Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Accuracy of ICD-9 codes in identifying patients with peptic ulcer and gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the regional healthcare administrative database of Umbria

Background Peptic ulcer is a widespread disease, frequently complicated by perforation and bleeding. Administrative databases are useful tool to perform epidemiological and drug utilization studies, but they need a validation process based on a comparison with the original data contained in the medical charts. Our aim was to evaluate the accuracy of the ICD-9 codes in identifying patients with peptic ulcer and gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the regional administrative database of Umbria. Methods The index test of our study was the hospital discharge abstract database of the Umbria region (Italy), while the reference standard was the clinical information collected in the medical charts. The study population were adult patients with a hospital discharge for peptic ulcer or gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the period 2012–2014. A random sample of cases and non-cases was selected and the corresponding medical charts were reviewed. Cases of peptic ulcer were confirmed based on endoscopy, radiology, and surgery, while adjudication of gastrointestinal hemorrhage was based on presence of hematemesis, melena, and rectal bleeding. Results Overall, we reviewed 445 clinical charts of cases and 80 clinical charts of non-cases. The diagnostic accuracy results were: code 531 (gastric ulcer), sensitivity and NPV 98%, specificity 88%, and PPV 91%; code 532 (duodenal ulcer), sensitivity and NPV 100%, specificity and PPV 98%; code 534 (gastrojejunal ulcer), sensitivity and NPV 100%, specificity 70%, and PPV 45%; code 578 (gastrointestinal hemorrhage), sensitivity 96%, specificity 90%, PPV and NPV 94%. Conclusions Our results showed a high level of diagnostic accuracy for most of the codes considered. The ICD-9 code 534 of gastrojejunal ulcer had a lower level of specificity and PPV due to false positives, being mainly misclassifications for coding errors. These validated codes can be used for future epidemiological studies and for health services research.
Antibacterial and antifungal screening of four medicinal plants

Objective: To describe the ethnopharmacology study and screening of the antimicrobial activity of hydroalcoholic and chloroform extracts of the four plants Ceratonia siliqua (C. siliqua), Salvadora persica, Aloe vera and Anastatica hierochuntica. Methods: The antimicrobial activity was determined using diffusion disk and solid agar dilution methods against 12 bacteria, according to the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Results: The ethnopharmacology study provided useful information about how the parts used for the preparation of extracts. The extracts obtained by maceration reveal variable yields depending on the polarity of the solvent used. The higher yields were those extracts obtained by the hydroalcoholic solvents. The Anastatica hierochuntica and C. siliqua extracts were by far the most interesting and exerted significant antibacterial activity (minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.07 to 0.13 mg/mL). Conclusions: These results suggest that C. siliqua could serve as an alternative source of antibacterial agents for human protection against infectious diseases. Peer reviewer
Investigation of polymorphisms in the porcine myostatin (GDF8; MSTN) gene

Myostatin is a growth factor controlling proliferation of myoblasts in embryonic development. Muta- tions in coding sequences of bovine myostatin (GDF8) gene lead to muscle hyperplasia suggesting its inhibitory function on myoblast proliferation. e present study was designed to scan for mutations in porcine GDF8 promoter (397 bp), exon 2 with flanking regions (631 bp) and exon 3 with flanking regions (899 bp) using PCR-RFLP, SSCP and DSCP analyses. MnlI and DraI enzymes were used to determine restriction polymorphism in the promoter region of GDF8. In DraI site 3 pigs were of AT and 291 of TT genotype. No restriction polymorphism was detected using MnlI enzyme. SSCP analysis in 12% polyacrylamide gel did not reveal any differences in the migration rate between PCR products. SSCP and DSCP analyses of respectively 30 and 14 PCR products encompassing exon 2 did not reveal any mutations either. In total 314 pigs were analysed for TaqI polymorphism in exon 3; out of them 13 were TT homozygotes, 112 were CT heterozygotes and 189 were CC homozygotes. No SSCP or DSCP polymorphism was detected in this region. Generally the porcine myostatin gene seems to be more conserved than in cattle. Additional statistical comparison of some carcass traits between CC and CT animals was performed that did not show any significant differences.
Clustered gamma-protocadherins regulate cortical interneuron programmed cell death

