Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Controlled Micro/Nanodome Formation in Proton‐Irradiated Bulk Transition‐Metal Dichalcogenides

At the few‐atom‐thick limit, transition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) exhibit strongly interconnected structural and optoelectronic properties. The possibility to tailor the latter by controlling the former is expected to have a great impact on applied and fundamental research. As shown here, proton irradiation deeply affects the surface morphology of bulk TMD crystals. Protons penetrate the top layer, resulting in the production and progressive accumulation of molecular hydrogen in the first interlayer region. This leads to the blistering of one‐monolayer thick domes, which stud the crystal surface and locally turn the dark bulk material into an efficient light emitter. The domes are stable (>2‐year lifetime) and robust, and host strong, complex strain fields. Lithographic techniques provide a means to engineer the formation process so that the domes can be produced with well‐ordered positions and sizes tunable from the nanometer to the micrometer scale, with important prospects for so far unattainable applications.
Kinesio taping in treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect comparison of kinesio taping on chronic non-specific low back pain with that of other general physical therapies. METHODS Relevant studies published up to 31 July 2018 were searched in electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Cochrane Library, Wanfang Data, Vip Data and China National Knowledge Infrastructure). The quality of included studies was assessed using a risk of bias assessment tool, as recommended by the Cochrane Collaboration. Data from visual analogue scales and Oswestry Disability Index were extracted as selected outcome indicators. Tests of heterogeneity were performed. Weighted mean difference (WMD) data with its 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were used as a measure of effect sizes, in order to pool the results from each included study using either a fixed or random effects model (where appropriate and possible). RESULTS Eight studies fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of included studies was moderate. Patients with chronic non-specific low back pain in the kinesio taping group achieved better pain relief (WMD = -1.22; 95%CI -1.49 to -0.96, I2 = 91%, p < 0.00001) and activities of daily living (WMD = -7.11; 95% CI -8.70 to -5.51, I2 = 77%, p < 0.0001) than those in the control group. CONCLUSION Kinesio taping, separately or in combination with other general physical therapies, is superior to other general therapies or placebo taping for treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain with greater pain relief and improvement in activities of daily living.
Acute type A aortic dissection – a review

Abstract Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is still one of the most challenging diseases that cardiac surgeons encounter. This review is based on the current literature and includes the results from the Nordic Consortium for Acute Type-A Aortic Dissection (NORCAAD) database. It covers different aspects of ATAAD and concentrates on the outcome of surgical repair. The diagnosis is occasionally delayed, and ATAAD is usually lethal if prompt repair is not performed. The dynamic nature of the disease, the variation in presentation and clinical course, and the urgency of treatment require significant attentiveness. Many surgical techniques and perfusion strategies of varying complexity have been described, ranging from simple interposition graft to total arch replacement with frozen elephant trunk and valve-sparing root reconstruction. Although more complex techniques may provide long-term benefit in selected patients, they require significant surgical expertise and experience. Short-term survival is first priority so an expedited operation that fits in with the surgeon’s level of expertise is in most cases appropriate.
Rap1A promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma metastasis through the AKT signaling pathway

Ras-associated protein 1A (Rap1A) is a member of the Ras subfamily of small GTP-binding proteins and is found to promote metastasis in several types of cancer. However, the functional role and molecular mechanism of action in Rap1A in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is not fully understood. In the present study, Rap1A was found to be upregulated in ESCC tissues and its expression was correlated with cancer stage. Functional studies revealed that Rap1A could promote ESCC metastasis by stimulating cell migration and invasion in vivo and in vitro. Further study indicated that the transcriptional factor SP1 increased Rap1A expression via promoter binding and transcription activation. Furthermore, Rap1A promoted epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, possibly through the AKT signaling pathway. Hence, the findings of the present study indicated that Rap1A may be a potential prognostic marker or therapeutic target for ESCC.
Comparison of the cohort selection performance of Australian Medicines Terminology to Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical mappings

OBJECTIVE Electronic health records are increasingly utilized for observational and clinical research. Identification of cohorts using electronic health records is an important step in this process. Previous studies largely focused on the methods of cohort selection, but there is little evidence on the impact of underlying vocabularies and mappings between vocabularies used for cohort selection. We aim to compare the cohort selection performance using Australian Medicines Terminology to Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) mappings from 2 different sources. These mappings were taken from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM) and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) schedule. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrieved patients from the electronic Practice Based Research Network data repository using 3 ATC classification groups (A10, N02A, N06A). The retrieved patients were further verified manually and pooled to form a reference standard which was used to assess the accuracy of mappings using precision, recall, and F measure metrics. RESULTS The OMOP-CDM mappings identified 2.6%, 15.2%, and 24.4% more drugs than the PBS mappings in the A10, N02A and N06A groups respectively. Despite this, the PBS mappings generally performed the same in cohort selection as OMOP-CDM mappings except for the N02A Opioids group, where a significantly greater number of patients were retrieved. Both mappings exhibited variable recall, but perfect precision, with all drugs found to be correctly identified. CONCLUSION We found that 1 of the 3 ATC groups had a significant difference and this affected cohort selection performance. Our findings highlighted that underlying terminology mappings can greatly impact cohort selection accuracy. Clinical researchers should carefully evaluate vocabulary mapping sources including methodologies used to develop those mappings.
Animations about Clinical Trial Participation for Cancer Patients and Survivors

