Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Regular GHB-Users with and without GHB-Induced Comas

Abstract Background Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has been used recreationally for nearly three decades and its chronic use is frequently associated with serious adverse events including GHB-intoxication with GHB-induced comas. Moreover, despite its low prevalence, the number of individuals with GHB-use disorders is steadily increasing. However, the risk-factors associated with chronic GHB-use or the development of a GHB-use disorders remain poorly understood. Purpose: This study aims to profile two types of GHB-users, those with and those without GHB-induced comas. Methods: We included 27 GHB users with ≥4 GHB-induced comas (GHB-Coma), 27 GHB users without a coma (GHB-NoComa), and 27 polydrug users who never used GHB (No-GHB). Participants completed self-reported questionnaires in order to assess their demographic and clinical features, and their use profile of GHB and other drugs. Results: The typical GHB user in our sample was young, single, living alone, well-educated, and a student. The GHB-Coma group had lower self-control and reported higher negative affect than the GHB-NoComa group. GHB-Coma participants were heavier GHB users and mostly used GHB alone at home, whereas the GHB-NoComa group mostly used GHB with friends and in nightclubs. Remarkably, the majority of participants were not concerned about potential neurocognitive impairments induced by GHB-intoxication and/or GHB-induced comas. Conclusion: In this assessment, different profiles for recreational users with and without GHB-induced comas were well expressed. Their description contributes to a better understanding of the risk factors associated with recreational GHB-use, GHB-induced coma, and the development of GHB-use disorders.
Ovarian cryopreservation for children aged 3 years or younger: A report of three cases

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation has recently been performed as an option for fertility preservation in prepubertal girls with cancer. In this study, ovarian tissue was cryopreserved from 3 girls of 3 years of age or younger during a 3‐year period at our institution. Case 1 was a 1‐year‐old girl, who was diagnosed with a yolk sac tumor in the sacral region. Case 2 was a 2‐year‐old girl, who was diagnosed with retroperitoneal neuroblastoma. Case 3 was a 3‐year‐old girl, who was diagnosed with cerebellar medulloblastoma. All patients had planned to undergo chemotherapy that would affect the ovarian reserve. Because these patients were toddlers, consideration of ethics, the surgical procedure and postoperative management, and optimal method for freezing ovarian tissue was necessary, although gynecologists rarely experience these challenges in daily clinical practice. We herein present the clinical course of these three cases and discuss the peculiarities and countermeasures of ovarian cryopreservation in children.
Prepregnancy adherence to dietary recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in relation to risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND It is unclear whether adherence to diet recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population is also related to the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension (GHTN). OBJECTIVES The aim was to evaluate the relation of prepregnancy adherence to the American Heart Association (AHA) diet recommendations and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) with the risk of pre-eclampsia and GHTN. METHODS Between 1991 and 2009, we prospectively followed 16,892 singleton pregnancies among 11,535 women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study II. Prepregnancy diet was assessed every 4 y, from which we calculated dietary pattern scores from the DASH diet (8 components) and the diet recommendations from the AHA 2020 Strategic Impact Goals (primary score: 5 components; secondary score: primary score plus 3 components). Pregnancy outcomes were self-reported, and we estimated the RR (95% CI) of pre-eclampsia and GHTN with log-binomial regression using generalized estimating equations to account for repeat pregnancies and adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Women had a mean (SD) age of 34.4 (34.0) y at pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia was reported in 495 (2.9%) pregnancies and GHTN in 561 (3.3%) pregnancies. The RR (95% CI) of pre-eclampsia for women in the highest quintile of the DASH was 0.65 (0.48, 0.87) compared with women in the lowest score quintile. A similar inverse trend was observed for the AHA primary (0.74; 95% CI: 0.55, 1.00) and secondary (0.81; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.07) scores comparing women in the highest versus the lowest score quintile. Neither the DASH nor the AHA scores were related to GHTN. CONCLUSIONS Women with higher adherence to dietary recommendations for the prevention of CVD in the general population had a lower risk of pre-eclampsia-a common pregnancy complication related to higher CVD risk among women-than women with lower adherence to these recommendations.
Cellular and humoral immune interactions between Drosophila and its parasitoids

