Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Microbial Populations in the Blood of Patients With Myocardial Infarction and Healthy Individuals

Increased bacterial translocation in the gut and bloodstream infections are both major comorbidities of heart failure and myocardial infarction (MI). However, the alterations in the microbiome of the blood of patients with MI remain unclear. To test this hypothesis, we conducted this case-control study to explore the microbiota compositions in the blood of Chinese patients with MI. Using high-throughput Illumina HiSeq sequencing targeting the V3–V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, the microbiota communities in the blood of 29 patients with MI and 29 healthy controls were examined. In addition, the relationship between the blood microbiome and clinical features of MI was investigated. This study revealed a significant reduction in alpha diversity (Shannon index) in the MI group compared with the healthy controls. Also, a significant difference was detected in the structure and richness between the patients with MI and healthy controls. The members of the phylum Actinobacteria, class Actinobacteria, order Bifdobacteriales, family Bifidobacteriaceae, and genus Bifidobacterium were significantly abundant in the MI group, while the members of the phylum Bacteroidetes, class Bacteroidia, and order Bacteroidales were significantly enriched in the healthy controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, the functional analysis revealed a significant variation between both groups. For instance, the enrichment of genes involved in the metabolism pathways of three amino acids decreased, that is, nucleotide transport and metabolism, coenzyme transport and metabolism, and lipid transport and metabolism, among others. Our study will contribute to a better knowledge of the microbiota of blood, which will further lead to improved MI diagnosis and therapy. Further study is needed to determine the role of the blood microbiota in human health and disease.
A Systematic Review of “Helicopter Parenting” and Its Relationship With Anxiety and Depression

Background Emerging evidence suggests that overprotective and controlling parenting, often referred to as “helicopter parenting” may have negative implications on the child's mental health such as anxiety and depression. However, no systematic review on the topic exists. Objective Conducting a systematic review to identify all studies where the relationship between helicopter parenting and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression have been investigated. Method A systematic literature search conducted the 3rd of November 2021 yielded 38 eligible studies. Since helicopter parenting is a fairly new construct, this review considered parental control and overprotective parenting to be dimensions of helicopter parenting and thus, eligible for the study. Study quality was assessed in accordance with Campbells Validity Typology. Results The majority of the studies included in this review found a direct relationship between helicopter parenting and symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, validity problems undermine these findings with regarding to assessing the causal relationship between helicopter parenting and these symptoms. There were no longitudinal studies of sufficient quality to determine if helicopter parenting precedes the outcome of anxiety and depression. Conclusion Even though the majority of the studies included in this systematic review found a relationship between helicopter parenting and anxiety and depression, the evidence for this relationship is insufficient and must be investigated further. Findings suggest that it is important to include both maternal and paternal parenting style in future studies as they could affect the outcome of anxiety and depression differently. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020167465, https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/prospero/display_record. php? RecordID=167465.
A New Way Out of the Predicament of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma From Existing Data Analysis

Background Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is an endocrine tumor with a low incidence but a very poor prognosis. The vast majority of patients have a survival time of only three to six months, but a few survive for two years or more. In recent years, there have been major breakthroughs in targeted and immunotherapy in the field of oncology therapy. Although the preliminary study for ATC showed a promising prospect, more clinical trials are needed. It is the best approach to explore the measures that can improve survival time of ATC from the available clinical data, especially those with long survival. Methods We report on an 82-year-old ATC patient who survived for 3 years and systematically review the clinical characteristics of 45 ATC patients with complete data from the two largest centers in northwest China. In particular, factors related to long-term survival were analyzed and summarized. Results Three years prior, an 82-year-old woman was diagnosed with ATC by core needle biopsy following a physical examination. The thyroid tumor was resected within one month, and then the patient was treated with radiotherapy. The patient was still healthy after three years of follow-up. Analysis of prognostic factors for the 45 reviewed patients showed that those undergoing radical surgery (median overall survival (OS) = 472 days, p = 0.0261) and radiotherapy (median OS = 220 days, p = 0.0136) had better outcomes. In addition, patients younger than 65 years (median OS = 164.5 days, p = 0.0176) and with a lower tumor stage (IV A, median OS = 633.5 days, p = 0.0191) also had a better outcome. Conclusion ATC is a highly malignant tumor, but timely early diagnosis and standardized treatment with radical surgery and radiotherapy as the core can achieve good results. Some patients can achieve long-term survival.
The Effect of Alpha s1 Genotype on Some Physiological and Chemical Milk Characteristics in Garganica Goat

