Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of fMRI activation in hemiparetic stroke patients after rehabilitation with low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and intensive occupational therapy

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate activity changes associated with the intervention of low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and intensive occupational therapy (OT) after stroke using functional magnetic resonance (fMRI). Methods: Seventy stroke patients were scanned while performing finger tapping tasks twice, before and 12 days after the intervention. Recovery of motor functions assessed using Fugl–Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Wolf Motor Function Test-Functional Ability Scale (WMFT-FAS) for upper extremity at each time point. An fMRI analysis was performed, and a region of interest (ROI) analysis was conducted using percentage signal changes (% SC) to determine the magnitude of activation. Results: FMA and WMFT-FAS were significantly increased from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Intervention related activations were seen in the ipsilesional premotor cortex (PMC) and primary motor cortex (M1), thalamo-cortico regions with the paretic hand movements. With the unaffected hand movements, significant clusters in the contralesional primary somatosensory cortex (S1), superior parietal cortex, and bilateral cerebellum were observed. The ROI-based analysis revealed that ipsilesional M1, contralesional PMC, and supplementary motor area (SMA) showed significantly higher results with the paretic hand movements, a trend toward a significant decrease in the contralesional S1 with the unaffected hand movements from the pre-intervention to post-intervention. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that gains in motor functions produced by the intervention of rTMS and intensive OT in hemiparesis stroke patients may be associated with the ipsilesional hemisphere and contralesional hemisphere as well. Identifying rTMS and OT intervention based on cortical patterns may help to implement rTMS in motor rehabilitation after stroke. Supplementary data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00207454.2021. 1968858 .
Effects and dose–response relationship of high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT This study aims to quantify the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) by considering potential moderators and to characterise dose–response relationships of HIIT variables that could maximise CRF improvements in overweight and obese adults. Following a comprehensive search through four electronic databases, 19 studies met eligibility criteria. Random-effects models were applied to weight all included studies and to compute the weighted mean standardised mean differences (SMDwm). Meta-analysis showed that HIIT was a highly effective approach for improving CRF in overweight and obese adults (SMDwm = 1.13). Effects were modified by sex and baseline CRF level. Dose–response relationship analysis provided some preliminary data regarding the training period, training intensity, and session duration. However, it is still not possible to provide accurate recommendations currently. Further studies are still needed to identify the most appropriate training variables to prescribe effective HIIT programmes for improving CRF in overweight and obese adults.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Adult Surgical Patients and Surgical Services

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Objectives: The PREDICT study aimed to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected surgical services and surgical patients and to identify predictors of outcomes in this cohort. Background: High mortality rates were reported for surgical patients with COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic. However, the indirect impact of the pandemic on this cohort is not understood, and risk predictors are yet to be identified. Methods: PREDICT is an international longitudinal cohort study comprising surgical patients presenting to hospital between March and August 2020, conducted alongside a survey of staff redeployment and departmental restructuring. A subgroup analysis of 3176 adult emergency patients, recruited by 55 teams across 18 countries is presented. Results: Among adult emergency surgical patients, all-cause in-hospital mortality (IHM) was 3.6%, compared to 15.5% for those with COVID-19. However, only 14.1% received a COVID-19 test on admission in March, increasing to 76.5% by July. Higher Clinical Frailty Scale scores (CFS >7 aOR 18.87), ASA grade above 2 (aOR 4.29), and COVID-19 infection (aOR 5.12) were independently associated with significantly increased IHM. The peak months of the first wave were independently associated with significantly higher IHM (March aOR 4.34; April aOR 4.25; May aOR 3.97), compared to non-peak months. During the study, UK operating theatre capacity decreased by a mean of 63.6% with a concomitant 27.3% reduction in surgical staffing. Conclusion: The first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted surgical patients, both directly through co-morbid infection and indirectly as shown by increasing mortality in peak months, irrespective of COVID-19 status. Higher CFS scores and ASA grades strongly predict outcomes in surgical patients and are an important risk assessment tool during the pandemic.
Parsonage-Turner Syndrome Following COVID-19 Vaccination: MR Neurography

Vaccination is one of the several known triggers of Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS). This case series describes two individuals with clinical presentations of PTS whose symptoms began 13 hours and 18 days following receipt of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 and Moderna mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine, respectively. The diagnosis of PTS was confirmed by using both electrodiagnostic testing and 3.0-T MR neurography. Although research is needed to understand the association between PTS and COVID-19 vaccination, MR neurography may be used to help confirm suspected cases of PTS as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be distributed worldwide.
E-cadherin activating antibodies limit barrier dysfunction and inflammation in mouse inflammatory bowel disease

