Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Foxp3+ Treg Cells Are Associated with Pathological Process of Autoimmune Hepatitis by Activating Methylation Modification in Autoimmune Hepatitis Patients

Background Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic hepatic disorder. This study investigated role of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and methylation-regulated Tregs in AIH pathological processes. Material/Methods Forty consecutive patients diagnosed with hepatitis were enrolled and divided into a virus hepatitis (n=20) group and an AIH group (n=20). Twenty healthy individuals were assigned to the healthy control group (HC, n=20), Liver function biomarkers were detected on an automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum auto-antibodies were evaluated using immunofluorescence method. Histopathological evaluation was conducted with liver tissues. Treg cells were counted using FACS flow cytometry. Peripheral lymphocytes surface/intracellular biomarkers, CD4+CD25+, CD127, and Foxp3, were examined. Serum cytokines were evaluated using cytometric bead array. Methylation-specific PCR (MS-PCR) was conducted to identify the status of Foxp3 gene methylation. Results Levels of liver function biomarkers were significantly increased in the AIH group compared to the HC group (p<0.05). Levels of ANA and ASMA were significantly enhanced in the AIH group compared to the HC group (p<0.05). Other auto-antibodies, including anti-AHA, anti-ribosome P protein, and anti-RO-52, were also discovered in the AIH group. Severe lymphocytic infiltration and inflammatory cells clustering were discovered in AIH patients. There were significantly fewer CD4+CD25+ T cells in the AIH group, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-10 levels were significantly decreased compared to the HC group (p<0.05). CD127+ Treg and Foxp3+ Treg expressions were decreased in the AIH group compared to the HC group (p<0.05). Foxp3 in Treg cells of AIH patients exhibited higher methylation frequency compared to that of HC patients (p<0.05). Conclusions Foxp3+ regulatory T cells were involved in pathological processes by activating methylation modification in autoimmune hepatitis patients.
ARID5B rs10821936 and rs10994982 gene polymorphisms and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: relation to disease susceptibility and outcome

Abstract ARID5B rs10821936 and rs10994982 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) have been associated with the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in different ethnic populations. We investigated the association between the ARID5B rs10821936 C > T, rs10994982 A > G, and susceptibility to ALL in a cohort of Egyptian individuals and investigated their role in relation to disease outcome. Real-time PCR typing was done for ARID5B rs10821936 and rs10994982 SNPs for 128 pediatric ALL (pALL), 45 adult ALL (aALL), and 436 healthy controls. Significant risk associations were found between the C allele (p < 0.001, OR = 2.02), CC genotype (p < 0.001, OR = 2.72), CT genotype (p = 0.011, OR = 1.45) of ARID5B rs10821936 and pediatric ALL especially T-ALL and adult ALL (p < 0.05). The CA haplotype (C allele of rs10821936 + A allele of rs10994982) was associated with the risk of ALL either pediatric ALL or adult ALL (p < 0.001). In the studied Egyptian population, it can be concluded that the C allele, CC, and CT genotypes of ARID5B rs10821936 and the CA haplotype may be a susceptibility risk factor for pediatric and adult ALL. However, the SNPs of ARID5B rs10821936 and rs10994982 were not found to be strongly associated with ALL outcomes.
Aromatherapy improves nausea, pain, and mood for patients receiving pediatric palliative care symptom-based consults: A pilot design trial

