNA function in glioma. Conclusion The present study indicates that BCYRN1 promotes glioma cell proliferation, invasion and migration in vitro. Mechanistically, upregulated expression of BCYRN1 in glioma acts as a sponge to sequester the endogenous tumor suppressor miR-125a-5p and to further increase the expression TAZ. Our findings suggest that BCYRN1 is a novel oncogene and a new therapeutic target for glioma.
ABCA7 Gene Expression and Genetic Association Study in Schizophrenia

Introduction Although ATP-binding cassette sub-family A member 7 gene (ABCA7) is known to be associated with Alzheimer’s disease, the relationship between ABCA7 and schizophrenia has been unknown. Methods Schizophrenia patients (n = 50; 24 males, 62.1 ± 0.50 years old) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (n = 50) were recruited for the mRNA analysis. Additionally, a case-control study for the rs3764650 genotypes was performed with 1308 samples (control subjects; n = 527, schizophrenia patients; n = 781). All participants were Japanese, unrelated to each other, and living in the same area. Results The distributions of the rs3764650 genotypes in schizophrenia patients were not different from that of controls. However, the ABCA7 mRNA expression levels in schizophrenia patients were significantly higher than those in controls by a logistic regression analysis. Additionally, the ABCA7 mRNA expression levels in schizophrenia patients were correlated with the rs3764650 genotypes in a dose-dependent manner. Discussion The ABCA7 mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood with the rs3764650 genotypes may be related to pathological mechanisms in schizophrenia and may be a biological marker for schizophrenia.
Recent Advances in Neonatal Diabetes

Abstract Neonatal diabetes mellitus (DM) is defined by the onset of persistent hyperglycemia within the first six months of life but may present up to 12 months of life. A gene mutation affecting pancreatic beta cells or synthesis/secretion of insulin is present in more than 80% of the children with neonatal diabetes. Neonatal DM can be transient, permanent, or be a component of a syndrome. Genetic testing is important as a specific genetic mutation can significantly alter the treatment and outcome. Patients with mutations of either KCNJ11 or ABCC8 that encode subunits of the KATP channel gene mutation can be managed with sulfonylurea oral therapy while patients with other genetic mutations require insulin treatment.
How Common is Eosinophilia in Tuberculosis? Case Report

Abstract Though peripheral blood eosinophilia is common due to allergic diseases, drugs, parasitic infections, and malignancies, it is rarely reported due to tuberculosis (TB). The association between eosinophilia and TB is not well known. We have a case of the 9-year-old female present with abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant which is non-radiating associated with decreased appetite, weight loss, malaise and low-grade fever and vomiting of ingested of two weeks. On examination, she had severe wasting and hepatomegaly. On investigations, she had leukocytosis with 50% of eosinophilia, high ESR, multiple liver cysts (abdominal ultrasound and CT) and biopsy suggestive of TB. Finally, the patient started on anti-TB and her response was followed by clinical and laboratory parameters. After three weeks of treatment with anti-TB, she starts to gain weight, improve abdominal pain, appetite loss, and the investigation also normalized (leukocyte and the eosinophil become normalized, ESR corrected). The patient was to follow up for two years in the clinic and finally discharged. The coexistence of eosinophilia and TB in our patient is suggested because of the biopsy results in conjunction with the improvement of peripheral blood eosinophilia with anti-TB treatment. This example hopefully will encourage future investigations and researchers to look at the prevalence and a clear association of TB and peripheral eosinophilia.
Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency: Therapeutic Options

Abstract Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) deficiency is a metabolic (storage) disorder, encompassing a severe (Wolman disease) and attenuated (Cholesterol ester storage disease) subtype; both inherited as autosomal recessive traits. Cardinal clinical features include the combination of hepatic dysfunction and dyslipidemia, as a consequence of cholesteryl esters and triglyceride accumulation, predominately in the liver and vascular and reticuloendothelial system. Significant morbidity can arise, due to liver failure and/or atherosclerosis; in part related to the severity of the underlying gene defect and corresponding enzyme deficiency. Diagnosis is based on demonstration of decreased LAL enzyme activity, complemented by analysis of the cognate gene defects. Therapeutic options include dietary manipulation and the use of lipid-lowering drugs. Sebelipase alfa, a recombinant enzyme replacement therapy, has garnered regulatory approval, following demonstration of improvements in disease-relevant markers and clinical benefit in clinical trials, which included increased survival in the most severe cases.
Chromosomal Instability in Farmers Exposed to Pesticides: High Prevalence of Clonal and Non-Clonal Chromosomal Alterations

Introduction An important economic activity in Colombia is agricultural production and farmers are frequently exposed to pesticides. Occupational exposure to pesticides is associated with an increased incidence of various diseases, including cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, reproductive disorders, and birth defects. However, although high genotoxicity is associated with these chemicals, information about the type and frequency of specific chromosomal alterations (CAs) and the level of chromosomal instability (CIN) induced by exposure to pesticides is scarce or absent. Methods In this study, CAs and CIN were assessed in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from five farmers occupationally exposed to pesticides and from five unexposed individuals using GTG-banding and molecular cytogenetic analysis. Results A significant increase in clonal and non-clonal chromosomal alterations was observed in pesticide-exposed individuals compared with unexposed individuals (510±12,2 vs 73±5,7, respectively; p<0.008). Among all CAs, monosomies and deletions were more frequently observed in the exposed group. Also, a high frequency of fragilities was observed in the exposed group. Conclusion Together, these findings suggest that exposure to pesticides could be associated with CIN in PBLs and indicate the need for the establishment of educational programs on safety precautions when handling pesticides, such as wearing gloves, masks and boots, changing clothes and maintaining proper hygiene, among others. Further evaluation in other similar studies that include a greater number of individuals exposed to pesticides is necessary.
Comparison of the performance of ITS1 and ITS2 as barcodes in amplicon-based sequencing of bioaerosols

This paper presents the performance of two eukaryotic genomic ribosomal regions, ITS1 and ITS2, in describing fungal diversity in aerosol samples using amplicon-based High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS). Composting sites, biomethanization facilities, and dairy farms, all affected by the presence of fungi, were visited to collect air samples. The amplicon-based HTS approach is a target enrichment method that relies on the amplification of a specific target using particular primers before sequencing. Thus, the results are highly dependent on the quality of amplification. For this reason, the authors of this paper used a shotgun metagenomic approach to compare its outcome with the amplicon-based method. Indeed, shotgun metagenomic does not rely on any amplification prior to sequencing, because all genes are sequenced without a specific target. In addition, culture methods were added to the analyses in biomethanization and dairy farms samples to validate their contribution to fungal diversity of aerosols. The results obtained are unequivocal towards ITS1 outperformance to ITS2 in terms of richness, and taxonomic coverage. The differential abundance analysis did demonstrate that some taxa were exclusively detected only by ITS2, and vice-versa for ITS1. However, the shotgun metagenomic approach showed a taxonomic profile more resembling to ITS1 than ITS2. Based on these results, neither of the barcodes evaluated is perfect in terms of distinguishing all species. Using both barcodes offers a broader view of the fungal aerosol population. However, with the actual knowledge, the authors strongly recommend using ITS1 as a universal fungal barcode for quick general analyses of diversity and when limited financial resources are available, primarily due its ability to capture taxonomic profiles similar to those obtained using the shotgun metagenomic. The culture comparison with amplicon-based sequencing showed the complementarity of both approaches in describing the most abundant taxa.