Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long non-coding RNA LINC01224 promotes cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis by regulating AKT3 expression via targeting miR-485-5p in endometrial carcinoma

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide, yet little is known about the underlying molecular basis of EC development. LINC01224, a novel long non-coding (lnc)RNA, was recently identified as an oncogene in various types of cancer. However, the function and underlying mechanism of LINC01224 in EC is still unclear. A total of 50 pairs of tumor and adjacent normal tissue from patients with EC, three EC cell lines and one human normal endometrial stromal cell (ESC) line were subjected to reverse transcription-quantitative PCR assay to evaluate the expression levels of LINC01224. Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation and flow cytometry assays were used to assess cell proliferation and apoptosis. Western blotting was used to measure expression levels of apoptosis- and proliferation-associated proteins and AKT3 protein. A xenograft model of HEC1A cells was established to validate the in vivo function of LINC01224 in EC tumor growth. Starbase 3.0 database prediction and luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays were performed to verify the binding sites between LINC01224 and microRNA (miR)-485-5p and miR-485-5p and AKT3. LINC01224 expression was significantly upregulated in both EC tumor tissue and cell lines. The upregulation of LINC01224 was negatively associated with survival of patients with EC. Functionally, LINC01224 promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of EC cells; LINC01224 directly bound to and downregulated miR-485-5p to elevate the expression levels of AKT3, thereby promoting EC progression. LINC01224 depletion in EC cells hindered tumor growth in a xenograft model. The tumor suppressing effect of LINC01224-knockdown on EC progression was partly rescued by treatment with miR-485-5p inhibitor. The present data demonstrated the expression levels, clinical relevance and functional mechanism of LINC01224 in EC. LINC01224 promoted EC development via sponging miR-485-5p to elevate AKT3 expression levels; this may provide a promising therapeutic target pathway for EC treatment.
PINK1‐induced phosphorylation of mitofusin 2 at serine 442 causes its proteasomal degradation and promotes cell proliferation in lung cancer and pulmonary arterial hypertension

Impaired mitochondrial fusion, due in part to decreased mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) expression, contributes to unrestricted cell proliferation and apoptosis‐resistance in hyperproliferative diseases like pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We hypothesized that Mfn2 levels are reduced due to increased proteasomal degradation of Mfn2 triggered by its phosphorylation at serine 442 (S442) and investigated the potential kinase mediators. Mfn2 expression was decreased and Mfn2 S442 phosphorylation was increased in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells from PAH patients and in NSCLC cells. Mfn2 phosphorylation was mediated by PINK1 and protein kinase A (PKA), although only PINK1 expression was increased in these diseases. We designed a S442 phosphorylation deficient Mfn2 construct (PD‐Mfn2) and a S442 constitutively phosphorylated Mfn2 construct (CP‐Mfn2). The effects of these modified Mfn2 constructs on Mfn2 expression and biological function were compared with those of the wildtype Mfn2 construct (WT‐Mfn2). WT‐Mfn2 increased Mfn2 expression and mitochondrial fusion in both PAH and NSCLC cells resulting in increased apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation. Compared to WT‐Mfn2, PD‐Mfn2 caused greater Mfn2 expression, suppression of proliferation, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle arrest. Conversely, CP‐Mfn2 caused only a small increase in Mfn2 expression and did not restore mitochondrial fusion, inhibit cell proliferation, or induce apoptosis. Silencing PINK1 or PKA, or proteasome blockade using MG132, increased Mfn2 expression, enhanced mitochondrial fusion and induced apoptosis. In a xenotransplantation NSCLC model, PD‐Mfn2 gene therapy caused greater tumor regression than did therapy with WT‐Mfn2. Mfn2 deficiency in PAH and NSCLC reflects proteasomal degradation triggered by Mfn2‐S442 phosphorylation by PINK1 and/or PKA. Inhibiting Mfn2 phosphorylation has potential therapeutic benefit in PAH and lung cancer.
Assessment of incident frailty hazard associated with depressive symptoms in a Taiwanese longitudinal study

