Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multimodal meta-analysis of structural gray matter, neurocognitive and social cognitive fMRI findings in schizophrenia patients

Abstract Neuroimaging research has shown that patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) present brain structural and functional alterations, but the results across imaging modalities and task paradigms are difficult to reconcile. Specifically, no meta-analyses have tested whether the same brain systems that are structurally different in SCZ patients are also involved in neurocognitive and social cognitive tasks. To answer this, we conducted separate meta-analyses of voxel-based morphometry, neurocognitive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and social cognitive fMRI studies. Next, with a multimodal approach, we identified the common alterations across meta-analyses. Further exploratory meta-analyses were performed taking into account several clinical variables (illness duration, medication status, and symptom severity). A cluster covering the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) and the supplementary motor area (SMA), and the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), presented shared structural and neurocognitive-related activation decreases, while the right angular gyrus presented shared decreases between structural and social cognitive-related activation. The exploratory meta-analyses replicated to some extent these findings, while new regions of alterations appeared in patient subgroups with specific clinical features. In conclusion, we found task-specific correlates of brain structure and function in SCZ, which help summarize and integrate a growing literature.
Inequalities in Life Expectancy Across North Carolina

Health inequalities are characterized by spatial patterns of social, economic, and political factors. Life expectancy (LE) is a commonly used indicator of overall population health and health inequalities that allows for comparison across different spatial and temporal regions. The objective of this study was to examine geographic inequalities in LE across North Carolina census tracts by comparing the performance of 2 popular geospatial health indices: Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) and the Index of Concentration at Extremes (ICE). A principal components analysis (PCA) was used to address multicollinearity among variables and aggregate data into components to examine SDoH, while the ICE was constructed using the simple subtraction of geospatial variables. Spatial regression models were employed to compare both indices in relation to LE to evaluate their predictability for population health. For individual SDoH and ICE components, poverty and income had the strongest positive correlation with LE. However, the common spatial techniques of adding PCA components together for a final SDoH aggregate measure resulted in a poor relationship with LE. Results indicated that both metrics can be used to determine spatial patterns of inequities in LE and that the ICE metric has similar success to the more computationally complex SDoH metric. Public health practitioners may find the ICE metric's high predictability matched with lower data requirements to be more feasible to implement in population health monitoring.
Snowballing Technique for High Flow Arteriovenous Fistula: A Technical Note

A novel endovascular technique to occlude high flow direct arteriovenous fistulae is presented, where the distal tip of the microcatheter acts as a nucleus that the operator can grow a plug from a liquid embolic agent. Its advantages (such as cost-saving and distal reachability), disadvantages (such as embolic material instability), and technique are discussed.
Soil fauna drives vertical redistribution of soil organic carbon in a long‐term irrigated dry pine forest

Summer droughts strongly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling, but net effects on SOC storage are unclear as drought affects both C inputs and outputs from soils. Here, we explored the overlooked role of soil fauna on SOC storage in forests, hypothesizing that soil faunal activity is particularly drought‐sensitive, thereby reducing litter incorporation into the mineral soil and, eventually, long‐term SOC storage.
Exposure, access and interaction: A global analysis of sponsorship of nursing professional associations.

AIM To analyse the nature and extent of sponsorship of nursing professional associations and their major scientific conferences. DESIGN Cross-sectional content analysis. METHODS Data were extracted from the websites and conference documents of 156 national and international professional nursing associations in 2019 to identify sponsors. Sponsorship prospectuses were analysed to estimate the value and describe the nature of sponsorship arrangements. We analysed sponsorship patterns using social network analysis. RESULTS Most associations (84/156, 54%) did not report any sponsors. Sponsorship was concentrated among specialty nursing associations in high-income countries. Half of identified sponsors promoted products used in clinical care (50%; 981/1969); the majority represented the medical device industry (69%; 681/981). Top sponsors generally favoured opportunities that promoted interaction with conference attendees. CONCLUSION Globally, commercial sponsorship of nursing associations is a common, but not the dominant source of support for these activities. Half of sponsors were commercial entities that manufactured or distributed products used during clinical care, which presents a risk of commercial influence over education and ultimately, clinical practice. Sponsors favoured opportunities to interact directly with nurses, determine educational content, or foster continued interaction.
Mental Health of Employed Family Caregivers in Canada: A Gender-Based Analysis on the Role of Workplace Support