Communicating about clinical trials and medical research is challenging. An appropriate communication is essential to reduce some of the barriers associated with poor patients’ enrollment in clinical trials and with patients’ uninformed consent or uninformed refusal. An experiment was conducted to assess the effects of educational animations compared to brochures with and without visuals, and with the materials currently used by the NIH. These materials focused on explaining placebos, randomization, the steps necessary to enroll in a clinical trial, and how and by who patients’ protection is ensured. A total of 1194 cancer patients and survivors completed this 4 by 4 experiment through a Qualtrics panel. The findings showed that animations improved participants knowledge about and attitudes toward clinical trials and were more effective than brochures presenting information from the NIH, especially for those individuals with low motivation and low ability to comprehend health-related information. Several evidence-based theoretical explanations of the functioning of animations are provided.
Rate and Prognosis of Brain Ischemia in Patients With Lower-Risk Transient or Persistent Minor Neurologic Events.

Importance Early treatment of patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) reduces the risk of stroke. However, many patients present with symptoms that have an uncertain diagnosis. Patients with motor, speech, or prolonged symptoms are at the highest risk for recurrent stroke and the most likely to undergo comprehensive investigations. Lower-risk patients are much more likely to be cursorily investigated. Objective To establish the frequency of acute infarct defined by diffusion restriction detected on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (DWI positive). Design, Setting, and Participants The Diagnosis of Uncertain-Origin Benign Transient Neurological Symptoms (DOUBT) study was a prospective, observational, international, multicenter cohort study of 1028 patients with low-risk transient or minor symptoms referred to neurology within 8 days of symptom onset. Patients were enrolled between June 1, 2010, and October 31, 2016. Included patients were 40 years or older and had experienced nonmotor or nonspeech minor focal neurologic events of any duration or motor or speech symptoms of short duration (≤5 minutes), with no previous stroke. Exposures Patients underwent a detailed neurologic assessment prior to undergoing a brain MRI within 8 days of symptom onset. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was restricted diffusion on a brain MRI scan (acute stroke). Results A total of 1028 patients (522 women and 506 men; mean [SD] age, 63.0 [11.6] years) were enrolled. A total of 139 patients (13.5%) had an acute stroke as defined by diffusion restriction detected on MRI scans (DWI positive). The final diagnosis was revised in 308 patients (30.0%) after undergoing brain MRI. There were 7 (0.7%) recurrent strokes at 1 year. A DWI-positive brain MRI scan was associated with an increased risk of recurrent stroke (relative risk, 6.4; 95% CI, 2.4-16.8) at 1 year. Absence of a DWI-positive lesion on a brain MRI scan had a 99.8% negative predictive value for recurrent stroke. Factors associated with MRI evidence of stroke in multivariable modeling were older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% CI, 1.00-1.04), male sex (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.39-2.96), motor or speech symptoms (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.37-3.29), ongoing symptoms at assessment (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.29-3.02), no prior identical symptomatic event (OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.12-3.11), and abnormal results of initial neurologic examination (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.11-2.65). Conclusions and Relevance This study suggested that patients with transient ischemic attack and symptoms traditionally considered low risk carry a substantive risk of acute stroke as defined by diffusion restriction (DWI positive) on a brain MRI scan. Early MRI is required to make a definitive diagnosis.
D-galactose induces astrocytic aging and contributes to astrocytoma progression and chemoresistance via cellular senescence

The administration of D-galactose triggers brain aging by poorly understood mechanisms. It is generally recognized that D-galactose induces oxidative stress or affects protein modifications via receptors for advanced glycated end products in a variety of species. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the involvement of astrocytes in D-galactose-induced brain aging in vitro. We found that D-galactose treatment significantly suppressed cell viability and induced cellular senescence. In addition, as of the accumulation of senescent cells, we proposed that the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) can stimulate age-related pathologies and chemoresistance in brain. Consistently, senescent astrocytic CRT cells induced by D-galactose exhibited increases in the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 via NF-κB activation, which are major SASP components and inflammatory cytokines. Conditioned medium prepared from senescent astrocytic CRT cells significantly promoted the viability of brain tumor cells (U373-MG and N2a). Importantly, conditioned medium greatly suppressed the cytotoxicity of U373-MG cells induced by temozolomide, and reduced the protein expression levels of neuron marker neuron-specific class III β-tubulin, but markedly increased the levels of c-Myc in N2a cells. Thus, our findings demonstrated that D-galactose treatment might mimic brain aging, and that D-galactose could contribute to brain inflammation and tumor progression through inducing the accumulation of senescent-secretory astrocytes.
Phylogenetic divergence of island biotas: Molecular dates, extinction, and “relict” lineages