Abstract Objective The role of aromatherapy in supportive symptom management for pediatric patients receiving palliative care has been underexplored. This pilot study aimed to measure the impact of aromatherapy using validated child-reported nausea, pain, and mood scales 5 minutes and 60 minutes after aromatherapy exposure. Methods The 3 intervention arms included use of a symptom-specific aromatherapy sachet scent involving deep breathing. The parallel default control arm (for those children with medical exclusion criteria to aromatherapy) included use of a visual imagery picture envelope and deep breathing. Symptom burden was sequentially assessed at 5 and 60 minutes using the Baxter Retching Faces scale for nausea, the Wong-Baker FACES scale for pain, and the Children's Anxiety and Pain Scale (CAPS) for anxious mood. Ninety children or adolescents (mean age 9.4 years) at a free-standing children's hospital in the United States were included in each arm (total n = 180). Results At 5 minutes, there was a mean improvement of 3/10 (standard deviation [SD] 2.21) on the nausea scale; 2.6/10 (SD 1.83) on the pain scale; and 1.6/5 (SD 0.93) on the mood scale for the aromatherapy cohort (p < 0.0001). Symptom burden remained improved at 60 minutes post-intervention (<0.0001). Visual imagery with deep breathing improved self-reports of symptoms but was not as consistently sustained at 60 minutes. Significance of results Aromatherapy represents an implementable supportive care intervention for pediatric patients receiving palliative care consults for symptom burden. The high number of children disqualified from the aromatherapy arm because of pulmonary or allergy indications warrants further attention to outcomes for additional breathing-based integrative modalities.
I am a total failure: associations between beliefs and anxiety and depression in patients with inflammatory bowel disease with poor mental quality of life.

BACKGROUND According to cognitive behavioural theory, cognitive factors (i.e. underlying general dysfunctional beliefs and (situation) specific illness beliefs) are theorized to lead to outcomes like anxiety and depression. In clinical practice, general dysfunctional beliefs are generally not tackled directly in short-term-therapy. AIMS The goal of the present study was to investigate the associations of general versus specific illness beliefs on anxiety and depressive symptoms and psychiatric disorders among a subgroup of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with poor mental quality of life (QoL). METHOD This study concerns cross-sectional data, collected at baseline from a randomized clinical trial. One hundred and eighteen patients, recruited at four Dutch hospitals, with poor QoL (score ≤23 on the mental health subscale of the Short-Form 36-item Health-Survey; SF-36) were included. General dysfunctional beliefs were measured by the Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), specific illness beliefs by the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R), anxiety and depressive symptoms by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and psychiatric disorders by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis-I Disorders (SCID-I). RESULTS Univariate analyses showed associations between the level of anxiety and/or depression and general dysfunctional beliefs and four specific illness beliefs (consequences, personal control, emotional representations and treatment control). Among patients with IBD with psychiatric disorders, only the DAS was significantly associated with anxiety and depression (DAS added to IPQ-R and IPQ-R added to DAS). CONCLUSIONS Psychological interventions may have to target general dysfunctional beliefs of patients with IBD with co-morbid psychiatric disorders to be effective. These patients with IBD are especially in need of psychological treatment.
Teaching Vulnerability in Research: A Study of Approaches Utilized by a Sample of Research Ethics Training Programs

This article reports the outcomes of qualitative research on the teaching of “vulnerability in research” undertaken with principal investigators of international bioethics training programs funded by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States. To properly contextualize this research, we begin with an overview of the various ways in which vulnerability has been conceptualized both by writers and by ethical guidance from low-, middle-, and high-income countries. We conclude with some preliminary suggestions for best practice and recommendations for further research. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time research of this kind has been carried out.
Are Patient Decision Aids Used in Clinical Practice after Rigorous Evaluation? A Survey of Trial Authors

