Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA-769-5p Inhibits Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression by Directly Targeting and Downregulating ETS Proto-Oncogene 1

Purpose MicroRNA-769-5p (miR-769) is aberrantly expressed and plays crucial roles in non–small cell lung cancer and melanoma. However, the expression pattern, biological role, and mechanisms of action of miR-769 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are yet to be fully elucidated. Therefore, we attempted to determine the potential regulatory function of miR-769 in PDAC progression and to explore the underlying mechanisms in detail. Methods In this study, reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was carried out to determine the expression profile of miR-769 in PDAC. A series of experiments, including a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, flow-cytometric analysis, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and a xenograft animal model, were applied to test whether miR-769 affects the malignancy of PDAC. Results We found that miR-769 was significantly underexpressed in PDAC tissues and cell lines. The low miR-769 expression significantly correlated with the TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. Patients with PDAC harboring low miR-769 expression showed shorter overall survival than did the patients with high miR-769 expression. Forced upregulation of miR-769 suppressed PDAC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro; promoted apoptosis in vitro; and hindered tumor growth in vivo. Experiments on the mechanism identified ETS proto-oncogene 1 (ETS1) as a direct target gene of miR-769 in PDAC cells. Furthermore, ETS1 turned out to be upregulated in PDAC tissue samples, and the upregulation of ETS1 negatively correlated with miR-769 expression. Moreover, ETS1 knockdown simulated the tumor-suppressive effects of miR-769 overexpression on PDAC cells. Besides, ETS1 reintroduction attenuated the antitumor actions of miR-769 upregulation in PDAC cells. Conclusion Our findings indicate that miR-769 performs tumor-suppressive functions in PDAC by directly targeting ETS1, and this miRNA may represent a potential therapeutic target for the development of anticancer therapies.
Diseases of Cymbopogon citratus (Poaceae) in China: Curvularia nanningensis sp. nov.

Abstract Five Curvularia strains isolated from diseased leaves of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) in Guangxi Province, China, were examined. NCBI-Blast searches of ITS sequences suggested a high degree of similarity (99–100%) to Curvularia akaii, C. akaiiensis, C. bothriochloae, C. heteropogonis and C. sichuanensis. To accurately identify these strains, we further analysed their morphology and phylogenetic relationships based on combinations of ITS, GAPDH, and tef1 gene sequences. Morphological observations indicated that the key character differing from similar species was conidial size, whereas phylogenetic analyses indicated that the five strains represent one species that is also distinct from C. akaii, C. akaiiensis and C. bothriochloae by conidial size and conidiophore length. Thus, the strains examined are found to represent a new species described herein as Curvularia nanningensis. The pathogenicity test on the host and detached leaves confirmed the new species to be pathogenic on Cymbopogon citratus leaves. Standardised requirements for reliable identification of Curvularia pathogens are also proposed.
Genotypic and Phenotypic-Based Assessment of Antibiotic Resistance and Profile of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec in the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Recovered from Raw Milk

Background Multidrug resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria are determined to be one of the chief causes of foodborne diseases around the world. Purpose This research was done to assess the genotypic and phenotypic profiles of antibiotic resistance and distribution of Staphylococcus cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types amongst the MRSA bacteria recovered from raw milk. Methods Five-hundred and ninety raw milk samples were collected and examined. MRSA bacteria were recognized using susceptibility evaluation toward oxacillin and cefoxitin disks. Profile of antibiotic resistance genes and SCCmec types were determined using the PCR. Antibiotic resistance pattern of isolates was examined using the disk diffusion. Results Thirty-nine out of 590 raw milk samples (6.61%) were positive for S. aureus. Twenty-eight out of 39 (71.79%) bacteria were defined as MRSA bacteria. Raw buffalo (80%) milk samples had the maximum incidence of MRSA, while raw camel (33.33%) had the minimum. MRSA bacteria harbored the maximum incidence of resistance toward penicillin (100%), tetracycline (100%), erythromycin (82.14%), gentamicin (78.57%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (78.57%). Incidence of resistance toward more than eight classes of antibiotic agents was 28.57%. The most frequently distinguished antibiotic resistance markers were blaZ (100%), tetK (85.71%), dfrA1 (71.42%), aacA-D (67.85%), ermA (50%) and gyrA (42.85%). SCCmec IVa (29.62%), V (25%), III (14.81%) and IVb (11.11%) were the most frequently distinguished types. Conclusion Raw milk of dairy animals maybe sources of multidrug resistant MRSA which pose a hygienic threat concerning the consumption of raw milk in Iran. Nevertheless, further investigations are necessary to understand supplementary epidemiological features of MRSA in raw milk.
Determining the role of sport coaches in promoting athlete mental health: a narrative review and Delphi approach

