Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The treatment of mild OSA with CPAP or mandibular advancement device and the effect on blood pressure and endothelial function after one year of treatment.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To evaluate and compare the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), use of a mandibular advancement device (MAD), and no treatment on 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) at 6 and 12 months follow-up in individuals with mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and in subgroup who had an AHI of < 5 and adherence of ≥ 4 hours per night (effective treatment subgroups). METHODS The inclusion criteria were individuals with mild OSA, any gender, aged between 18 and 65 years, with a BMI of ≤ 35Kg/m². Patients were randomized into CPAP, MAD and no-treatment groups. The evaluations included physical examination, full polysomnography, 24-h ABPM and PAT at baseline, after 6 and 12 months. A generalized linear mixed model was used for comparisons. RESULTS The CPAP and MAD groups had lower AHIs than the control group at 6 and 12 months, and the CPAP group had higher SpO2 than the MAD group. The MAD group had more hours of treatment per night and better adaptation to treatment than the CPAP group (MAD: 5.7 ± 2.7 h/per night; CPAP: 3.8 ± 3.4 h/per night; MAD: 16% did not adapt; CPAP: 42% did not adapt). No differences were found in the total sample and effective treatment in relation to PAT or 24-h ABPM outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of mild OSA with CPAP or MAD did not improve BP or endothelial function after one year, even in patients with effective treatment. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov, Title: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Oral Appliances Treatments in Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Identifier: NCT01461486, URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01461486.
Does Innovation Efficiency Suppress the Ecological Footprint? Empirical Evidence from 280 Chinese Cities

Innovation is an important motivating force for regional sustainable development. This study measures the innovation efficiency of 280 cities in China from 2014–2018 using the super-efficiency slack-based measure and it also analyzes its impact on the ecological footprint using the generalized spatial two-stage least squares (GS2SLS) method and uses the threshold regression model to explore the threshold effect of innovation efficiency on the ecological footprint at different economic development levels. We find the corresponding transmission mechanism by using a mediating effect model. The major findings are as follows. First, we find an inverse U-shaped relationship between innovation efficiency and the ecological footprint for cities across China as well as in the eastern and central regions. That is, innovation efficiency promotes then suppresses the ecological footprint. Conversely, in western and northeastern China, improvements in innovation efficiency still raise the ecological footprint. Second, for the entire country, as economic development increases from below one threshold value (4.4928) to above another (4.8245), the elasticity coefficient of innovation efficiency to the ecological footprint changes from −0.0067 to −0.0313. This indicates that the ability of innovation efficiency improvements to reduce the ecological footprint is gradually enhanced with increased economic development. Finally, the industrial structure, the energy structure, and energy efficiency mediate the impacts of innovation efficiency on the ecological footprint.
Maternal and cord plasma branched-chain amino acids and child risk of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a prospective birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA: leucine, isoleucine, and valine) are essential amino acids involved in biological functions of brain development and recently linked with autism. However, their role in attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not well-studied. We investigated individual and combined relationships of maternal plasma and newborn cord plasma BCAAs with childhood development of ADHD. METHODS We utilized the Boston Birth Cohort, a predominantly urban, low-income, US minority population. Child developmental outcomes were defined in three mutually exclusive groups - ADHD, neurotypical (NT), or other developmental disabilities based on physician diagnoses per ICD-9 or 10 in medical records. The final sample included 626 children (299 ADHD, 327 NT) excluding other developmental disabilities. BCAAs were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. We used factor analysis to create composite scores of maternal and cord BCAA, which we divided into tertiles. Logistic regressions analyzed relationships between maternal or cord BCAA tertiles with child ADHD risk, controlling for maternal race, age, parity, smoking, education, low birth weight, preterm birth, and child sex. Additionally, we analyzed maternal and cord plasma BCAAs jointly on child ADHD risk. RESULTS Adjusted logistic regression found significantly increased odds of child ADHD diagnosis for the second (OR 1.63, 95% CI: 1.04, 2.54, p = .032) and third tertiles (OR 2.01, 95% CI: 1.28, 3.15, p = .002) of cord BCAA scores compared to the first tertile. This finding held for the third tertile when further adjusting for maternal BCAA score. There was no significant association between maternal BCAA score and child ADHD risk, nor a significant interaction between maternal and cord BCAA scores. CONCLUSIONS In this prospective US birth cohort, higher cord BCAA levels were associated with a greater risk of developing ADHD in childhood. These results have implications for further research into mechanisms of ADHD development and possible early life screening and interventions.
The Making and Breaking of RNAs: Dynamics of Rhythmic RNA Expression in Mammals