In the present study individual milk samples were collected from 80 Garganica goats and the population was genotyped for CSN1S1. Seven different alleles were observed with the A allele found as predominant, followed by the F and B allele, and 14 different genotypes were observed. A proteomic approach was used to classify the individual milk on the basis of protein abundance: four levels of αs1-casein (CN) expression were identified as high (HAS-1), intermediate (IAS-1), low (LAS-1), and null (NAS-1). The present paper aimed to investigate the influence of the level of expression of αs1-casein fraction in milk on proteolytic activities, chemical composition, and renneting properties of individual Garganica goat milk. Results from the present study evidenced that the level of expression of αs1-casein fraction in Garganica goat milk affected chemical composition, curd firmness, and indigenous proteolytic enzymes. In particular, fat, protein, and casein content were higher in HAS-1 and IAS-1 compared to LAS-1 and NAS-1. The SCC decreased passing from the HAS-1 to the NAS-1 and the curd firmness displayed the highest value in HAS-1. The activity of plasmin (PL) was higher in HAS-1 and IAS-1 groups compared to the LAS-1 and NAS-1; whereas, PL plasminogen-derived (PG) activity was the highest in NAS-1 group. On the contrary, the activity of elastase was the highest in LAS-1, intermediate in the IAS-1 group, and the lowest in HAS-1 and NAS-1 groups. Present data demonstrated that the level of synthesis of αs1-CN reflects the efficiency of the mammary gland in the activation of the cellular mechanisms and influences the proteolytic activity in milk, especially the PL-PG system.
Immune Related Adverse Events of the Thyroid – A Narrative Review

Immune checkpoints are small molecules present on the cell surface of T-lymphocytes. They maintain self-tolerance and regulate the amplitude and duration of T-cell responses. Antagonism of immune checkpoints with monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors) is a rapidly evolving field of anti-cancer immunotherapy and has become standard of care in management of many cancer subtypes. Immune checkpoint inhibition is an effective cancer treatment but can precipitate immune related adverse events (irAEs). Thyroid dysfunction is the most common endocrine irAE and can occur in up to 40% of treated patients. Both thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism occur. The clinical presentation and demographic associations of thyrotoxicosis compared to hypothyroidism suggest unique entities with different etiologies. Thyroid irAEs, particularly overt thyrotoxicosis, are associated with increased immune toxicity in other organ systems, but also with longer progression-free and overall survival. Polygenic risk scores using susceptibility loci associated with autoimmune thyroiditis predict development of checkpoint inhibitor associated irAEs, suggesting potentially shared mechanisms underpinning their development. Our review will provide an up-to-date summary of knowledge in the field of thyroid irAEs. Major focus will be directed toward pathogenesis (including genetic factors shared with autoimmune thyroid disease), demographic associations, clinical presentation and course, treatment, and the relationship with cancer outcomes.
Cost-Effectiveness in Patients Undergoing Revascularization of Chronic Total Occluded Coronary Arteries—A Cohort Study