Background Coaches have the potential to support athlete mental wellness, but many are unsure what to do and concerned they may unintentionally engage in behaviours that negatively impact their athletes. Education has the potential to help coaches engage in primary, secondary and tertiary preventive behaviours related to athlete mental health; however, there exists no empirical or consensus basis for specifying the target behaviours that should be included in such education. Objective The aim of this research was to review extant literature about the role of sport coaches in mental health prevention and promotion, and obtain expert consensus about useful, appropriate and feasible coach behaviours. Design Modified Delphi methodology with exploration (ie, narrative review) and evaluation phase. Data sources Twenty-one articles from PubMed, PsycINFO and ProQuest, and grey literature published by prominent sport organisations. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies All studies were English-language articles that focused on the role of coaches as they relate to (1) culture setting in sport, (2) addressing athlete mental health and (3) providing ongoing support to athletes with mental health concerns. No study design, publication date limits or sport characteristics were applied. Results The coach’s role should include fostering team cultures that support athlete mental health, encouraging care-seeking and supporting athletes currently receiving mental healthcare. Summary/Conclusion The behaviours specified herein have implications for coach education programme development. This study is the first to use a structured Delphi process to develop specific recommendations about the role coaches can play in supporting athlete mental health.
MiR-195-5p Inhibits Malignant Progression of Cervical Cancer by Targeting YAP1

Purpose Our previous studies have shown that miR-195 is reduced in cervical cancer tissues, and that upregulation of miR-195 suppressed cervical cancer cell growth and induced a cell cycle block. In this study, we aimed to further elucidate the mechanism of action between miR-195-5p and Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) in the malignant progression of cervical cancer. Methods MiR-195-5p and YAP1 were detected using qRT-PCR in cervical cancer cells transfected with miR-195-5p mimics or inhibitor. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion ability were detected using MTT, wound healing, and transwell invasion assays. Dual luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR, and Western blot analysis were used to demonstrate that YAP1 was a target of miR-195-5p. Results Our results showed that miR-195-5p is negatively correlated with YAP1 protein levels but not with mRNA expression. Moreover, upregulation of miR-195-5p by transient transfection with miR-195-5p mimics in HeLa and SiHa cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration ability, invasiveness, and the EMT. Conversely, miR-195-5p downregulation produced opposite results. In addition, multiple miRNA target prediction sites showed that YAP1 was a potential target gene; this was confirmed by dual luciferase assay. Rescue experiments further confirmed that YAP1 is involved in miR-195-5p-mediated inhibition of proliferation, migration ability, invasiveness, and the EMT of cervical cancer cells. Conclusion Taken together, our data suggest that miR-195-5p may act as a tumor suppressor which could provide a theoretical basis for cervical cancer patient targeted therapy.
Cost-effectiveness of Deceased-donor Renal Transplant Versus Dialysis to Treat End-stage Renal Disease: A Systematic Review

