Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Interleukin-33/ST2 Axis Enhances Lung-Resident CD14+ Monocyte Function in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

ABSTRACT Interleukin-33 (IL-33) binds to its cognate receptor suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2), leading to critical modulatory roles in immune responses during inflammation and cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IL-33/ST2 signaling in monocyte function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sixty-two NSCLC patients and nineteen controls were enrolled. IL-33 levels and ST2 expression were measured in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by ELISA and flow cytometry. HLA-DR expression by CD14+ monocytes, granzyme B and proinflammatory cytokine secretion were also investigated in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cells. CD14+ monocytes purified from BALF in the tumor site were stimulated with IL-33 in vitro, and co-cultured with a lung cancer cell line A549 cells. The cytotoxicity of monocytes with IL-33 stimulation was then assessed. IL-33 levels were lower in the peripheral blood and tumor microenvironment of NSCLC patients. There was no significant difference in peripheral ST2 expression between NSCLC patients and controls. Soluble ST2 levels were increased but membrane-bound ST2 expression in CD14+ monocytes was decreased in tumor microenvironment of NSCLC patients. There were no remarkable differences in either HLA-DR expression or proinflammatory cytokine secretion by circulating CD14+ monocytes between NSCLC patients and controls. CD14+ monocytes in the tumor microenvironment revealed a dysfunctional phenotype, which presented as lower HLA-DR expression and reduced granzyme B and proinflammatory cytokines. A higher concentration of IL-33 stimulation promoted tumor-resident CD14+ monocyte-induced target cell death. The present study indicates that IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway might enhance the activity of tumor-resident CD14+ monocytes in NSCLC.
Do Routine Laboratory Parameters have Predictive Ability to Differentiate Subjects with Fibromyalgia from Healthy Subjects?

The aim of this study was to evaluate laboratory parameters for investigating their potential predictive ability to differentiate patients with fibromyalgia (FM) from healthy subjects. We carried out a case–control study with 79 FM patients and 20 controls to analyze complete blood count, serum chemistry profile, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). The predictive value of these parameters was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. We also examined the relationships with clinical parameters (functional capacity, pain, and physical and mental health status). Results showed significant differences in red blood cell count, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, creatinine, HbA1c, and ESR between groups. According to ROC analysis, all these parameters may assist in making FM diagnosis. Hematocrit and ESR values were correlated with FM clinical parameters. The determination of these routine laboratory parameters may be an uncomplicated means of facilitating FM diagnosis, together with the clinical data of the patient.
Did a misquotation warp the concussion narrative?

On 28 February 2022, the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) retracted ‘The time lords—measurement and performance in sprinting’ by McCrory, because of ‘unlawful and indefensible breach of copyright. ’ McCrory was editorinchief of the BJSM from 2001 to 2008 and authored or coauthored approximately 200 articles, reviews and editorials in BJSM between 2000 and 2021. Within days of the retraction, a blog post by Brown revealed many other McCrory publications requiring investigation in light of detailed evidence Brown presented that he interpreted as plagiarism or ‘text recycling’. McCrory himself had decried ‘redundant publication’ in a BJSM editorial titled ‘Fraud and Misconduct in Publication,’ writing that authors did it ‘in the guise of boosting their curriculum vitae’. We have no way of knowing whether the portions of multiauthored articles that McCrory repurposed were originally written by him or by colleagues, and (if the latter) whether these colleagues knew of the recycling.
QUASI-PERIODIC FORMALDEHYDE MASER FLARES IN THE MASSIVE PROTOSTELLAR OBJECT IRAS 18566+0408

