Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum) Massage Reduces Stiffness and Functional Disability in Elderly with Osteoarthritis

Introduction: Recent research has provided data on the efficacy of the massage therapy and the role of essential oil in the management of osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms. Although both areas of research have demonstrated strong evidence that the muscles and massage with essential oil may affect OA symptoms, massage with essential oil applied on the quadriceps muscle has received no attention. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of red ginger massage on joint stiffness and functional disability in elderly with osteoarthritis.Methods: This study was a randomized control group pre-test and post-test experimental study design involving 62 elderly with osteoarthritis divided into two groups namely red ginger massage and control groups by random cluster sampling. The instrument used was Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Statistical test used were paired t-test and MANCOVA.Results: Baseline value of stiffness and functional disability in intervention group were 4.47 ± 1.717 and 35.93 ± 12.806. After 8 weeks stiffness and functional disability became 2.40 ± 1.380 and 19.50 ± 9.420 Stiffness and functional disability were decreased on intervention group with p-value 0.000 and 0.004. It means there was influenced by red ginger massage on stiffness and functional disability in elderly with osteoarthritis.Conclusion: Red ginger massage can be applied as a complementary treatment to help reduced joint stiffness and functional disability in addition to standard drug treatment usage in osteoarthritis disease.
Monocytic differentiation of HL60 cells induced by potent analogs of vitamin D3 precedes the G1/G0 phase cell cycle block

Abstract. Differentiation of mammalian cells is accompanied by reduced rates of proliferation and an exit from the cell cycle. Human leukemic cells HL60 present a widely used model of neoplastic cell differentiation, and acquire the monocytic phenotype when exposed to analogs of vitamin D3 (VD3). The maturation process is accompanied by two blocks in the cell cycle: an arrest in the G1/G0 phase, and a recently described G2+ M block. In this study we have analyzed the traverse of the cell cycle phases of the well‐differentiating HL60‐G cells exposed to one of ten analogs of VD3, and compared the cell cycle effects of each compound with its potency as a differentiation‐inducing agent. We found that in general there was a good correlation between the effects of these compounds on the cell cycle and on differentiation, but the best cell cycle predictor of differentiation potency was the extent of accumulation of the cells in the G2 compartment. All analogs induced a marked decrease in the mitotic index, and polynucleation of HL60 cells was produced, especially by compounds which were effective as inducers of differentiation. Time course studies showed that induction of differentiation was accompanied by a transient increase of the proportion of cells in the G2+ M compartment, but preceded the G1 to S, and the G2 compartment blocks. These studies indicate that complex changes in the cell cycle traverse accompany, but do not precede, the acquisition of the monocytic phenotype by HL60 cells.
WATER DEFICIENCY AT DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF GLYCINE MAX CAN IMPROVE DROUGHT TOLERANCE ( 1 )

Developmental windows are specific periods of sensitivity during normal plant development in which a perturbation may be adaptively integrated. In these periods, sub-lethal environmental perturbations may improve the capacity to grow at lethal conditions. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that previous non-lethal water deficit applied in different developmental stages in soybean plants could enables them to improve the tolerance to environmental perturbations. In order to test this hypothesis we carried out an experiment with soybean plants submitted to water deficit in different stages of plant development, evaluating yield and physiological aspects. Our results indicated that water deficit experienced on V4 stage (vegetative) induces more suitable response, enabling plants to develop a process of tolerance improvement to a further water shortage period, probably through a reduction of growth, which maintains a conservative strategy of energy use. On the other hand, water deficit in R1 stage (reproductive), increased the plant susceptibility to posterior water withholding. This “strategy” was the opposite of the one employed by plants on V4 stage, i.e., to maintain growth rate probably at the expense of a higher energetic cost.
The effect of empowerment program based on the social cognitive theory on the activity of daily living in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJECTIVE AND AIM: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic diseases. The patient's fear and anxiety of shortness of breath and coughing during exercise may lead to a decrease in patients' daily activities. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of empowerment program based on the social cognitive theory (SCT) on the daily activity of patients with COPD. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 70 patients with COPD referred to Kashani and Hajar centers in 2019. Samples were randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaire and activity of daily living questionnaire, specific for COPD, and a researcher-made questionnaire for measuring SCT constructs. For the experimental group, the training program consisted of four theoretical and practical sessions of 40 min/week. The data were collected at three time points, before, immediately and 3 months after the training are 3 time. The data were analyzed by SPSS software using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: The difference between the mean scores of behavioral ability, self-efficacy, and empowerment in the three stages was significant only in the experimental group (P < 0.001). The mean daily activity score of patients before, immediately, and 3 months after intervention showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (52.46 ± 21.98, 63.36 ± 21.95, and 71.34 ± 19.02), respectively, in the intervention group, and (51.79 ± 19.29, 53.70 ± 19.28, and 53.82 ± 19.26), respectively, in the control group (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that empowerment of patients through interventions based on SCT can increase the daily activity of patients with COPD. Because nurses play an important role in patient education and improvement, it is hoped that the findings of this study will be used as a strategy to increase the daily activity and ultimately improve the quality of life in these patients.
Deep‐learning artificial intelligence analysis of clinical variables predicts mortality in COVID‐19 patients