Island formation is a key driver of biological evolution, and several studies have used geological ages of islands to calibrate rates of DNA change. However, many islands are home to “relict” lineages whose divergence apparently pre‐dates island age. The geologically dynamic New Zealand (NZ) archipelago sits upon the ancient, largely submerged continent Zealandia, and the origin and age of its distinctive biota have long been contentious. While some researchers have interpreted NZ's biota as equivalent to that of a post‐Oligocene island, a recent review of genetic studies identified a sizeable proportion of pre‐Oligocene “relict” lineages, concluding that much of the biota survived an incomplete drowning event. Here, we assemble comparable genetic divergence data sets for two recently formed South Pacific archipelagos (Lord Howe; Chatham Islands) and demonstrate similarly substantial proportions of relict lineages. Similar to the NZ biota, our island reviews provide surprisingly little evidence for major genetic divergence “pulses” associated with island emergence. The dominance of Quaternary divergence estimates in all three biotas may highlight the importance of rapid biological turnover and new arrivals in response to recent climatic and/or geological disturbance and change. We provide a schematic model to help account for discrepancies between expected versus observed divergence‐date distributions for island biotas, incorporating the effects of both molecular dating error and lineage extinction. We conclude that oceanic islands can represent both evolutionary “cradles” and “museums” and that the presence of apparently archaic island lineages does not preclude dispersal origins.
Genome profiling revealed the activation of IL2RG/JAK3/STAT5 in peripheral T-cell lymphoma expressing the ITK-SYK fusion gene

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are heterogeneous malignancies that are types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas; patients with this disease have poor prognoses. The IL-2-inducible T-cell kinase-spleen tyrosine kinase (ITK-SYK) fusion gene, the first recurrent chromosome translocation in PTCL-not otherwise specified (NOS), can drive cellular transformation and the development of T-cell lymphoma in mouse models. The aim of the current study was to investigate the signal transduction pathways downstream of ITK-SYK. The authors constructed a lentiviral vector to overexpress the ITK-SYK fusion gene in Jurkat cells. By using Signal-Net and cluster analyses of microarray data, the authors identified the tyrosine-protein kinase JAK (JAK)3/STAT5 signalling pathway as a downstream pathway of ITK-SYK, activation of which mediates the effects of ITK-SYK on tumourigenesis. JAK3-selective inhibitor tofacitinib abrogated the phosphorylation of downstream signalling molecule STAT5, supressed cell growth, induced cell apoptosis and arrested the cell cycle at the G1/S phase in ITK-SYK+ Jurkat cells. In a xenograft mouse model, tumour growth was significantly delayed by tofacitinib. Since JAK3 associates with interleukin-2 receptor subunit γ (IL2RG) only, siRNA-specific knockdown of IL2RG showed the same effect as tofacitinib treatment in vitro. These results first demonstrated that the activation of the IL2RG/JAK3/STAT5 signalling pathway contributed greatly to the oncogenic progress regulated by ITK-SYK, supporting further investigation of JAK3 inhibitors for the treatment of PTCLs carrying the ITK-SYK fusion gene.
Metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP‐1) promotes receptor tyrosine kinase c‐Kit signaling in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide causing an estimated 700 000 deaths annually. Different types of treatment are available for patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer, including targeted biological agents, such as cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody that targets EGFR. We have previously reported a study indicating multiple levels of interaction between metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP‐1) and the epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling axis, which could explain how TIMP‐1 levels can affect the antitumor effects of EGFR inhibitors. We also reported an association between TIMP‐1‐mediated cell invasive behavior and KRAS status. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of TIMP‐1 in CRC, we examined by transcriptomics, proteomics, and kinase activity profiling a matched pair of isogenic human CRC isogenic DLD‐1 CRC cell clones, bearing either an hemizygous KRAS wild‐type allele or KRAS G13D mutant allele, exposed, or not, to TIMP‐1. Omics analysis of the two cell lines identified the receptor tyrosine kinase c‐Kit, a proto‐oncogene that can modulate cell proliferation and invasion in CRC, as a target for TIMP‐1. We found that exposure of DLD‐1 CRC cells to exogenously added TIMP‐1 promoted phosphorylation of c‐Kit, indicative of a stimulatory effect of TIMP‐1 on the c‐Kit signaling axis. In addition, TIMP‐1 inhibited c‐Kit shedding in CRC cells grown in the presence of exogenous TIMP‐1. Given the regulatory roles that c‐Kit plays in cell proliferation and migration, and the realization that c‐Kit is an important oncogene in CRC, it is likely that some of the biological effects of TIMP‐1 overexpression in CRC may be exerted through its effect on c‐Kit signaling.
Examining the relationship between fitness-related self-conscious emotions, disordered eating symptoms, and morbid exercise behavior: An exploratory study