Background. Patient decision aids (PtDAs) are effective interventions to support patient involvement in health care decisions, but there is little use in practice. Our study aimed to determine subsequent PtDA use in clinical practice following published randomized controlled trials. Design. A descriptive study using an e-mail-embedded questionnaire survey targeting authors of 133 trials included in Cochrane Reviews of PtDAs (106 authors). We classified PtDA level of use as a) implementation, defined as integrating within care processes; b) dissemination to target users with planned strategies; and c) diffusion, defined as passive, unplanned spread. We conducted content analysis to identify barriers and enablers guided by the Ottawa Model of Research Use. Results. Ninety-eight authors responded (92.5%) on 108 trialed PtDAs. Reported levels of use were implementation (n = 29; 28%), dissemination to target user(s) (n = 9; 9%), and diffusion (n = 7; 7%); 57 (55%) reported no uptake, and 1 had no response (1%). Barriers to use in clinical practice were identified at the level of researchers (e.g., lack of posttrial plan), PtDAs (e.g., outdated, delivery mechanism), clinicians (e.g., disagreed with PtDA use), and practice environment (e.g., infrastructure support; funding). Enablers were online delivery, organizational endorsement (e.g., professional organization, charity, government), and design for and integration into the care process. Limitations. Self-report bias and potential for recall bias. Conclusions. Only 44% of PtDA trial authors indicated some level of subsequent use following their trial. The most commonly reported barriers were lack of funding, outdated PtDAs, and clinician disagreement with PtDA use. To improve subsequent use, researchers should codesign PtDAs with end users to ensure fit with clinical practice and develop an implementation plan. National systems (e.g., platforms, endorsement, funding) can enable use.
How to perform mirror therapy after stroke? Evidence from a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND A recently updated Cochrane review for mirror therapy (MT) showed a high level of evidence in the treatment of hemiparesis after stroke. However, the therapeutic protocols used in the individual studies showed significant variability. OBJECTIVE A secondary meta-analysis was performed to detect which parameters of these protocols may influence the effect of MT for upper limb paresis after stroke. METHODS Trials included in the Cochrane review, which published data for motor function / impairment of the upper limb, were subjected to this analysis. Trials or trial arms that used MT as group therapy or combined it with electrical or magnetic stimulation were excluded. The analysis focused on the parameters mirror size, uni- or bilateral movement execution, and type of exercise. Data were pooled by calculating the total weighted standardized mean difference and the 95% confidence interval. RESULTS Overall, 32 trials were included. The use of a large mirror compared to a small mirror showed a higher effect on motor function. Movements executed unilaterally showed a higher effect on motor function than a bilateral execution. MT exercises including manipulation of objects showed a minor effect on motor function compared to movements excluding the manipulation of objects. None of the subgroup differences reached statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS The results of this analysis suggest that the effects on both motor function and impairment of the affected upper limb depend on the therapy protocol. They furthermore indicate that a large mirror, unilateral movement execution and exercises without objects may be parameters that enhance the effects of MT for improving motor function after stroke.
Cerebral Microbleeds Correlated with White Matter and Hippocampal Volumes in Community-Dwelling Populations.

BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated the correlation between cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), a hemorrhagic imaging marker of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), and brain volume. OBJECTIVE We investigated the association between the burden and locations of CMBs and brain volume in community-dwelling populations. METHODS Data were obtained from 1,029 participants who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and APOE genotyping. Volumes of the whole brain, subcortical white matter (WM), cortical gray matter (GM), and hippocampus were extracted. Linear regression models were used to investigate the relationship between the CMB burden and their location with structural changes. RESULTS Regarding burden, participants with≥3 CMBs had significantly lower whole brain (β= -1.124, p = 0.0133), subcortical WM (β= -1.020, p = 0.0043), and hippocampus (β= -0.015, p = 0.0088) volumes than those without CMBs. Regarding location and burden, the presence of≥3 strictly lobar CMBs was negatively associated with whole brain volume (β= -2.838, p = 0.0088). Additionally, higher CMB burdens in strictly lobar locations or deep/mixed locations were associated with lower subcortical WM volume (β= -1.689, p = 0.0482; β= -0.872, p = 0.0464, respectively). Finally, the presence of≥3 deep/mixed CMBs was associated with lower hippocampus volume (β= -0.018, p = 0.0088), and these associations were independent of other ischemic markers of CSVD. However, the CMB burden and distributional pattern did not correlate with cortical GM volumes. CONCLUSION A higher CMB burden, in specific locations, is associated with decreased brain volumes in community-dwelling populations.
Medical marijuana use for pediatric oncology patients: single institution experience