ABSTRACT Deficits in gastrointestinal (GI) paracellular permeability has been implicated in etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and E-cadherin, a key component of the epithelial junctional complex, has been implicated in both barrier function and IBD. We have previously described antibodies against E-cadherin that activate cell adhesion, and in this study, we show that they increase transepithelial electrical resistance in epithelial cell monolayers in vitro. We therefore tested the hypothesis that adhesion activating E-cadherin mAbs will enhance epithelial barrier function in vivo and limit progression of inflammation in IBD. Activating mAbs to mouse E-cadherin were tested in different mouse models of IBD including the IL10-/- and adoptive T cell transfer models of colitis. Previously established histological and biomarker measures of inflammation were evaluated to monitor disease progression. Mouse E-cadherin activating mAb treatment reduced total colitis score, individual histological measures of inflammation, and other hallmarks of inflammation compared to control treatment. Activating mAbs also reduced the fecal accumulation lipocalin2 and albumin content, consistent with enhanced barrier function. Therefore, E-cadherin activation could be a potential strategy for limiting inflammation in UC.
Acetylated Lignins: A Potential Bio-Sourced Photosensitizer

Nowadays, lignins are receiving an increasing interest from the scientific community. Indeed, this biopolymer, formerly considered a waste-product of the paper industry, appears today as an interesting oil equivalent in many fields. In this context, many chemical modifications of lignins have been presented to valorize this attractive feedstock. However, spectroscopic properties of these modified materials remain poorly studied, in particular their capacity to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation. Thus, the purpose of this work is to monitor the production of singlet oxygen and superoxide anion under light irradiation of three different acetylated lignins. The results obtained show that those modified lignins can generate ROS levels, allowing to consider a use of these materials as photosensitizers for applications such as photodynamic treatments.
Resveratrol supplementation reduces ACE2 expression in human adipose tissue

ABSTRACT Angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is the cell-surface receptor enabling cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2. ACE2 is highly expressed in adipose tissue (AT), rendering AT a potential SARS-CoV-2 reservoir contributing to massive viral spread in COVID-19 patients with obesity. Although rodent and cell studies suggest that the polyphenol resveratrol alters ACE2, human studies are lacking. Here, we investigated the effects of 30-days resveratrol supplementation on RAS components in AT and skeletal muscle in men with obesity in a placebo-controlled cross-over study. Resveratrol markedly decreased ACE2 (~40%) and leptin (~30%), but did neither alter angiotensinogen, ACE and AT1R expression in AT nor skeletal muscle RAS components. These findings demonstrate that resveratrol supplementation reduces ACE2 in AT, which might dampen SARS-CoV-2 spread in COVID-19.
Ligand-induced native G-quadruplex stabilization impairs transcription initiation

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical DNA secondary structures formed through the self-association of guanines, and G4s are distributed widely across the genome. G4 participates in multiple biological processes including gene transcription, and G4-targeted ligands serve as potential therapeutic agents for DNA-targeted therapies. However, genome-wide studies of the exact roles of G4s in transcriptional regulation are still lacking. Here, we establish a sensitive G4-CUT&Tag method for genome-wide profiling of native G4s with high resolution and specificity. We find that native G4 signals are cell type–specific and are associated with transcriptional regulatory elements carrying active epigenetic modifications. Drug-induced promoter-proximal RNA polymerase II pausing promotes nearby G4 formation. In contrast, G4 stabilization by G4-targeted ligands globally reduces RNA polymerase II occupancy at gene promoters as well as nascent RNA synthesis. Moreover, ligand-induced G4 stabilization modulates chromatin states and impedes transcription initiation via inhibition of general transcription factors loading to promoters. Together, our study reveals a reciprocal genome-wide regulation between native G4 dynamics and gene transcription, which will deepen our understanding of G4 biology toward therapeutically targeting G4s in human diseases.
Participatory research on the prevalence of Multi-Substance vaping in college students

Abstract Objectives To assess electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use and vaping behaviors and attitudes in college students. Methods A student-faculty partnership administered a cross-sectional survey to undergraduate students (N = 339) in 2019. Results 49.8% of students reported using ENDS or vaping in the past 30 days. 48.9% of students who vaped reported vaping more than one substance in the past 30 days. The most commonly vaped substances were cannabis (34.9%), nicotine (26.7%), and flavor (19.2%). Reasons for initiating ENDS use were social (64.8%), for the high (40.8%), and for the flavor (32.4%). Both users and non-users believed ENDS were harmful and favored regulation. Conclusions Young people who use ENDS commonly vape more than one substance; a critical finding in light of the current vaping lung injury epidemic. The importance of social reasons for initiating ENDS and broad support for regulation suggest jurisdictions consider regulation to reduce ENDS use in young adults.
Twenty-one days of spirulina supplementation lowers heart rate during submaximal cycling and augments power output during repeated sprints in trained cyclists.

