Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of depression symptoms in female cancer patients: focus on concurrent validity

Background and aim of the work: The present research explores Concurrent Validity of two depression measures the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Depression Subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-Depression subscale) in specific oncological groups (female cancer and onco-hematological patients). Method: A correlational study was designed and took place at Careggi Universitary Hospital in Florence, including 339 oncological patients, in particular 103 (59 Women and 44 men) patients suffering from lymphoma, and 236 patients suffering from female cancer. We estimated, by Pearson’s r, Concurrent Validity between BDI and HADS depression’s subscale. Results: Correlations failed to reach the 0.55 cut-off in the female cancer group (r=.34, p<.001) but not in the onco-hematological patients (r=0.56, p<.001). Conclusion: The results stressing the need to develop and validate assessing tools that are specifically devoted to different groups of oncological patients. (www.actabiomedica.it)
Safety of Administering Live Vaccines during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes

Live-attenuated vaccines (LAV) are currently contraindicated during pregnancy, given uncertain safety records for the mother–infant pair. LAV might, however, play an important role to protect them against serious emerging diseases, such as Ebola and Lassa fever. For this systematic review we searched relevant databases to identify studies published up to November 2019. Controlled observational studies reporting pregnancy outcomes after maternal immunization with LAV were included. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess risk of bias. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were obtained under a random-effects model. Of 2831 studies identified, fifteen fulfilled inclusion criteria. Smallpox, rubella, poliovirus, yellow fever and dengue vaccines were assessed in these studies. No association was found between vaccination and miscarriage (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.87–1.10), stillbirth (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.74–1.48), malformations (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.98–1.21), prematurity (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.90–1.08) or neonatal death (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.68–1.65) overall. However, increased odds of malformations (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.03–1.49) and miscarriage after first trimester immunization (OR 4.82; 95% CI 2.38–9.77) was found for smallpox vaccine. Thus, we did not find evidence of harm related to LAV other than smallpox with regards to pregnancy outcomes, but quality of evidence was very low. Overall risks appear to be small and have to be balanced against potential benefits for the mother-infant pair.
Image Analyses Assessed Cell Lines as Potential Performance Controls of Ki-67 Immunostained Slides.

T nuclear protein Ki-67 can be visualized immunohistochemically (IHC) in proliferating cells. Ki67 proliferation indices (PIs), calculated as the fraction of Ki-67-stained tumor cells, contain prognostic information in many cancer types and are suggested as a discriminating surrogate marker of certain molecular subtypes of breast cancer—luminal types A and B. Despite great efforts in the scientific community, no cutoff between these subtypes has been established. A previous St. Gallen report suggested a cutoff (14%), but the latest reports had dropped this recommendation.1,2 One of the challenges in establishing exact cutoffs is the lack of standardization in Ki-67 IHC staining and interpretation. Recently, we showed that optimally calibrated staining protocols using commercially available primary antibodies (Abs) on different platforms provided significantly different Ki-67 PIs in breast carcinomas.3 As Ki-67-stained slides are not interpreted dichotomously but rather used to obtain quantitative PI, small changes in IHC protocol settings and day-to-day staining variation may impact the Ki-67 PI and consequently treatment decisions. Currently, tonsils are recommended as positive tissue control by the international expert ad hoc committee on IHC.4 However, according to the committee, controls should also include tissues with the clinically and critically relevant range of Ki-67 expression, as tonsils alone cannot reliably be used to verify the precision and reproducibility of the IHC test. This was underlined in the latest NordiQC assessment of Ki-67, wherein suboptimally stained slides still stained all germinal center cells in tonsil.5 Cell lines are often used as controls in scientific IHC experiments. However, the usage is less widespread in clinical pathology laboratories with access to tissues that have been exposed to the same preanalytical conditions as clinical samples. Tissue controls may exhibit heterogeneity and uneven fixation, complicating their use as IHC performance controls. Thus, cell lines with stable, evenly distributed antigen expression have potential as standardized controls for IHC test reproducibility. The purpose of this study was to examine whether cell lines could serve as supplementary standardized control of Ki-67 IHC reproducibility when staining intensity and extension was quantified asH-scores by Digital Image Analysis (DIA). We also wanted to examine whether it was possible to identify suboptimally stained slides using H-scores.
A novel conformation of E. coli Hsp90 in solution: insights into the conformational dynamics of Hsp90