ABSTRACT Objectives: To estimate the risks of depressive symptoms for developing frailty, accounting for baseline robust or pre-frailty status. Design: An incident cohort study design. Setting: Community dwellers aged 55 years and above from urban and rural areas in seven regions in Taiwan. Participants: A total of 2,717 participants from the Healthy Aging Longitudinal Study in Taiwan (HALST) were included. Subjects with frailty at baseline were excluded. The average follow-up period was 5.9 years. Measurements: Depressive symptoms were measured by the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Frailty was assessed using the Fried frailty measurement. Participants were stratified by baseline robust or pre-frailty status to reduce the confounding effects of the shared criteria between depressive symptoms and frailty. Overall and stratified survival analyses were conducted to assess risks of developing frailty as a result of baseline depressive symptoms. Results: One hundred individuals (3.7%) had depressive symptoms at baseline. Twenty-seven individuals (27.0%) with depressive symptoms developed frailty, whereas only 305 out of the 2,617 participants (11.7%) without depressive symptoms developed frailty during the follow-up period. After adjusting for covariates, depressive symptoms were associated with a 2.6-fold (95% CI 1.6, 4.2) increased hazard of incident frailty. The patterns of increased hazard were also observed when further stratified by baseline robust or pre-frailty status. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms increased the risk of developing frailty among the older Asian population. The impact of late-life depressive symptoms on physical health was notable. These findings also replicated results from Western populations. Future policies on geriatric public health need to focus more on treatment and intervention against geriatric depressive symptoms to prevent incident frailty among older population.
PIA and rSesC Mixture Arisen Antibodies Could Inhibit the Biofilm-Formation in Staphylococcus aureus.

Background Staphylococcus aureus as a causative agent of hospital-acquired infections has been considered as the primary concern in biomaterial-related infections (BAIs). Methods Following the purification of polysaccharide intercellular adhesion (PIA) as an efficient macromolecule in biofilm formation in the native condition, recombinant S. epidermidis surface-exposed rSesC protein, with the most homology to clumping factor A (ClfA) in S. aureus was cloned and expressed in a prokaryotic host as well. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and Western blotting procedure analyzed purified PIA and protein, respectively. Then, the immune response was evaluated by measuring total IgG titers. Moreover, the capacity of Anti-biofilm forming activity of arisen antibodies to a biofilm-forming S. aureus strains was assessed by the semi-quantitative micro-plate procedure. Results Data showed that the total IgGs were boosted in mice immunized sera. By performing an inhibition assay, the biofilm inhibitory effect of secreted antibodies to test strain was observed. Arisen antibodies against the mixture significantly were more potent than PIA and rSesC, when comparing individual antigens in a biofilm inhibition assay. Conclusion immunization of mice with mentioned antigens especially a mixture of them, could eliminate the biofilm formation process in S. aureus. Hopefully, this study corresponds to the suggestion that the immunization of mice with PIA and rSesC candidate vaccines could protect against S. aureus infection.
Absolute and comparative risk assessments: evidence for the utility of incorporating internal comparisons into models of risk perception

Abstract Numerous health behavior models have emphasized absolute risk perceptions as prominent predictors of future behavior and intentions, but more recent research has shown that people also attend to comparative risk information. While most research highlights external (social) comparisons as the primary way people contextualize risk, it is also possible that people use internal comparisons, such as comparing their current risk to their past risk (temporal comparisons) or comparing their risk for one health threat to their risk for another health threat (dimensional comparisons). Objective: The current research sought to examine differences in absolute, external, and internal comparative risk perceptions across a variety of health threats. Design: This study utilized a cross-sectional design wherein participants completed all study materials online. Main outcome measures: MTurk workers (N = 654) responded to questions about absolute and comparative risk perceptions, concern, and precautionary intentions. Results: Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that although absolute risk perceptions were positively associated with concern and precautionary intentions for all health threats, comparative risk perceptions also accounted for unique variance in all models. Internal comparisons were uniquely associated with concern and intentions even when accounting for absolute and external comparative risk perceptions in nearly all models. Conclusion: These findings provide the first systematic evidence for the utility of incorporating internal comparisons into models of risk perception.
GABAergic modulation of performance in response inhibition and interference control tasks