This study examines the effect of gender differences in mental health outcomes among employed family caregivers, focusing on the role of workplace support in balancing work and caregiving. Guided by the social role theory, this study analyzes nationally representative data from the 2012 Canada General Social Survey, with a sample of 2,426 participants. Women experience worse mental health outcomes than men when they require employment adjustment to fulfill their caregiving responsibilities. Workplace support could offset the negative effects of employment adjustment on mental health either directly or indirectly through family–work conflict, but gender difference is apparent in terms of the effect of workplace support. In general, women require more supportive workplace than men. Further study of the effects of various types of workplace support on the mental health among women who are employed family caregivers, and on more tailored support, is recommended.
Evaluation of Green's functions in complex media by decomposition of the Time Reversal Operator: Application to Medical Imaging and aberration correction

The objective of this thesis is to adapt a Time Reversal based method, the DORT method, to medical imaging. Most of the results are valid in other area of applications. The use of Medical ultrasound is limited with certain patients because of the inhomogeneity of tissues. The focusing and therefore the image quality can be severely degraded by the propagation through inhomogeneous media. To correct this problem, and achieve a good focusing, it is required to estimate Green's functions of points in the medium. We propose an approach using Time Reversal. We extend the theory of the DORT method to the focused acquisition mode, and we introduce the virtual transducer model that simplifies the problem. Then we generalize the method to random signals (speckle) that are the main signals in medical ultrasound. We propose a statistic interpretation based on the Van Cittert Zernike theorem. We are also dealing with extended objects. Finally, in medical ultrasound, large band signals are used, whereas the DORT method is a monochromatic method. A few methods to obtain the time-domain Green's functions are developped. In particular we present the decomposition of the time reversal operator in the time domain, which involves a 4th order tensor.
Evaluation of Risk for Thromboembolic Events in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease

ABSTRACT Objectives: The occurrence of thrombotic events in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to multiple interactions between hereditary and acquired risk factors. There are few published data concerning children with iBD. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of thromboembolic risk factors also in children with iBD. Methods: We enrolled three groups of children: one with Crohn disease (cD), one with ulcerative colitis (Uc), and a control group of healthy subjects. For all the participants the potential thromboembolic risk was evaluated clinically and with laboratory tests. Results: We studied: 30 children (25.6%) with CD, 28 (23.9%) with UC, and 59 (50.4%) healthy control subjects. Regarding Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index, no significant differences between thromboembolic risk factors and disease activity were detected. Instead, in the patients with UC, stratified with the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index, there was a statistically significant difference in serum fibrinogen levels between patients with mild and moderate/severe disease [3.8 (3.2–4.5) g/L vs 5.7 (4.8–6.2) g/L, P < 0.0032]. serum homocysteine levels were lower in healthy controls than in CD (P = 0.176) and UC (P = 0.026). An increased level ofhomocysteine in UC with a homozygous mutation in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene was also observed. Conclusions: Our study showed that children with IBD have clinical features, acquired and congenital factors that can increase thrombotic risk, similarly to adults.
A narrative literature review of the impact of conscientious objection by health professionals on women’s access to abortion worldwide 2013–2021

ABSTRACT Conscientious objection to provide abortion has been enshrined in laws and policies globally. Insufficient attention has been paid to the direct and indirect ways in which conscientious objection compromises women’s access to a lawful abortion. Using a systematic search strategy, this narrative literature review synthesises the literature exploring conscientious objection’s impact on women’s access to abortion in a range of countries. This narrative literature review builds on an extensive literature review published by Chavkin et al. (2013. Conscientious objection and refusal to provide reproductive healthcare: A white paper examining prevalence, health consequences, and policy responses. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 123, S41–S56. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7292(13)60002-8). Searches were undertaken on the Medline (Ovid), Global Health, CINAHL, Scopus and Science Direct databases. Thirty six papers were included for thematic analysis. Conscientious objection to abortion was found to impact women’s access to abortion at three main levels: the practitioner level, the healthcare system level and the sociocultural environment level. Conscientious objection was found to impact access directly through attempts by health professionals to restrict access, and indirectly by exacerbating pre-existing barriers to access. Further research is required to better quantify the extent to which this impacts women and whether interventions are effective in reducing the barriers that conscientious objection creates and exacerbates.
Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis is Associated With Low Baseline Impedance