The large number of clinical variables associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection makes it challenging for frontline physicians to effectively triage COVID‐19 patients during the pandemic. This study aimed to develop an efficient deep‐learning artificial intelligence algorithm to identify top clinical variable predictors and derive a risk stratification score system to help clinicians triage COVID‐19 patients.
Graft survival and endothelial outcomes after penetrating keratoplasty and Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The present study aimed to compare the outcomes of graft survival, endothelial cell loss and vision improvement between penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) for treating corneal endothelium diseases. The PubMed, CENTRAL (Cochrane) and Embase databases were searched for records added until September 20, 2019. The studies considered were two-arm prospective and retrospective studies comparing outcomes of interest between PK and DSAEK. Ultimately, 10 studies were included with a total of 2,634 patients (910 eyes treated with DSAEK; 1,804 eyes treated with PK). Assessment of the summary effect by meta-analysis suggested that, compared with PK treatment, DSAEK was associated with a greater improvement from baseline in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity [difference (diff.) in means of change from baseline=-0.225, 95% CI=-0.341 to -0.109, P<0.001] and a reduced loss of endothelial cell density (diff. in means=-292.05 cells/mm2, 95% CI=-419.53 to -146.57 cells/mm2, P<0.001). Graft survival rates were similar using either PK or DSAEK (odds ratio=1.005, 95% CI=0.329-3.071, P=0.993). The overall results suggested that DSAEK may have an advantage over PK for corneal endothelial dysfunction in terms of the visual acuity outcome. The absence of definite time frames in the comparisons limits the conclusions on endothelial cell loss and graft survival.
Clinical remission of a critically ill COVID-19 patient treated by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract Rationale: The COVID-19 cases increased very fast in January and February 2020. The mortality among critically ill patients, especially the elder ones, is relatively high. Considering many patients died of severe inflammation response, it is urgent to develop effective therapeutic strategies for these patients. The human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) have shown good capabilities to modulate the immune response and repair the injured tissue. Therefore, investigating the potential of hUCMSCs to the treatment of COVID-19 critically ill patients is necessary. Patient concerns: A 65-year-old woman felt fatigued and had a fever with body temperature of 38.2°C, coughed up white foaming sputum. After 1 day, she had chest tightness with SPO2 of 81%, and blood pressure of 160/91 mm Hg. Diagnose: According to the guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of 2019 novel coronavirus infected pneumonia (Trial 4th Edition), COVID-19 was diagnosed, based on the real-time RT-PCR test of SARS-CoV-2. Interventions: After regular treatment for 12 days, the inflammation symptom of the patient was still very severe and the potential side effects of corticosteroid were observed. Then, allogenic hUCMSCs were given 3 times (5 × 107 cells each time) with a 3-day interval, together with thymosin α1 and antibiotics daily injection. Outcomes: After these treatments, most of the laboratory indexes and CT images showed remission of the inflammation symptom. The patient was subsequently transferred out of ICU, and the throat swabs test reported negative 4 days later. Lessons: These results indicated the clinical outcome and good tolerance of allogenic hUCMSCs transfer.
Antiplasmodial action and chemical constitution Part I. Cinchona alkaloidal derivatives and allied substances