Background: Inhibitory control is a crucial executive function with high relevance to mental and physical well-being. However, there are still unanswered questions regarding its neural mechanisms, including the role of the major inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Aims: This study examined the effects of lorazepam (0.5 mg and 1 mg), a positive allosteric modulator at the GABAA receptor, on response inhibition and interference control. We also explored the heterogeneity of inhibitory control and calculated delta plots to explore whether lorazepam affects the gradual build-up of inhibition and activation over time. Methods: N = 50 healthy participants performed antisaccade, Eriksen flanker and Simon tasks in a within-subjects, placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized design. Results: Lorazepam increased reaction time (RT) and error rates dose dependently in all tasks (p ⩽ 0.005). In the antisaccade and Simon tasks, lorazepam increased congruency effects for error rate (p ⩽ 0.029) but not RT (p ⩾ 0.587). In the Eriksen flanker task, both congruency effects were increased by the drug (p ⩽ 0.031). Delta plots did not reflect drug-induced changes in inhibition and activation over time. Delta plots for RT in the Simon task were negative-going, as expected, whereas those for the antisaccade and flanker tasks were positive-going. Conclusions: This study provides evidence for GABAergic involvement in performance on response inhibition and interference control tasks. Furthermore, our findings highlight the diversity of the broader construct of inhibitory control while also pointing out similarities between different inhibitory control tasks. In contrast to RT and error rates, the cognitive processes indexed by delta plots may not be sensitive to GABAergic modulation.
Preparation of Novel Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether Fatty Acid Monoester Biodiesel Using Calcined Sodium Silicate

A series of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) fatty acid monoesters were prepared by the transesterification of different fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) with EGME. A solid basic catalyst, namely, calcined sodium silicate, was used. Various parameters, such as the calcination temperature, amount of catalyst, molar ratio of FAME/EGME, reaction temperature, and time on the yield of EGMEML (ML = methyl laurate), were optimized; the reusability of calcined sodium silicate was also examined. Calcined sodium silicate was also used as a catalyst for examining the catalytic activity of soybean oil biodiesel with EGME. Thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, carbon dioxide temperature-programmed desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were employed to characterize the properties of calcined sodium silicate. The results indicated that calcined sodium silicate was effective for the synthesis of novel biodiesel by FAMEs, with EGME as reactants. Centrifugation and deca.
Art as relaxation for tic disorders: a pilot randomised control study

ABSTRACT Background Despite the known benefits of art therapy, there are a limited number of studies on art therapy for tic disorders. This pilot randomised controlled study investigated effects of art as a relaxation technique for tic disorders. Methods Twenty-two children aged 7–9 years were randomly allocated to art intervention (n= 11) and control (n= 11) groups. Pre– and post-test measurements included the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS), Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and Hassles Scale for Children (HSC). Results Art as relaxation significantly decreased the YGTSS total score, motor tic frequency, motor tic intensity, motor tic complexity, vocal tic complexity, and total daily stressors compared to the control group. The intervention group showed significantly greater physiological relaxation, as indicated by increases in HRV parameters. Conclusions Art appears to be an effective relaxation technique for tic disorders. Extensive research is necessary for rigorous examination of its effectiveness.
Using modulated and smoothed data improves detectability of volume difference in group comparison, but reduces accuracy with atlas-based volumetry using Statistical Parametric Mapping 12 software