Background Revascularization of patients with chronic total occluded coronary arteries (CTO) is recommended if they have symptoms despite medical treatment. The cost-effectiveness of treatment with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was investigated in this cohort study. Materials and Methods The study was designed as a cohort study enrolling all patients undergoing PCI for a CTO in the Central Region of Denmark and recorded in the EUROCTO database. Major adverse cardio- and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and admissions for cardiac symptoms were collected in the Western Denmark Heart Registry and through medical Journal Audits. Exposure was defined as successful revascularization of all CTO lesions compared with having one or more remaining CTOs after PCI attempt(s). Cost-effectiveness was evaluated as the net benefit (NB) at the patient level 3 years after treatment and through cost-effectiveness planes. The cost was defined as the cumulative cost of the index procedure and admissions due to MACCE and cardiac symptoms. Effectiveness was defined as the difference in MACCE for the primary analysis and the difference in death and symptomatic admissions for the secondary. Results Between 2009 and 2019, 441 patients with ≥ 3 years of follow-up were treated with PCI for at least one CTO lesion (342 in the successful arm and 99 in the unsuccessful arm). The technical success rate was 85.4%. In total, 155 MACCE and 184 symptomatic admissions occurred in the follow-up period. The mean total cost was EUR 11.719 (11.034; 12.406) in the successful group vs. EUR 13.565 (11.899; 15,231) (p = 0.02) in the unsuccessful group. Net-benefit was EUR 1.846 (64; 3,627) after successful revascularization for MACCE. The adjusted analysis found an NB of EUR 1,481 (–118; 3,079). Bootstrap estimates showed cost-effectiveness planes in favor of successful revascularization. Conclusion Patients fully revascularized for all CTO lesions had a more cost-efficient treatment. However, results need confirmation in a randomized controlled trial due to the risk of residual confounding after adjustment.
Reorganized Brain Functional Network Topology in Presbycusis

Purpose Presbycusis is characterized by bilateral sensorineural hearing loss at high frequencies and is often accompanied by cognitive decline. This study aimed to identify the topological reorganization of brain functional network in presbycusis with/without cognitive decline by using graph theory analysis approaches based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Methods Resting-state fMRI scans were obtained from 30 presbycusis patients with cognitive decline, 30 presbycusis patients without cognitive decline, and 50 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy controls. Graph theory was applied to analyze the topological properties of brain functional networks including global and nodal metrics, modularity, and rich-club organization. Results At the global level, the brain functional networks of all participants were found to possess small-world properties. Also, significant group differences in global network metrics were observed among the three groups such as clustering coefficient, characteristic path length, normalized characteristic path length, and small-worldness. At the nodal level, several nodes with abnormal betweenness centrality, degree centrality, nodal efficiency, and nodal local efficiency were detected in presbycusis patients with/without cognitive decline. Changes in intra-modular connections in frontal lobe module and inter-modular connections in prefrontal subcortical lobe module were found in presbycusis patients exposed to modularity analysis. Rich-club nodes were reorganized in presbycusis patients, while the connections among them had no significant group differences. Conclusion Presbycusis patients exhibited topological reorganization of the whole-brain functional network, and presbycusis patients with cognitive decline showed more obvious changes in these topological properties than those without cognitive decline. Abnormal changes of these properties in presbycusis patients may compensate for cognitive impairment by mobilizing additional neural resources.
Tubulin Isotypes: Emerging Roles in Defining Cancer Stem Cell Niche

Although the role of microtubule dynamics in cancer progression is well-established, the roles of tubulin isotypes, their cargos and their specific function in the induction and sustenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) were poorly explored. But emerging reports urge to focus on the transport function of tubulin isotypes in defining orchestrated expression of functionally critical molecules in establishing a stem cell niche, which is the key for CSC regulation. In this review, we summarize the role of specific tubulin isotypes in the transport of functional molecules that regulate metabolic reprogramming, which leads to the induction of CSCs and immune evasion. Recently, the surface expression of GLUT1 and GRP78 as well as voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) permeability, regulated by specific isotypes of β-tubulins have been shown to impart CSC properties to cancer cells, by implementing a metabolic reprogramming. Moreover, βIVb tubulin is shown to be critical in modulating EphrinB1signaling to sustain CSCs in oral carcinoma. These tubulin-interacting molecules, Ephrins, GLUT1 and GRP78, are also important regulators of immune evasion, by evoking PD-L1 mediated T-cell suppression. Thus, the recent advances in the field implicate that tubulins play a role in the controlled transport of molecules involved in CSC niche. The indication of tubulin isotypes in the regulation of CSCs offers a strategy to specifically target those tubulin isotypes to eliminate CSCs, rather than the general inhibition of microtubules, which usually leads to therapy resistance.
Diabetes Is the Strongest Predictor of Limited Exercise Capacity in Chronic Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)

