Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patterns of productive activity engagement as a longitudinal predictor of depressive symptoms among older adults in urban China

ABSTRACT Objectives: Using two waves of panel data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this study prospectively assessed whether four distinct patterns of productive activity engagement would predict depressive symptoms among older adults in urban China two years later. Methods: A sample of urban residents aged 60 or above at Wave 1 and who were interviewed in both waves (N = 2398) was used. Latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify distinct patterns of productive activity engagement that occurred within the Wave 1 data. Next, the generalized estimating equations were used to assess whether identified patterns predicted the levels of depressive symptoms measured at Wave 2. Results: Our use of LCA confirmed the existence of four distinct patterns of productive activity engagement among the study sample: Informal Helper/Carer, Working–Caring Engager, Civic Contributor, and Low/Spousal Carer. All of these three patterns exhibited significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms than that of Low/Spousal Carer two years later. Conclusions: Our use of individual-based categorization of productive engagement better captured the reality of older adults performing various productive activities than summative scales of productive activities did and, therefore, provided a more valid clarification of differential well-being outcomes among older adults.
Techniques for the Analysis of Protein-Protein Interactions in Vivo1[OPEN]

A discussion of the technological limitations and advantages of the most commonly used techniques for detecting in vivo protein-protein interactions is presented, emphasizing their application to plant research. Identifying key players and their interactions is fundamental for understanding biochemical mechanisms at the molecular level. The ever-increasing number of alternative ways to detect protein-protein interactions (PPIs) speaks volumes about the creativity of scientists in hunting for the optimal technique. PPIs derived from single experiments or high-throughput screens enable the decoding of binary interactions, the building of large-scale interaction maps of single organisms, and the establishment of cross-species networks. This review provides a historical view of the development of PPI technology over the past three decades, particularly focusing on in vivo PPI techniques that are inexpensive to perform and/or easy to implement in a state-of-the-art molecular biology laboratory. Special emphasis is given to their feasibility and application for plant biology as well as recent improvements or additions to these established techniques. The biology behind each method and its advantages and disadvantages are discussed in detail, as are the design, execution, and evaluation of PPI analysis. We also aim to raise awareness about the technological considerations and the inherent flaws of these methods, which may have an impact on the biological interpretation of PPIs. Ultimately, we hope this review serves as a useful reference when choosing the most suitable PPI technique.
Histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA-induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition by upregulating Slug in lung cancer cells

SAHA, a member of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs), which emerged as a class of novel antitumor drug, has been used in clinical treatment of cancers. However, clinical experience of SAHA in solid tumors has been disappointing. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism of this deficiency is not clearly understood. In the present study, we found that SAHA could induce epithelial–mesenchymal transitions (EMT) in lung cancer A549 cells, which was associated with increased migration capability and cellular morphology changes. We showed that SAHA decreased epithelial marker E-cadherin’s expression and increased the expression of mesenchymal marker vimentin. SAHA upregulated the protein and mRNA expression of transcription factor Slug in a time-dependent manner and promoted its nuclear translocation. We further demonstrated that SAHA upregulated Slug expression by promoting Slug acetylation but not influencing the phosphorylation of GSK-3&bgr;, a main kinase-controlled Slug expression. Finally, silencing of Slug by siRNA reversed EMT marker expressions and cellular morphology change induced by SAHA, suggesting that Slug plays a crucial role in SAHA-mediated EMT in A549 cells. Our research study provided a better understanding of treatment failure of SAHA in patients with solid tumors. Therefore, more attention should be paid to cancer treatment using SAHA and strategies for reversing EMT before using SAHA would be better if the value of SAHA in the treatment of solid tumors, especially lung cancer, is realized.
High levels of post-migration HIV acquisition within nine European countries.