Background Atlas-based volumetry using three-dimensional T1-weighted (3D-T1W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used previously to evaluate the volumes of intracranial tissues. Purpose To evaluate the detectability of volume difference and accuracy for volumetry using smoothed data with an atlas-based method. Material and Methods Twenty healthy individuals and 24 patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) underwent 3-T MRI, and sagittal 3D-T1W images were obtained in all participants. Signal values (as tissue probability) of voxels in five segmented data types (gray matter, white matter, cerebrospinal fluid [CSF], skull, soft tissue) derived from the 3D-T1W images with SPM 12 software were assigned simulated 3D-T1W signal intensities to each tissue image. The assigned data were termed “reference data. ” We created a reference 3D-T1W image that included the reference data of all five tissue types. Standard volumes were measured for the reference CSF data with region of interest of lateral ventricle in native space, and measured volumes were obtained for non-smoothed and smoothed-modulated data. Detectability was evaluated between measured volumes in the healthy control and iNPH groups. Accuracy was evaluated as the difference between the mean measured and standard volumes. Results In group comparison of measured volumes between the healthy control and iNPH groups, the lowest P value was for smoothed-modulated CSF data. In both groups, the largest difference from the standard volume was found for the mean of the measured volumes for smoothed-modulated CSF data. Conclusion Our study shows that using smoothed data can improve detectability in group comparison. However, using smoothed data reduces the accuracy of volumetry.
Muscle forces and the demands of human walking

ABSTRACT Reconstructing the locomotor behavior of extinct animals depends on elucidating the principles that link behavior, function, and morphology, which can only be done using extant animals. Within the human lineage, the evolution of bipedalism represents a critical transition, and evaluating fossil hominins depends on understanding the relationship between lower limb forces and skeletal morphology in living humans. As a step toward that goal, here we use a musculoskeletal model to estimate forces in the lower limb muscles of ten individuals during walking. The purpose is to quantify the consistency, timing, and magnitude of these muscle forces during the stance phase of walking. We find that muscles which act to support or propel the body during walking demonstrate the greatest force magnitudes as well as the highest consistency in the shape of force curves among individuals. Muscles that generate moments in the same direction as, or orthogonal to, the ground reaction force show lower forces of greater variability. These data can be used to define the envelope of load cases that need to be examined in order to understand human lower limb skeletal load bearing.
Selective HLA restriction enables the evaluation and interpretation of immunogenic breadth at comparable levels to that observed with broader HLA distribution

Existing approaches to identifying predictive T‐cell epitopes have traditionally utilized either 2‐digit HLA super‐families or more commonly utilizing autologous HLA alleles to facilitate the predictions. However, the use of these criteria may not consider the HLA representation within any target population. Here we propose a modification to concept of utilizing autologous HLA whereby subsets of individuals are selected for their specific HLA allele profiles and the representation they provide within a given population. Using this selective approach to HLA selection and the linkages to specific individuals may enable the design of more targeted experimentalstrategies.
Aligning stakeholders’ understandings of the return-to-work process: a qualitative study on workplace meetings in inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation

ABSTRACT Purpose: Although it is believed that involving the workplace and stakeholders in return-to-work interventions is beneficial, Norwegian occupational rehabilitation programmes rarely do. During 2015–2016, Hysnes Rehabilitation Centre provided inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation, including workplace meetings with employees, supervisors, and rehabilitation therapists. This study aims to explore the meetings´ content and stakeholders´ experiences.Methods: This was a multiple case study including non-participant observation of workplace meetings and interviews with participantsResults: Essential features of meetings included revealing and aligning the employee’s and supervisor’s understandings. Three components seemed instrumental in developing shared understandings leading to appropriate adjustments: 1) disclosing causes of absence, 2) validating difficulties, attitudes, and efforts, and 3) delimiting responsibility. Therapists played a vital role in addressing these components, supporting employees, and ensuring planning of appropriate solutions.Conclusion: Developing shared understandings by addressing and aligning illness- and return-to-work representations appears important for return-to-work interventions. Although pivotal to developing appropriate adjustments, disclosure depends upon supervisors’ display of understanding and should not be encouraged without knowledge of the employee´s work situation. How supervisors relate to employees and implement adjustments may be as important as the types of adjustments. The therapist’s support and validation of employees in vulnerable situations also seem valuable.Trial registration: The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02541890), 4 September 2015. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02541890.
Are genetic variations in IL-1β and IL-6 cytokines associated with the risk of pre-eclampsia? Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective This systematic review and meta-analysis study was performed to assess the potential association between interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1143634 and rs16944) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) SNP (rs1800795) and pre-eclampsia (PE). Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the international search engines and databases, including MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science (ISI) up to 9 March 2021. After retrieving relevant articles, data extraction was performed by four authors independently. Pooled ORs and corresponding 95% CIs were used to evaluate the association between IL-1β and IL-6 polymorphisms and PE risk. Cochran's Q test was used to check heterogeneity, and the I 2 index was calculated for measuring the heterogeneity between the estimations of included studies. Results After reviewing fully published studies, 21 studies were included in this study based on the eligibility criteria. Our results showed that rs16944 and rs1143634 of IL-1β were significantly associated with the risk of PE. Regarding rs16944, the minor C allele significantly decreased the risk of PE (C vs. T: OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.69–0.90). In contrast, the minor T allele of rs1143634 significantly increased the risk of PE (T vs. C: OR = 1. 28, 95% CI = 1.04–1.58). There was no significant association between IL-6 rs1800795 (C vs. G: OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.93–1.16) polymorphism and PE risk. Conclusions In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests rs1143634 and rs16944 polymorphisms of IL-1β are related to the risk of PE.
Effectiveness of medical coating materials in decreasing friction between orthodontic brackets and archwires

Objective The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the changes in friction between orthodontic brackets and archwires coated with aluminum oxide (Al2O3), titanium nitride (TiN), or chromium nitride (CrN). In addition, the resistance of the coatings to intraoral conditions was evaluated. Methods Stainless steel canine brackets, 0.016-inch round nickel–titanium archwires, and 0.019 × 0.025-inch stainless steel archwires were coated with Al2O3, TiN, and CrN using radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The coated materials were examined using scanning electron microscopy, an X-ray diffractometer, atomic force microscopy, and surface profilometry. In addition, the samples were subjected to thermal cycling and in vitro brushing tests, and the effects of the simulated intraoral conditions on the coating structure were evaluated. Results Coating of the metal bracket as well as nickel–titanium archwire with Al2O3 reduced the coefficients of friction (CoFs) for the bracket–archwire combination (p < 0.01). When the bracket and stainless steel archwire were coated with Al2O3 and TiN, the CoFs were significantly lower (0.207 and 0.372, respectively) than that recorded when this bracket–archwire combination was left uncoated (0.552; p < 0.01). The friction, thermal, and brushing tests did not deteriorate the overall quality of the Al2O3 coatings; however, some small areas of peeling were evident for the TiN coatings, whereas comparatively larger areas of peeling were observed for the CrN coatings. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the CoFs for metal bracket–archwire combinations used in orthodontic treatment can be decreased by coating with Al2O3 and TiN thin films.
The Difference of Tympanic Temperature According to Insertion Methods of Tympanic Thermometer Probe

This study was conducted from Mach 2015 to June 2015 on 185 adults to examine the difference according to the insertion methods of thermometer probe when measuring the tympanic temperatures. Three kinds of measurement method were significantly different in their temperatures depending on gender or on participants' reaction to comfortableness. However, since the difference is within a small error range of 0.1℃ or less, which is less than a margin of error that happens when measuring body temperature, it only has statistical difference and no clinical meaning. Therefore, although it is stated in textbooks that when measuring the tympanic temperature of an adult, it is the most accurate to measure with the upward and back pulling of an ear, it seems like there will be no substantial difference if they measure in a way that participants feel the most comfortable.