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Deceased-donor renal transplant (DDRT) is an expensive and potentially risky health intervention with the prospect of improved life and lower long-term costs compared with dialysis. Due to the increasing shortage of kidneys and the associated rise of transplantation costs, certain patient groups may not benefit from transplantation in a cost-effective manner compared with dialysis. The objective of this systematic review was to provide a comprehensive synthesis of evidence on the cost-effectiveness of DDRT relative to dialysis to treat adults with end-stage renal disease and patient-, donor-, and system-level factors that may modify the conclusion. A systematic search of articles was conducted on major databases including MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, EconLit, and the Health Economic Evaluations Database. Eligible articles were restricted to those published in 2001 or thereafter. Two reviewers independently assessed the suitability of studies and excluded studies that focused on recipients with age <18 years old and those of a living-donor or multiorgan transplant. We show that while DDRT is generally a cost-effective treatment relative to dialysis at conventional willingness-to-pay thresholds, a range of drivers including older patient age, comorbidity, and long wait times significantly reduce the benefit of DDRT while escalating healthcare costs. These findings suggest that the performance of DDRT on older patients with comorbidities should be carefully evaluated to avoid adverse results as evidence suggests that it is not cost-effective. Delayed transplantation may reduce the economic benefits of transplant which necessitates targeted policies that aim to shorten wait times. More recent findings have demonstrated that transplantation using high-risk donors may be a cost-effective and promising alternative to dialysis in the face of a lack of organ availability and fiscal constraints. This review highlights key concepts of health economic evaluations and the relevance of cost-effectiveness to inform care and decision-making in renal programs.
Endothelial Function in Obese Patients Treated with Bariatric Surgery

Purpose Bariatric surgery (BS) is becoming an increasingly frequent treatment option especially in people with morbid obesity, demonstrating that it is able to reduce total mortality and cardiovascular (CV) risk. Despite endothelial dysfunction is an essential requisite contributing to atherosclerosis and predicting CV events, only some studies have investigated the effects of BS on endothelial function with controversial results. In this study, the effects of weight loss on endothelial function were investigated in obese patients after BS and compared with patients after medical nutrition treatment (MNT). Patients and Methods Seventeen obese patients who underwent BS procedures (9 adjustable gastric bands, 3 gastric by-passes and 5 biliopancreatic diversions) were included in the study and compared with 18 obese individuals who underwent MNT. Endothelial function was investigated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. Also, carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) was measured as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. Results At the end of follow-up, the mean weight loss was 18.8% in the BS group and 7.0% in the MNT group. After treatment, FMD significantly decreased in the BS group (mean ± SD before: 9.0 ± 4.7; after: 6.1 ± 2.9%; P= 0.04); however, no significant change was observed in the MNT group (before: 9.4 ± 5.8; after: 8.3 ± 5.3; P= 0.41). The modification of endothelial function was negatively correlated with c-IMT change in the BS group (r= −0.63; P <0.007). Conclusion A significant endothelial dysfunction occurred following BS but not after MNT. Furthermore, the decline of endothelial function observed in the BS group might have contributed to atherosclerosis.
Trauma Induced Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease of the Lumbar Spine

Inflammatory arthritis, such as pseudogout or otherwise referred to as calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystal arthritis or calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease, is characterized by the deposition of crystal formation and deposition in large joints. CPPD is known to affect the elderly population and commonly manifests as inflammation of knees, hips, and shoulders. CPPD disease involving the spine has been infrequently encountered in practice and rarely described in the literature. Here, we describe a case of an 80-year-old female with no known history of inflammatory arthritis who presented with left lower extremity weakness and fall, initially thought to have discitis, later confirming CPPD of the spine through biopsy and ultimately resolution of symptoms with anti-inflammatory agents. Although consisting of different clinical presentations, two other case reports have described CPPD of the spine with similar radiographic findings, to this author's knowledge. With the radiologic similarities, this unique case serves to raise awareness in the medical community and possibly place pseudogout of the spine on the differential list when such cases are encountered. As a result, patients can be initiated on benign anti-inflammatory agents, avoiding invasive testing and unnecessary antibiotic exposure.
Silencing of ELK3 Induces S-M Phase Arrest and Apoptosis and Upregulates SERPINE1 Expression Reducing Migration in Prostate Cancer Cells