Spirulina supplementation is reported to improve time to exhaustion and V̇O2max. However, there is limited information on its influence over the multiple intensities cyclists experience during training and competition. Fifteen trained males (Age 40 ± 8 years, V̇O2max 51.14 ± 6.43 ml/min/kg) ingested 6g/day of spirulina or placebo for twenty-one days in a double-blinded randomized cross over design, with a fourteen-day washout period between trials. Participants completed a 1-hour submaximal endurance test at 55% external power output max and a 16.1km time trial (day 1), followed by a lactate threshold test and repeated sprint performance tests (RSPTs) (day 2). Heart rate (bpm), Respiratory Exchange Ratio, oxygen consumption (ml/min/kg), lactate and glucose (mmol/L), time (secs), power output (Watts), and hemoglobin (g/L) were compared across conditions. Following spirulina supplementation, lactate and heart rate were significantly lower (P<0.05) during submaximal endurance tests (2.05 ± 0.80mmol/L Vs 2.39 ± 0.89mmol/L & 139 ± 11bpm Vs 144 ± 12bpm), hemoglobin was significantly higher (152.6 ± 9.0 g/L) than placebo (143.2 ± 8.5 g/L), and peak and average power were significantly higher during RSPTs (968 ± 177Watts Vs 929 ± 149Watts & 770 ± 117Watts Vs 738 ± 86Watts). No differences existed between conditions for all oxygen consumption values, 16.1km time trial measures and lactate threshold tests (P>0.05). Spirulina supplementation reduces homeostatic disturbances during submaximal exercise and augments power output during RSPTs. Novelty bullets: • Spirulina supplementation lowers heart rate and blood lactate during ≈1-hour submaximal cycling. • Spirulina supplementation elicits significant augmentations in hemoglobin and power outputs during RSPTs.
The Bipartite Edge-Based Event-Triggered Output Tracking of Heterogeneous Linear Multiagent Systems

This article focuses on the bipartite output tracking control for heterogeneous linear multiagent systems under the asynchronous edge-based event-triggered transmission mechanism. First, the distributed bipartite edge-based event-triggered compensator is established to estimate the state of the exosystem. The estimated state of the compensator is the same as the state of the exosystem in modulus and opposite in sign because of the existence of antagonistic communications. To be independent of the topology information, the adaptive compensator with an edge-based event-triggered mechanism is then established. And the observer is proposed to recover the unmeasurable system states. Then, the distributed control scheme based on the compensator and the observer is designed to address the bipartite output tracking problem. Moreover, the results in the signed fixed graph are extended to signed switching graphs. The Zeno behavior of each edge is ruled out. Finally, two numerical examples, one application example and one comparison example, are given to demonstrate the feasibility of the main theoretical findings.
Fully Automatic Coronary Calcium Score Software Empowered by Artificial Intelligence Technology: Validation Study Using Three CT Cohorts

Objective This study aimed to validate a deep learning-based fully automatic calcium scoring (coronary artery calcium [CAC]_auto) system using previously published cardiac computed tomography (CT) cohort data with the manually segmented coronary calcium scoring (CAC_hand) system as the reference standard. Materials and Methods We developed the CAC_auto system using 100 co-registered, non-enhanced and contrast-enhanced CT scans. For the validation of the CAC_auto system, three previously published CT cohorts (n = 2985) were chosen to represent different clinical scenarios (i.e., 2647 asymptomatic, 220 symptomatic, 118 valve disease) and four CT models. The performance of the CAC_auto system in detecting coronary calcium was determined. The reliability of the system in measuring the Agatston score as compared with CAC_hand was also evaluated per vessel and per patient using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman analysis. The agreement between CAC_auto and CAC_hand based on the cardiovascular risk stratification categories (Agatston score: 0, 1–10, 11–100, 101–400, > 400) was evaluated. Results In 2985 patients, 6218 coronary calcium lesions were identified using CAC_hand. The per-lesion sensitivity and false-positive rate of the CAC_auto system in detecting coronary calcium were 93.3% (5800 of 6218) and 0.11 false-positive lesions per patient, respectively. The CAC_auto system, in measuring the Agatston score, yielded ICCs of 0.99 for all the vessels (left main 0.91, left anterior descending 0.99, left circumflex 0.96, right coronary 0.99). The limits of agreement between CAC_auto and CAC_hand were 1.6 ± 52.2. The linearly weighted kappa value for the Agatston score categorization was 0.94. The main causes of false-positive results were image noise (29.1%, 97/333 lesions), aortic wall calcification (25.5%, 85/333 lesions), and pericardial calcification (24.3%, 81/333 lesions). Conclusion The atlas-based CAC_auto empowered by deep learning provided accurate calcium score measurement as compared with manual method and risk category classification, which could potentially streamline CAC imaging workflows.
Two types of sensorimotor strategies for whole-body movement in individuals with stroke: a pilot study