Abstract Medical marijuana (MM) is widespread in many medical fields, including oncology, with limited use in pediatric oncology where research is scarce and often shows conflicting results. This research focuses on alleviating side effects of anticancer treatment as an integral part of supportive and palliative care of children with cancer. We report our experience with MM treatment in 50 children, adolescents, and young adults with different types of cancer during 2010–2017. The main indications for prescriptions were nausea and vomiting, decreased mood, disturbed sleep, and pain. The medication was supplied to 30 patients via oil drops (60%) and 11 via smoking (22%), followed by vaporization, capsules, or combinations of various routes. Positive effects were reported by verbal children and parents in 80% of cases. MM was generally well tolerated with few patients reporting toxicity, with the most common adverse reactions being burning in the throat and anxiety attacks in subjects who chose to smoke the product. We conclude that MM may serve as a potentially useful complementary therapy to conventional supportive treatment of children suffering from cancer at the end of life. Further research is needed on the safety and efficacy and the consequences of prolonged use in pediatric populations.
An Arabic Version of the Mini-Mental State Examination for the Lebanese Population: Reliability, Validity, and Normative Data.

BACKGROUND The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) has not been validated in the Lebanese population and no normative data exist at the national level. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the reliability and validity of an Arabic version of MMSE developed by the "Groupe de Travail sur les Démences de l'Université Saint Joseph" (A-MMSE(GTD-USJ)) and to provide normative data by gender, age, and education in adults over 55. METHODS Study design: national cross-sectional survey. STUDY POPULATION 1,010 literate community-dwelling Lebanese residents aged 55 and above. OUTCOMES reproducibility, internal consistency, sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and area under the curve of the A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) for the detection of cognitive impairment using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) as the gold standard. Normative data were established from 720 healthy adults. A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) scores corresponding to the 5th, 10th, 15th, and 50th percentiles were identified according to gender, age, and education. RESULTS Intra-rater and inter-rater test-retest score correlations were 0.89 and 0.72, respectively. Cronbach alpha coefficient for internal consistency of the A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) was 0.71. A threshold value of 23 provided a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 89.4%. The area under the curve was 0.92. A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) scores increased with education and decreased with age. Women had significantly lower scores than men. Normative data for A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) stratified by gender, age, and education were generated. CONCLUSION In reference to the CDR, the A-MMSE(GTD-USJ) is a valid tool to assess cognitive status among Lebanese subjects aged 55 and above. Normative data will help clinicians in detecting cognitive impairment in this population.
The Effect of Broad-Spectrum Dietary Supplementation on Quality of Life, Symptom Severity, and Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that exerts a significant quality-of-life toll on patients. According to the literature, broad-spectrum dietary supplementation including a variety of nutrients, polysaccharides, and compounds may improve the quality of life, functionality, and symptom severity in people with MS. Individuals (n = 15) diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) for an average of 12.4 years (SD = 7.4; R = 2, 25) were enrolled in a one-year open-label clinical trial in which they consumed a broad-spectrum dietary supplement regimen three times daily. Participants were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months with the following: (1) Functional Assessment of MS (FAMS), (2) the EQ-5D-3L, (3) Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI), (4) Health Conditions Discomfort Scale (HCDS), and (5) Self-Assessment of Severity of MS Symptoms Scale (SASMSSS). Participants included seven females and eight males (M age = 51.3 years; SD = 7.2; R = 38, 65). Few minor gastrointestinal effects were reported. At the end of the intervention, participants showed significant improvements in all outcome measures, particularly functionality on the FAMS, overall quality of life on the EQ-5D-3L, fewer depressive symptoms on the BDI, and improved severity of symptoms on the HCDS and the SASMSSS. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation containing a variety of nutrients can improve the quality of life, severity of disease symptoms, and functionality in MS patients. These findings are clinically promising for MS patients, given the lack of treatment options geared toward improving quality of life in this population.
Case report