Background and Aim Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a known risk factor in patients with heart failure (HF), but its impact on phenotypic presentations remains unclear. This study aimed to prospectively examine the relationship between T2DM and functional exercise capacity, assessed by the 6-min walk test (6-MWT) in chronic HF. Methods We studied 344 chronic patients with HF (mean age 61 ± 10 years, 54% female) in whom clinical, biochemical, and anthropometric data were available and all patients underwent an echo-Doppler study and a 6-MWT on the same day. The 6-MWT distance divided the cohort into; Group I: those who managed ≤ 300 m and Group II: those who managed >300 m. Additionally, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), estimated using the modified Simpson's method, classified patients into HF with preserved EF (HFpEF) and HF with reduced EF (HFrEF). Results The results showed that 111/344 (32%) patients had T2DM, who had a higher prevalence of arterial hypertension (p = 0.004), higher waist/hips ratio (p = 0.041), higher creatinine (p = 0.008) and urea (p = 0.003), lower hemoglobin (p = 0.001), and they achieved shorter 6-MWT distance (p < 0.001) compared with those with no T2DM. Patients with limited exercise (<300 m) had higher prevalence of T2DM (p < 0.001), arterial hypertension (p = 0.004), and atrial fibrillation (p = 0.001), higher waist/hips ratio (p = 0.041), higher glucose level (p < 0.001), lower hemoglobin (p < 0.001), larger left atrium (LA) (p = 0.002), lower lateral mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) (p = 0.032), septal MAPSE (p < 0.001), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (p < 0.001), compared with those performing >300 m. In the cohort as a whole, multivariate analysis, T2DM (p < 0.001), low hemoglobin (p = 0.008), atrial fibrillation (p = 0.014), and reduced septal MAPSE (p = 0.021) independently predicted the limited 6-MWT distance. In patients with HFpEF, diabetes [6.083 (2.613–14.160), p < 0.001], atrial fibrillation [6.092 (1.769–20.979), p = 0.002], and septal MAPSE [0.063 (0.027–0.184), p = 0.002], independently predicted the reduced 6-MWT, whereas hemoglobin [0.786 (0.624–0.998), p = 0.049] and TAPSE [0.462 (0.214–0.988), p = 0.041] predicted it in patients with HFrEF. Conclusion Predictors of exercise intolerance in patients with chronic HF differ according to LV systolic function, demonstrated as EF. T2DM seems the most powerful predictor of limited exercise capacity in patients with HFpEF.
Neu1 Is Released From Activated Microglia, Stimulating Microglial Phagocytosis and Sensitizing Neurons to Glutamate

Neuraminidase 1 (Neu1) hydrolyses terminal sialic acid residues from glycoproteins and glycolipids, and is normally located in lysosomes, but can be released onto the surface of activated myeloid cells and microglia. We report that endotoxin/lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia released Neu1 into culture medium, and knockdown of Neu1 in microglia reduced both Neu1 protein and neuraminidase activity in the culture medium. Release of Neu1 was reduced by inhibitors of lysosomal exocytosis, and accompanied by other lysosomal proteins, including protective protein/cathepsin A, known to keep Neu1 active. Extracellular neuraminidase or over-expression of Neu1 increased microglial phagocytosis, while knockdown of Neu1 decreased phagocytosis. Microglial activation caused desialylation of microglial phagocytic receptors Trem2 and MerTK, and increased binding to Trem2 ligand galectin-3. Culture media from activated microglia contained Neu1, and when incubated with neurons induced their desialylation, and increased the neuronal death induced by low levels of glutamate. Direct desialylation of neurons by adding sialidase or inhibiting sialyltransferases also increased glutamate-induced neuronal death. We conclude that activated microglia can release active Neu1, possibly by lysosomal exocytosis, and this can both increase microglial phagocytosis and sensitize neurons to glutamate, thus potentiating neuronal death.
Do Maternal Self-Criticism and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Mediate the Effect of History of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms on Mother-Infant Bonding? Parallel–Serial Mediation Models

