Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men accessing STI clinics: Optimizing HIV PrEP implementation

Background Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) who attend STI clinics represent an easily accessible population for promoting HIV prevention interventions. We examined characteristics of gbMSM STI clinic attendees to identify those who could most benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Setting GbMSM STI clinic attendees in British Columbia (BC), Canada Methods A clinical electronic charting system of STI clinics in BC was used to identify gbMSM from 2004 to 2017. Incident HIV cases were defined as testers who had at least one HIV-negative test and a subsequent HIV-positive test. Seroconversion rates were calculated by risk factor variables and by year. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify independent predictors of HIV seroconversion. Results There were 9,038 gbMSM included, of whom 257 HIV seroconverted over the study period and 8,781 remained negative HIV testers, contributing 650.8 and 29,591.0 person-years to the analysis, respectively. The overall rate of seroconversion was 0.85 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 0.75–0.96). Incidence rates were higher among patients reporting >5 partners in the previous six months, inconsistent condom use, or having a partner living with HIV and who had a previous or concurrent diagnosis of rectal gonorrhea or rectal chlamydia. gbMSM presenting with two STIs such as rectal gonorrhea and syphilis (3.59/100 person-years [95%CI: 2.33–5.22]) or rectal chlamydia and syphilis (3.01/100 person-years [95%CI: 2.00–4.29]) had the highest incidence rates. Conclusion gbMSM with preceding or concurrent rectal STI diagnoses or syphilis had higher rates of HIV seroconversion. The data support the inclusion of specific STI diagnoses as an indication for PrEP.
Mocs1 (Molybdenum cofactor synthesis 1) may contribute to lifespan extension in Drosophila

While evaluating the effect on lifespan of decreased ribosomal protein (Rp) expression in Drosophila, we discovered a potential function in the same process for the Molybdenum cofactor synthesis 1 (Mocs1) gene. We utilized the UAS-GAL4 inducible system, by crossing tissue-specific GAL4 drivers to the Harvard Drosophila Transgenic RNAi Project (TrIP) responder lines for Rp gene knockdown. We also employed a negative control that knocked down a gene unrelated to Drosophila (GAL4). Relative to the genetic background in which no driven transgenes were present, lifespan was significantly lengthened in females, both for Rp knockdown and the negative GAL4 control. We reasoned that the Mocs1 gene, located immediately downstream of the integration site on the third chromosome where all the TrIP responders are targeted might be responsible for the lifespan effects observed, due to the potential for upregulation using the UAS-GAL4 system. We repeated the lifespan experiment using an enhancer trap in the same location as the TrIP transgenes, and found that lifespan was significantly lengthened in females that possessed both the driver and responder, relative to controls, implicating Mocs1 in the biology of aging.
Surgical treatment in malignant pleural effusion

Malignant pleural effusion can be described as the presence of exudate in the pleural space, accompanied by the detection of cancer cells in pleural fluid or tissue, which is the indicator of the disease in its advance stages, and survival time of these patients ranges between 3 and 12 months. Treatment options for malignant pleural effusion vary from observation in asymptomatic patients to pleurectomies or even extrapleural pneumonectomies in severe cases.
Increased prevalence of transfusion-transmitted diseases among people with tattoos: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Whether having a tattoo increases the risk of transfusion-transmitted diseases (TTDs) is controversial. Although a few studies have suggested a strong association between having tattoos and TTDs, other studies have not shown the significance of the association. In addition, previous studies mainly focused only on hepatitis C viral infections. The objective of our study was to identify the prevalence and risk of TTDs in people with tattoos as compared with the non-tattooed population. A systematic review of the studies published before January 22, 2021, was performed using the Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Observational studies on hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis infections in people with and without tattoos were included. Studies that reported disease status without serological confirmation were excluded. A total of 121 studies were quantitatively analyzed. HCV (odds ratio [OR], 2.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04–2.76), HBV (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.31–1.83), and HIV infections (OR, 3.55; 95% CI, 2.34–5.39) were more prevalent in the tattooed population. In subgroup analyses, the prevalence of HCV infection was significantly elevated in the general population, hospital patient, blood donor, intravenous (IV) drug user, and prisoner groups. IV drug users and prisoners showed high prevalence rates of HBV infection. The prevalence of HIV infection was significantly increased in the general population and prisoner groups. Having a tattoo is associated with an increased prevalence of TTDs. Our approach clarifies in-depth and supports a guideline for TTD screening in the tattooed population.
The impact of a competitive event and the efficacy of a lactic acid bacteria-fermented soymilk extract on the gut microbiota and urinary metabolites of endurance athletes: An open-label pilot study