ELK3, an ETS domain-containing transcription factor, participates in various physiological and pathological processes including cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and malignant progression. However, the role of ELK3 in prostate cancer cells and its mechanism are not fully understood. The contribution of ELK3 to prostate cancer progression was investigated in the present study. We showed that silencing of ELK3 by siRNA in prostate cancer cell DU145 induced S-M phase arrest, promoted apoptosis, inhibited cell proliferation and migration in vitro, and suppressed xenograft growth in mice in vivo. In accordance with its ability to arrest cells in S-M phase, the expression of cyclin A and cyclin B was downregulated. In addition, the expression of p53 was upregulated following ELK3 knockdown, while that of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 was decreased. The migration inhibition may partly due to upregulation of SERPINE1 (a serine protease inhibitor) followed ELK3 knockdown. Consistently, downregulation of SERPINE1 resulted in a modest elimination of migration inhibition resulted from ELK3 knockdown. Furthermore, we found that the AKT signaling was activated in ELK3 knockdown cells, and treatment these cells with AKT inhibitor attenuated SERPINE1 expression induced by ELK3 silencing, suggesting that activation of AKT pathway may be one of the reasons for upregulation of SERPINE1 after ELK3 knockdown. In conclusion, modulation of ELK3 expression may control the progression of prostate cancer partly by regulating cell growth, apoptosis, and migration.
Detection of Prostate Cancer Antigen 3 and Prostate Cancer Susceptibility Candidate in Non-DRE Urine Improves Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in Chinese Population

Although prostate biopsy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of prostate cancer, it also leads to high incidence of negative biopsies and the diagnosis of clinically low-risk prostate cancer and the subsequent overtreatment. It remains an unmet need to discover new biomarkers in order to defer the unnecessary biopsies in clinical practice. In this study, we described a new method, LBXexo score, to measure the urine exosomal PCA3/PRAC expression from non-DRE urine as a noninvasive diagnosis to improve the detection rate in Chinese population with a low serum PSA level. First-voided urine samples were collected to isolate exosomes, and exosomal RNAs of PCA3 and PRAC were measured by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. A significant increase in exoPCA3/PRAC was observed in both any-grade and high-grade prostate cancer groups when compared with the biopsy-negative group. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses showed that the LBXexo score significantly improved diagnostic performance in predicting biopsy results, with AUCs of 0.723 (p=0.017) and 0.736 (p=0.038) for any-grade and high-grade (GS ≥ 7) prostate cancer, respectively. For high-grade cancer, LBXexo had the negative and positive predictive values of 100% and 27.59%, respectively, and could potentially avoid unnecessary biopsy. This is the first report in Chinese population that demonstrates the predictive value of the exosomal expression of PCA3 and PRAC derived from non-DRE urine in predicting prostate biopsy outcomes. It could be used in clinical practice to make a better informed biopsy decision and avoid unnecessary biopsies in Chinese population.
Effects of Vitamin K3 Combined with UVB on the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma A431 Cells

Purpose Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer and its incidence continues to rise yearly. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive form of cancer therapy, which utilizes the combined action of a photosensitizer, light, and oxygen molecules to selectively cause cellular damage to tumor cells. Vitamin K3 (VitK3) has been shown to induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of tumor cells in humans. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of VitK3 and ultraviolet radiation B (UVB) on oxidative damage, proliferation and apoptosis of A431 cells. Methods CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation; Hoechst staining, TUNEL assay and flow cytometry analysis were used to detect apoptosis. Western Blot was perfomed to measure the expression of apoptosis-related proteins. Flow cytometry analysis was employed to detect the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and mitochondrial membrane potential. Finally, the role of VitK3 in combination with UVB on the proliferation and apoptosis of A431 cells was investigated using mice xenograft models. Results We found that the co-treatment of VitK3 combined with UVB more significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of A431 cells than either VitK3 or UVB alone. Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry analysis revealed that apoptosis was more pronounced in the VitK3-UVB group compared to the VitK3 and UVB groups. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis showed that ROS and the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential were higher in all the co-treatment groups compared to the control, VitK3, and UVB groups. The VitK3-UVB group exhibited a significantly lower tumor growth rate in mouse xenograft models. Conclusion This study reveals that VitK3 combined with UVB inhibits the growth and induces apoptosis of A431 cells in vitro and suppresses tumor growth and promotes apoptosis of cSCC in vivo.
The Possible Impact of Aortic Stiffness on Quality of Late Life: An Exploratory Study