Hsp90, an essential eukaryotic chaperone, depends upon its intrinsic ATPase activity for function. Crystal structures of the bacterial Hsp90 homolog, HtpG, and the yeast Hsp90 reveal large domain rearrangements between the nucleotide-free and the nucleotide-bound forms. Using small-angle xray scattering and newly developed molecular modeling methods, we describe the solution structure of HtpG and demonstrate how it differs from known Hsp90 conformations. In addition to this novel HtpG conformation, we demonstrate that under physiologically-relevant conditions, multiple conformations co-exist in equilibrium. In solution, nucleotide-free HtpG adopts a more extended conformation than observed in the crystal, and upon the addition of AMPPNP, HtpG is in equilibrium between this open state and a closed state that is in good agreement with the yeast AMPPNP crystal structure. These studies provide a unique view of Hsp90 conformational dynamics and provide a new model for the role of nucleotide in effecting conformational change.
Lycopene supplementation regulates the gene expression profile and fat metabolism of breeding hens.

This study investigated the effects of lycopene on the gene expression profile and expression of genes related to fat metabolism of Xinghua breeding hens. Seven hundred and twenty healthy breeding hens were randomly assigned to four treatments; each treatment was replicated six times with 30 hens each. Broken rice and soybean meal were adopted for the basal diet and added with 0 (control group), 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg lycopene respectively. Gene expression profile of the liver induced by lycopene and expression of genes related to fat metabolism in hens liver and intestine were analysed after 42-day feeding trial including 7-day pre-feeding period and 35-day formal period. The genes involved in fat metabolism were analysed, and we found that lycopene significantly increased the expression of PGC1α, PPARα, RXRα and RARα in the liver, PPARγ, RXRα and RXRγ in the jejunum, and RARα in the duodenum (p < .05); reduced the expression of FABP1 and FABP10 in the liver, and FATP4 in the jejunum (p < .05). By analysing gene expression profile, 158 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including 69 up-regulated genes and 89 down-regulated genes were obtained between control group and 40 mg/kg group. KEGG pathway analysis was performed on all DEGs, and 5 pathways were obtained. In conclusion, lycopene can affect the expression of related genes, and this may be one of the reasons that lycopene can regulate fat metabolism.
Contextual determinants of parental reflective functioning: Children with autism versus their typically developing siblings

Parental reflective functioning is defined as holding in mind one’s child’s thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and intentions and reflecting on how these mental states may be affecting the child’s behavior. Although parental reflective functioning is often treated as a stable feature of the parent, there is growing appreciation that it may be shaped by the context in which the parent is operating. In this study, we examined parental reflective functioning using the Parental Developmental Interview when parents were talking about their interactions with their child with autism versus the child’s typically developing siblings. Our sample included 30 parents who had a child between the ages of 3 and 18 years with a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and at least one typically developing child. Findings indicated that parents exhibited significantly higher reflective functioning when interacting with their child with autism spectrum disorder versus the typically developing siblings, and the difference was moderated by parental self-efficacy. The evidence for a disparity in parental reflective functioning between children with autism spectrum disorder and their typically developing siblings (especially for parents with low parental self-efficacy) warrants further investigations that might lead to the development of effective interventions. Lay Abstract In this study, we examined parental reflective functioning using the Parental Developmental Interview when parents were talking about their interactions with their child with autism versus the child’s typically developing siblings. Our sample included 30 parents who had a child between the ages of 3 and 18 years with a clinical diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and at least one typically developing child. Findings indicated that parents exhibited significantly higher reflective functioning when interacting with their child with autism spectrum disorder versus the typically developing siblings, and the difference was moderated by parental self-efficacy.
Is fatness or fitness key for survival in older adults with intellectual disabilities?

Abstract Background Overweight/obesity and poor physical fitness are two prevalent lifestyle‐related problems in older adults with intellectual disabilities, which each require a different approach. To improve healthy ageing, we assessed whether fatness or fitness is more important for survival in older adults with intellectual disabilities. Methods In the HA‐ID study, we measured obesity and fitness of 874 older adults with intellectual disabilities (61.4 ± 7.8 years). All‐cause mortality was assessed over a 5‐year follow‐up period. Results Fitness, but not obesity, was significantly related to survival (HR range of 0.17–0.22). People who were unfit were 3.58 (95% CI = 1.72–7.46) to 4.59 (95% CI = 1.97–10.68) times more likely to die within the follow‐up period than people who were fit, regardless of obesity. Conclusion This was the first study to show that being fit is more important for survival than fatness in older adults with intellectual disabilities. The emphasis should, therefore, shift from weight reduction to improving physical fitness.
Effects of a Diet Supplemented with Exogenous Catalase from Penicillium notatum on Intestinal Development and Microbiota in Weaned Piglets