We report results of an extensive observational campaign of the 6 cm formaldehyde maser in the young massive stellar object IRAS 18566+0408 (G37.55+0.20) conducted from 2002 to 2009. Using the Arecibo Telescope, the Very Large Array, and the Green Bank Telescope, we discovered quasi-periodic formaldehyde flares (P ∼ 237 days). Based on Arecibo observations, we also discovered correlated variability between formaldehyde (H2CO) and methanol (CH3OH) masers. The H2CO and CH3OH masers are not spatially coincident, as demonstrated by different line velocities and high angular resolution MERLIN observations. The flares could be caused by variations in the infrared radiation field, possibly modulated by periodic accretion onto a young binary system.
Gluing blood into gel by electrostatic interaction using a water-soluble polymer as an embolic agent

Significance Development of a water-soluble polycation that can glue negatively charged blood contents together but not trigger coagulation could be a new approach to realize the embolization. However, it is a significant challenge since electrostatic interaction normally diminishes in saline water due to the Debye screening effect. Here, we discovered that a polymer-bearing adjacent cationic/aromatic sequence can glue the blood components together, forming a blood gel through electrostatic interactions in the physiological environment, which common polycation cannot. The blood gel is soft, viscoelastic, stable, and shows nonadhesion to the microcatheter. In vivo experiments showed that the blood gel can fully occlude murine vasculature without fragmentation or nontarget embolization. This work provides a new idea for the realization of vascular embolization.
Renal fibrosis as a hallmark of diabetic kidney disease: potential role of targeting transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and related molecules

ABSTRACT Introduction Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide. Currently, there is no effective treatment to completely prevent DKD progression to ESRD. Renal fibrosis and inflammation are the major pathological features of DKD, being pursued as potential therapeutic targets for DKD. Areas covered Inflammation and renal fibrosis are involved in the pathogenesis of DKD. Anti-inflammatory drugs have been developed to combat DKD but without efficacy demonstrated. Thus, we have focused on the mechanisms of TGF-β-induced renal fibrosis in DKD, as well as discussing the important molecules influencing the TGF-β signaling pathway and their potential development into new pharmacotherapies, rather than targeting the ligand TGF-β and/or its receptors, such options include Smads, microRNAs, histone deacetylases, connective tissue growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein 7, hepatocyte growth factor, and cell division autoantigen 1. Expert opinion TGF-β is a critical driver of renal fibrosis in DKD. Molecules that modulate TGF-β signaling rather than TGF-β itself are potentially superior targets to safely combat DKD. A comprehensive elucidation of the pathogenesis of DKD is important, which requires a better model system and access to clinical samples via collaboration between basic and clinical researchers.
Influence of the Remnants of Silicone Oil on Penetration of Three Different Sealers into the Dentinal Tubules: A Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Study

Objective The aim of this study was to assess penetration of AH Plus, MTA Fillapex and GuttaFlow Bioseal sealers into dentinal tubules after placement and removal of silicone oil using Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. Methods Sixty single-canaled premolars were instrumented using ProTaper Universal rotary system. Roots were divided into two main groups (n=30) where either Silicone oil was used or not. Subsequently, each main group was subdivided into 3 subgroups according to the investigated sealers. In subgroups where Silicone oil was used, it was placed in canals and then cleared. Obturation was completed utilizing lateral compaction technique using Rhodamine B labeled sealers. Penetration depth of sealer was evaluated by image J software. One way ANOVA, Duncan's test as posthoc test was performed for evaluation of statistical significances among the groups. In each sealer group, Independent -t-test was used to compare between with and without oil. P value was set at <0.05. Results Using silicone oil resulted in less dentinal tubule penetration depth with all sealers. Mean dentinal tubule penetration depth was the lowest in apical thirds. AH Plus showed higher penetrability in all thirds compared to MTA Fillapex and GuttaFlow Bioseal despite oil placement and removal. MTA Fillapex displayed higher penetrability in all thirds than GuttaFlow Bioseal. Conclusion Remnants of silicone oil has a negative impact on the penetration depth of the tested sealers.
Sickle cell disease in gulf cooperation council countries: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Introduction Evidence related to the national burden of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) largely fragmented. Thus, the aim of this study is to systemically review studies from GCC countries to assess the epidemiological profile of SCD. Areas covered We searched combinations of key terms in MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE. We selected relevant observational studies reporting the frequency, incidence, prevalence, risk factors, mortality rate, and complications of SCD among the GCC population. Studies restricted to laboratory diagnostic tests, experimental and animal studies, review articles, case reports and series, and conference proceedings and editorials were excluded. A total of 1,347 articles were retrieved, out of which 98 articles were found to be eligible and included in the study. The total number of participants from all the included studies was 3,496,447. The prevalence of SCD ranged from 0.24%–5.8% across the GCC and from 1.02%–45.8% for the sickle cell trait. Consanguineous marriage was a risk factor for likely giving children affected with hemoglobinopathies. Expert opinion The prevalence of SCD and its complications vary among GCC. Because of the high prevalence of SCD and its complications, health authorities should focus on more rigorous prevention and treatment strategies.
Automated multi‐sample DNA extraction for genotyping live Xenopus embryos