The identification and characterization of rhythmically expressed mRNAs have been an active area of research over the past 20 years, as these mRNAs are believed to produce the daily rhythms in a wide range of biological processes. Circadian transcriptome studies have used mature mRNA as a primary readout and focused largely on rhythmic RNA synthesis as a regulatory mechanism underlying rhythmic mRNA expression. However, RNA synthesis, RNA degradation, or a combination of both must be rhythmic to drive rhythmic RNA profiles, and it is still unclear to what extent rhythmic synthesis leads to rhythmic RNA profiles. In addition, circadian RNA expression is also often tissue specific. Although a handful of genes cycle in all or most tissues, others are rhythmic only in certain tissues, even though the same core clock mechanism is believed to control the rhythmic RNA profiles in all tissues. This review focuses on the dynamics of rhythmic RNA synthesis and degradation and discusses how these steps collectively determine the rhythmicity, phase, and amplitude of RNA accumulation. In particular, we highlight a possible role of RNA degradation in driving tissue-specific RNA rhythms. By unifying findings from experimental and theoretical studies, we will provide a comprehensive overview of how rhythmic gene expression can be achieved and how each regulatory step contributes to tissue-specific circadian transcriptome output in mammals.
Frailty, depression, and quality of life: a study with elderly caregivers.

OBJECTIVE to analyze the relationship between frailty, depressive symptoms, and quality of life of elderly caregivers of other elderly living in high social vulnerability. METHODS a descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study conducted with 40 elderly caregivers. A questionnaire to characterize elderly caregivers, the Fried frailty phenotype, the Geriatric Depression Scale (to screen depressive symptoms) and the Short-Form 6 Dimension (to assess quality of life) were used. For data analysis, Student's t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's χ2 and Fisher's exact test were used. RESULTS most were pre-frail (52.5%) and had no evidence of depressive symptoms (57.5%). They presented, on average, a score of 0.76 (±0.1) in relation to quality of life. Statistical significance was observed between the average scores of quality of life with depressive symptoms (p=0.012) and frailty level (p=0.004). CONCLUSION frail elderly caregivers with depressive symptoms had a worse perception of quality of life.
Asymmetric effects of obesity on loneliness among older Germans. Longitudinal findings from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe

Abstract Objectives The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine whether the onset and the end of obesity was associated with loneliness. Method Nationally representative longitudinal data from Germany were taken from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (wave 5 to wave 7; n = 10,446 observations in the analytical sample). Using the three item loneliness scale (UCLA), loneliness was measured. According to the WHO thresholds, obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. Asymmetric fixed effects (FE) regressions were used. Results Conventional FE regression analysis revealed that changes in obesity status were associated with changes in loneliness (men: β = −.19, p < .05; women: β = .19, p < .05). Asymmetric FE regressions showed that in men the onset of obesity was associated with a decrease in loneliness (β = –.31, p < .05), whereas the end of obesity was not associated with loneliness. Asymmetric FE regressions showed that in women, the onset of obesity was associated with an increase in loneliness (β = .33, p < .01), whereas the end of obesity was not associated with loneliness. Conclusion Findings showed that the onset of obesity has different consequences in terms of loneliness for older women and men in Germany, whereas the end of obesity was not associated with changes in loneliness scores. We recommend that future studies should distinguish between the onset and the end of obesity – which comes along with important practical implications. When older women report transitions to obesity, efforts to prevent loneliness may be of importance.
Effects of Mustelid gammaherpesvirus 1 (MusGHV-1) Reactivation in European Badger (Meles meles) Genital Tracts on Reproductive Fitness

Reactivation of latent Gammaherpesvirus in the genital tract can lead to reproductive failure in domestic animals. Nevertheless, this pathophysiology has not received formal study in wild mammals. High prevalence of Mustelid gammaherpesvirus 1 (MusGHV-1) DNA detected in the genital tracts of European badgers (Meles meles) implies that this common pathogen may be a sexual transmitted infection. Here we used PCR to test MusGHV-1 DNA prevalence in genital swabs collected from 144 wild badgers in Ireland (71 males, 73 females) to investigate impacts on male fertility indicators (sperm abundance and testes weight) and female fecundity (current reproductive output). MusGHV-1 reactivation had a negative effect on female reproduction, but not on male fertility; however males had a higher risk of MusGHV-1 reactivation than females, especially during the late-winter mating season, and genital MusGHV-1 reactivation differed between age classes, where 3–5 year old adults had significantly lower reactivation rates than younger or older ones. Negative results in foetal tissues from MusGHV-1 positive mothers indicated that cross-placental transmission was unlikely. This study has broader implications for how wide-spread gammaherpesvirus infections could affect reproductive performance in wild Carnivora species.
Comparative morphology of shark pectoral fins