OBJECTIVE We aimed to estimate the proportion of post-migration HIV acquisition among HIV-positive migrants in Europe. DESIGN To reach HIV positive migrants we designed a cross sectional study performed in HIV clinics. METHODS The study was conducted from July 2013-July 2015 in 57 clinics (9 European countries, targeting individuals over 18 years diagnosed in the preceding 5 years and born abroad. Electronic questionnaires supplemented with clinical data were completed in any of 15 languages. Post-migration HIV acquisition was estimated through Bayesian approaches combining extensive information on migration and patients' characteristics. CD4 counts and HIV-RNA trajectories from seroconversion were estimated by bivariate linear mixed models fitted to natural history data. Post-migration acquisition risk factors were investigated with weighted logistic regression. RESULTS Of 2009 participants, 46% were men who have sex with men (MSM) and a third originated from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Latin America & Caribbean (LAC), respectively. Median time in host countries was 8 years. Post-migration HIV acquisition was 63% (95% CI: 57%-67%); 72% among MSM, 58% and 51% in heterosexual men and women, respectively. Post-migration HIV acquisition was 71% for LAC migrants and 45% for people from SSA. Factors associated with post-migration HIV acquisition among heterosexual women and MSM were age at migration, length of stay in host country and HIV diagnosis year and among heterosexual men, length of stay in host country, and HIV diagnosis year. CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of HIV-positive migrants living in Europe acquired HIV post-migration. This has important implications for European public health policies.
Integrating Scientific Methods with Habitat Conservation Planning: Reserve Design for Northern Spotted Owls.

To meet the requirements of Congressional legislation mandating the production of a "scientifically credible" conservation strategy for the threatened Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), the Interagency Spotted Owl Scientific Committee employed scientific methods to design a habitat reserve system. Information on the current and historical distributions of the owl and its habitats was reviewed in light of economic, political, and legal constraints; results were used to develop a preliminary reserve system of habitat "polygons. " A map representing these polygons and their attendant properties served as a set of hypotheses that were tested. Statistical analyses of empirical data, predictions from ecological theory, predictions from population dynamics models, and inferences drawn from studies of related species were used to test properties of the preliminary map, including the number and sizes of habitat conservation areas (HCAs), their distribution, configuration, and spacing, and the nature of the landscape matrix between HCAs. Conclusions that failed to confirm specific map properties were used to refine the reserve system, a process that continued iteratively until all relevant data had been examined and all map properties had been tested. This conservation planning process has proven to be credible, repeatable, and scientifically defendable, and should serve as a model for wildlife management, endangered species recovery, and national forest planning.
Potential relationship between the biological effects of low-dose irradiation and mitochondrial ROS production

Abstract Exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) induces various types of DNA damage, of which DNA double-strand breaks are the most severe, leading to genomic instability, tumorigenesis, and cell death. Hence, cells have developed DNA damage responses and repair mechanisms. IR also causes the accumulation of endogenous reactive oxidative species (ROS) in the irradiated cells. Upon exposure to low-dose irradiation, the IR-induced biological effects mediated by ROS were relatively more significant than those mediated by DNA damage. Accumulating evidence suggests that such increase in endogenous ROS is related with mitochondria change in irradiated cells. Thus, in this review we focused on the mechanism of mitochondrial ROS production and its relationship to the biological effects of IR. Exposure of mammalian cells to IR stimulates an increase in the production of endogenous ROS by mitochondria, which potentially leads to mitochondrial dysfunction. Since the remains of damaged mitochondria could generate or leak more ROS inside the cell, the damaged mitochondria are removed by mitophagy. The disruption of this pathway, involved in maintaining mitochondrial integrity, could lead to several disorders (such as neurodegeneration) and aging. Thus, further investigation needs to be performed in order to understand the relationship between the biological effects of low-dose IR and mitochondrial integrity.
Clinical characterization and genetic analysis of Korean patients with X‐linked Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease type 1

Mutations in the gap junction protein beta 1 gene (GJB1) cause X‐linked Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease type 1 (CMTX1). CMTX1 is representative of the intermediate type of CMT, having both demyelinating and axonal neuropathic features. We analyzed the clinical and genetic characterization of 128 patients with CMTX1 from 63 unrelated families. Genetic analysis revealed a total of 43 mutations including 6 novel mutations. Ten mutations were found from two or more unrelated families. p.V95M was most frequently observed. The frequency of CMTX1 was 9.6% of total Korean CMT family and was 14.8% when calculated within genetically identified cases. Among 67 male and 61 female patients, 22 females were asymptomatic. A high‐arched foot, ataxia, and tremor were observed in 87%, 41%, and 35% of the patients, respectively. In the male patients, functional disability scale, CMT neuropathy score, and compound muscle action potential of the median/ulnar nerves were more severely affected than in the female patients. This study provides a comprehensive summary of the clinical features and spectrum of GJB1 gene mutations in Korean CMTX1 patients.
Children’s preferences for TV show hosts: an international perspective on learning from television