The immune interactions occurring between parasitoids and their host insects, especially in Drosophila–wasp models, have long been the research focus of insect immunology and parasitology. Parasitoid infestation in Drosophila is counteracted by its multiple natural immune defense systems, which include cellular and humoral immunity. Occurring in the hemocoel, cellular immune responses involve the proliferation, differentiation, migration and spreading of host hemocytes and parasitoid encapsulation by them. Contrastingly, humoral immune responses rely more heavily on melanization and on the Toll, Imd and Jak/Stat immune pathways associated with antimicrobial peptides along with stress factors. On the wasps’ side, successful development is achieved by introducing various virulence factors to counteract immune responses of Drosophila. Some or all of these factors manipulate the host's immunity for successful parasitism. Here we review current knowledge of the cellular and humoral immune interactions between Drosophila and its parasitoids, focusing on the defense mechanisms used by Drosophila and the strategies evolved by parasitic wasps to outwit it.
Role of endothelin-1 in cardiac and vascular dysfunction in streptozotocin-diabetic rats : effects of chronic endothelin receptor blockade

The present thesis examined the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) , a potent 21-aminoacid vasoconstrictor-mitogen, in diabetic cardiovascular complications. Our previous data showed that diabetic rats exhibited impaired isolated working heart performance, which was ameliorated by chronic treatment with bosentan, a mixed E T A / E T b receptor blocker. Accordingly, an activated endothelin system may be involved in diabetic
Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of response to aflatoxin and secondary traits in maize

Genotypic and Phenotypic Characterization of Response to Aflatoxin and Secondary Traits in Maize. (May 2006) Melanie Love Edwards, B.A., East Tennessee State University; M.S., Oregon State University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Javier F. Betràn One major problem facing maize producers in the southern US is contamination with the mycotoxin aflatoxin, produced by Aspergillus flavus (Link:fr). Aflatoxin is a serious threat to human and animal health, with no resistant commercial hybrid available. Development of resistance to aflatoxin production has several major limitations. Aflatoxin is highly variable both across and within environments, even under inoculation, requiring several locations and replications for breeding. Additionally, there is no screening method that is reliable, rapid, inexpensive, and allows for high throughput. Several secondary traits, such as kernel texture, kernel integrity, husk cover, and visible ear rot, have previously shown to be related to aflatoxin accumulation. These traits are easily characterized in the field
Trend and socioeconomic disparities in survival outcome of metastatic melanoma after approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND The approval of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for metastatic melanoma in 2011 has changed the treatment landscape of this disease. However, current trend of the population-based survival remains unclear. METHODS 8078 patients with metastatic melanoma diagnosed in the pre-ICI (2005-2010) and post-ICI period (2011-2016) were enrolled from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program for survival comparison. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to reduce selection bias. Cox proportional hazards model was applied for identifying survival-related factors and constructing a prognostic nomogram. The accuracy of the nomogram was determined by concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, and validated by an internal cohort. RESULTS Patients in the post-ICI period had a significantly longer median overall survival (OS) than those in the pre-ICI period, even after performing PSM between the two periods. We also found socioeconomic disparities in the survival improvement. Significant differences in OS between the two periods were only observed in cases with medical insurance and patients living in urban or low-poverty area, but not uninsured cases and patients from rural or high-poverty area. For patients in the post-ICI period, multivariate analysis demonstrated that socioeconomic and insurance status were independent prognostic factors, which can be combined with other clinical variates into a nomogram for OS prediction with promising C-index of 0.672 and 0.650 in the training- and testing cohort, respectively. CONCLUSION An overall trend to favorable survival at the population level and socioeconomic disparities in the survival trend are observed in metastatic melanoma after the ICI approval. The proposed nomogram is available for prognostication in the current melanoma management.
Arginase 1 is involved in lacrimal hyposecretion in male NOD mice, a model of Sjögren's syndrome, regardless of dacryoadenitis status

Few reports have explored the possibility of involvement of non‐inflammatory factors in lacrimal hyposecretion in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). RNA‐sequencing analysis revealed that only four genes, including arginase 1, were downregulated in the lacrimal gland of SS model male mice (NOD mice) after onset of lacrimal hyposecretion and dacryoadenitis. Even in non‐dacryoadenitis‐type NOD mice, tear secretion and arginase 1 expression remained low. An arginase 1 inhibitor reduced tear secretion and partially reduced saliva secretion in BALB/c mice. The results indicate that a non‐inflammatory factor, arginase 1, is involved in lacrimal hyposecretion in male NOD mice, regardless of dacryoadenitis status.
The Adler grade by Doppler ultrasound is associated with clinical pathology of cervical cancer: Implication for clinical management

