Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography compared to three/four-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography for the assessment of tubal occlusion in women with infertility/subfertility: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract In this meta-analysis, we aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 2D- and 3D/4D-HyCoSy for the assessment of tubal occlusion in women with infertility, using a laparoscopic tubal chromoperturbation dye test as the reference standard. Studies assessing 2D- and 3D/4D-HyCoSy for the assessment of tubal occlusion in women with infertility were searched from January 1990 to April 2019 using Medline and Web of Science databases by three of the authors, using the terms: ‘hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography’, ‘sonohysterosalpingography’, ‘HyCoSy’, ‘HyFoSy’, ‘three-dimensional’, ‘four-dimensional’, ‘ultrasound’, ‘tubal patency’ and ‘tubal occlusion’. Data quality was determined using the QUADAS-2 tool. Thirty articles were included; twenty-one studies used 2D-HyCoSy to assess tubal occlusion, six used 3D/4D-HyCoSy, one study used both techniques but in a different set of patients and two used both techniques in the same patients. The risk of bias for most studies was low as determined by QUADAS-2, except for the patient selection domain. Overall, pooled estimated sensitivity and specificity of 2D-HyCoSy were 86% (95% CI = 80%–91%) and 94% (95% CI = 90%–96%), respectively. The corresponding figures for 3D/4D HyCoSy were 95% (95% CI = 89%–98%) and 89% (95% CI = 82%–94%). High heterogeneity was found for both sensitivity and specificity. No statistically significant differences were found between the methods (p = 0.13). We concluded that 2D-HyCoSy has a similar diagnostic performance to 3D/4D-HyCoSy.
The role of pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide in affective signs of nicotine withdrawal

Recent evidence implicates endogenous pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the aversive effect of nicotine. In the present study, we assessed if nicotine‐induced conditioned place preference (CPP) or affective signs of nicotine withdrawal would be altered in the absence of PACAP and if there were any sex‐related differences in these responses. Male and female mice lacking PACAP and their wild‐type controls were tested for baseline place preference on day 1, received conditioning with saline or nicotine (1 mg/kg) on alternate days for 6 days and were then tested for CPP the next day. Mice were then exposed to four additional conditioning and were tested again for nicotine‐induced CPP 24 hr later. Controls were conditioned with saline in both chambers and tested similarly. All mice were then, 96 hr later, challenged with mecamylamine (3 mg/kg), and tested for anxiety‐like behaviors 30 min later. Mice were then, 2 hr later, forced to swim for 15 min and then tested for depression‐like behaviors 24 hr later. Our results showed that male but not female mice lacking PACAP expressed a significant CPP that was comparable to their wild‐type controls. In contrast, male but not female mice lacking PACAP exhibited reduced anxiety‐ and depression‐like behaviors compared to their wild‐type controls following the mecamylamine challenge. These results suggest that endogenous PACAP is involved in affective signs of nicotine withdrawal, but there is a sex‐related difference in this response.
Determination of phytic acid in feeds and faeces of pigs and poultry by capillary isotachophoresis

A method for phytic acid determination in the feeds and faeces of pigs and poultry has been developed on the basis of capillary isotachophoresis. Phytic acid was extracted by 0.95 M HCl and separated from interfering compounds by iron precipitation. Complete formation of ferric phytate required 7 mol FeCl3 mol−1 phytic acid. Residual Fe3+ was estimated colorimetrically by the tiron reagent, and ferric phytate was dissolved in 1.5 M NaOH at 9 mol NaOH mol−1 Fe precipitated. Analyses were carried out using an electrolyte system with Cl− as the leading anion, bis-tris-propane, and 2-morpholinoethanesulphonic acid as the terminating anion. The recovery of phytic acid (added to hen faeces) using this procedure was 962 ± 24 g kg−1. The limit of determination of phytic acid was 0.3 µmol ml−1 extract. The amount of phytic acid in feeds ranged from 8.3 to 10.8 g kg−1 on a dry matter basis. Phytic acid P represented 112 g kg−1 total P in faeces of young pigs (40–60 kg) fed a feed with supplemental phytase (490 U kg−1), 153 g kg−1 total P in faeces of finishing pigs and 185 g kg−1 total P in faeces of non-lactating sows. Excreta of laying hens contained 23.7 g phytic acid kg−1 dry matter (362 g kg−1 total P). The isotachophoretic method is sufficiently simple and reproducible to be used for routine analyses of feeds and faeces. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
Effectiveness of different acupuncture courses for functional constipation

Abstract Background: This study will evaluate the effectiveness of different acupuncture courses for functional constipation (FC) through network meta-analysis. Methods: Eight database (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Central), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) and Wanfang Database) will be searched from inception to October 2019. Only randomized controlled trials comparing different acupuncture courses or acupuncture versus sham acupuncture or placebo will be included. The outcomes involved weekly stool frequency, Bristol Fecal score, responder rate and safety evaluation. The risk of bias assessment and quality of evidence will be appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation guidelines. RevMan 5.3 software, STATA V.14. 0 and GeMTC software will be used to perform the network meta-analysis. Results: This work will compare and arrange the comparative efficacy of different acupuncture treatments for FC by summarizing the current evidences. The results will be submitted in the form of a journal publication. Conclusion: The results of this network meta-analysis may help doctors determine the best treatments for patients to manage FC. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020153801.
Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors: a paradigm shift for treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease?