Cortical function critically depends on inhibitory/excitatory balance. Cortical inhibitory interneurons (cINs) are born in the ventral forebrain and migrate into cortex, where their numbers are adjusted by programmed cell death. Here, we show that loss of clustered gamma protocadherins (Pcdhg), but not of genes in the alpha or beta clusters, increased dramatically cIN BAX-dependent cell death in mice. Surprisingly, electrophysiological and morphological properties of Pcdhg-deficient and wild-type cINs during the period of cIN cell death were indistinguishable. Co-transplantation of wild-type with Pcdhg-deficient interneuron precursors further reduced mutant cIN survival, but the proportion of mutant and wild-type cells undergoing cell death was not affected by their density. Transplantation also allowed us to test for the contribution of Pcdhg isoforms to the regulation of cIN cell death. We conclude that Pcdhg, specifically Pcdhgc3, Pcdhgc4, and Pcdhgc5, play a critical role in regulating cIN survival during the endogenous period of programmed cIN death.
POLLINATION AND FLORAL ECOLOGY OF GLECHOMA HEDERACEA L. (LAMIACEAE)

In gynodioecious herb Glechoma hederacea L. morphology of 200 fl owers collected from the wild of the Moscow region has been studied. Two types of fl owers (hermaphrodite and pistillate) is clearly mark out. Both types of fl owers are zygomorphic, cyclic, 4-circular, double perianth. In pistillate fl owers registers a particulate reduction of stamens. Mature pollen grains are 3-celled and 6-colpate. G. hederacea is a plants with morning rhythm blooming fl owers. The fl owers are visited by members of the three orders of insects: Diptera (4 species), Hymenoptera (23 species) and Lepidoptera (3 species). The principal pollinators of fl owers are different bee. Two peaks recorded in a daily rhythm of bee visits: morning (from 6 to 11 h) and evening (from 16 to 20 h). Gynodioecy, temporal (protandry) and spatial isolation (herkogamy) of pollen and stigmas, and incompatibility provides outbreeding in G. hederacea.
Relationships between radiation risk perception and health anxiety, and contribution of mindfulness to alleviating psychological distress after the Fukushima accident: Cross-sectional study using a path model

One of biggest public health impacts of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident is psychosocial. Anxiety about radiation is still present, and radiation risk perception, particularly with regard to genetic effects, is known to affect mental health. However, roles of other risk factors such as health anxiety and of mindfulness remain to be proved. Here, we examined how radiation risk perception (genetic effects) mediates in health anxiety and psychological distress, and how mindfulness influences those variables. Seven years after the accident, we commissioned a self-reported online survey with 832 participants, 416 each from Fukushima and Tokyo, and modeled the relationship between those variables using Structural Equation Modeling. Health anxiety had a much stronger influence on psychological distress than radiation risk perception. Mindfulness was significantly correlated with both health anxiety and psychological distress, but not with radiation risk perception. The total effects on psychological distress were −0.38 by mindfulness and +0.38 by health anxiety. These results suggest the potential application of mindfulness-based interventions to alleviate health anxiety and psychological distress rather than therapy focused on radiation anxiety. The results underline the effectiveness of community support efforts in Fukushima and highlight the importance of enhancing mindfulness during the chronic phase following a disaster.
A quality improvement initiative for COPD patients: A cost analysis