The constitution of the cinchona alkaloids is known with certainty, and some have been synthesized, but little is known as to why they are antiplasmodial in action. The introduction of experimental bird malaria has given a means of following changes in therapeutic activity with changes in chemical structure, and mainly through the work of Giemsa, Weise and Tropp (1926), Goodson, Henry and Macfie (1930), Schonhofer (1933), Giemsa and Oesterlin (1933) and Buttle, Henry and Trevan (1934), some insight has been gained of the effect of simple changes of structure of the cinchona alkaloids on their antiplasmodial action in bird malaria. The present communication, in extension of the work of these observers, is designed primarily to furnish additional data which might provide a working hypothesis for further experiments. The chief naturally occurring cinchona alkaloids are embraced by the formula (I): where R may be H or OMe, R 1 may be . CH:CH2 or . CH2.CH3 and R 2 is OH, and so far as the results of their therapeutic examination on bird malaria due to Plasmodium praecox or inconstans have been recorded by previous workers they are all active. We have prepared seven chloroalkaloids (I, R 2 = Cl) by the action of phosphorus pentachloride on the hydrochloride of the bases (Comstock and Konigs 1884) and, of these chloro-derivatives, hydrocinchonidine chloride has not been previously described. The following table shows that on the doses tried they were all inactive when tested orally on PI. relictum (= Pl. praecox ) in canaries, and this result amplifies a similar observation of Giemsa, Weise and Tropp (1926) on chloroquinine.
Sensory Integration and Perceptual-Motor Profiles in School-Aged Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the sensory integration and perceptual-motor performances in elementary school children (5–12 years) with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in Taiwan. The impacts of comprehensive body functions on activity participations in ASD were also investigated to provide evidence for clinical applications and further study. Methods One hundred and seventeen children with ASD (42 females; aged 5–13 years, average age 8 years 3 months) were recruited. All participants were assessed with standardized measures of body functions and activity participations. The body function measures included Bruininks–Oseretsky of Motor Proﬁciency – Second Edition, Sensory Proﬁle, Test of Sensory Integration Functions, and Test of Visual Perception Skills – Third Edition. The activity participation measures included the Chinese versions of both Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale and School Function Assessment. Results School-aged children with ASD had different levels of impairments on body function measures. Most participant scores fell within the impairment range on 13 to 15 items out of the total 19 sensory and perceptual-motor measure subtests, with worst performance on coordination-related motor task and most sensory integrative dimensions. The results indicated a significant main effect for age and sex on some body functions and activity participations. Correlation analyses indicated strong associations between body function and activity participation across settings in ASD. Conclusion Our ﬁndings characterized the developmental continuum of body functions of school-aged children with ASD and showed their associations with adaptation and participation. While emphasizing the development of functional skills to facilitate age-appropriate activity participation in multiple scenarios, interventions aiming to improve body functions are indispensable.
Role of the pigmented seed coat of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) in imbibition, germination and seed persistence

Abstract Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is both a crop and a weed in many parts of the world. The weedy biotypes exhibit a wide range of seed colours, but the strains with the most persistent seeds are distinguished by darker seeds. This paper compares the seed biology of a range of biotypes from Canada and demonstrates that darker seeds have heavier seed coats, imbibe and germinate more slowly, and suffer less imbibition damage (measured as electrolyte leakage). It is concluded that all these attributes contribute to the increased persistence in the soil of the dark-seeded weedy biotypes. Imbibition damage is widely implicated in poor emergence and low vigour of crop seeds, but has not previously been considered in the context of weed seed persistence.
Spatial distribution and temporal persistence of discrete genotypes of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton

summary A field study was conducted to determine the spatial distribution and temporal persistence of Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton genotypes associated with naturally colonized Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst. ] in a plantation. Groups of sporophores around three trees Were mapped and collected over two to tour consecutive autumn seasons to isolate cultures and determine their genetic relatedness by mating type and randomly amplified polymorphic. DNA (RAPD) analysis. Annual sporophore distribution varied significantly on all sites, with an increase in the mean radial distance from the trees over the study period. Sporophore distribution was discontinuous and characterized by clumped groupings around trees. Sporuphores with the same mating type and disparate distributions were present on each of two sites during the sample period. RAPD analysis for each of the six random primers detected the same DNA polymorphisms for all dikaryotic isolates tested from a given site over the sample period. These results provide evidence that a single genetic individual of L. bicolor can remain associated with a host root system for at least 3 yr and vary significantly in us spatial distribution. This is the first instance in which the persistence of specific genotypes of an early–stage ectomycorrhizal fungus has been demonstrated for a tree colonized by natural sources of inoculum. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the ecology and succession of ectomycorrhizal fungi.
Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound for Detecting Severe Presentations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Analysis