ABSTRACT Introduction The hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) pathway is responsible for regulating the biosynthesis of erythropoietin (EPO) and maintaining iron homeostasis. Investigational drugs that target the HIF-PH pathway are promising alternatives for treating anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Areas covered This review summarizes recent advances focused on the clinical development of HIF-PH inhibitors (HIF-PHIs) as potentially novel therapies in the treatment of anemia in CKD based on publications available on PubMed and restricted Google searches. We provide a comparison between HIF-PHIs regarding their pharmacokinetics, dosing regimens and safety concerns, structure-activity relationships, and alterations in key laboratory parameters observed in animal models and clinical trials. Expert opinion HIF-PHIs may be advantageous in some aspects compared to the conventional erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). While ESAs could increase the risk of cardiovascular events due to rapid rises in ESA blood levels, HIF-PHIs have been reported to maintain EPO concentrations at levels that are closer to the normal physiological ranges. Although HIF-PHIs have been demonstrated to be relatively safe and effective in clinical trials, long-term safety data are needed in order to establish whether these therapeutic agents will lead to a major paradigm change in the treatment of anemia of CKD.
A bibliometric analysis and visualization of medical data mining research

Abstract Background: Data mining technology used in the field of medicine has been widely studied by scholars all over the world. But there is little research on medical data mining (MDM) from the perspectives of bibliometrics and visualization, and the research topics and development trends in this field are still unclear. Methods: This paper has applied bibliometric visualization software tools, VOSviewer 1.6. 10 and CiteSpace V, to study the citation characteristics, international cooperation, author cooperation, and geographical distribution of the MDM. Results: A total of 1575 documents are obtained, and the most frequent document type is article (1376). SHAN NH is the most productive author, with the highest number of publications of 12, and the Gillies's article (750 times citation) is the most cited paper. The most productive country and institution in MDM is the USA (559) and US FDA (35), respectively. The Journal of Biomedical Informatics, Expert Systems with Applications and Journal of Medical Systems are the most productive journals, which reflected the nature of the research, and keywords “classification (790)” and “system (576)” have the strongest strength. The hot topics in MDM are drug discovery, medical imaging, vaccine safety, and so on. The 3 frontier topics are reporting system, precision medicine, and inflammation, and would be the foci of future research. Conclusion: The present study provides a panoramic view of data mining methods applied in medicine by visualization and bibliometrics. Analysis of authors, journals, institutions, and countries could provide reference for researchers who are fresh to the field in different ways. Researchers may also consider the emerging trends when deciding the direction of their study.
Quantitative Structural Organization of Bulk Apical Membrane Traffic in Pollen Tubes1[OPEN]

Massive secretion underlying pollen tube tip growth delivers proteins and lipids to the same apical plasma membrane domain and is balanced by endocytic lipid recycling in a defined subapical region. Pollen tube tip growth depends on balancing secretion of cell wall material with endocytic recycling of excess material incorporated into the plasma membrane (PM). The classical model of tip growth, which predicts bulk secretion, occurs apically, and is compensated by subapical endocytosis, has been challenged in recent years. Many signaling proteins and lipids with important functions in the regulation of membrane traffic underlying tip growth associate with distinct regions of the pollen tube PM, and understanding the mechanisms responsible for the targeting of these regulatory factors to specific PM domains requires quantitative information concerning the sites of bulk secretion and endocytosis. Here, we quantitatively characterized the spatial organization of membrane traffic during tip growth by analyzing steady-state distributions and dynamics of FM4-64-labeled lipids and YFP-tagged transmembrane (TM) proteins in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) pollen tubes growing normally or treated with Brefeldin A to block secretion. We established that (1) secretion delivers TM proteins and recycled membrane lipids to the same apical PM domain, and (2) FM4-64-labeled lipids, but not the analyzed TM proteins, undergo endocytic recycling within a clearly defined subapical region. We mathematically modeled the steady-state PM distributions of all analyzed markers to better understand differences between them and to support the experimental data. Finally, we mapped subapical F-actin fringe and trans-Golgi network positioning relative to sites of bulk secretion and endocytosis to further characterize functions of these structures in apical membrane traffic. Our results support and further define the classical model of apical membrane traffic at the tip of elongating pollen tubes.
Foot-and-mouth disease virus induces PERK mediated autophagy to suppress antiviral interferon response.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a picornavirus that causes contagious acute infection in cloven-hoofed animals. FMDV replication associated viral protein expression induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR), in turn inducing autophagy to restore cellular homeostasis. We observed that inhibition of BiP, a master regulator of ER stress and UPR, decreased FMDV infection confirming their involvement. Further, we show that the FMDV infection induces UPR mainly through PKR-like ER kinase (PERK)-mediated pathway. Knockdown of PERK and chemical inhibition of PERK activation resulted in decreased expression of FMDV proteins along with the reduction of autophagy marker protein LC3B-II. There are conflicting reports on the role of autophagy in FMDV multiplication. Our study systematically demonstrates that during FMDV infection, PERK mediated UPR stimulated an increased level of endogenous LC3B-II and turnover of SQSTM1, thus confirming the activation of functional autophagy. Modulation of UPR and autophagy by pharmacological and genetic approaches resulted in reduced viral progeny, by enhancing antiviral interferon response. Taken together, this study underscores the prospect of exploring the PERK mediated autophagy as an antiviral target.
The Value of Dignity in Prison: A Qualitative Study with Life Convicts

