Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Choice should be Yours: Diabetes-related Distress by Insulin Delivery Method for Patients with Type 1 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND ADA recommends psychosocial assessment for people with diabetes, including diabetes-related distress. Elevated diabetes-related distress is associated with poor self-management, lower medication adherence, and poorer quality of life. Insulin delivery methods are multiple daily injections (MDI) or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Since people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) require comprehensive insulin therapy to manage blood glucose, we explored the association of insulin delivery methods and diabetes distress in this group. METHODS The US Air Force Diabetes Center of Excellence (DCOE), a specialty clinic for adults who are military health system (MHS) beneficiaries, administers the validated 17-item Diabetes-related Distress Scale (DDS-17) as part of standard care. Patient data were analyzed from June 2015 through August 2016 using SPSS version 22. Patients were free to choose method of insulin delivery with minimal or no additional cost. RESULTS There were 203 patients with T1DM who completed the DDS-17 as part of standard care during the time period. Patients were categorized as CSII (57.6%) or MDI (42.4%). Women were significantly more likely to choose MDI over CSII than men (p =0.003). DDS-17 scores were low in both groups, and there were no significant differences in DDS-17 by insulin delivery method. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in HbA1c between CSII (7.9% or 63 mmol/mol) and MDI (8.1% or 65 mmol/mol) users (p=0.22) and no significant differences in BMI between patients using CSII (M=28.33 kg/m2) and MDI (28.49 kg/m2) users (p=0.15). CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that if patients are relatively free to choose the insulin delivery method (minimal or no financial constraints), there were no differences in diabetes distress scores, HbA1c, or BMI between CSII and MDI. Therefore, people with T1DM may benefit from choosing the method of insulin delivery that will enable them to achieve individual goals and manage diabetes-related distress.
The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Inflammation in Older Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Bayesian Residual Change Analysis

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing clinical and experimental measures of pain in patients with chronic pain; however, research examining the mechanisms of action for the effects of tDCS has been lacking. The present study investigated the effect of active tDCS on measures of inflammation and stress. Older adults (aged 50–70 years) with knee osteoarthritis (OA) were randomly assigned to receive daily 20-min sessions of either tDCS (n = 20) or sham tDCS (n = 20) for 5 consecutive days. Participants provided blood samples at baseline and the end of treatment. The following measures of immune function and stress were collected: interleukin (IL)-6 and 10, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein, cortisol, and β-endorphin. Generalized linear modeling evaluated each posttreatment measure as a function of tDCS group, controlling for baseline (measuring residual change, analogous to analysis of covariance). Bayesian statistical inference was used to directly quantify the probability of the effect of active tDCS. IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and β-endorphin demonstrated lower levels of stress and inflammation in the active tDCS group. These findings provide preliminary evidence that active (relative to sham) tDCS is associated with reduced levels of inflammation.
Translating from cancer to the brain: regulation of protein synthesis by eIF4F

Formation of eukaryotic initiation factor 4F (eIF4F) is widely considered to be the rate-limiting step in cap-dependent translation initiation. Components of eIF4F are often up-regulated in various cancers, and much work has been done to elucidate the role of each of the translation initiation factors in cancer cell growth and survival. In fact, many of the basic mechanisms describing how eIF4F is assembled and how it functions to regulate translation initiation were first investigated in cancer cell lines. These same eIF4F translational control pathways also are relevant for neuronal signaling that underlies long-lasting synaptic plasticity and memory, and in neurological diseases where eIF4F and its upstream regulators are dysregulated. Although eIF4F is important in cancer and for brain function, there is not always a clear path to use the results of studies performed in cancer models to inform one of the roles that the same translation factors have in neuronal signaling. Issues arise when extrapolating from cell lines to tissue, and differences are likely to exist in how eIF4F and its upstream regulatory pathways are expressed in the diverse neuronal subtypes found in the brain. This review focuses on summarizing the role of eIF4F and its accessory proteins in cancer, and how this information has been utilized to investigate neuronal signaling, synaptic function, and animal behavior. Certain aspects of eIF4F regulation are consistent across cancer and neuroscience, whereas some results are more complicated to interpret, likely due to differences in the complexity of the brain, its billions of neurons and synapses, and its diverse cell types.
Centrobin plays a role in the cellular response to DNA damage

ABSTRACT DNA repair proteins have been found to localize to the centrosomes and defects in these proteins cause centrosome abnormality. Centrobin is a centriole-associated protein that is required for centriole duplication and microtubule stability. A recent study revealed that centrobin is a candidate substrate for ATM/ATR kinases. However, whether centrobin is involved in DNA damage response (DDR) remains unexplored. Here we show that centrobin is phosphorylated after UV exposure and that the phosphorylation is detected exclusively in the detergent/DNase I-resistant nuclear matrix. UV-induced phosphorylation of centrobin is largely dependent on ATR activity. Centrobin-depleted cells show impaired DNA damage-induced microtubule stabilization and increased sensitivity to UV radiation. Interestingly, depletion of centrobin leads to defective homologous recombination (HR) repair, which is reversed by expression of wild-type centrobin. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that centrobin plays an important role in DDR.
Metabolic implications of organelle–mitochondria communication