The objective of this analysis was to evaluate and report on the economic impact of implementing an integrated, quality, and operational improvement program on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) care from acute through post-acute care settings. This initiative was established in a cohort of 12 hospitals in Alabama and sought to address COPD readmission through improved workflows pertaining to early diagnosis, efficient care transitions, and patient visibility across the entire care episode. Implementation of the initiative was influenced by lean principles, particularly cross-functional agreement of workflows to improve COPD care delivery and outcomes. A budget impact model was developed to calculate cost savings directly from objective data collected during this initiative. The model estimated payer annual savings over 5 years. Patients were classified for analysis based on whether or not they received noninvasive ventilation. Scenario analyses calculated savings for payers covering different COPD cohort sizes. The base case revealed annual per patient savings of $11,263 for patients treated through the quality improvement program versus traditional care. The model projected cumulative savings of $52 million over a 5-year period. Clinical incorporation of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) resulted in $20,535 annual savings per patient and projected $91 million over 5 years. We conclude that an integrated management program for COPD patients across the care continuum is associated with substantial cost savings and significantly reduced hospital readmissions.
The Mushroom Extract Schizophyllan Reduces Cellular Proliferation and Induces G2/M Arrest in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. It is also the principle cause of death from cancer among women globally. Several lines of evidence suggest that dietary mushrooms may decrease breast cancer incidence. Schizohyllan (SCH) is a polysaccharide isolated from the medicinal mushroom S. commune and has potential anticancer effects. In a recent study we have demonstrated that SCH alone or in combination with tamoxifen (TAM) reduced the incidence of 7, 12 Dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinomas in mice through inhibition of cellular proliferation. The goal of the present work was to study the molecular mechanism through which SCH inhibits cell proliferation using the estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) in vitro. MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of SCH, and the following parameters were studied: cell growth, apoptosis, cell cycle kinetics using flow cytometry and expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins by Western blot. It was found that 1500 µg/ml of SCH reduced cell viability and this was not due to cell death by apoptosis but due to G2/M cell cycle phase arrest. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism underlying the G2/M phase arrest involved an increased phosphorylation at the inhibitory tyrosine 15 site of CDK1 associated with accumulation of p53. Taken together, this is the first study to show direct anticancer effects of SCH on human breast cancer cells in culture. The therapeutic implications of SCH in human breast cancer warrant further investigation. (Eiman Aleem The Mushroom Extract Schizophyllan Reduces Cellular Proliferation and Induces G2/M Arrest in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells) Life Science Journal, 2011; 8(4):777-784) (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com.
Self-emitted surface corrugations in dynamic fracture of silicon single crystal

Significance When a moving crack front meets local material asperities, a persistent nonlinear propagating mode of the crack front can be triggered, which results in nontrivial fracture surface patterns. Unexpectedly, we report the continuous emergence of corrugation waves during high-speed crack propagation in asperity-free silicon single crystal. We reveal that these waves are driven by fracture energy fluctuation at critical crack speed. The corrugation waves are highly localized along the crack front. They twist the crack front and create fracture surface corrugations. Through meticulous quantitative characterization of the fracture surface markings, we evidence the nonlinear properties of these corrugation waves. When a dynamic crack front travels through material heterogeneities, elastic waves are emitted, which perturb the crack and change the morphology of the fracture surface. For asperity-free crystalline materials, crack propagation along preferential cleavage planes is expected to present a smooth crack front and form a mirror-like fracture surface. Surprisingly, we show here that in single crystalline silicon without material asperities, the crack front presents a local kink during high-speed crack propagation. Meanwhile, local oscillations of the crack front, which can move along the crack front, emerge at the front kink position and generate periodic fracture surface corrugations. They grow from angstrom amplitude to a few hundred nanometers and propagate with a long lifetime at a frequency-dependent speed, while keeping a scale-independent shape. In particular, the local front oscillations collide in a particle-like manner rather than proceeding with a linear superposition upon interaction, which presents the characteristic of solitary waves. We propose that such a propagating mode of the crack front, which results from the fracture energy fluctuation at a critical crack speed in the silicon crystal, can be considered as nonlinear elastic waves that we call “corrugation waves. ”
Impact of Tumor Localization and Molecular Subtypes on the Prognostic and Predictive Significance of p53 Expression in Gastric Cancer

