Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of phytase and xylanase enzymes on growth performance and Mucin2 gene expression in broiler chickens

Abstract Background Development of exogenous enzymes is one of the most important discoveries in animal nutrition. The supplementation of exogenous enzymes in broiler diets allows for supplying nutrient deficiencies and to decrease endogenous losses. Objectives The effects of phytase (Hostazym and Phyzyme) and xylanase (Ronozyme) enzymes were investigated on growth performance and Mucin2 gene expression in broilers. Methods A completely randomized design was applied, including 7 treatments, 4 replicates and 25 birds per replicates. A total of 700 male Ross (308) broiler chickens were fed with similar diets supplemented by Hostazym and Phyzyme (500 and 1000 FTU/kg) and Ronozyme (100 and 200 EXU/kg). Weight gain (WG), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined for three phases and entire rearing period. On 42 days of age, four birds per replicate were slaughtered. Total RNA was extracted from jejunum samples, and Mucin2 gene expression was measured by real‐time PCR. Results Phytase and xylanase enzymes had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on traits (WG and FCR) in grower and finisher phases and whole rearing period, but FI was not affected by enzymes (p > 0.05). Carcass (74.13 g) and breast (27.76 g) weights by Hostazym (1000 FTU/kg) were higher than other treatments (p < 0.05). Weight of liver, bursa and spleen were significantly influenced by enzymes (p < 0.05). Likewise, bursa and spleen weights in Hostazym (1000 FTU/kg feed) and Ronozyme (200 EXU/kg feed) were significantly higher than other treatments (p < 0.05). Mucin2 gene expression was affected by enzymes in whole treatments. The lowest amount of Mucin2 gene expression belonged to Ronozyme (200 and 100 EXU/kg), and the highest was belonging to Hostazym (1000 FTU/kg). Conclusions Phytase enzymes have higher effect on broiler performance and Mucin2 gene expression compared to xylanase. High doses of Hostazym (1000 FTU/kg feed) could be supplemented in broiler chicken diets to improve optimum growth and feed efficiency.
Counseling on hormone replacement therapy: the real risks and benefits

Purpose of review The menopause transition can be a time of great upheaval and suffering for some patients. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can relieve symptoms and improve quality of life but the perceived risks of HRT have decreased use over the past two decades. Understanding the real risks and benefits will ease physician and other healthcare professionals discomfort with counseling and prescribing this potentially life changing therapy in appropriate patients. Recent findings Menopausal symptoms may persist several years beyond the final menstrual period. Previously stated risks of HRT overestimated the concern with menopausal therapy. New data indicates there are medical benefits to HRT beyond quality of life measures. Summary In appropriate patients, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweigh the risks. Extended use of hormone replacement therapy is reasonable in patients with persistent symptoms.
Comparative analysis of prevalence, evaluation, management, and rehabilitation outcome of spontaneous isolated visceral artery dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 80 reports

Background: Because of relatively little data for management and evaluation surrounding spontaneous isolated visceral artery dissection (IVAD), existing studies have failed to provide comprehensive analysis for the management, evaluation, prevalence, as well as natural course of the disease. Therefore, we collected and analyzed current evidence on spontaneous IVAD with the aim of providing quantitative pooled data for the natural course and treatment standardization of the disease. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to 1 June 2022, was conducted for relevant studies that investigating the natural course, treatment, classification, and outcomes of IVAD. The primary outcomes were to determine the difference in prevalence, risk factors, and characteristics between different spontaneous IVAD. Two reviewers assessed the trial quality and extracted the data independently. All statistical analyses were performed using the standard statistical procedures provided in Review Manager 5.2 and Stata 12.0. Results: A total of 80 reports with 1040 patients were identified. The pooled results indicated that in IVAD, isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD) was more prevalent, with a pooled prevalence of 60% (95% CI: 50–71%), followed by isolated celiac artery dissection (ICAD) (prevalence: 37%; 95% CI: 27–46%). IVAD was male predominated with a pooled proportion of 80% (95% CI: 72–89%). Similar results were found in ICAD (prevalence: 73%; 95% CI: 52–93%). More IVAD patients were diagnosed with symptoms than ICAD (64 vs. 59%). Regarding to the risk factors, this pooled analysis found smoking and hypertension were the top two conditions in both spontaneous IVAD and ICAD patients, with proportion of 43, 41, 44, and 32%, respectively. It was observed that ICAD appeared shorter dissection length (mean difference: −3.4 cm; 95% CI: −4.9 to −2.0; P<0.0001), higher prevalence of Sakamoto’s classification Π (odds ratio: 5.31; 95% CI: 1.77−15.95; P=0.003) and late progression (odds ratio: 2.84; 95% CI: 1.02−7.87; P=0.05) than ISAMD. Conclusions: Spontaneous IVAD was male predominant and ISMAD was most prevalent followed by ICAD. Smoking and hypertension were the top two conditions in both spontaneous IVAD and ICAD patients. The majority of patients diagnosed with IVAD received observation and conservative treatment and experienced a low proportion of reintervention or progression, especially for ICAD patients. In addition, ICAD and ISMAD had several differences in clinical features and dissection characteristics. Future studies with enough sample size and long follow-up are required to clear the management, long-term outcome, and risk factors of the IVAD prognosis.
The ubiquitin-specific protease USP36 SUMOylates EXOSC10 and promotes the nucleolar RNA exosome function in rRNA processing