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Objectives: Analyze the diagnostic test characteristics of point-of-care lung ultrasound for patients suspected to have novel coronavirus disease 2019. Design: Retrospective cohort. Setting: Two emergency departments in Detroit, Michigan, United States, during a local coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak (March 2020 to April 2020). Patients: Emergency department patients receiving lung ultrasound for clinical suspicion of coronavirus disease 2019 during the study period. Interventions: None, observational analysis only. Measurements and Main Results: By a reference standard of serial reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions, 42 patients were coronavirus disease 2019 positive, 16 negative, and eight untested (test results lost, died prior to testing, and/or did not meet hospital guidelines for rationing of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction tests). Thirty-three percent, 44%, 38%, and 17% had mortality, ICU admission, intubation, and venous or arterial thromboembolism, respectively. Receiver operating characteristics, area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity with 95% CIs were calculated for five lung ultrasound patterns coded by a blinded reviewer and chest radiograph. Chest radiograph had area under the curve = 0.66 (95% CI, 0.54–0.79), 74% sensitivity (95% CI, 48–93%), and 53% specificity (95% CI, 32–75%). Two lung ultrasound patterns had a statistically significant area under the curve: symmetric bilateral pulmonary edema (area under the curve, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.50–0.64), and a nondependent bilateral pulmonary edema pattern (edema in superior lung ≥ inferior lung and no pleural effusion; area under the curve, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.68–0.90). Chest radiograph plus the nondependent bilateral pulmonary edema pattern showed a statistically improved area under the curve (0.80; 95% CI, 0.68–0.90) compared to either alone, but at the ideal cutoff had sensitivity and specificity equivalent to nondependent bilateral pulmonary edema only (69% and 77%, respectively). The strongest combination of clinical, chest radiograph, and lung ultrasound factors for diagnosis was nondependent bilateral pulmonary edema pattern with temperature and oxygen saturation (area under the curve, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76–0.94; sensitivity = 77% [58–93%]; specificity = 76% [53–94%] at the ideal cutoff), which was superior to chest radiograph alone. Conclusions: Lung ultrasound diagnosed severe presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 with similar sensitivity to chest radiograph, CT, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (on first testing) and improved specificity compared to chest radiograph. Diagnostically useful lung ultrasound patterns differed from those hypothesized by previous, nonanalytical, reports (case series and expert opinion), and should be evaluated in a rigorous prospective study.
Macrolepidoptera diversity in the Indo-Australian tropics: geographic, biotopic and taxonomic variations

Data are presented on the richness of Macrolepidoptera faunas in the Indo-Australian tropics, and on the proportional representation of the various families. Both overall diversity and diversity of families decline with latitude and also with isolation from major land areas. Exceptions are noted. Measures of alpha-diversity from quantitative light-trap samples indicate that diversity within the tropics is often greatest at altitudes around 1000 m, declining above that level. Diversity is much lower in Pacific archipelagos. Loss of diversity through disturbance and conversion to agriculture is evident and marked. Problems in the measurement of diversity with light-traps are discussed, exemplified by results obtained using different trap types. Changes in family proportions with habitat type are examined. Family diversity generally decreased with altitude and with disturbance and conversion to agriculture, though there are exceptions to this decline.
Sinapic Acid Attenuates Cardiovascular Disorders in Rats by Modulating Reactive Oxygen Species and Angiotensin Receptor Expression

The main avoidable risk factor for cardiovascular conditions is high blood pressure (hypertension). At global level, hypertension is believed to be responsible for a 54% stroke-related mortality rate and a 47% mortality rate associated with coronary heart disease. It is postulated that sinapic acid (SA) could help in hypertension management because it displays robust antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and peroxynitrite scavenging effects. To explore this hypothesis, this work examined the effect of SA on oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease in rats with hypertension by comparison against captopril. For this purpose, 50 male rats were used and equally allocated to five groups, namely, normal control, positive control (L-NAME), L-NAME with concomitant captopril administration, L-NAME with concomitant SA administration, and L-NAME with concomitant administration of both SA and captopril. Results showed that, by contrast to control, L-NAME exhibited marked elevation in serum CK-MB, total cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL-C, LDL-C, Ang II, AT2R, ET-1, and angiopoietin-2; on the other hand, L-NAME exhibited marked reduction in serum HDL-C, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3), and glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, joint administration of SA and captopril ameliorated hypertension, enhanced cardiovascular function, hindered hyperlipidemia, and decreased oxidative stress and myocardial hypertrophy displayed by rats with hypertension. Based on such findings, better chemopreventive or therapeutic approaches can be devised to manage hypertension and cardiovascular conditions.
Purification and Characterization of an Extracellular Dextransucrase from Pediococcus pentosaceus Isolated from the Soil of North East India

Summary The extracellular dextransucrase produced from Pediococcus pentosaceus, a new isolate from the soil in Assam, India, was purified and characterized. The enzyme activity of cell-free supernatant was 3.4 U/mL and specific activity was 0.6 U/mg. The crude enzyme was purified by a single-step fractionation using polyethylene glycols of different molecular mass. The specific activity achieved was 18 U/mg with 31-fold purification by PEG 400 and 26 U/mg with 45-fold purification by PEG 1500. The molecular mass of dextransucrase determined by non-denaturing SDS-PAGE was approx. 180 kDa. The dextran formation activity of the enzyme was confirmed by activity staining. Optimum conditions for dextransucrase activity were: pH=5.4, reaction temperature 30 °C, 5 % sucrose and 20 mM sodium acetate buffer. A concentration of 1 mM MgCl2 and 6 mM CaCl2 enhanced dextransucrase activity by 5 and 150 %, respectively. The chaotropic agent urea (7 M) and chelating agent EDTA (1 mM) resulted in the residual enzyme activity of 98 and 80 %, respectively. The organic solvents such as ethanol (50 %), DMSO (90 %), acetone (50 %) and acetonitrile (20 %) decreased the dextransucrase activity by 80, 91, 94 and 80 %, respectively.