Background and aims Theoretical models of morbid exercise behavior (MEB) suggest that it may emerge as a result of complex interactions between a range of psychosocial factors. However, in spite of fitness-related self-conscious emotions involving such factors, their relationship with the risk of MEB has never been investigated. Consequently, this study had two objectives. First, to explore the relationship that fitness-related self-conscious emotions have with (a) symptoms reflecting MEB as assessed by the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI) and the Exercise Dependence Scale-Revised (EDS-R) and (b) exercise frequency. Second, to examine whether these relationships might vary according to disordered eating symptoms. Methods A sample of 646 undergraduate students (59% males; Mage = 21.25; SDage = 2.94) completed a self-reported questionnaire. Results After controlling for age, sex, and disordered eating symptoms, it was found that shame, hubristic pride, and authentic pride positively explained MEB; for their part, guilt (negatively) and authentic pride (positively) explained exercise frequency. The positive relationships between pride and MEB were weaker (in the case of the hubristic facet) or stronger (in the case of the authentic facet) under higher levels of disordered eating symptoms. The independent variables explained 29% (EAI), 28% (EDS-R), and 27% (exercise frequency) of the variance in dependent variables. Discussion Tempering fitness-related emotions of shame, guilt, hubristic pride, and authentic pride may contribute to healthier exercise behavior.
Diagnostic and prognostic values of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 3 in patients with colon cancer

The diagnostic and prognostic mechanisms of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CXCL3) in colon cancer (CC) have not yet been reported. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to use cohorts of patients from Guangxi Medical University and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to investigate and validate CXCL3 for the diagnosis and prognosis of CC, and to explore its prospective molecular mechanism. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis of 38 paired tumor and non-tumor tissues, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of 212 tumor and 46 non-tumor tissues was conducted to explore the expression of CXCL3 and its diagnostic and prognostic significance in the Guangxi Medical University CC cohort. A GEO dataset, GSE40967, was used to validate the prognostic significance of CXCL3. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was also conducted to explore the potential molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of CXCL3 in CC. The RT-qPCR results indicated that CXCL3 expression was significantly higher in cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues, suggesting that it may have high diagnostic value for CC. Multivariate Cox analysis based on the IHC results suggested that there was no appreciable association between CXCL3 positivity and the overall survival (OS) time of CC. However, a stratified analysis revealed that high expression of CXCL3 was associated with considerably increased mortality in the subgroup of CC patients with tumor size <5 cm (adjusted P=0.042, adjusted HR=2.298, 95% CI=1.030–5.126) and with tumor thrombus (adjusted P=0.019, adjusted HR=5.096, 95% CI=1.306–19.886). In the GSE40967 dataset, high expression of CXCL3 was closely associated with poor OS in CC (adjusted P=0.049, adjusted HR=1.416, 95% CI=1.002–2.003). Furthermore, GSEA indicated that the high expression of CXCL3 was closely associated with DNA repair, cell cycle process, cell apoptosis process and the P53 regulation pathway. In summary, these result suggest that CXCL3 might serve as a novel biomarker in the diagnosis and prognosis of CC.
Polyphenol mixture of a native Korean variety of Artemisia argyi H. (Seomae mugwort) and its anti-inflammatory effects

In the present study, a polyphenolic mixture was isolated from Seomae mugwort (SM; a native Korean variety of Artemisia argyi H.) via extraction with aqueous 70% methanol followed by the elution of ethyl acetate over a silica gel column. Each polyphenolic compound was analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, and compared with the literature. In addition to the 14 characterized components, one hydroxy-cinnamate, six flavonoids, and one lignan were reported for the first time, to the best our knowledge, in Artemisia argyi H. The anti-inflammatory properties of SM polyphenols were studied in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The SM polyphenols attenuated the activation of macrophages via the inhibition of nitric oxide production, nuclear factor-κB activation, the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1β, and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. Our results suggested that SM polyphenols may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases.
Combining imaging and tumour biopsy improves the diagnosis of combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma

Combined hepatocellular‐cholangiocarcinoma (cHCC‐CCA) is by definition a highly heterogeneous tumour, which significantly impacts its diagnosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of imaging using computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance (MR) and biopsy for the diagnosis of cHCC‐CCA.