Introduction History of depression symptoms, including before and during pregnancy, has been identified as an important risk factor for postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms. This condition has also been associated with diverse implications, namely, on the quality of mother–infant bonding. Moreover, the role of self-criticism on PPD has been recently found in several studies. However, the link between these factors has not been explored yet. Furthermore, anxiety symptoms in postpartum has been less studied. Methods This study analyzed whether the history of depression symptoms predicted mother–infant bonding, via self-criticism and PPD symptoms. The same model was repeated with a history of anxiety and postpartum anxiety symptoms. A total of 550 mothers of infants <24 months old participated in this cross-sectional study and answered an online survey. Results Through a parallel–serial mediation model, the results show that in a first step, self-criticism dimensions of inadequate-self, hated-self, and reassuring-self, and in a second step, PPD symptoms, mediate the relationship between the history of depression symptoms and mother–infant bonding. However, the relationship between the history of anxiety symptoms and bonding is not mediated by all the considered chain of mediators, being only mediated by one of the self-criticism dimensions, inadequate self. Conclusions The current study confirmed the association of history of both depression and anxiety with mother–infant bonding. While in the case of history of anxiety symptoms, the relation was only mediated by inadequate self-dimension of self-criticism, in the case of history of depression symptoms, the relation was mediated by self-criticism and postpartum depressive symptoms. The buffering effect of reassuring-self on bonding and negative affect was also evidenced. Psychological and preventive interventions should address this evidence to target interventions for mother–infant bonding problems in accordance with previous and actual current maternal risk factors.
Disordered Gut Microbiota in Colorectal Tumor-Bearing Mice Altered Serum Metabolome Related to Fufangchangtai

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between gut microbiota (GM) and serum metabolism using antineoplastic Fufangchangtai (FFCT) as the model prescription in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: Tumor-bearing mice and normal mice were administered different doses of FFCT. The tumor volume of tumor-bearing mice was observed. The levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the blood, spleen, and tumor of mice were determined using a flow cytometer. The bacterial microbiota in stool samples from mice and the serum metabolomics of FFCT-treated mice and fecal microbiota transplantation mice were detected using 16s RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS), respectively. Results: The tumor volume of mice showed no significant decrease after FFCT intervention. The levels of CD4+ and CD8+T lymphocytes showed a significant increase under the intervention of FFCT. GM of colorectal tumor-bearing mice and healthy mice were determined, and the diversity and abundance of Firmicutes, Deferribacteres, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were significantly different between the two groups. Furthermore, we found that the levels of matrine, isogingerenone B, and armillaripin were significantly decreased in tumor-bearing mice after FFCT intervention, indicating that the tumor-induced dysbiosis of gut bacteria may affect the absorption and metabolism of FFCT. Under the intervention of FFCT, serum metabolism of mice transplanted with feces from CRC patients showed less metabolites related to FFCT than that from healthy people, indicating that GM could be a single factor affecting the metabolism of FFCT. Furthermore, we found that different doses of FFCT-treated mice had higher abundance of Roseburia, Turicibacter, and Flexispira than that in the non-intervention control group. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in FFCT-treated groups showed a similar trend compared to the healthy group, indicating that FFCT might correct the intestinal microenvironment by modulating gut microbiota in colorectal tumor-bearing mice. Conclusion: The dysbiosis of GM in tumor-bearing mice reduced the serum metabolites related to FFCT, and FFCT could correct the disordered GM of colorectal tumor-bearing mice to exert efficacy.