Sharks vary greatly in morphology, physiology, and ecology. Differences in whole body shape, swimming style, and physiological parameters have previously been linked to varied habitat uses. Pectoral fin morphology has been used to taxonomically classify species and hypotheses on the functional differences in shape are noted throughout the literature; however, there are limited comparative datasets that quantify external and skeletal morphology. Further, fins were previously categorized into two discrete groups based on the amount of skeletal support present: (a) aplesodic, where less than half of the fin is supported and (b) plesodic where greater than half of the fin is supported. These discrete classifications have been used to phylogenetically place species, though the methodology of classification is infrequently described. In this study, we sampled fins from 18 species, 6 families, and 3 orders, which were also grouped into five ecomorphotype classifications. We examined the external morphology, extent of skeletal support, and cross‐sectional shape of individual cartilaginous elements. Using phylogenetic comparative methods, we show that fin shape does not differ significantly between ecomorphotypes, suggesting there may be some mechanical constraint. However, we find that the internal anatomy of the fin does vary significantly between ecomorphotypes, especially the extent and distribution of calcification of skeletal support, suggesting that the superficial similarity of fin shapes across ecomorphotypes may belie differences in function. Finally, we find that a number of morphological variables such as number of radials, radial calcification and shape, and fin taper all correlate with the extent of skeletal support. Within these morphospaces, we also describe that some orders/families tend to occupy certain areas with limited overlap. While we demonstrate that there is some mechanical constraint limiting external variations in shark pectoral fin morphology, there are compounding differences in skeletal anatomy that occur within ecomorphotypes which we propose may affect function.
Consumption of avocado oil (Persea americana) improves the biochemical profile of rats submitted to long-term androgenic stimulation.

INTRODUCTION indiscriminate use of anabolic steroids is associated with cardiovascular diseases, renal damage, and hepatic toxicity. Contrastingly, nutraceutical foods such as avocados prevent and control several diseases, as they can reduce the effects of oxidative stress. OBJECTIVE this study evaluates the benefits of consuming an avocado oil-based diet to attenuate the systemic damage caused by supraphysiological doses of testosterone, by analyzing the biochemical profile of 28 42-day-old male Wistar rats. METHODS silicone pellets containing testosterone were surgically implanted, and they received control or avocado oil-based feed. After 20 weeks, all the male rats were anesthetized and their blood samples collected. RESULTS although the high hormone concentration had a negative influence on the biochemical profile of these animals, the groups that consumed avocado oil exhibited a reduction in serum triacylglycerols (-21 %; p = 0.0001), VLDL (-20 %; p = 0.0085), LDL (-78 %; p < 0.0001), and total cholesterol (-12 %; p < 0.0001), along with positive changes in their HDL concentrations (+7 %; p = 0.001). The avocado oil groups also manifested a reduction in the total concentration of serum proteins (-24 %; p = 0.0357), albumin (-26 %; p = 0.0015), urea (-14 %; p = 0.04), and creatinine (-33 %; p < 0.0001). The concentration of liver transaminases was found to be higher in the animals included in the induced group (ALT, +66 %; p = 0.0005, and AST, +23 %; p = 0.0021), whereas they remained stable in the avocado oil group. CONCLUSION from the above, it may be concluded that supraphysiological doses of testosterone are related to increased risk factors for cardiovascular, renal, and hepatic diseases, and that the consumption of avocado oil shields the biochemical profile, thus reducing the associated risk factors.
Sex-specific associations with DNA methylation in lung tissue demonstrate smoking interactions

ABSTRACT Cigarette smoking impacts DNA methylation, but the investigation of sex-specific features of lung tissue DNA methylation in smokers has been limited. Women appear more susceptible to cigarette smoke, and often develop more severe lung disease at an earlier age with less smoke exposure. We aimed to analyse whether there are sex differences in DNA methylation in lung tissue and whether these DNA methylation marks interact with smoking. We collected lung tissue samples from former smokers who underwent lung tissue resection. One hundred thirty samples from white subjects were included for this analysis. Regression models for sex as a predictor of methylation were adjusted for age, presence of COPD, smoking variables and technical batch variables revealed 710 associated sites. 294 sites demonstrated robust sex-specific methylation associations in foetal lung tissue. Pathway analysis identified 6 nominally significant pathways including the mitophagy pathway. Three CpG sites demonstrated a suggested interaction between sex and pack-years of smoking: GPR132, ANKRD44 and C19orf60. All of them were nominally significant in both male- and female-specific models, and the effect estimates were in opposite directions for male and female; GPR132 demonstrated significant association between DNA methylation and gene expression in lung tissue (P < 0.05). Sex-specific associations with DNA methylation in lung tissue are wide-spread and may reveal genes and pathways relevant to sex differences for lung damaging effects of cigarette smoking.
Disruption of glpF gene encoding the glycerol facilitator improves 1,3‐propanediol production from glucose via glycerol in Escherichia coli