ABSTRACT Background and Aims: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that requires repeat endoscopic evaluation(s) to assess response to treatment. This results in high health care costs and a procedural burden in affected children. Noninvasive alternate modalities to reassess disease activity have not been established. Low baseline impedance measured by multichannel pH impedance (pH-MII) is seen in adults with EoE, in keeping with poor mucosal integrity. We aimed to investigate the relationship between esophageal eosinophilia (or severity of eosinophilic infiltration) and baseline impedance in children with EoE. Methods: We retrospectively identified 15 children diagnosed with EoE at our institution who had undergone pH-MII within 30 days of 3-level esophageal biopsy. This group were not concurrently prescribed proton pump inhibitors and had negligible reflux parameters on pH-MII. Average impedance baseline was calculated upper, mid, and lower esophageal segments via baseline impedance automated analysis (RIAA) and mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) methods. Eosinophil count data for upper, mid, and lower esophageal segments in the EoE group was collated. Results: A significantly lower baseline impedance was seen across the esophageal length in children with EoE, compared with 30 controls who had no differences in age or reflux burden on nonparametric testing. A relationship between baseline impedance and eosinophil number at corresponding esophageal segments was not established. Conclusions: Baseline impedance may be an important, less invasive adjunct in clinical practice to monitor treatment response in children with EoE. Larger prospective cohort studies should delineate optimally predictive baseline impedance thresholds for active and inactive disease.
Temporal changes in transcripts of miniature inverted‐repeat transposable elements during rice endosperm development

SUMMARY The repression of transcription from transposable elements (TEs) by DNA methylation is necessary to maintain genome integrity and prevent harmful mutations. However, under certain circumstances, TEs may escape from the host defense system and reactivate their transcription. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa), DNA demethylases target the sequences derived from TEs in the central cell, the progenitor cell for the endosperm in the female gametophyte. Genome‐wide DNA demethylation is also observed in the endosperm after fertilization. In the present study, we used a custom microarray to survey the transcripts generated from TEs during rice endosperm development and at selected time points in the embryo as a control. The expression patterns of TE transcripts are dynamically up‐ and downregulated during endosperm development, especially those of miniature inverted‐repeat TEs (MITEs). Some TE transcripts were directionally controlled, whereas the other DNA transposons and retrotransposons were not. We also discovered the NUCLEAR FACTOR Y binding motif, CCAAT, in the region near the 5′ terminal inverted repeat of Youren, one of the transcribed MITEs in the endosperm. Our results uncover dynamic changes in TE activity during endosperm development in rice.
Dexamethasone Versus Prednisone in Children Hospitalized With Asthma Exacerbation.

OBJECTIVES Dexamethasone is increasingly used for the management of children hospitalized with asthma in place of prednisone, yet data regarding the effectiveness of dexamethasone in children with asthma exacerbation severe enough to require hospitalization are limited. Our objective is to compare the effectiveness of dexamethasone versus prednisone in children hospitalized with an asthma exacerbation on 30-day reutilization. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study at an urban, quaternary children's hospital of children aged 4 to 17 years, hospitalized from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017, with a primary discharge diagnosis of asthma. A covariate-balanced propensity score was derived to account for physician discretion in steroid selection. A generalized linear model, including inverse probability treatment weighting, was used to detect differences in 30-day return utilization (unplanned readmission or emergency department visit) between children whose first dose of corticosteroid was dexamethasone versus prednisone. RESULTS Inclusion criteria were met by 1161 patients, of which 510 (44%) first received dexamethasone versus 651 (56%) who first received prednisone. The total cohort had a mean age of 8.5 years (SD 3.4). The covariate-balanced cohort had no significant differences in demographic characteristics or illness severity between groups. The dexamethasone group had a return utilization of 3.9% (20 of 510) versus 2.2% (14 of 651) for children treated with prednisone. The propensity score-adjusted analysis revealed the steroid treatment was not found to significantly affect the 30-day reutilization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.61; 95%CI 0.80-3.31). CONCLUSIONS The initial steroid choice (dexamethasone versus prednisone) was not associated with 30-day reutilization after hospitalization for an asthma exacerbation.
Mechanosensitive molecular mechanisms of myocardial fibrosis in living myocardial slices

Altered mechanical load in response to injury is a main driver of myocardial interstitial fibrosis. No current in vitro model can precisely modulate mechanical load in a multicellular environment while maintaining physiological behaviour. Living myocardial slices (LMS) are a 300 μm‐thick cardiac preparation with preserved physiological structure and function. Here we apply varying degrees of mechanical preload to rat and human LMS to evaluate early cellular, molecular, and functionality changes related to myocardial fibrosis.
The Cl--channel TMEM16A is involved in the generation of cochlear Ca2+ waves and promotes the refinement of auditory brainstem networks in mice