Cellular organelles are not static but show dynamism—a property that is likely relevant for their function. In addition, they interact with other organelles in a highly dynamic manner. In this review, we analyze the proteins involved in the interaction between mitochondria and other cellular organelles, especially the endoplasmic reticulum, lipid droplets, and lysosomes. Recent results indicate that, on one hand, metabolic alterations perturb the interaction between mitochondria and other organelles, and, on the other hand, that deficiency in proteins involved in the tethering between mitochondria and the ER or in specific functions of the interaction leads to metabolic alterations in a variety of tissues. The interaction between organelles is an emerging field that will permit to identify key proteins, to delineate novel modulation pathways, and to elucidate their implications in human disease.
Draft Genome Sequence of Bifidobacterium longum ZJ1, Isolated from a Centenarian in Anhui, China

Here, we present the complete genome sequence of a Bifidobacterium longum isolate, that of strain ZJ1, and this strain showed a cholesterol degradation ability that is greater than that of five strains we chose for comparison (Bifidobacterium longum 536, B. infantis 1912, B. longum 1941, B. breve ATCC 15698, B. infantis ATCC 17930). The draft genome of strain ZJ1 consists of 2,414,672 bp, with 2,042 protein-coding genes, 69 noncoding RNA genes, and 60.16% G+C content. ABSTRACT Here, we present the complete genome sequence of a Bifidobacterium longum isolate, that of strain ZJ1, and this strain showed a cholesterol degradation ability that is greater than that of five strains we chose for comparison (Bifidobacterium longum 536, B. infantis 1912, B. longum 1941, B. breve ATCC 15698, B. infantis ATCC 17930). The draft genome of strain ZJ1 consists of 2,414,672 bp, with 2,042 protein-coding genes, 69 noncoding RNA genes, and 60.16% G+C content.
A systematic review protocol

h Abstract Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major global health problem. As a complementary treatment, acupuncture and related techniques are widely used to treat metabolic and endocrine diseases, but their efficacy and safety for T2DM are yet to be established. This systematic review will qualitatively and quantitatively summarize the current randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and related techniques in patients with T2DM. Methods: Comprehensive literature searches will be performed on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and a trial registry “ClinicalTrials.gov” from inception to December 3, 2018. We will include RCTs for patients with T2DM that compared acupuncture with placebo, antidiabetic drugs, lifestyle interventions, or the combination. Primary outcomes are fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c. Secondary outcomes include 2-hour blood glucose, fasting insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, incidence of diabetic complications, and acupuncture-related adverse events. The risk of bias of the RCTs included in the review will be examined using a revised Cochrane handbook tool. Heterogeneity will be detected using Cochran Q test and I statistics. With the use of random effects model, we will perform meta-analyses to pool results of RCTs. The effect measures will be weighted or standardized mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the continuous outcomes and risk ratio with 95%CIs for the dichotomous outcomes. Subgroup analyses andmeta-regression with predefined effect modifiers will be performed to explore the sources of heterogeneity. Where appropriate, wewill assess the possibility of reporting bias based on funnel plots and quantitative detection. Wewill appraise the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system for each outcome. Results: This study will provide accurate results and balanced inferences on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and related techniques on T2DM. Conclusion:This well-designed systematic reviewwill establish high-quality evidence of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture and related techniques for T2DM to facilitate the clinical practice and guideline development. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018115639.
Crystal structure, DFT study and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 1-nonyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-2,3-dione

The dihydroindole portion is planar and the nonyl substituent is in an ‘extended’ conformation. In the crystal, the nonyl chains intercalate aided by pairwise C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and the dihydroindoledione units are associated through additional C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds to form micellar blocks. The blocks are linked through π-stacking interactions between the six-membered rings of the dihydroindole units.
Interplay between the bacterial protein deacetylase CobB and the second messenger c‐di‐GMP