Xenopus frogs are used extensively for modeling genetic diseases owing to characteristics such as the abundance of eggs combined with their large size, allowing easy manipulation, and rapid external embryo development enabling the examination of cellular and phenotypic alterations throughout embryogenesis. However, genotyping of mutant animals is currently done either as part of a large group, requiring many embryos, or late in development with welfare effects. Therefore, we adapted the Zebrafish Embryonic Genotyper for rapid genomic DNA extraction from Xenopus tropicalis and Xenopus laevis at early stages.
Maximal tripartite entanglement between singlet-triplet qubits in quantum dots

Singlet-triplet states in double quantum dots are promising realizations of qubits, and capacitive coupling can be used to create entanglement between these qubits. We propose an entangling three-qubit gate of singlet-triplet qubits in a triangular setup. Our simulations using a realistic microscopic model show that a maximally entangled Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state can be generated as the qubits are evolved under exchange. Furthermore, our analysis for the gate operation can be used to extract the actual experimental pulse sequence needed to realize this.
Characterisation of medication side effects in patients with mostly resistant depression in a real-world setting

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to identify factors associated with side effects of psychotropic drugs in a real-world setting enriched with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) patients. Methods A total of 1410 depressed patients were treated in a naturalistic setting. Side effects were measured with the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser Side Effect Rating Scale (UKU); the total score and UKU subscales were considered. Clinical-demographic variables were tested for association with side effects in univariate and then multivariate analyses. Results Total, psychic and neurological side effects were associated with depressive symptom severity, while autonomic side effects were higher in those with somatic comorbidities and other side effects were lower in patients receiving trazodone. In multivariate analyses, depressive symptom severity was associated with psychic and total side effects, while generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) with neurological side effects and somatic comorbidities remained associated with autonomic side effects. Trazodone was associated with lower side effects and with augmentation treatments. Augmentation therapies showed opposite effects depending on response status, i.e. increased or decreased the risk of side effects in responders and non-responders/resistant patients, respectively. Conclusions Psychic side effects may be difficult to distinguish from depressive symptoms and factors associated with different types of side effects are heterogeneous and likely interacting.
Trends and patterns of benzodiazepines and Z‐drugs prescriptions in Australian general practice: A national study (2011–2018)