We investigated the prognostic and predictive impact of p53 expression for gastric cancer (GC) patients treated without or with preoperative chemotherapy (CTx) and its relationship with specific molecular GC subtypes. Specimens from 694 GC patients (562 surgical resection specimens without or after CTx, 132 biopsies before CTx) were analyzed by p53 immunohistochemistry. High (H) and low (L) microsatellite instability (MSI) and Epstein–Barr virus positivity were determined previously. Our results show that aberrant p53 expression was a negative prognostic factor in uni- and multivariable analysis in the resection specimens cohort (each p < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed the strongest prognostic effect for patients with distally located tumors or no CTx treatment. In the biopsy cohort before CTx, p53 did not predict response or survival. p53 expression was significantly different among the molecular subtypes in surgical resection and bioptic specimens with strong association of altered p53 with MSI-L. Patients with MSI-H and aberrant p53 showed the worst survival in the biopsy cohort. In conclusion, the prognostic impact of p53 in GC differs according to tumor localization and CTx. Altered p53 is characteristic for MSI-L, and the p53 status in biopsies before CTx delineates MSI-H subtypes with inverse prognostic impact.
Nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition and nutrient cycling by evergreen and deciduous understory shrubs in an Alaskan black spruce forest

Seasonal patterns of biomass, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) were determined for major plant parts of the deciduous shrub Vacciniumuliginosum L. and the evergreen shrub Ledumgroenlandicum Oeder. in a black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) forest in interior Alaska. New growth comprised 52 ± 7% of aboveground biomass in Vaccinium compared with the evergreen Ledum for which a maximum of 38 ± 3% of aboveground biomass was new growth. In Vaccinium the spring decline in leaf N and P concentration was due to dilution by increasing leaf biomass, whereas the autumn decline in N and P concentration was due to retranslocation, at which time 68–72% of leaf N and P was retranslocated from leaves. In contrast, the entire decline in N and P concentration of new growth in Ledum was due to dilution by increasing leaf biomass. Uptake contributed 60–68% of the maximum N and P requirement for aboveground growth of Vaccinium, with the remainder coming from stored reserves. Ledum supported 71–79% of its aboveground nutr.
Effects of Dietary Protein on Body Composition in Exercising Individuals

Protein is an important component of a healthy diet and appears to be integral to enhancing training adaptations in exercising individuals. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an evidence-based assessment of the current literature examining increases in dietary protein intake above the recommended dietary allowance (RDA: 0.8 g/kg/d) in conjunction with chronic exercise on body composition (i.e., muscle, fat and bone). We also highlight acute and chronic pre-sleep protein studies as well as the influence of exercise timing on body composition. Overall, a high-protein diet appears to increase muscle accretion and fat loss and may have beneficial effects on bone when combined with exercise. Pre-sleep protein is a viable strategy to help achieve total daily protein goals. Importantly, there appears to be no deleterious effects from a high-protein diet on muscle, fat or bone in exercising individuals.
Lymphocystis Disease Virus (Iridoviridae) Enters Flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) Gill Cells via a Caveolae-Mediated Endocytosis Mechanism Facilitated by Viral Receptors

In previous research, voltage-dependent anion channel protein 2 (VDAC2) and the receptor of activated protein C kinase 1 (RACK1) in flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) were confirmed as functional receptors for lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) entry; however, the underlying mechanism of VDAC2- and RACK1-mediated LCDV entry remains unclear. In this study, we elucidated the endocytosis pathway of LCDV entry into flounder gill (FG) cells by treatment with specific inhibitory agents, siRNAs, and co-localization analysis. LCDV entry was significantly inhibited by the disruption of caveolae-mediated endocytosis, dynamin, and microtubules, and the knockdown of caveoline-1 and dynamin expression, but was not inhibited by the disruption of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, micropinocytosis, or low-pH conditions. The disruption of caveolae-mediated and clathrin-mediated endocytosis was verified by the internalization of cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) and transferrin, respectively. Confocal immunofluorescence assay demonstrated that LCDV was co-localized with VDAC2 and RACK1, CTB was co-localized with VDAC2 and RACK1 and partially with LCDV, but transferrin was not co-localized with LCDV, VDAC2, or RACK1, indicating that LCDV utilized the same pathway as CTB, i.e., caveolae-mediated endocytosis. This was different from the pathway of transferrin, which used clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Furthermore, caveolin-1 was co-localized with LCDV, VDAC2, and RACK1, suggesting that caveolin-1 was involved in LCDV entry. These results revealed for the first time that LCDV entered into FG cells via caveolae-mediated endocytosis facilitated by VDAC2 and RACK1 receptors, relying on dynamin and microtubules in a pH-independent manner, which provided new insight into the molecular mechanisms of LCDV entry and potential for the development of antiviral agents, expanding our understanding of iridovirus infection.
Long‐term phytoplankton‐nutrient interactions in a shallow coastal sea: Algal
community structure, nutrient budgets, and denitrification potential