This study aims to investigate the effects of exogenous catalase (CAT), an antioxidative enzyme from microbial cultures, on intestinal development and microbiota in weaned piglets. Seventy-two weaned piglets were allotted to two groups and fed a basal diet or a basal diet containing 2.0 g/kg exogenous CAT. Results showed that exogenous CAT increased (p < 0.05) jejunal villus height/crypt depth ratio and intestinal factors (diamine oxidase and transforming growth factor-α) concentration. Moreover, dietary CAT supplementation enhanced the antioxidative capacity, and decreased the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokine in the jejunum mucosa. Exogenous CAT did not affect the concentration of short-chain fatty acids, but decreased the pH value in colonic digesta (p < 0.05). Interestingly, the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Dialister were increased (p < 0.05), while Streptococcus and Escherichia-Shigella were decreased (p < 0.05) in colonic digesta by exogenous CAT. Accordingly, decreased (p < 0.05) predicted functions related to aerobic respiration were observed in the piglets fed the CAT diet. Our study suggests a synergic response of intestinal development and microbiota to the exogenous CAT, and provides support for the application of CAT purified from microbial cultures in the feed industry.
The Fabrication and Application Mechanism of Microfluidic Systems for High Throughput Biomedical Screening: A Review

Microfluidic systems have been widely explored based on microfluidic technology, and it has been widely used for biomedical screening. The key parts are the fabrication of the base scaffold, the construction of the matrix environment in the 3D system, and the application mechanism. In recent years, a variety of new materials have emerged, meanwhile, some new technologies have been developed. In this review, we highlight the properties of high throughput and the biomedical application of the microfluidic chip and focus on the recent progress of the fabrication and application mechanism. The emergence of various biocompatible materials has provided more available raw materials for microfluidic chips. The material is not confined to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and the extracellular microenvironment is not limited by a natural matrix. The mechanism is also developed in diverse ways, including its special physical structure and external field effects, such as dielectrophoresis, magnetophoresis, and acoustophoresis. Furthermore, the cell/organ-based microfluidic system provides a new platform for drug screening due to imitating the anatomic and physiologic properties in vivo. Although microfluidic technology is currently mostly in the laboratory stage, it has great potential for commercial applications in the future.
Assembling Surfactants-Mucoadhesive Polymer Nanomicelles (ASMP-Nano) for Ocular Delivery of Cyclosporine-A

The physiological protective mechanisms of the eye reduce the bioavailability of topically administered drugs above all for those with high molecular weight and /or lipophilic characteristics, such as Cyclosporine A (CyA). The combined strategy based on the association of nanomicelles and mucoadhesive polymer seems promising since a limited number of commercial products containing CyA have been recently approved. The scope of this investigation was the design of Assembling Surfactants-Mucoadhesive Polymer Nanomicelles (ASMP-Nano), based on a binary system of two surfactants in combination with hyaluronic acid, and their biopharmaceutical evaluation. The optimisation of the ASMP-Nano in term of the amount of surfactants, CyA-loading and size determined the selection of the clear and stable Nano1HAB-CyA formulation containing 0.105% w/w CyA loaded-nanomicelles with a size of 14.41 nm. The nanostructured system had a protective effect towards epithelial corneal cells with a cell viability of more than 80%. It interacted with cellular barriers favouring the uptake and the accumulation of CyA into the cells as evidenced by fluorescent probe distribution, by hindering CyA permeation through reconstituted corneal epithelial tissue. In pharmacokinetics study on rabbits, the nanomicellar carrier prolonged the CyA retention time in the precorneal area mainly in presence of hyaluronic acid (HA), a mucoadhesive polymer.
Comparative Transcriptome-Based Mining and Expression Profiling of Transcription Factors Related to Cold Tolerance in Peanut

Plants tolerate cold stress by regulating gene networks controlling cellular and physiological traits to modify growth and development. Transcription factor (TF)-directed regulation of transcription within these gene networks is key to eliciting appropriate responses. Identifying TFs related to cold tolerance contributes to cold-tolerant crop breeding. In this study, a comparative transcriptome analysis was carried out to investigate global gene expression of entire TFs in two peanut varieties with different cold-tolerant abilities. A total of 87 TF families including 2328 TF genes were identified. Among them, 445 TF genes were significantly differentially expressed in two peanut varieties under cold stress. The TF families represented by the largest numbers of differentially expressed members were bHLH (basic helix—loop—helix protein), C2H2 (Cys2/His2 zinc finger protein), ERF (ethylene-responsive factor), MYB (v-myb avian myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog), NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, CUC2) and WRKY TFs. Phylogenetic evolutionary analysis, temporal expression profiling, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network, and functional enrichment of differentially expressed TFs revealed the importance of plant hormone signal transduction and plant-pathogen interaction pathways and their possible mechanism in peanut cold tolerance. This study contributes to a better understanding of the complex mechanism of TFs in response to cold stress in peanut and provides valuable resources for the investigation of evolutionary history and biological functions of peanut TFs genes involved in cold tolerance.
The Validity of Applying a Simple Three-Factor Computational Model to Calculate Force, Power, and Speed Using Hexagonal Bar Jumps