Purpose Aortic stiffness (AS) is associated with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in the older population. AS might also influence the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as a result of the negative effects of AS on cognitive and physical morbidity. We aimed to investigate the possible association between AS and HRQOL in people aged 75 years and over. Patients and Methods This cross-sectional study was part of the SCOPE study, an international multicenter cohort observational study. The indicators for AS were aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) and central pulse pressure (cPP). HRQOL was assessed using the EQ-5D index and the EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS). ANCOVA and multivariate regression models were used to investigate possible associations. Results We included 280 Dutch participants of the SCOPE study. Median age was 79 years (IQR 76–83) and 42.1% were women. Participants reporting any problem on the EQ-5D index (n=214) had higher values of aPWV (12.6 vs 12.2 m/s, p = 0.024) than participants not experiencing any problem (n=66) and comparable values of cPP (44.4 vs 42.0 mmHg, p = 0.119). Estimates only slightly changed after adjustments. No association was found between indicators of AS and EQ-5D VAS. Conclusion Aortic stiffness was associated with impaired quality of late life. This association could be mediated by subclinical vascular pathology affecting mental and physical health.
The Efficacy of Electrospun PAN/Kefiran Nanofiber and Kefir in Mammalian Cell Culture: Promotion of PC12 Cell Growth, Anti-MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells Activities, and Cytokine Production of PBMC

Background Kefiran is a useful polysaccharide made of branched glucogalactose which is produced by microorganisms. Here the anti-MCF-7 breast cancer cells activity of kefiran and cytokine productions (IL-6) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) treated by kefiran was studied. Also, the effect of using kefiran as a useful and cost-effective scaffold in neural stem cell culture (PC12 cell culture) was investigated. Material and Methods Kefiran was produced from raw milk with 0.5% fat and 10 g of kefir grains. After incubation for 48 hrs at room temperature, the solvent collected (crude kefiran). These samples were kept at 100°C for 1 hr (boiled kefiran) and the supernatant was precipitated by ethanol (pure kefiran). Then, the electrospun nanofibers, pure polyacrylonitrile (PAN), PAN/kefiran 5%, and PAN/kefiran 10% were fabricated and used as scaffolds in the cell culture. The structure of fabricated was studied by SEM and the cytokine production (IL-6) in vitro in the cell culture supernatant of PBMC line after treatment with kefiran (1mg/mL, 5 mg/mL) and kefiran-PAN 5% and 10% were carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The attachment of PC12 cells was examined by inverted microscope. Also, cytotoxicity of kefiran for PC12 and MCF7 cells and morphological changes of PC12 cells were evaluated by MTT and Cresyl violet staining (Nissl staining) respectively. Results The mean diameter of fabricated PAN/kefiran 5% and 10% nanofibers were 310.2±43.97 nm. The contact angle measurement results (26.9± 1.9 for the pure PAN scaffold vs 12.3± 1.13 for the PAN/kefiran) revealed enhanced hydrophilicity of scaffolds upon the incorporation of kefiran and PAN. Seeding of PC12 cells on the scaffolds showed that fabrication of kefiran into PAN led to the enhancement of cell attachment, proliferation, and morphological changes. Also, the promotion of PBMC growth and decreasing of MCF7 cell lines viability were shown through MTT assay. No significant changes were measured for the level of IL-6 in PAN/kefiran 5% treated cells compared to the control (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion These results suggest superior properties of kefiran/PAN nanofibrous scaffolds for the neural stem cell culture especially for repairing injured spinal cord. Also, the pure kefiran could be used for the enhancement of PBMC growth and reducing the MCF7 cancerous cells growth. So, using biocompatible, anti-bacterial, and anti-tumor kefiran/PAN nanofibers for regenerative medicine seems promising.