Abstract Introduction We aimed to explore trends and sociodemographic patterns in benzodiazepine (BZD) (by half‐life) and Z‐drugs prescribing in Australian general practice. Methods This open cohort study used de‐identified electronic health records of 1.4 million patients (50,812,413 consultations) from 402 Australian practices (MedicineInsight 2011–2018). Annual prescribing frequency and changes over time were estimated according to sex, age, socioeconomic position and rurality. Results Between 2011 and 2018, the prescribing of very short‐acting BZD increased from 0.10 to 0.29 per 1000 consultations (average annual change +17.2% [95% CI 9.6; 25.3]), while it declined for short‐intermediate (from 38.5 to 26.6 per 1000 consultations; annual change −5.1% [95% CI −5.6; −4.5]), long‐acting BZD (from 24.1 to 21.6 per 1000 consultation; annual change −1.5% [95% CI −2.2; −0.8]) and Z‐drugs (from 4.6 to 4.0 per 1000 consultations; annual change −1.9% [95% CI −3.0; −0.7]). Short‐intermediate‐acting BZD prescribing was three times more frequent among women aged 65+ years than younger women, and long‐acting BZD three‐to‐four times more likely among younger than older men. Z‐drugs prescribing was higher among women aged 45–64 years than younger or older females. Short‐intermediate‐ and long‐acting BZD were more likely prescribed for patients from more disadvantaged areas, and Z‐drugs in more advantaged areas. There were no disparities by rurality. Discussion and Conclusions Although most BZD and Z‐drugs prescriptions declined over time, short‐intermediate BZD prescriptions remained higher among older women and long‐acting BZD more frequent among younger men, especially for those living in more disadvantaged areas. Targeted interventions could reduce the prescribing of BZD and Z‐drugs in these groups.
MtCLSS: Multi-Task Contrastive Learning for Semi-Supervised Pediatric Sleep Staging

The continuing increase in the incidence and recognition of children's sleep disorders has heightened the demand for automatic pediatric sleep staging. Supervised sleep stage recognition algorithms, however, are often faced with challenges such as limited availability of pediatric sleep physicians and data heterogeneity. Drawing upon two quickly advancing fields, i.e., semi-supervised learning and self-supervised contrastive learning, we propose a multi-task contrastive learning strategy for semi-supervised pediatric sleep stage recognition, abbreviated as MtCLSS. Specifically, signal-adapted transformations are applied to electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings of the full night polysomnogram, which facilitates the network to improve its representation ability through identifying the transformations. We also introduce an extension of contrastive loss function, thus adapting contrastive learning to the semi-supervised setting. In this way, the proposed framework learns not only task-specific features from a small amount of supervised data, but also extracts general features from signal transformations, improving the model robustness. MtCLSS is evaluated on a real-world pediatric sleep dataset with promising performance (0.80 accuracy, 0.78 F1-score and 0.74 kappa). We also examine its generality on a well-known public dataset. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the MtCLSS framework for EEG based automatic pediatric sleep staging in very limited labeled data scenarios.
The HSP90 inhibitor 17‐AAG induced calcium‐mediated apoptosis in filarial parasites

The available antifilarial medications are effective only against the larval stage of the filarial parasite. As a result, there is a pressing need for an adulticidal drug. The development of drugs requires the identification of molecular targets that are critical for parasite life. In this study, we observed the effect of 17‐N‐allyl‐17‐demethoxygeldanamycin on the survival of adult filarial parasites. The 17‐N‐allyl‐17‐demethoxygeldanamycin (17‐AAG) is a derivative of geldanamycin (GA), which is an inhibitor of heat shock protein (HSP)90. It is less toxic as compared to geldanamycin. The motility and viability of the adult filarial parasite Setaria cervi were decreased on exposure to 17‐AAG at 2.5 and 5.0 μM/ml concentrations. The 17‐AAG treated parasites showed induction of oxidative stress as evidenced by decreased activity of various antioxidant enzymes like glutathione s‐transferase, glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase, and an increase in ROS production in comparison to control. Oxidative stress may lead to altered calcium homeostasis. Indeed, in 17‐AAG treated worms, there was a rise in calcium in the cytosol and mitochondria, as well as a decrease in the ER. We also observed enhanced activity of phospholipase C in the treated parasite, suggesting the opening of calcium channels located on the ER membrane. ER stress is marked by a reduced level of protein disulfide isomerase. Further, 17‐AAG treated worms showed an increase in apoptotic marker enzyme activities like calpain, cyt‐c, and caspase‐3. The 2D‐gel electrophoresis technique showed 142 protein spots in the control and 112 spots in the 17‐AAG treated parasite. Thus, 17‐AAG induced oxidative stress, and altered calcium, and proteostasis of parasites, which led to apoptosis.
Retraction: When to retire after concussion?