Abstract Agar-Newman, DJ, Tsai, MC, and Klimstra, M. The validity of applying a simple three-factor computational model to calculate force, power, and speed using hexagonal bar jumps. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2108–2114, 2022—The development of athlete specific force–speed profiles can be accomplished through testing ballistic movements, enabling athlete comparisons and to direct training interventions. However, field-based assessments relying on the squat jump or countermovement jump may lack specificity for some sports or be contraindicated for some athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the validity of a three-factor computational model using system mass, push-off distance, and jump height to calculate force, speed, and power for the hexagonal bar (hex-bar) jump. Twenty-one university varsity rowing athletes (12 females and 9 males, 20.40 ± 2.60 years, 78.56 ± 13.68 kg, 1.77 ± 0.08 m, and strength training history of 3.57 ± 2.69 years) were purposefully sampled. Testing consisted of jumps at loads starting at 28.55 kg and increasing by 10-kg increments to 78.55 kg or until technical failure occurred. Validity was assessed by comparing the three-factor computational model to the criterion force–time measures from a force plate. The results show force (mean bias = 85.38 N, SE = 5.41, 95% confidence limit 1,576.85–1,598.19), speed (mean bias = 0.00 m·s−1, SE = 1.25−5, 95% confidence limit 0.72–0.72), and power (mean bias = 73.36 W, SE = 3.90, 95% confidence limit 1,166.61–1,181.97) can be computed using a three-factor computational model using the hex-bar jump. In conclusion, jump height from a hex-bar jump can be used with a simple three-factor computational model to calculate valid measures of force, speed, and power. This allows practitioners in the field to use a movement that may be more sport-specific or safe, to calculate kinetic and kinematic measures without encountering the issues of cost and portability associated with force plates.
Anti-oxidative effect of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor nintedanib: a potential therapy for chronic lung allograft dysfunction?

Abstract Background: The long-term survival after lung transplantation (LTx) is often limited by the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Increased oxidative stress has been found to occur in chronic lung allograft dysfunction because of several risk factors, e.g. immunological factors or drug related factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidative effect of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor nintedanib on immunologically induced oxidative stress and on drug induced oxidative stress. Methods: In-vivo studies were used for investigation of immunologically induced oxidative stress: Immunohistochemistry of transglutaminase-2 (TGM-2) was used to figure out a potential anti-oxidative effect of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor nintedanib in a rat model of allogeneic left LTx. In-vitro studies were used for investigation of drug induced oxidative stress: Cell viability assay, 2’7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) and immunofluorescence of transglutaminase-2 were disposed to examine the potential impact of nintedanib on cyclosporin A (CsA) treated lung fibroblasts of the rat. Results: In-vivo studies: Allogeneic transplanted animals without drug interaction showed severe chronic rejection and an excessive expression of TGM-2, whereas the application of nintedanib significantly decreased the number of TGM-2 positive cells. In-vitro studies: Concentrations of CsA ranging from 250 ng/ml to 500 ng/ml demonstrated oxidative stress caused by an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an overexpression of TGM-2 without inducing apoptosis in cells. Concentrations of more than 1000 ng/ml led to a considerable decrease of cellularity. 30 min-pre-incubation with nintedanib at a concentration between 25 and 100 nM reduced generation of intracellular ROS and expression of TGM-2. Conclusion: These results demonstrate a downregulation of ROS and TGM-2 by pretreatment with the receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor nintedanib and present its potential anti-oxidative and immunomodulatory effect in the treatment of chronic lung allograft dysfunction.
Transparent Platinum Counter Electrode Prepared by Polyol Reduction for Bifacial, Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Pt catalytic nanoparticles on F-doped SnO2/glass substrates were prepared by polyol reduction below 200 °C. The polyol reduction resulted in better transparency of the counter electrode and high power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of the resultant dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) compared to conventional thermal reduction. The PCEs of the DSSCs with 5 μm-thick TiO2 photoanodes were 6.55% and 5.01% under front and back illumination conditions, respectively. The back/front efficiency ratio is very promising for efficient bifacial DSSCs.