Background: This research is based on the perspective of dignity according to Chochinov; thus, the life imprisonment of detainees is assimilated to a severe disease. Methods: Ten male prisoners were interviewed trough Chochinov’s Dignity Therapy, and the results were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Two areas of thematic prevalence emerged, namely, value of freedom, self-consciousness and education and their failure in jail, and life sentence as annihilation of life meaning and of the values of generativity and family. Conclusions: Life imprisonment has been described in its negativity by several respondents as a punishment worse than the death penalty. It has been compared to death itself, to a terminal illness, to torture and to a pain that grows over the years, with the awareness that despite the passing of time, you will not have the opportunity to return to your loved one and to a free life. In fact, prisoners live out their condition within a space in which any value that gives meaning to life risks being destroyed.
Assessment of Periprostatic and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Lipolysis and Adipocyte Size from Men with Localized Prostate Cancer

The prostate is surrounded by periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT), the thickness of which has been associated with more aggressive prostate cancer (PCa). There are limited data regarding the functional characteristics of PPAT, how it compares to subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and whether in a setting of localized PCa, these traits are altered by obesity or disease aggressiveness. PPAT and SAT were collected from 60 men (age: 42–78 years, BMI: 21.3–35.6 kg/m2) undergoing total prostatectomy for PCa. Compared to SAT, adipocytes in PPAT were smaller, had the same basal rates of fatty acid release (lipolysis) yet released less polyunsaturated fatty acid species, and were more sensitive to isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis. Basal lipolysis of PPAT was increased in men diagnosed with less aggressive PCa (Gleason score (GS) ≤ 3 + 4) compared to men with more aggressive PCa (GS ≥ 4 + 3) but no other measured adipocyte parameters related to PCa aggressiveness. Likewise, there was no difference in PPAT lipid biology between lean and obese men. In conclusion, lipid biological features of PPAT do differ from SAT; however, we did not observe any meaningful difference in ex vivo PPAT biology that is associated with PCa aggressiveness or obesity. As such, our findings do not support a relationship between altered PCa behavior in obese men and the metabolic reprogramming of PPAT.
Corn yield response to cover crops and N rates under long-term conventional and no-tillage management

ABSTRACT A more sustainable agroecosystem may be obtained by combining cover crops with conservation tillage in grain crop production systems. This study was conducted in 1993 and 1994 on a Maury silt loam (Typic Paleudalfs) soil, at Lexington, Kentucky. The objectives were to evaluate: the effects of hairy vetch (Viciavillosa Roth) and rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop on corn (Zeamays L.) yields under no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) management; corn yield response to N fertilizer rates under different cover crops and tillage systems; and the effects of two cover crops on selected soil chemical properties. The results showed that corn grain yields were significantly higher under hairy vetch cover crop than under rye cover crop, 7.73 and 7.08 Mg ha−1, respectively. At least 40 to 60 kg ha −1 more N was estimated to have been added to the agroecosystem by hairy vetch as compared to rye cover crop. Higher corn yields under NT, 7.62 Mg ha −1 as compared to 7.18 Mg ha−1 for CT, indicated a more.
Distribution and Severity of Bacterial Diseases on Dry Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in South Africa

