Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of mortality among hemodialysis patients in Hamadan province using random survival forests

Summary Background Hemodialysis patients are at a high risk for morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to find the predictors of mortality and survival in hemodialysis patients in Hamadan province of Iran. Methods A number of 785 patients during the entire 10 years were enrolled into this historical cohort study. Data were gathered by a checklist of hospital records. The survival time was the time between the start of hemodialysis treatment to patient’s death as the end point. Random survival forests (RSF) method was used to identify the main predictors of survival among the patients. Results The median survival time was 613 days. The number of 376 deaths was occurred. The three most important predictors of survival were hemoglobin, CRP and albumin. RSF method predicted survival better than the conventional Cox-proportional hazards model (out-of-bag C-index of 0.808 for RSF vs. 0.727 for Cox model). Conclusions We found that positivity of CRP, low serum albumin and low serum hemoglobin were the top three most important predictors of low survival for HD patients
Shear bond strength between CAD/CAM denture base resin and denture artificial teeth when bonded with resin cement

PURPOSE The bond strengths between resin denture teeth with various compositions and denture base resins including conventional and AD/CAM purposed materials were evaluated to find influence of each material. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cylindrical rods (6.0 mm diameter × 8.0 mm length) prepared from pre-polymerized CAD/CAM denture base resin blocks (PMMA Block-pink; Huge Dental Material, Vipi Block-Pink; Vipi Industria) were bonded to the basal surface of resin teeth from three different companies (VITA MFT®; VITA Zahnfabrik, Endura Posterio®; SHOFU Dental, Duracross Physio®; Nissin Dental Products Inc.) using resin cement (Super-Bond C&B; SUN MEDICAL). As a control group, rods from a conventional heat-polymerizing denture base resin (Vertex™ Rapid Simplified; Vertex-Dental B.V. Co.) were attached to the resin teeth using the conventional flasking and curing method. Furthermore, the effect of air abrasion was studied with the highly cross-linked resin teeth (VITA MFT®) groups. The shear bond strengths were measured, and then the fractured surfaces were examined to analyze the mode of failure. RESULTS The shear bond strengths of the conventional heat-polymerizing PMMA denture resin group and the CAD/CAM denture base resin groups were similar. Air abrasion to VITA MFT® did not improve shear bond strengths. Interfacial failure was the dominant cause of failure for all specimens. CONCLUSION Shear bond strengths of CAD/CAM denture base materials and resin denture teeth using resin cement are comparable to those of conventional methods.
Somatic mutations, DNA methylation, and expression of DNA repair genes in Arabidopsis thaliana treated with 5-azacytidine

An inhibitor of DNA methylation 5-azacytidine (5A) is a chemical analog of the nucleoside cytidine. This study investigated the influence of 5A-induced DNA hypomethylation on the accumulation of somatic DNA mutations (nucleotide substitutions, indels) in the Actin2 3′ untranslated region, nuclear internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8rRNA-ITS2, and the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase gene of Arabidopsis thaliana and analyzed concurrent changes in the expression of DNA methyltransferase and DNA repair genes. The 5A treatment (20 mg per 100 g of soil) decreased DNA methylation, and the detected 5A-induced demethylation was associated with the up-regulation of the DNA methyltransferase genes: chromomethylase AtCMT3, methyltransferase AtMETI, and domains rearranged methyltransferases AtDRM1 and AtDRM2. Cultivation of plants in the presence of 5A led to a considerable increase in the number of single nucleotide substitutions in the analyzed DNA regions of 5A-treated A. thaliana. The 5A treatment significantly increased the transcriptions of 7 DNA repair genes (endonuclease AtARP, DNA demethylases AtDME and AtDML2, DNA glycosylase AtMBD4, DNA damage-binding protein AtDDB1, and photolyases AtUVR2 and AtUVR3) out of the 17 analyzed genes from the base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, and photoreactivation pathways. However, 5A decreased the transcription of DNA 3′-phosphatase AtZDP, DNA repair protein AtRad23a, mismatch repair proteins AtMsh2 and AtMsh3. It is possible that the changes in the transcription of the DNA repair genes contributed to the detected increase in the number of single nucleotide substitutions that accumulated in the 5A-treated A. thaliana. Taken together, the data indicate that there is an interaction between the processes of DNA methylation and mutation accumulation.
Trefoil Factor 2 Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis of Pancreatic Cancer Cells and LPS-Induced Normal Pancreatic Duct Cells by β-Catenin Pathway