Engineered Escherichia coli has recently been applied to produce 1,3‐propanediol (1,3‐PDO) from glucose. A metabolic intermediate in the production pathway, glycerol, is partially secreted into the extracellular of E. coli through a glycerol facilitator encoded by glpF, and this secretion consequently decreases 1,3‐PDO production. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether disrupting the glpF gene would improve 1,3‐PDO production in E. coli. The intracellular glycerol concentration in a glpF‐disruptant was 7·5 times higher than in a non‐disruptant. The glpF‐disrupted and non‐disrupted E. coli strains produced 0·26 and 0·09 g l−1 of 1,3‐PDO, respectively, from 1% glucose after 72 h of cultivation. The specific growth rate (μ) and the 1,3‐PDO yield from glucose (YP/S) in the disruptant were higher than those in the non‐disruptant (ΔglpF, μ = 0·08 ± 0·00 h−1, YP/S = 0·06 mol mol‐glucose−1; BW25113, μ = 0·06 ± 0·00 h−1, YP/S = 0·02 mol mol‐glucose−1). Disruption of the glpF gene decreased the production of the by‐product, acetic acid. These results indicated that disruption of glpF increased the intracellular concentration of glycerol and consequently increased 1,3‐PDO production in E. coli.
EVI1 in Leukemia and Solid Tumors

Simple Summary Ecotropic viral integration site 1 (EVI1) is transcriptionally activated in a subset of myeloid leukemias. Since its discovery, other isoforms of EVI1 have been identified. It has been shown that EVI1 and its isoforms mainly function as transcription factors and to play important roles not only in leukemia but also in a variety of solid tumors. To provide a comprehensive understanding of this family of proteins, we summarize the currently available knowledge of expression and function of EVI1 and its isoforms in leukemia and solid tumors and provide insights of future studies. Abstract The EVI1 gene encodes for a transcription factor with two zinc finger domains and is transcriptionally activated in a subset of myeloid leukemias. In leukemia, the transcriptional activation of EVI1 usually results from chromosomal rearrangements. Besides leukemia, EVI1 has also been linked to solid tumors including breast cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer and colon cancer. The MDS1/EVI1 gene is encoded by the same locus as EVI1. While EVI1 functions as a transcription repressor, MDS1/EVI1 acts as a transcription activator. The fusion protein encoded by the AML1/MDS1/EVI1 chimeric gene, resulting from chromosomal translocations in a subset of chronic myeloid leukemia, exhibits a similar function to EVI1. EVI1 has been shown to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, whereas the functions of MDS1/EVI1 and AML1/MDS1/EVI1 remain elusive. In this review, we summarize the genetic structures, biochemical properties and biological functions of these proteins in cancer.
Current Evidence to Propose Different Food Supplements for Weight Loss: A Comprehensive Review

The use of food supplements for weight loss purposes has rapidly gained popularity as the prevalence of obesity increases. Navigating through the vast, often low quality, literature available is challenging, as is providing informed advice to those asking for it. Herein, we provide a comprehensive literature revision focusing on most currently marketed dietary supplements claimed to favor weight loss, classifying them by their purported mechanism of action. We conclude by proposing a combination of supplements most supported by current evidence, that leverages all mechanisms of action possibly leading to a synergistic effect and greater weight loss in the foreseen absence of adverse events. Further studies will be needed to confirm the weight loss and metabolic improvement that may be obtained through the use of the proposed combination.
Using Velocity to Predict the Maximum Dynamic Strength in the Power Clean

The primary aim of the present study was to examine the commonly performed training exercise for athlete preparation. Twenty-two recreationally trained males (age: 26.3 ± 4.1 y, height: 1.80 ± 0.07 m; body mass (BM): 87.01 ± 13.75 kg, 1-repetitoon maximum(1-RM)/BM: 0.90 ± 0.19 kg) participated in the present study. All subjects had their 1-RM power clean tested with standard procedures. On a separate testing day, subjects performed three repetitions at 30% and 45%, and two repetitions at 70% and 80% of their 1-RM power clean. During all trials during both sessions, peak velocity (PV) and mean velocity (MV) were measured with the use of a GymAware device. There were no significant differences between the actual and estimated 1-RM power clean (p = 0.37, ES = −0.11) when the load-PV profile was utilized. There was a large typical error (TE) present for the load-PV- and load-MV-estimated 1-RM values. Additionally, the raw TE exceeded the smallest worthwhile change for both load-PV and load-MV profile results. Based upon the results of this study, the load-velocity profile is not an acceptable tool for monitoring power clean strength.