Objective To analyze the relationship of Adler grade by transvaginal color Doppler flow imaging (TV-CDFI) and the clinical pathological parameters of patients with cervical cancer, and to identify the value of Adler grade in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer. Methods Patients with cervical cancer diagnosed pathologically in our hospital from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 were included, All patients underwent TV-CDFI examination, and the images were divided into 0 to III grades according to the Adler grades, and the correlations between the Adler classification and clinical pathological parameters (clinical stage, mass size, pathological type, squamous cell carcinoma subtype, CA125, CA199) were analyzed. Results A total of 162 patients with cervical cancer were included. With the increase of Adler severity, the clinical stage of cervical cancer increased accordingly. the cancer size differed significantly in patients with different Adler grade (p = 0.004); There were significant differences in the level of CA125, CA199 between the squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma (all p<0.05). the Adler grade was positively related with the clinical stage, pathological type and squamous cell carcinoma subtypes of cervical cancer (all p<0.05), no correlations were found among the Adler grade and the cancer size, CA125, CA199 (all p>0.05). The area under ROC curve of the cervical squamous cell carcinoma predicted by Adler grade based on FIGO results and pathological results was 0.811and 0.762 respectively (all p<0.05). Conclusions Adler grades are closely associated with the clinical pathology of cervical cancer, which may be a convenient and effective approach for the assisting assessment of cervical cancer.
Exploring parents' experiences of promoting physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities.

INTRODUCTION Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities participate in low levels of physical activity and have a greater reliance on their parents to provide activity opportunities. This study explored parents' experiences of promoting physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight parents of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Interviews were independently coded and analysed by two researchers using thematic analysis. RESULTS Four themes and nine subthemes were identified. Overall, parents had positive views of physical activity. However, parents face numerous barriers that limit their ability to promote physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities. CONCLUSIONS Parents experience high levels of exclusion and stigma that negatively affect their promotion of physical activity for their child with intellectual disabilities. Overcoming the barriers faced by parents could therefore be an indirect method to increase physical activity in children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
Cell-extrinsic and intrinsic regulation of N-glycosylation in health and disease

Author(s): Mkhikian, Haik | Advisor(s): Demetriou, Michael | Abstract: Essential biological systems are tightly regulated and their dysregulation is often associated with disease states. Recently, plasma membrane dynamics that globally control cell growth and differentiation have been shown to be regulated by the interaction of galectins with branched N-glycans at the cell surface. Galectins bind N-acetyllactosamine units (LacNAc: Gal beta;1,4GlcNAc) in branched N-glycans attached to surface glycoproteins, forming a molecular lattice that controls receptor clustering/surface-retention/signaling. LacNAc density and galectin avidity for N-glycans increase proportional to the number of LacNAc branches initiated via the sequential action of the medial Golgi branching enzymes Mgat1, 2, 4, and 5. Mgat5 deficiency marginally reduces LacNAc content by limiting N-glycans to three branches, yet results in T-cell hyperactivity and autoimmunity in mice. Despite its importance, little is known about endogenous mechanisms that regulate N-glycosylation and the galectin-glycoprotein lattice. Here we show that multiple MS risk modulators converge to alter N-glycosylation and/or CTLA-4 surface retention conditional on metabolism and Vitamin D3, including genetic variants in interleukin-7 receptor-alpha (IL7RA*C), interleukin-2 receptor-alpha (IL2RA*T), MGAT1 (IVAVT-T) and CTLA-4 (Thr17Ala). Down-regulation of Mgat1 by IL7RA*C and IL2RA*T is opposed by MGAT1 (IVAVT-T) and Vitamin D3, optimizing branching and mitigating MS risk when combined with enhanced CTLA-4 N-glycosylation by CTLA-4 Thr17. Our data suggest a molecular mechanism in MS whereby multiple environmental and genetic inputs lead to dysregulation of a final common pathway, namely N-glycosylation. We also report a startling homeostatic mechanism that maintains cell surface LacNAc content when branching is severely disrupted. Based on the model of galectin-glycoprotein lattice, restricting N-glycans to a single branch via Mgat2 deficiency or mannosidase II inhibition is expected to result in a dramaticly hyperactive state, when compared to Mgat5 deficiency. However, we find that a marked increase in poly-LacNAc extension maintains LacNAc content and galectin binding to N-glycans, thereby preventing further increases in T cell activity and autoimmunity; phenotypes reversed by targeted deficiency of the poly-LacNAc extension enzyme B3GnT2 or complete blockade of branching. Homeostatic maintenance of LacNAc content in N-glycans appears to be a general mechanism, being present in epithelial, mesenchymal and stem cells. These data define Golgi proofreading and LacNAc content, rather than unique N-glycan structures, as critical regulators of the galectin lattice, cell homeostasis and autoimmunity.
Evaluation of quality of pharmacoeconomic studies involved in traditional Chinese medicine in China