Abstract The human hosts of knowledge-focused TV programs for children play a significant role in young people’s discoveries about themselves and the world. The fact that the majority of these personalities are slim, young, and White men, and the unquestioned truism among TV producers that children prefer such hosts, led an international research team to ask 3399 youth ages 7–10 from 27 countries to describe their ideal host, as well as themselves, through linguistically sensitive and age-appropriate surveys. Key findings include that the same percentage of boys and girls (84%) prefer hosts of the same gender, and that children self-identifying as having non-“light” skin tones are far less likely than those with a “light” skin tone to prefer hosts of the same skin color. These results suggest that marginalized children worldwide struggle to see themselves represented through respected TV figures, which has broader implications for their identity development and socialization.
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing and Surgery

&NA; The surgical patient population is increasingly elderly and comorbid and poses challenges to perioperative physicians. Accurate preoperative risk stratification is important to direct perioperative care. Reduced aerobic fitness is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is an integrated and dynamic test that gives an objective measure of aerobic fitness or functional capacity and identifies the cause of exercise intolerance. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing provides an individualized estimate of patient risk that can be used to predict postoperative morbidity and mortality. This technology can therefore be used to inform collaborative decision‐making and patient consent, to triage the patient to an appropriate perioperative care environment, to diagnose unexpected comorbidity, to optimize medical comorbidities preoperatively, and to direct individualized preoperative exercise programs. Functional capacity, evaluated as the anaerobic threshold and peak oxygen uptake (Symbolo2peak) predicts postoperative morbidity and mortality in the majority of surgical cohort studies. The ventilatory equivalents for carbon dioxide (an index of gas exchange efficiency), is predictive of surgical outcome in some cohorts. Prospective cohort studies are needed to improve the precision of risk estimates for different patient groups and to clarify the best combination of variables to predict outcome. Early data suggest that preoperative exercise training improves fitness, reduces the debilitating effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and may improve clinical outcomes. Further research is required to identify the most effective type of training and the minimum duration required for a positive effect. Symbol. No caption available.
Diagnostic utility of the HIV dementia scale and the international HIV dementia scale in screening for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders among Spanish-speaking adults

ABSTRACT Given that neurocognitive impairment is a frequent complication of HIV-1 infection in Spanish-speaking adults, the limited number of studies assessing HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in this population raises serious clinical concern. In addition to being appropriately translated, instruments need to be modified, normed, and validated accordingly. The purpose of the current study was to examine the diagnostic utility of the HIV Dementia Scale (HDS) and International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS) to screen for HAND in Spanish-speaking adults living with HIV infection. Participants were classified as either HAND (N = 47) or No-HAND (N = 53) after completing a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. Receiver operating characteristic analyses found the HDS (AUC = .706) was more sensitive to detecting HAND than the IHDS (AUC = .600). Optimal cutoff scores were 9.5 for the HDS (PPV = 65.2%, NPV = 71.4%) and 9.0 for the IHDS (PPV = 59.4%, NPV = 59.1%). Canonical Correlation Analysis found the HDS converged with attention and executive functioning. Findings suggest that while the IHDS may not be an appropriate screening instrument with this population, the HDS retains sufficient statistical validity and clinical utility to screen for HAND in Spanish-speaking adults as a time-efficient and cost-effective measure in clinical settings with limited resources.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole in Infants and Children

ABSTRACT Trimethoprim (TMP)-sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is used to treat various types of infections, including community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and Pneumocystis jirovecii infections in children. Pharmacokinetic (PK) data for infants and children are limited, and the optimal dosing is not known. We performed a multicenter, prospective PK study of TMP-SMX in infants and children. Separate population PK models were developed for TMP and SMX administered by the enteral route using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Optimal dosing was determined on the basis of the matching adult TMP exposure and attainment of the surrogate pharmacodynamic (PD) target for efficacy, a free TMP concentration above the MIC over 50% of the dosing interval. Data for a total of 153 subjects (240 samples for PK analysis) with a median postnatal age of 8 years (range, 0.1 to 20 years) contributed to the analysis for both drugs. A one-compartment model with first-order absorption and elimination characterized the TMP and SMX PK data well. Weight was included in the base model for clearance (CL/F) and volume of distribution (V/F). Both TMP and SMX CL/F increased with age. In addition, TMP and SMX CL/F were inversely related to the serum creatinine and albumin concentrations, respectively. The exposure achieved in children after oral administration of TMP-SMX at 8/40 mg/kg of body weight/day divided into administration every 12 h matched the exposure achieved in adults after administration of TMP-SMX at 320/1,600 mg/day divided into administration every 12 h and achieved the PD target for bacteria with an MIC of 0.5 mg/liter in >90% of infants and children. The exposure achieved in children after oral administration of TMP-SMX at 12/60 and 15/75 mg/kg/day divided into administration every 12 h matched the exposure achieved in adults after administration of TMP-SMX at 640/3,200 mg/day divided into administration every 12 h in subjects 6 to <21 years and 0 to <6 years of age, respectively, and was optimal for bacteria with an MIC of up to 1 mg/liter.
A network approach to response inhibition and aggression : combining functional imaging and non- invasive brain stimulation in the study of impulse control