Before hearing onset (postnatal day 12 in mice), inner hair cells (IHCs) spontaneously fire action potentials, thereby driving pre-sensory activity in the ascending auditory pathway. The rate of IHC action potential bursts is modulated by inner supporting cells (ISCs) of Kölliker’s organ through the activity of the Ca2+-activated Cl--channel TMEM16A (ANO1). Here, we show that conditional deletion of Ano1 (Tmem16a) in mice disrupts Ca2+ waves within Kölliker’s organ, reduces the burst-firing activity and the frequency selectivity of auditory brainstem neurons in the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB), and also impairs the functional refinement of MNTB projections to the lateral superior olive. These results reveal the importance of the activity of Kölliker’s organ for the refinement of central auditory connectivity. In addition, our study suggests the involvement of TMEM16A in the propagation of Ca2+ waves, which may also apply to other tissues expressing TMEM16A.
Prognostic value of copeptin and mid‐regional proadrenomedullin in COVID‐19‐hospitalized patients

Biomarkers are used for diagnosis, risk stratification and medical decisions. Copeptin and mid‐regional proadrenomedullin (MR‐proADM) are markers of stress and endothelial function, respectively, which have been studied in pneumonia, sepsis and septic shock. This study aimed to assess whether copeptin and MR‐proADM could predict coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in‐hospital outcomes, that is multi‐system complications, length of stay and mortality.
DNA methyltransferase 3 beta regulates promoter methylation of microRNA-149 to augment esophageal squamous cell carcinoma development through the ring finger protein 2/Wnt/β-catenin axis

ABSTRACT Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive form of human squamous cell carcinomas with extremely aggressive pathological features. This study explores the functions of microRNA-149 (miR-149) and its interacted molecules in ESCC. The ESCC-related miRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) datasets were applied to identify aberrantly expressed genes in ESCC. Forty-two patients with ESCC were included and their tissue samples were collected. miR-149 was poorly expressed whereas DNA methyltransferase 3 beta (DNMT3B) and ring finger protein 2 (RNF2) were abundantly expressed in ESCC tumor samples. Overexpression of miR-149 suppressed growth and invasiveness of ESCC cells in vitro and in vivo. DNMT3B bound to the promoter region of miR-149 to trigger its promoter methylation and downregulation. RNF2 mRNA was a target of miR-149. RNF2 overexpression blocked the inhibitory effect of miR-149 on ESCC cell growth. RNF2 activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to promote ESCC development. In conclusion, this study found that DNMT3B downregulates miR-149 level through methylation modification of the miR-149 promoter, while miR-149 suppresses RNF2 expression and inactivates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway to suppress growth of ESCC cells. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Target Gene Diversity of the Nrf1-MafG Transcription Factor Revealed by a Tethered Heterodimer

Members of the cap’n’collar (CNC) family of transcription factors, including Nrf1 and Nrf2, heterodimerize with small Maf (sMaf) proteins (MafF, MafG, and MafK) and regulate target gene expression through CNC-sMaf-binding elements (CsMBEs). We recently developed a unique tethered dimer assessment system combined with small Maf triple-knockout fibroblasts, which enabled the characterization of specific CNC-sMaf heterodimer functions. ABSTRACT Members of the cap’n’collar (CNC) family of transcription factors, including Nrf1 and Nrf2, heterodimerize with small Maf (sMaf) proteins (MafF, MafG, and MafK) and regulate target gene expression through CNC-sMaf-binding elements (CsMBEs). We recently developed a unique tethered dimer assessment system combined with small Maf triple-knockout fibroblasts, which enabled the characterization of specific CNC-sMaf heterodimer functions. In this study, we evaluated the molecular function of the tethered Nrf1-MafG (T-N1G) heterodimer. We found that T-N1G activates the expression of proteasome subunit genes, well-known Nrf1 target genes, and binds specifically to CsMBEs in the proximity of these genes. T-N1G was also found to activate genes involved in proteostasis-related pathways, including endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation, chaperone, and ubiquitin-mediated degradation pathways, indicating that the Nrf1-MafG heterodimer regulates a wide range of proteostatic stress response genes. By taking advantage of this assessment system, we found that Nrf1 has the potential to activate canonical Nrf2 target cytoprotective genes when strongly induced. Our results also revealed that transposable SINE B2 repeats harbor CsMBEs with high frequency and contribute to the target gene diversity of CNC-sMaf transcription factors.
Local glucose metabolism is unaltered in reversible splenial lesion syndrome

Transient splenial oedema, also known as reversible splenial lesion syndrome (RESLES), is a rare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding that presents as a round or ovoid focal oedema in the posterior corpus callosum, and is associated with a wide range of clinical conditions. The aetiology of RESLES is not fully clear. We aimed to investigate conflicting pathophysiological hypotheses by measuring local glucose metabolism in patients with RESLES.