ABSTRACT Objectives The pharmacoeconomic studies of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are still in its infancy. Assessing the quality of pharmacoeconomic studies of TCM to improve the efficiency of health resource allocation and guide the rational use of medicine. Methods Four databases were searched from inception to January 2018. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards statement (CHEERS) and the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) were used to assess the reporting quality and methodological quality. STATA 12.0 and Meta analyst 3.13 were used to analyze the related data. Results A total of 178 studies were included. The methodological evaluation of the study found that the total score of QHES was 47.85 ± 8.09. The report quality evaluation results found that many studies did not report comprehensive information, such as lack of detailed reports on abstracts, study perspectives, time frames, discount rates, model selection, but the titles, study background and location, and health results, resource and cost estimates, analysis methods, and heterogeneity analysis are reported in more detail. Six of the ten stratification factors have statistically significant differences. Conclusion The overall quality of pharmacoeconomic studies of TCM is low, and further standardization and improvement are needed to obtain reliable study results.
Fear of progression in parents of childhood cancer survivors: A dyadic data analysis

Fear of progression (FoP), also referred to as fear of cancer recurrence, is gaining increasing interest in survivorship research as it constitutes a great burden for patients and relatives. However, only little is known about FoP in parents of childhood cancer survivors. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of FoP on quality of life (QoL) in parental couples.
The elusive promise of myostatin inhibition for muscular dystrophy

Purpose of review Recent terminations of clinical trials of myostatin inhibitors in muscular dystrophy have raised questions about the predictiveness of mouse models for this therapeutic strategy. Recent findings A variety of myostatin inhibitors have been developed for preclinical and clinical studies. These inhibitors have ameliorated the phenotype of many but not all mouse models of muscular dystrophy. However, randomized double-blinded placebo controlled trials in both pediatric and adult muscular dystrophies have, as of yet, not demonstrated functional improvement. Summary The present article will review the preclinical promise of myostatin inhibitors, the clinical trial experience to date of these inhibitors in muscular dystrophy, and the potential reasons for the lack of observed translation.
Peptidoglycan Sensing Prevents Quiescence and Promotes Quorum-Independent Colony Growth of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). During pathogenesis, UPEC cells adhere to and infiltrate bladder epithelial cells, where they may form intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) or enter a nongrowing or slowly growing quiescent state. Here, we show in vitro that UPEC strains at low population density enter a reversible, quiescent state by halting division. Quiescent cells resume proliferation in response to sensing a quorum and detecting external signals, or cues, including peptidoglycan tetra- and pentapeptides. ABSTRACT Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of human urinary tract infections (UTIs), and many patients experience recurrent infection after successful antibiotic treatment. The source of recurrent infections may be persistent bacterial reservoirs in vivo that are in a quiescent state and thus are not susceptible to antibiotics. Here, we show that multiple UPEC strains require a quorum to proliferate in vitro with glucose as the carbon source. At low cell density, the bacteria remain viable but enter a quiescent, nonproliferative state. Of the clinical UPEC isolates tested to date, 35% (51/145) enter this quiescent state, including isolates from the recently emerged, multidrug-resistant pandemic lineage ST131 (i.e., strain JJ1886) and isolates from the classic endemic lineage ST73 (i.e., strain CFT073). Moreover, quorum-dependent UPEC quiescence is prevented and reversed by small-molecule proliferants that stimulate colony formation. These proliferation cues include d-amino acid-containing peptidoglycan (PG) tetra- and pentapeptides, as well as high local concentrations of l-lysine and l-methionine. Peptidoglycan fragments originate from the peptidoglycan layer that supports the bacterial cell wall but are released as bacteria grow. These fragments are detected by a variety of organisms, including human cells, other diverse bacteria, and, as we show here for the first time, UPEC. Together, these results show that for UPEC, (i) sensing of PG stem peptide and uptake of l-lysine modulate the quorum-regulated decision to proliferate and (ii) quiescence can be prevented by both intra- and interspecies PG peptide signaling. IMPORTANCE Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the leading cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). During pathogenesis, UPEC cells adhere to and infiltrate bladder epithelial cells, where they may form intracellular bacterial communities (IBCs) or enter a nongrowing or slowly growing quiescent state. Here, we show in vitro that UPEC strains at low population density enter a reversible, quiescent state by halting division. Quiescent cells resume proliferation in response to sensing a quorum and detecting external signals, or cues, including peptidoglycan tetra- and pentapeptides.