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Optogenetic stimulation of the cochlea—A review of mechanisms, measurements, and first models

ABSTRACT This review evaluates the potential of optogenetic methods for the stimulation of the auditory nerve and assesses the feasability of optogenetic cochlear implants (CIs). It provides an overview of all critical steps like opsin targeting strategies, how opsins work, how their function can be modeled and included in neuronal models and the properties of light sources available for optical stimulation. From these foundations, quantitative estimates for the number of independent stimulation channels and the temporal precision of optogenetic stimulation of the auditory nerve are derived and compared with state-of-the-art electrical CIs. We conclude that optogenetic CIs have the potential to increase the number of independent stimulation channels by up to one order of magnitude to about 100, but only if light sources are able to deliver confined illumination patterns independently and parallelly. Already now, opsin variants like ChETA and Chronos enable driving of the auditory nerve up to rates of 200 spikes/s, close to the physiological value of their maximum sustained firing rate. Apart from requiring 10 times more energy than electrical stimulation, optical CIs still face major hurdles concerning the safety of gene transfection and optrode array implantation, for example, before becoming an option to replace electrical CIs.
Prevalence of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Nurses Working in Hospitals of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Objective To investigate the status of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in nurses working in the hospitals in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Methods The prevalence of WMSDs since working and in the previous 12 months was evaluated using self-administrated modified musculoskeletal questionnaire based on North European questionnaire. In this cross-sectional study, 6674 nurses involved in the nursing profession were selected from 16 hospitals using the stratified cluster sampling method. Results The most commonly affected regions by WMSDs were lower back, neck, shoulder, and back, with an annual prevalence of 62.71%, 59.77%, 49.66%, and 39.50%, respectively. Statistical differences were noticed in the annual prevalence of WMSDs in those with different ages (P < 0.01) and working durations (P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the following risk factors were associated with the prevalence of WMSDs: working duration of ≥6 years; working in the Emergency Department, Department of Anesthesia, or Supply Room; night shift of more than once, working duration of >40 hrs per week; poor health status; and feeling of fatigue. Rest time of >10 min and no history of WMSDs were the protective factors of WMSDs. Conclusions Shift and working/rest duration was closely related to WMSDs.
Development and characterization of vancomycin-loaded levan-based microparticular system for drug delivery

Abstract Encapsulation of vancomycin (VANCO) into biodegradable levan microparticles was achieved using a simple preparation technique. Microparticles were prepared by using levan polysaccharide produced by a halophilic bacterium Halomonas smyrnensis AAD6T. To optimize efficiency of encapsulation process by precipitation method, three parameters were studied: drug and polymer concentrations and preparation rotating speed. The particles were characterized in vitro. The size of levan microparticles was changed between 0.404 μm and 1.276 μm. The surface charge was detected between +4.1 mV and +6.5 mV. The highest drug encapsulation capacity of the system was 74.7% and was depending on the polymer concentration. In dissolution studies, initial burst effect around 10–20% from all the formulations was observed and then the release was slowed down and continued at a constant level. In vitro antibiotic release from the microparticles was controlled with the drug carrier system and release fit to Higuchi kinetic model. All the released samples collected at different time intervals during dissolution studies have exhibited intrinsic bactericidal activity against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633. WST-1 cell proliferation and viability studies showed that VANCO-loaded levan microparticles at concentrations between 100 μg/mL and 1000 μg/mL were nontoxic to L929 cells. As conclusion, levan microparticulate system could be a potential carrier of antibiotic drugs such as VANCO.