Dr McCrory purports to quote Thorndike when he writes that after experiencing “three concussions, which involved loss of consciousness for any period of time, the athlete should be removed from contact sports for the remainder of the season. ” This passage, which is written in direct quotation marks, is attributed to Thorndike’s 1952 paper. BMJ’s research integrity team and British Journal of Sports Medicine editorinchief have reviewed Thorndike’s 1952 article. It does not contain the quotation which McCrory used.
A hybrid cartilage extracellular matrix-based hydrogel/poly (ε-caprolactone) scaffold incorporated with Kartogenin for cartilage tissue engineering

Despite extensive studies, hydrogels are unable to meet the mechanical and biological requirements for successful outcomes in cartilage tissue engineering. In the present study, beta cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified alginate/cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM)-based interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel was developed for sustained release of Kartogenin (KGN). Furthermore, the hydrogel was incorporated within a 3D-printed poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/starch microfiber network in order to reinforce the construct for cartilage tissue engineering. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by H1-NMR spectroscopy. The hydrogel/microfiber composite with a microfiber strand size and strand spacing of 300 μm and 2 mm, respectively showed a compressive modulus of 17.2 MPa, resembling the properties of the native cartilage tissue. Considering water uptake capacity, degradation rate, mechanical property, cell cytotoxicity and glycosaminoglycan secretions, β-CD-modified hydrogel reinforced with printed PCL/starch microfibers with controlled release of KGN may be considered as a promising candidate for using in articular cartilage defects.
Loss of endangered frugivores from seed dispersal networks generates severe mutualism disruption

Many tropical seed-dispersing frugivores are facing extinction, but the consequences of the loss of endangered frugivores for seed dispersal is not well understood. We investigated the role of frugivore endangerment status via robustness-to-coextinction simulations (in this context, more accurately described as robustness-to-partner-loss simulations) using data from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. By simulating the extinction of endangered frugivores, we found a rapid and disproportionate loss of tree species with dispersal partners in the network, and this surprisingly surpassed any other frugivore extinction scenario, including the loss of the most generalist frugivores first. A key driver of this pattern is that many specialist plants rely on at-risk frugivores as seed-dispersal partners. Moreover, interaction compensation in the absence of endangered frugivores may be unlikely because frugivores with growing populations forage on fewer plant species than frugivores with declining populations. Therefore, protecting endangered frugivores could be critical for maintaining tropical forest seed dispersal, and their loss may have higher-than-expected functional consequences for tropical forests, their regeneration processes, and the maintenance of tropical plant diversity
Integrative taxonomy of a new cocculinid limpet dominating the Aurora Vent Field in the central Arctic ocean

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents host lush chemosynthetic communities, dominated by endemic fauna that cannot live in other ecosystems. Despite over 500 active vents found worldwide, the Arctic has remained a little-studied piece of vent biogeography. Though located as early as 2001, the faunal communities of the Aurora Vent Field on the ultra-slow spreading Gakkel Ridge remained unsampled until recently, owing to difficulties with sampling on complex topography below permanent ice. Here, we report an unusual cocculinid limpet abundant on inactive chimneys in Aurora (3883–3884 m depth), describing it as Cocculina aurora n. sp. using an integrative approach combining traditional dissection, electron microscopy, molecular phylogeny, and three-dimensional anatomical reconstruction. Gross anatomy of the new species was typical for Cocculina, but it has a unique radula with broad, multi-cuspid rachidian where the outermost lateral is reduced compared to typical cocculinids. A phylogenetic reconstruction using the mitochondrial COI gene also confirmed its placement in Cocculina. Only the second cocculinid found at vents following the description of the Antarctic Cocculina enigmadonta, this is currently the sole cocculinid restricted to vents. Our discovery adds to the evidence that Arctic vents host animal communities closely associated with wood falls and distinct from other parts of the world.