Introduction Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant tumor with poor prognosis. This study aimed to determine the role of trefoil factor 2 (TFF2) in the proliferation and apoptosis of LPS-induced normal pancreatic duct cells and pancreatic cancer cells through β-catenin pathway. Methods TFF2 expression in normal pancreatic duct cells, pancreatic cancer cells and LPS-induced normal pancreatic duct cells was detected by RT-qPCR analysis and Western blot analysis. The transfection effects in pancreatic cancer cells and LPS-induced normal pancreatic duct cells were analyzed by RT-qPCR analysis. After indicated transfection, proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation of these cells were respectively detected by CCK-8 assay, TUNEL assay and certain ELISA kits. Expression of β-catenin pathway-related proteins was analyzed by Western blot analysis. Co-immunoprecipitation assay determined the combination of TFF2 and β-catenin. Results TFF2 expression was increased in pancreatic cancer cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells compared with HPDE cells. According to TFF2 expression in these cells, PanC-1 cells and 5 μg/mL LPS were selected. In addition, TFF2 interference decreased the proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of PanC-1 cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells. However, TFF2 interference did not obviously change the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in PanC-1 cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells. Furthermore, TFF2 interference suppressed the expression of β-catenin, c-Myc, Cyclin D1 and BIRC5 in PanC-1 cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells. TFF2 was demonstrated to combine with β-catenin. Discussion TFF2 interference inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of PanC-1 cells and LPS-induced HPDE cells by suppressing β-catenin pathway.
Clinical impact of a pharmacist-led medication review with follow up for aged polypharmacy patients: A cluster randomized controlled trial

Background: Medication review with follow-up (MRF) is a service where community pharmacists undertake a medication review with monthly follow-up to provide continuing care. The ConSIGUE Program assessed the impact and implementation of MRF for aged polypharmacy patients in Spanish Community Pharmacies. The present paper reports on the clinical impact evaluation phase of ConSIGUE. Objective: The main objective of the study was to measure the effect of MRF on the primary outcome of the number of uncontrolled health problems. Secondary objectives were to analyze the drug-related problems (DRPs) identified as potential causes of ineffective or unsafe medications and the pharmacists’ interventions implemented during MRF provision. Methods: An open-label multi-centered cluster randomized study with comparison group (CG) was carried out in community pharmacies from 4 provinces in Spain during 6 months. The main inclusion criteria were patients over 64 years old, using 5 or more medicines. The intervention group (IG) received the MRF service (advanced medication review-type 3 MR) whereas patients in the CG received usual care. Results: 178 pharmacies recruited 1403 patients (IG= 688 patients; CG= 715 patients). During the 6 months of the study 72 patients were lost to follow up. The adjusted multi-level random effects models showed a significant reduction in the number of uncontrolled health problems over the periods in the IG (-0.72, 95% CI: -0.80, -0.65) and no change in the CG (-0.03, 95% CI: -0.10, 0.04). Main DRPs identified as potential causes of failures of uncontrolled health problems’ treatment were undertreated condition (559 DRPs; 35.81%), lack of treatment adherence (261 DRP; 16.67%) and risk of adverse effects (207 DRPs; 13.53%). Interventions performed by pharmacist to solve DRP mainly included the addition (246 interventions; 14.67%) and change (330 interventions; 19.68%) of a medicine and educational interventions on medicine adherence (231 interventions; 13.78%) and non-pharmacological interventions (369 interventions; 22.01%). Conclusions: This study provides evidence of the impact of community pharmacist on clinical outcomes for aged patients. It suggests that the provision of an MRF in collaboration with general medical practitioners and patients contributes to the improvement of aged polypharmacy patients’ health status and reduces their problems related with the use of medicines.
LINC01572 Regulates Cisplatin Resistance in Gastric Cancer Cells by Mediating miR-497-5p

Background Chemotherapy resistance has long been recognized as a major obstacle to cancer treatment. Therefore, elucidating the underlying mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance is conducive to developing new strategies to improve patients’ response to chemotherapy drugs. Materials and Methods Real-time quantitative PCR (QPCR) was applied to measure the expression levels of lncRNAs. LINC01572 was down-regulated or up-regulated in GC cells transfected with either LINC01572 shRNA or overexpression vectors. In vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to investigate the role of LINC01572 in autophagy-related chemotherapy resistance. Results Compared with the parental cells, drug-resistant GC cells had a higher level of LINC01572. Silencing of LINC01572 inhibited chemotherapy-induced autophagy, while its knockout sensitized GC cells against chemotherapy drugs. As a competitive endogenous RNA of miR-497-5p, LINC01572 weakened the inhibitory effect of miR-497-5p on ATG14, leading to chemically induced autophagy and chemotherapy resistance in GC cells. Conclusion A new mechanism of GC autophagy-related chemotherapy resistance regulated by lncRNA was explored in this study, providing a new perspective for understanding chemotherapy resistance.
Concordance and Discordance Rates of V-Raf Murine Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog B1 (BRAF)V600E Status in Metastatic against Primary Lesion of Melanoma: A Meta-analysis