Diet and exercise can alter the gut microbiota, but recent studies have assessed the impact of athletic competition on gut microbiota and host metabolites. We designed an open-label pilot study to investigate the effects of both official competition and a multi-strain lactic acid bacteria-fermented soymilk extract (LEX) on the gut microbiota in Japanese college endurance athletes. The analysis of fecal 16S rRNA metagenome and urinary metabolites was used to identify changes in gut microbiota composition and host metabolism. When the fecal microbiota were investigated before and after a race without using of a supplement (pre-observation period), there was an increase in the phylum Firmicutes and decrease in Bacteroidetes. However, no changes in these phyla were seen before and after a race in those who consumed LEX. Before and after LEX ingestion, changes in urinary metabolites included a significant reduction in yeast and fungal markers, neurotransmitters, and mitochondrial metabolites including the TCA cycle. There were several correlations between urinary metabolites and the composition of fecal microbiota. For example, the level of tricarballylic acid was positively correlated with the composition ratio of phylum Firmicutes (Pearson’s r = 0.66; p < 0.01). The bacterial species Parabacteroides distasonis was also found to correlate moderately with several urinary metabolites. These findings suggest two possibilities. First, endurance athletes experience significant fluctuations in gut microbiota after a single competition. Second, LEX ingestion may improve yeast and fungal overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract and enhancing mitochondrial metabolic function.
Comparative effectiveness of adjunct non-pharmacological interventions on maternal and neonatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus patients: A systematic review and network meta-analysis protocol of randomized controlled trials

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnancy leads to a range of perinatal complications. Although several randomized controlled trials (RCT) have tested the effect of non-pharmacological standard GDM care adjuncts on these outcomes, there is no agglomerated statistical evidence on how their occurrence risk varies across interventions and with placebo. Therefore, a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) protocol is proposed here to address this evidence gap. Materials and methods A search for above RCTs published in the English language will transpire in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases irrespective of date and geographic boundary. The RCTs must test nutritional supplementation, digital intervention, structured exercise program, educational program, counseling service, or a combination of these prenatally in GDM patients. These should report ≥1 of the following outcomes- cesarean section, pre-eclampsia, polyhydramnios, preterm birth, macrosomia, prolonged labor, gestational hypertension, premature rupture of membranes, congenital anomaly, Apgar scores, birth weight, birth length, gestational age at birth, neonatal hypoglycemia, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, and neonatal Corpulence Index. The risk of bias assessment of the recruited trials will transpire using the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Determination of the comparative effectiveness between interventions will occur by the frequentist method NMA for respective outcomes. The categorical and continuous outcomes effect size will get calculated in risk ratio and weighted or standardized mean difference, respectively. For each NMA model, network maps and league tables will show the connections between interventions and effect sizes with their 95% confidence intervals for each intervention pair compared, respectively. The publication bias assessment will occur using comparison-adjusted funnel plots. Best intervention prediction for NMA models with statistically significant intervention effect will happen by determining the surface under the cumulative ranking curve values. Statistical analysis will ensue using Stata software (v16). The statistical significance estimation will happen at p<0.05 and 95% confidence interval. Trial registration PROSPERO registration no: CRD42021271199; https://clinicaltrials.gov/.
A different approach in thoracic surgery: Guillotine lobectomy

Background In this study, we aimed to compare the surgical results of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy with the guillotine technique to the results of conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. Methods Between January 2013 and December 2019, a total of 49 patients (20 males, 29 females; median age: 45 years; range, 11 to 73 years) who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for benign lung pathologies were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: the guillotine technique group (n=31) who had simultaneous cutting of the lobar artery and lobar bronchus with a single stapler, and the control group (n=18) who received conventional video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy. Demographic features of the patients, type of surgery, type of pulmonary resection, duration of the operation, postoperative length of hospital stay, postoperative pathological examination result, complications, and follow-up data were recorded. Results The median operation time was 142.5 (range, 60 to 237) min and 90 (range, 55 to 180) min in the control and the guillotine technique groups, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). Bronchiectasis was the most common histopathological diagnosis in both groups. No intraoperative complication, long-term complications or mortality were observed in any of the patients. Conclusion The guillotine lobectomy technique significantly reduces the duration of the operation. The adventitia and connective tissue around the lobar artery and lobar bronchus enable the closure of these structures with the supporting tissue and, therefore, reinforces the staples. The guillotine technique in video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy seems to be a cost-effective, reliable, and practical method that provides intraoperative convenience and shortens the operation time.
Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance by Xpert® MTB/RIF assay among presumptive tuberculosis cases at Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia

Background Rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) and detection of drug resistance are very important for timely and appropriate management of patients. Xpert MTB/RIF assay is approved for use in TB and rifampicin-resistance diagnosis. However, data are limited on the impact of Xpert MTB/RIF assay under routine clinical settings with a heterogeneous group of patients and sample types in Ethiopia. Methods A retrospective study was carried out in 2220 presumptive TB cases at Jimma University Medical Center. Data were gathered from the registration logbook using formatted data extraction tools and double entered to epidata version 3.1 and further transported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Associations were determined using the Chi-square test and P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Of 2220 cases enrolled, 1665 (75%) were adults and the remaining 555 (25%) were children aged less than 14 years. The majority, 1964 (88.46%), had pulmonary manifestation and 256 (11.54%) had extrapulmonary involvements. The overall, frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) was 9.3% (206/2220), among this 10.27% (171/1665) and 6.3% (35/555) were adults and children, respectively. M. tuberculosis was detected from 171 (8.75%) of pulmonary patients and 35 (13.28%) of extrapulmonary manifested patients. Out of 206 M. tuberculosis positive cases, 7(3.4%) were rifampicin-resistant: four from pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients and three from EPTB patients. In the Chi-square test, the age group of 15–24 years, previous history of TB, pus/lymph node sample, and being HIV positive were significantly associated with TB positivity by Xpert MTB/RIF (P-value <0.001). Conclusion These data suggest that the overall frequency of M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance was found to be relatively low compared to the previous reports in Ethiopia. Nevertheless, better diagnostic tools and approaches are still vital to halt the burden of TB and drug-resistant TB in the country.
Mothers' Experiences of Pregnancy, Labor and Birth, and Postpartum During COVID-19 in the United States

The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the experiences of women who gave birth in the United States during coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). A mixed-methods study was performed using online surveys and interviews. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and interview transcripts were analyzed by thematic analysis resulting in major themes. Participants (n = 32) were women who had given birth on or after March 13, 2020. Of the participants, 34% experienced depression, 46% experienced mild to moderate anxiety, and 28% experienced severe anxiety symptoms. Four major themes emerged: expectations versus reality, early versus late COVID-19 experience, mental distress versus mental health, and healthcare policy versus COVID-19 confusion. Experiences varied based upon geographical location, parity, and proximity to support. Short and long-term effects of COVID-19 on participants and their families were recognized. It is important to acknowledge the confusion experienced in many aspects of the birthing experience due to developing or conflicting pandemic or popular media information. Aligning expectations through providing clear, up-to-date information is helpful in decreasing mental distress. Finally, the impact of COVID-19 highlighted the critical need for professional and focused familial support and follow-up for women experiencing pregnancy-related mental health symptoms.
The effect of Huoxue Huayu decoction on restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract Background: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as the most common treatment for coronary heart disease (CHD), has the advantages of simple operation, minimal invasion, rapid reconstruction, and vessels opening. The problem, however, is that many patients develop restenosis within 6 months after PCI. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Huoxue Huayu decoction (HXHYD) is widely used to treat cardiovascular diseases, and its important role as a complementary and alternative therapy for the prevention and treatment of post-PCI restenosis in CHD patients has been extensively reported. However, controversy exists among different studies. Therefore, we collected relevant randomized controlled trials for a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of HXHYD in the prevention of post-PCI restenosis in patients with CHD. Methods: Randomized controlled trials of HXHYD in the prevention of post-PCI restenosis in patients with CHD will be retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, and Clinical Trial Register. The 2 authors will independently conduct the literature search, literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Data analysis will be performed using STATA 14.0. Results: The results of this meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. Conclusion: This study will provide high-quality, evidence-based medical evidence for the efficacy and safety of HXHYD in the prevention of post-PCI restenosis in patients with CHD. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for this study. The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, presented at conferences, and shared on social media platforms. This review would be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal or conference presentations. OSF REGISTRATION NUMBER: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/PNZSM.
Time base firing pulse delay control for improving single phase induction motor speed performance using fuzzy logic control