Disease surveys were conducted during 1995/96 in seed production fields, and 1996/97 and 1997/98 in commercial dry bean-producing areas to determine incidence, severity and spread of bacterial diseases in South Africa. A total of 682 seed production fields at 31 localities and 81 commercial fields at 24 localities were surveyed. Common bacterial blight occurred in 83 and 85% of localities in seed and commercial production areas, respectively. Halo blight was restricted to cooler production areas and occurred in only 10% of seed production fields and 37% of commercial fields surveyed. Bacterial brown spot was the most widespread bacterial disease occurring in 93% of seed production fields and 100% commercial fields. Although incidences of bacterial diseases were high, severity was generally low. The widespread distribution of bacterial diseases in both seed and commercial production areas questions the effectiveness of disease-free seed as a primary control method.
Diagnosis and treatment of congenital nasal dermoid and sinus cysts in 11 infants

Abstract There have been few studies on congenital nasal dermoid and sinus cysts (NDSCs) in infants. This study was performed to obtain clinical data for the diagnosis and treatment of NDSCs in infants. We performed a retrospective analysis of 11 infants admitted with NDSCs between 2014 and 2019. Patient demographics, lesion site, preoperative radiological findings, surgical technique, intraoperative findings, and postoperative sequelae were analyzed. In total, 11 infants (average age, 19 months; lowest age, 10 months) were included in this study. All patients presented with a nasal root mass, 2 patients also had nasal tip fistula, and only 1 case had a history of preoperative infection. Preoperative enhanced computed tomography (CT) examination showed nasal surface lesion (type I) in 3, nasal intraosseous (type II) in 5, intracranial epidural (type III) in 2, and intracranial dural (type IV) in 1 patient. The main surgical methods included direct resection with a vertical midline incision (9 patients), vertical incision + transnasal endoscopic resection + skull base repair (1 patient), and transverse incision of the lower margin of the left eyebrow (1 patient). All wounds healed well without serious complications. Using the 4-type classification method in combination with the preoperative CT findings to analyze the extent of NDSC in infants is helpful for formulating the surgical plan. Using vertical incision approach alone or combined with nasal endoscopy for minimally invasive surgery can meet the needs of complete resection and reconstruction. Our results provide clinical data that can help establish standardized criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of NDSCs in infants.
An Evidence-Based Update on the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Periodontal Diseases

Several investigators have reported about the intricate molecular mechanism underlying periodontal diseases (PD). Nevertheless, the role of specific genes, cells, or cellular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of periodontitis are still unclear. Although periodontitis is one of the most prevalent oral diseases globally, there are no pre-diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets available for such inflammatory lesions. A pivotal role is played by pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in modulating pathophysiological and physiological processes in repairing damaged tissues. In addition, effects on osteoimmunology is ever evolving due to the ongoing research in understanding the molecular mechanism lying beneath periodontal diseases. The aim of the current review is to deliver an evidence-based update on the molecular mechanism of periodontitis with a particular focus on recent developments. Reports regarding the molecular mechanism of these diseases have revealed unforeseen results indicative of the fact that significant advances have been made to the periodontal medicine over the past decade. There is integrated hypothesis-driven research going on. Although a wide picture of association of periodontal diseases with immune response has been further clarified with present ongoing research, small parts of the puzzle remain a mystery and require further investigations.
The European Rabbit in South- Western Australia II. Reproduction

'The reproduction of the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.), at two intensive study sites in south-western Australia is compared with reproductive data from rabbits taken throughout the coastal and inland districts of the south-west region. South-western Australia has hot, arid summers and cool wet winters. Rabbit breeding in the region is characteristic of that in Mediterranean climates, with a winter breeding season which begins when pastures germinate with the initial winter rainfall (April-May) and ceases when the pastures dry out at the end of the year. Unseasonal cyclonic rain can promote pasture growth in summer, leading to limited breeding. At all times of year there were some fertile males, with fewest at the height of summer, followed by an increase before the winter breeding season. Near the coast, male fertility increased more rapidly than further inland. At our two study sites at Cape Naturaliste (on the coast) and Chidlow (55 km inland) the pattern was similar to that in the coastal district. Production of kittens was greater near the coast than further inland, because near the coast there was a high early peak in incidence of pregnancy, a second peak late in the year, and litters remained large throughout the breeding season. In the inland district, the early incidence of pregnancy was lower, there was no second peak, and litter sizes fell at the end of the year. Female reproduction at Cape Naturaliste was typical of that in the coastal district, but that at Chidlow was typical of the inland. The second peak of pregnancy at Cape Naturaliste was due to intensive breeding by subadults born earlier in the year. The differences in female reproduction and productivity between the coastal and inland districts are probably because pasture growth begins earlier and is better in the more fertile coastal areas than in the inland. That nutrition is better for rabbits in the coastal areas than in the inland is reflected in higher growth rates of kittens at Cape Naturaliste than at Chidlow. It is postulated, on the basis of the literature and the results of our studies, that the factor which determines whether rabbits will breed is the presence of growing vegetation, and that the intensity of breeding is influenced by a seasonal cycle in fertility.