New effective molecular-targeted agents (1) including combination serine-threonine protein kinase BRAF inhibitor and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitor (BRAF/MEK inhibitor) therapy have improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with metastatic melanoma with BRAF mutations (2), (3), . Observational studies suggest that 40%-60% Caucasians and < 30% Japanese are BRAF mutation positive . BRAF/MEK inhibitors are only approved for BRAF mutation-positive patients because they are only effective against lesions with this mutation . The mutational status of metastatic lesions cannot easily be tested because melanoma metastasizes to subcutaneous and superficial lymph nodes, visceral areas, and deep lymph nodes; therefore, in such cases, whether BRAF/MEK inhibitors are suitable for patients with melanoma is unclear . In clinical practice, primary skin lesions resected during primary treatment are genetically tested to predict the mutational status of inaccessible metastatic lesions. Some cases might have BRAF mutation-positive primary lesions, but have negative metastatic lesions, or vice versa. In the former, BRAF/MEK inhibitors would not be effective, whereas in the latter, the patient loses the opportunity to receive effective treatment. Disagreement in the proportion of BRAF mutations between primary and metastatic lesions varies . A previous study did not address the probability of agreement for metastasis when the primary lesion was BRAF mutation positive or BRAF mutation negative. Moreover, disagreement proportions for all BRAF mutations were included, although molecular-targeted therapy is currently approved only for patients with BRAF. Calculating the mutation probability in metastatic lesions when the primary lesion mutation is known allows the more appropriate use of BRAF/MEK inhibitors. The probability of BRAF-positive [BRAF(+)] metastatic lesions when the primary cancer lesion was BRAF(+) and BRAF-negative [BRAF(−)] metastatic lesions when the primary cancer lesion was BRAF(−) was calculated.
Preparation and application of pH-responsive composite hydrogel beads as potential delivery carrier candidates for controlled release of berberine hydrochloride

For improving the effective concentration of berberine hydrochloride (BH) in the gastrointestinal tract, a series of pH-responsive hydrogel beads were prepared based on carboxymethylstarch-g-poly (acrylic acid)/palygorskite/starch/sodium alginate (CMS-g-PAA/PGS/ST/SA) in the present work. The developed hydrogel beads were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Effect of palygorskite (PGS) content on the swelling properties of hydrogel beads and BH cumulative release were discussed. The pH responsiveness of hydrogel beads was also investigated in different media. Results illustrated that swelling of hydrogel beads and BH cumulative release from hydrogel beads were obviously affected by PGS content. The swelling ratio and BH cumulative release of composite hydrogel beads remarkably slowed down with PGS content increasing in the range from 10 to 40 wt%. The composite hydrogel beads were pH-responsive. At pH 7.4, the swelling ratio and BH cumulative release from composite hydrogel beads were the fastest among the dissolution media of pH 1.2, pH 6.8 and pH 7.4. The BH cumulative release from hydrogel beads was related to the swelling and relaxation of composite hydrogel beads and could be fitted better by the Higuchi model. The obtained composite hydrogel beads could be potentially used for the development of BH pharmaceutical dosage forms.
Edge effects created by fenced conservation reserves benefit an invasive mesopredator

Abstract Context Fenced reserves from which invasive predators are removed are increasingly used as a conservation management tool, because they provide safe havens for susceptible threatened species, and create dense populations of native wildlife that could act as a source population for recolonising the surrounding landscape. However, the latter effect might also act as a food source, and promote high densities of invasive predators on the edges of such reserves. Aims Our study aimed to determine whether activity of the feral cat is greater around the edges of a fenced conservation reserve, Arid Recovery, in northern South Australia. This reserve has abundant native rodents that move through the fence into the surrounding landscape. Methods We investigated (1) whether feral cats were increasingly likely to be detected on track transects closer to the fence over time as populations of native rodents increased inside the reserve, (2) whether native rodents were more likely to be found in the stomachs of cats caught close to the reserve edge, and (3) whether individual cats selectively hunted on the reserve fence compared with two other similar fences, on the basis of GPS movement data. Key results We found that (1) detection rates of feral cats on the edges of a fenced reserve increased through time as populations of native rodents increased inside the reserve, (2) native rodents were far more likely to be found in the stomach of cats collected at the reserve edge than in the stomachs of cats far from the reserve edge, and (3) GPS tracking of cat movements showed a selection for the reserve fence edge, but not for similar fences away from the reserve. Conclusions Invasive predators such as feral cats are able to focus their movements and activity to where prey availability is greatest, including the edges of fenced conservation reserves. This limits the capacity of reserves to function as source areas from which animals can recolonise the surrounding landscape, and increases predation pressure on populations of other species living on the reserve edge. Implications Managers of fenced conservation reserves should be aware that increased predator control may be critical for offsetting the elevated impacts of feral cats attracted to the reserve fence.
Modelling the impact of COVID-19-related control programme interruptions on progress towards the WHO 2030 target for soil-transmitted helminths