As a ubiquitous bacterial secondary messenger, c‐di‐GMP plays key regulatory roles in processes such as bacterial motility and transcription regulation. CobB is the Sir2 family protein deacetylase that controls energy metabolism, chemotaxis, and DNA supercoiling in many bacteria. Using an Escherichia coli proteome microarray, we found that c‐di‐GMP strongly binds to CobB. Further, protein deacetylation assays showed that c‐di‐GMP inhibits the activity of CobB and thereby modulates the biogenesis of acetyl‐CoA. Interestingly, we also found that one of the key enzymes directly involved in c‐di‐GMP production, DgcZ, is a substrate of CobB. Deacetylation of DgcZ by CobB enhances its activity and thus the production of c‐di‐GMP. Our work establishes a novel negative feedback loop linking c‐di‐GMP biogenesis and CobB‐mediated protein deacetylation.
Differential coexpression networks in bronchiolitis and emphysema phenotypes reveal heterogeneous mechanisms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease with multiple molecular mechanisms. To investigate and contrast the molecular processes differing between bronchiolitis and emphysema phenotypes of COPD, we downloaded the GSE69818 microarray data set from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), which based on lung tissues from 38 patients with emphysema and 32 patients with bronchiolitis. Then, weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential coexpression (DiffCoEx) analysis were performed, followed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis (KEGG) analysis. Modules and hub genes for bronchiolitis and emphysema were identified, and we found that genes in modules linked to neutrophil degranulation, Rho protein signal transduction and B cell receptor signalling were coexpressed in emphysema. DiffCoEx analysis showed that four hub genes (IFT88, CCDC103, MMP10 and Bik) were consistently expressed in emphysema patients; these hub genes were enriched, respectively, for functions of cilium assembly and movement, proteolysis and apoptotic mitochondrial changes. In our re‐analysis of GSE69818, gene expression networks in relation to emphysema deepen insights into the molecular mechanism of COPD and also identify some promising therapeutic targets.
“Felony assault should stick:” Assaulted EMS responders’ frustration and dissatisfaction with the legal system

Abstract Introduction The prevalence of violence to first responders is reported in ranges of approximately 40% to 90%. Pennsylvania has a felonious assault statute to address such violence, but the prosecutorial process has been noted to cause first‐responder dissatisfaction. Methods An exploratory qualitative study using individual interviews with snowball sampling was conducted with the Philadelphia District Attorney's office to understand the prosecutorial process when a first responder is assaulted and injured in a line of duty. The Philadelphia Fire Department provided a list of first responders who sustained a work‐related injury from a patient or bystander assault so that particular cases could be discussed during the interviews. Results Emergent themes fell into two categories: factors that lead to a charge (prosecutorial merit, intent, and victim investment), and the judge's discretion in sentencing (“part of the job” mentality, concern for the defendant, and the justice system's offender focus). Immediately actionable tertiary prevention recommendations for fire departments, labor unions, and district attorney's offices were developed. Conclusion Violence against fire‐based emergency medical service (EMS) responders is a persistent and preventable workplace hazard. While felonious assault statutes express society's value that it is unacceptable to harm a first responder, this study found that such statutes failed to provide satisfaction to victims and that support when going through the court process is lacking. Assaulted EMS responders, their employers, and labor unions would benefit from the recommendations provided herein to help them extract a stronger sense of procedural justice from the legal process.
The Effect of Halloysite Addition on the Material Properties of Chitosan–Halloysite Hydrogel Composites

Chitosan-based hydrogels are being widely used in biomedical applications due to their eco-friendly, biodegradable, and biocompatible properties, and their ability to mimic the extracellular matrix of many tissues. However, the application of chitosan hydrogels has been limited due to their inherent mechanical weakness. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) are naturally occurring aluminosilicate clay minerals and are widely used as a bulk filler to improve the performance characteristics of many polymeric materials. HNTs have also been shown to be a viable nanocontainer able to provide the sustained release of antibiotics, chemicals, and growth factors. This study’s objective was to develop a stable drug delivery chitosan/HNT nanocomposite hydrogel that is biocompatible, biodegradable, and provides sustained drug release. In this study, chitosan/HNTs hydrogels containing undoped or gentamicin-doped HNTs were combined in different wt. /wt. ratios and cross-linked with tripolyphosphate. The effects of chitosan and HNTs concentration and combination ratios on the hydrogel surface morphology, degradability, and mechanical properties, as well as its drug release capability, were analyzed. The results clearly showed that the addition of HNTs improved chitosan mechanical properties, but only within a narrow range. The nanocomposite hydrogels provided a sustained pattern of drug release and inhibited bacterial growth, and the live/dead assay showed excellent cytocompatibility.
Successful blind lung isolation with the use of a novel double-lumen endobronchial tube in a patient undergoing lung transplantation with massive pulmonary secretion