This paper focuses on the fuzzy logic controller design for improving the single phase induction motor speed control performance. The controller strategy is done through phase angle control method. The phase angle is controlled by controlling the time base firing pulse angle delay of the triac. Based on experimental results, the fuzzy logic controller is a suitable controller to improve the single phase induction motor speed because it able to reduce the rise time, settling time, peak time and overshoot response to 0.10s, 0.17s, 0.29s and 0.09 % OS respectively. Then compares with the Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller responses, the fuzzy logic controller responses are better with the rise time (Tr), the settling time (Ts), the peak time (Tp) and the overshoot (% OS) are 0.08s, 0.08s, 0.05s and 0.004% smaller than PID controller.
MSF-LRR: Multi-Similarity Information Fusion Through Low-Rank Representation to Predict Disease-Associated Microbes

An Increase in microbial activity is shown to be intimately connected with the pathogenesis of diseases. Considering the expense of traditional verification methods, researchers are working to develop high-efficiency methods for detecting potential disease-related microbes. In this article, a new prediction method, MSF-LRR, is established, which uses Low-Rank Representation (LRR) to perform multi-similarity information fusion to predict disease-related microbes. Considering that most existing methods only use one class of similarity, three classes of microbe and disease similarity are added. Then, LRR is used to obtain low-rank structural similarity information. Additionally, the method adaptively extracts the local low-rank structure of the data from a global perspective, to make the information used for the prediction more effective. Finally, a neighbor-based prediction method that utilizes the concept of collaborative filtering is applied to predict unknown microbe-disease pairs. As a result, the AUC value of MSF-LRR is superior to other existing algorithms under 5-fold cross-validation. Furthermore, in case studies, excluding originally known associations, 16 and 19 of the top 20 microbes associated with Bacterial Vaginosis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, respectively, have been confirmed by the recent literature. In summary, MSF-LRR is a good predictor of potential microbe-disease associations and can contribute to drug discovery and biological research.
The Association Between Home Stay and Symptom Severity in Major Depressive Disorder: Preliminary Findings From a Multicenter Observational Study Using Geolocation Data From Smartphones

Background Most smartphones and wearables are currently equipped with location sensing (using GPS and mobile network information), which enables continuous location tracking of their users. Several studies have reported that various mobility metrics, as well as home stay, that is, the amount of time an individual spends at home in a day, are associated with symptom severity in people with major depressive disorder (MDD). Owing to the use of small and homogeneous cohorts of participants, it is uncertain whether the findings reported in those studies generalize to a broader population of individuals with MDD symptoms. Objective The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between the overall severity of depressive symptoms, as assessed by the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire, and median daily home stay over the 2 weeks preceding the completion of a questionnaire in individuals with MDD. Methods We used questionnaire and geolocation data of 164 participants with MDD collected in the observational Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse–Major Depressive Disorder study. The participants were recruited from three study sites: King’s College London in the United Kingdom (109/164, 66.5%); Vrije Universiteit Medisch Centrum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands (17/164, 10.4%); and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red in Barcelona, Spain (38/164, 23.2%). We used a linear regression model and a resampling technique (n=100 draws) to investigate the relationship between home stay and the overall severity of MDD symptoms. Participant age at enrollment, gender, occupational status, and geolocation data quality metrics were included in the model as additional explanatory variables. The 95% 2-sided CIs were used to evaluate the significance of model variables. Results Participant age and severity of MDD symptoms were found to be significantly related to home stay, with older (95% CI 0.161-0.325) and more severely affected individuals (95% CI 0.015-0.184) spending more time at home. The association between home stay and symptoms severity appeared to be stronger on weekdays (95% CI 0.023-0.178, median 0.098; home stay: 25th-75th percentiles 17.8-22.8, median 20.9 hours a day) than on weekends (95% CI −0.079 to 0.149, median 0.052; home stay: 25th-75th percentiles 19.7-23.5, median 22.3 hours a day). Furthermore, we found a significant modulation of home stay by occupational status, with employment reducing home stay (employed participants: 25th-75th percentiles 16.1-22.1, median 19.7 hours a day; unemployed participants: 25th-75th percentiles 20.4-23.5, median 22.6 hours a day). Conclusions Our findings suggest that home stay is associated with symptom severity in MDD and demonstrate the importance of accounting for confounding factors in future studies. In addition, they illustrate that passive sensing of individuals with depression is feasible and could provide clinically relevant information to monitor the course of illness in patients with MDD.