ABSTRACT Purpose This study compared the sensory–motor interactions and strategies for whole-body movement in individuals with stroke who had damaged motor system area or sensory system area in the brain. Methods Participants with hemiparesis were asked to perform sit-to-stand movements while their vision was restricted, which can affect completion of the task. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group had no history of lesions in the sensory system area but did have a history of lesions in the motor system area (no damaged sensory-system: NDS). The second group had a history of lesions in the sensory system area of the brain (damaged sensory-system: DS). Center-of-pressure (COP) trajectories were measured to evaluate balance control in participants with and without vision, and numbers of sub-movements (i.e. numbers of segmented movements which reflect the degree of use of the feedback loops) were measured to evaluate feedforward and feedback control. Movement times were also measured. Results When vision was restricted, NDS participants showed increased variability in mediolateral COP trajectories during movement and utilized mainly feedforward control. In contrast, DS participants showed reduced variability in mediolateral COP trajectories during movement and utilized additional feedback control. Conclusions These results demonstrate two types of strategies for whole-body movements in individuals with stroke. These differences may be attributed to whether the individual can compensate for vision with somatic senses and whether appropriate processing of somatosensory information has been lost. Individuals with hemiparesis created dexterous and flexible strategies to execute tasks successfully, depending on the characteristics of their sensorimotor disorders.
Clinical Reasoning: A 55-Year-Old Man With Odd Behavior and Abnormal Movements

A 55-year-old man with an extensive psychiatric history that included PTSD, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia treated with quetiapine and trazodone was admitted to the hospital from an assisted living facility (ALF) for subacute-on-chronic failure to thrive and concern for psychosis, with recent worsening ongoing for 6 weeks. He was recently discharged from an outside psychiatric facility, and at the ALF, he demonstrated odd behavior such as eating food off the floor and spitting on staff, in addition to persistent poor intake of fluids, food, and medications because of issues with regurgitation and dysphagia. He had been evaluated by gastroenterology for more than a decade for these issues, in addition to chronically elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). An extensive workup including CT imaging, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, esophagram, motility study, and a gastric emptying study was largely unremarkable. In the setting of his psychiatric history and reported history of frequently spitting out food, there was concern for a volitional component to his regurgitation.
Random effect based tests for multinomial logistic regression in genetic association studies

Random‐effect based score tests have been widely used to investigate the association between a set of genetic variants and a health outcome/trait (Maity et al., 2012; Sun et al., 2013; Wu et al., 2011). Although various outcomes/traits have been considered for random‐effect based score tests, the multinomial outcome has received little attention until recently. Multinomial outcome analyses have important applications in biomedical research (Eckel‐Passow et al., 2019; Qian et al., 2016), such as the subtype analysis which concerns the association between genetic variants and multiple subtypes of a disease. There is a large body of literature on multinomial logistic regression. To name a few Begg and Gray (1984) studied the problem of calculating polytomous logistic regression parameters using individualized regressions; Morris et al. (2010) utilized the likelihood ratio test for testing hypotheses in multinomial logistic regression; Chatterjee (2004) introduced a two‐stage semiparametric pseudo‐conditional‐likelihood approach for subtype analysis. Recently, Zhang et al. (2020) proposed a mixed‐effect two‐stage polytomous model score test for incorporating tumor characteristics. Besides these approaches, the classic Wald test has also been widely used in practice for multinomial logistic regression. In multinomial analyses, one level is specified as the reference level, and the other levels are compared with this level to examine the association between the outcome and genotypes. It is generally anticipated that a statistical test should be invariant to the choice of the reference level. However, in a recent study, we made the observation that the random‐effect based test for multinomial logistic regression, in general, is not invariant to the choice of the reference level (Liu et al., 2021). This is intriguing, because the logistic regression model—a model often considered as a special case of the multinomial logistic regression model—has long been observed to possess the invariance property. Moreover, the lack of the invariance property for multinomial logistic regression can be problematic in practice, because researchers may draw potentially contradictory conclusions due to different choices of the reference level. Here, we elaborate on this issue and conduct investigations to understand the fundamental cause of the problem. We first explain why the considered test is not invariant to the choice of the reference level, and then derive the analytical form of the power function when a given level is used as the reference. Next, we use simulations to compare potential ways to deal with the noninvariance issue, and provide practical guidelines at the end of the letter. Consider a multinomial logistic regression model with J levels and n subjects. For j J = 1, . , and i n = 1, . , , let Y = 1 ji if the ith person belongs to jth level, and Y = 0 ji otherwise. Let Xi be a vector of covariates where the first element is the intercept and Gi is the genotype vector for p variants. Assume that the J th level is the reference level, then the model can