Abstract Rationale: Precise lung isolation technique with visual confirmation is essential for thoracic surgeries to create a safe and clear surgical field. However, in certain situations, such as when patients have massive pulmonary secretion or when the fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) is not applicable, lung isolation has been performed blindly. Patient concern: A 52-year-old woman, whose airway was unable to visualize with FOB due to massive pulmonary secretion, was presented for bilateral sequential lung transplantation. Extracorporeal membranous oxygenation, tracheostomy, and mechanical ventilation were applied to the patient for 39 days preoperatively as a bridge for lung transplantation. Diagnosis: Patient was diagnosed with an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and obesity. Intervention: Initially, height-based blind positioning with a conventional double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) failed to ventilate the patient properly, and the confirmation of DLT positioning with FOB was impossible due to massive pulmonary secretion. Therefore, a novel DLT (ANKOR DLT) that has one more cuff, located at a point between the distal opening of the tracheal lumen and the starting point of bronchial cuff, than conventional DLT was used for the lung isolation in the patient. Outcomes: After the completion of lung graft, FOB finding showed that the ANKOR DLT was optimally positioned at the tracheobronchial tree of the patient, and its depth was 2.5 cm shallower than that of the conventional tube. Lessons: ANKOR DLT would be a feasible choice to achieve successful blind lung isolation when the use of FOB is impossible to achieve the optimal lung isolation.
Microstructural fronto-striatal and temporo-insular alterations are associated with fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis independent of white matter lesion load and depression

Background: Fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been inconsistently associated with disruption of specific brain circuitries. Temporal fluctuations of fatigue have not been considered. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of fatigue with brain diffusion abnormalities, using robust criteria for patient stratification based on longitudinal patterns of fatigue. Methods: Patient stratification: (1) sustained fatigue (SF, n = 26): latest two Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) ⩾ 38; (2) reversible fatigue (RF, n = 25): latest MFIS < 38 and minimum one previous MFIS ⩾ 38; and (3) never fatigued (NF, n = 42): MFIS always < 38 (five assessments minimum). 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to perform voxel-wise comparison of fractional anisotropy (FA) between the groups controlling for age, sex, disease duration, physical disability, white matter lesion load (T2LV), and depression. Results: SF and, to a lesser extent, RF patients showed lower FA in multiple brain regions compared to NF patients, independent of age, sex, disease duration, and physical disability. In cingulo-postcommissural-striato-thalamic regions, the differences in FA between SF and NF (but not between RF and NF or SF) patients were independent of T2LV, and in ventromedial prefronto-precommissuro-striatal and temporo-insular areas, independent of T2LV and depression. Conclusion: Damage to ventromedial prefronto-precommissuro-striatal and temporo-insular pathways appears to be a specific substrate of SF in MS.
Lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia: From research to bedside

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting elderly men worldwide irrespective of their economic status. The prevalence of BPH increases with increasing age. With life expectancy increasing globally, the disease burden due to BPH is substantial. The emergence of medical management, primarily in the last two decades, has radically changed the entire understanding of this condition. BPH is a classic example of a disease condition where treatment has evolved from being purely surgical to effective and primarily medical management now.
Molecular Characterization and Expression of SPP1, LAP3 and LCORL and Their Association with Growth Traits in Sheep

The SPP1, LAP3, and LCORL are located on chromosome 6 of sheep and a domain of 36.15-38.56 Mb, which plays an essential role in tissue and embryonic growth. In this study, we cloned the complete coding sequences of SPP1 and partial coding regions of LAP3 and LCORL from Hu sheep (Gansu Province, China) and analyzed their genomic structures. The RT-qPCR showed that the three genes were expressed widely in the different tissues of Hu sheep. The SPP1 expression was significantly higher in the kidney (p < 0.01) and LAP3 expression was significantly higher in the spleen, lung, kidney, and duodenum than in the other tissues (heart, liver, rumen, muscle, fat, and ovary; p < 0.05). The LCORL was preferentially expressed in the spleen, duodenum, and lung (p < 0.05). In addition, the nucleotide substitution NM_001009224. 1:c.132A>C was found in SPP1; an association analysis showed that it was associated with birth weight and yearling weight (p < 0.05), and NM_001009224. 1:c.132C was the dominant allele. Two mutations XM_012179698. 3:c.232C>G and XM_012179698. 3:c.1154C>T were identified in LAP3. The nucleotide substitution XM_012179698. 3:c.232C>G was confirmed to be associated with birth weight, 1-month weight, 3-month weight (p < 0.05), and 2-month weight (p < 0.01). The nucleotide substitution XM_012179698. 3:c.1154C>T was associated with birth weight (p < 0.01), 1-month weight, and 2-month weight (p < 0.05). The LAP3 gene XM_012179698. 3:c.232C>G mutation with the C allele has higher body weight than other sheep, and CC genotype individuals show higher birth weight, 1-month weight, and weaning weight than the GG genotype individuals (p < 0.05). Our results support the conclusion that the mutations on ovine SPP1 and LAP3 successfully track functional alleles that affect growth in sheep, and these genes could be used as candidate genes for improving the growth traits of sheep during breeding.
(Airway) Closure, at Last!

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