In the eutrophic Marsdiep, the westernmost tidal inlet of the Wadden Sea, phytoplankton biomass, and production almost doubled at the end of the 1970s and remained high ever since. Principal component analysis of 21‐yr (1974–1994) high‐resolution time series of the 32 most numerous marine algal species revealed that the phytoplankton community changed drastically both between 1976 and 1978 and again between 1987 and 1988, and that it was relatively stable in‐between (1974–1976, 1978–1987) and thereafter (1988–1994). These major changes in phytoplankton biomass and species composition coincided with changes in absolute and relative (TN:TP) nutrient concentrations. During the summer of 1977, the Marsdiep shifted from a rich, but phosphorus‐controlled system to an even more eutrophic but nitrogen‐controlled environment. The system reshifted towards P‐control between 1987 and 1988. The coincidence of the shifts in relative nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton species composition implies a strong causal relationship between TN:TP ratios and phytoplankton community structure. Among diatoms, the observed increase in phytoplankton biomass under eutrophic N‐controlled conditions was particularly due to an increase of the abundance of larger algae. Our results indicate that the N budget of the area is correlated with the community structure, suggesting enhanced loss of nitrogen to the sediment through increased deposition of larger algal cells.
Assessment of Cancer Care Costs in Disease-Specific Cancer Care Pathways

In view of an efficient use of the Italian National Health Service-funded healthcare resources, a novel data-processing strategy combining information from multiple sources was developed in a regional cancer network of northern Italy. The goal was to calculate the annual overall cost of care pathways of six disease groups in 10,486 patients. The evaluation was conceived as a population-based cost description from the perspective of the Italian National Health Service. Costs occurred during a defined time period for a cross-section of patients at varying stages of their disease were measured. The total cancer care cost was €81,170,121 (11.1% of total local health expenditure), with a cost per patient of €7741.17 and a cost per capita of €204.62. Surgical, inpatient and day-hospital medical admissions, radiotherapy, drugs, outpatient care, emergency admissions, and home and hospice care accounted for 21.2%, 24.1%, 6.2%, 28.2%, 14.0%, 0.9%, and 5.4% of the total cost, respectively. The highest cost items included drugs (cost per capita, €22.95; 11.2% of total cost) and medical admissions (€14.51; 7.1%) for blood cancer, and surgical (€14.56; 7.1%) and medical admissions (€13.60; 6.6%) for gastrointestinal cancer. The information extracted allows multidisciplinary cancer care teams to be more aware of the costs of their clinical decisions.
Exopolysaccharide production by Bacillus subtilis NCIM 2063, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIM 2862 and Streptococcus mutans MTCC 1943 using batch culture in different media

Three bacterial strains, Bacillus subtilis NCIM 2063, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIM 2862 and Streptococcus mutans MTCC 1943 were examined for their exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing ability at the laboratory level. Basal salts solution (BSS), minimal salts medium (MSM), nitrogen free medium (NFM), chemically defined medium (CDM), milk medium (MLM) and sewage from different areas were used as nutrient source individually to assess EPS production by the above mentioned bacterial strains. Nitrogen free medium favoured more EPS production (Mean: 217.13, minimum: 206.000 and Maximum: 226.000). The highest EPS production was recorded in P. aeruginosa (226 ig ml-1) grown in nitrogen free medium followed by S. mutans and B. subtilis (220 and 206 ig ml-1 respectively) in nitrogen free medium after 7 days of incubation at 37°C. Analysis of carbon source in sewage samples indicated the presence of reducing monosaccharides. The purified EPS was soluble only in water and was free from protein contaminants.