Background On the 1st of April 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended an interruption of all neglected tropical disease control programmes, including soil-transmitted helminths (STH), in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper investigates the impact of this disruption on the achieved progress towards the WHO 2030 target for STH. Methods We used two stochastic individual-based models to simulate the impact of missing one or more preventive chemotherapy (PC) rounds in different endemicity settings. We also investigate the extent to which the impact can be lessened by mitigation strategies, such as semi-annual or community-wide PC. Results Both models show that even without a mitigation strategy, control programmes will catch up by 2030. The catch-up time is limited to a maximum of 4.5 years after the interruption. Mitigations strategies may reduce this catch-up time by up to two years and can even increase the probability of achieving the 2030 target. Conclusions Though a PC interruption will only temporarily impact the progress towards the WHO 2030 target, programmes are encouraged to restart as soon as possible to minimise the impact on morbidity. The implementation of suitable mitigation strategies can turn the interruption into an opportunity to accelerate the progress toward reaching the target.
Social relationships and patient-reported outcomes in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors

Importance Nearly 89,000 adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 15 to 39 years old are diagnosed with cancer in U.S. annually. Cancer diagnosis in AYAs often alters achievement of age-specific milestones, interferes with interpersonal relations, and disrupts social life. However, social relations in AYA survivors and associations with patient-reported outcomes (PROs) have been understudied. Objective To investigate the impact of cancer on PROs in AYA survivors and identify social integration mechanisms through which cancer experiences influence PROs. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting A national Internet survey panel maintained by Opinions 4 Good (Portsmouth, New Hampshire). Participants 102 AYA survivors and 102 age/sex/race-matched noncancer controls. Exposure Survivors were exposed to chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy during AYA. Main outcomes and measures Participants identified 25 closest friends/relatives they have contacted in past two years. Their interpersonal connections with each of 25 friends/relatives were used to create a social network index. The Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and PROMIS-29 Profile was used to measure social support, loneliness, and PROs (physical functioning, pain interference, fatigue, anxiety, and depression), respectively. Results AYA survivors of lymphoma, leukemia, and solid tumor had significantly better social networks than controls (all p-values <0.05). However, solid tumor and central nervous system malignancy survivors experienced higher loneliness than controls. Compared to controls, survivors had significantly poorer PROs in all domains. Cancer experience directly influenced all PRO domains (all p-values <0.05 except fatigue) and indirectly through social network-social support-loneliness pathways (all p-values <0.05). Survivors with high loneliness had lower physical functioning, higher pain interference, fatigue, anxiety, and depression compared with noncancer controls (all p-values <0.05). Conclusions and relevance AYA survivors were more socially connected, but experienced greater loneliness than controls. The perceived loneliness greatly influenced PROs. Future research should focus on the functional aspects of social relations rather than considering the structural aspects of social integration, which would provide an opportunity for appropriate interventions to improve health outcomes through social integration.
Low dose hydroxychloroquine is associated with lower mortality in COVID-19: a meta-analysis of 26 studies and 44,521 patients

Background: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was proposed as potential treatment for COVID-19, but its association with mortality is not well characterized. We conducted two meta-analyses to evaluate the association between HCQ (with or without azithromycin (AZM)) and total mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: Articles were retrieved until October 20th, 2020 by searching in seven databases. Data were combined using the general variance-based method on relative risk estimates. Results: A total of 26 articles were found (N=44,521 COVID-19 patients, including N=7,324 from 4 randomized clinical trials (RCTs)); 10 studies were valuable for analysing the association of HCQ+AZM. Overall, the use of HCQ was associated with 21% lower mortality risk (pooled risk ratio: 0.79, 95%CI: 0.67 to 0.93; high level of heterogeneity: I2=82%, random effects). This association vanished (1.10, 95%CI: 0.99 to 1.23 and 1.10, 95%CI: 0.99 to 1.23) when daily dose >400 mg or total dose >4,400 mg were used, respectively). HCQ+AZM was also associated with 25% lower mortality risk, but uncertainty was large (95%CI: 0.50 to 1.13; P=0.17). No association was apparent when only pooling the 4 RCTs (13.8% of the overall weight; pooled risk ratio: 1.11, 95%CI: 0.99 to 1.24). Conclusions: HCQ use was not associated with either increased or decreased mortality in COVID-19 patients when 4 RCTs only were evaluated, while a 7% to 33% reduced mortality was observed when observational studies were also included. The association was mainly apparent when pooling studies using lower doses of HCQ. These findings can help disentangling the debate on HCQ use in COVID-19.