Rationale: Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is composed of a triad of symptoms, including respiratory distress, neurologic de ﬁ cit, and petechiae. Respiratory distress usually presents ﬁ rst before the other symptoms. Thrombotic pulmonary embolism (TPE) is a differential diagnosis of FES. Trauma is a risk factor for both diseases; however, co-occurrence is rare. Patient concerns: A 35-year-old male patient presented with altered consciousness, focal neurologic de ﬁ cit, and respiratory distress after a left femoral subtrochanteric fracture and subsequent open reduction and internal ﬁ xation with an intramedullary nail. Diagnosis: Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) revealed lower pulmonary artery ﬁ lling defects and ground-glass opacities in bilateral lung, indicating TPE and FES, respectively. Interventions: Heparin was initially added and subsequently switched to apixaban. The symptoms improved quickly without major bleeding complications. Lession Subsections: Concomitant TPE and FES after trauma are rare and require different treatment approaches. Due to clinical similarities, prompt chest CTPA was advised to detect TPE that was treated with anticoagulant therapy instead of supportive care for FES. Abbreviations:
Improved Advance-phase Technique for Brushless DC Motor Control in High Speed Region

Brushless DC motors are more and more popular in industrial and house appliance application thank to their constructional advantages. Control of these drives in high speed region is however relatively difficult. In order to extend the speed range of the drive, it is common to control the phase-current to lead the phase back EMF by an “advance angle”. It is based on the method of “phase advance approach”, which was first proposed in 1995. The studies in literature have focused on finding the exact advance angle. In general, the previous methods to calculate the advance angle have been complicated. In this paper, the authors propose a new equation that makes the computation of advance angle become simpler. The operation of the drive in high-speed region has been verified by simulation in Matlab/Simulink and the results have demonstrated the validity of the algorithm.
Robust Tracking Controller Design for Uncertain Nonlinear Self-Driving Cars

Dynamic robustness of a control system is a crucial requirement for self-driving cars. To this aim, longitudinal control is one of the key tools to effectively track a desired reference profile, that in a smart road scenario can be imposed by a road infrastructure communication. Indeed, uncertainties and disturbances due to environmental, road and traffic conditions strongly impact on the autonomous vehicle motion. For this reason, it is necessary considering an accurate electromechanical model, with realistic uncertain conditions, actuator limitations, and measurement noises. In this paper, an easy and robust smooth control method is proposed, allowing an autonomous electric vehicle to track a sufficiently smooth reference signal with an error in absolute value smaller than a prescribed value, despite bounded parametric uncertainties, disturbances and velocity measurement noises. The theoretical analysis is illustrated through an interesting application, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Compact Branch-line Coupler using Radial stubs

This manuscript shows a novel compact branch-line coupler with radial stubs installed on each branch. The proposed implementation is only 10 mm by 10 mm and it achieved a size decrease of 70% compared with a traditional one. Measured S11, S21, S31 and S41 of the proposed coupler are better than −23, −3.6, −3.6 and −27 dB at 3 GHz, respectively. Moreover, the phase difference between coupling and through ports is within 0.9°.
Classifying Security Attacks in IoT Networks Using Supervised Learning

Machine learning models have long be proposed to detect the presence of unauthorized activity within computer networks. They are used as anomaly detection techniques to detect abnormal behaviors within the network. We propose to use Support Vector Machine (SVM) learning anomaly detection model to detect abnormalities within the Internet of Things. SVM creates its normal profile hyperplane based on both benign and malicious local sensor activity. An important aspect of our work is the use of actual IoT network traffic with specific network layer attacks implemented by us. This is in contrast to other works creating supervised learning models, with generic datasets. The proposed detection model achieves up to 100% accuracy when evaluated with unknown data taken from the same network topology as it was trained and 81% accuracy when operating in an unknown topology.