Abstract The RNA exosome is an essential 3′ to 5′ exoribonuclease complex that mediates degradation, processing and quality control of virtually all eukaryotic RNAs. The nucleolar RNA exosome, consisting of a nine-subunit core and a distributive 3′ to 5′ exonuclease EXOSC10, plays a critical role in processing and degrading nucleolar RNAs, including pre-rRNA. However, how the RNA exosome is regulated in the nucleolus is poorly understood. Here, we report that the nucleolar ubiquitin-specific protease USP36 is a novel regulator of the nucleolar RNA exosome. USP36 binds to the RNA exosome through direct interaction with EXOSC10 in the nucleolus. Interestingly, USP36 does not significantly regulate the levels of EXOSC10 and other tested exosome subunits. Instead, it mediates EXOSC10 SUMOylation at lysine (K) 583. Mutating K583 impaired the binding of EXOSC10 to pre-rRNAs, and the K583R mutant failed to rescue the defects in rRNA processing and cell growth inhibition caused by knockdown of endogenous EXOSC10. Furthermore, EXOSC10 SUMOylation is markedly reduced in cells in response to perturbation of ribosomal biogenesis. Together, these results suggest that USP36 acts as a SUMO ligase to promote EXOSC10 SUMOylation critical for the RNA exosome function in ribosome biogenesis.
Ultrafiltration Rate Levels in Hemodialysis Patients Associated with Weight-Specific Mortality Risks

Visual Abstract Background We hypothesized that the association of ultrafiltration rate with mortality in hemodialysis patients was differentially affected by weight and sex and sought to derive a sex- and weight-indexed ultrafiltration rate measure that captures the differential effects of these parameters on the association of ultrafiltration rate with mortality. Methods Data were analyzed from the US Fresenius Kidney Care (FKC) database for 1 year after patient entry into a FKC dialysis unit (baseline) and over 2 years of follow-up for patients receiving thrice-weekly in-center hemodialysis. To investigate the joint effect of baseline-year ultrafiltration rate and postdialysis weight on survival, we fit Cox proportional hazards models using bivariate tensor product spline functions and constructed contour plots of weight-specific mortality hazard ratios over the entire range of ultrafiltration rate values and postdialysis weights (W). Results In the studied 396,358 patients, the average ultrafiltration rate in ml/h was related to postdialysis weight (W) in kg: 3W+330. Ultrafiltration rates associated with 20% or 40% higher weight-specific mortality risk were 3W+500 and 3W+630 ml/h, respectively, and were 70 ml/h higher in men than in women. Nineteen percent or 7.5% of patients exceeded ultrafiltration rates associated with a 20% or 40% higher mortality risk, respectively. Low ultrafiltration rates were associated with subsequent weight loss. Ultrafiltration rates associated with a given mortality risk were lower in high–body weight older patients and higher in patients on dialysis for more than 3 years. Conclusions Ultrafiltration rates associated with various levels of higher mortality risk depend on body weight, but not in a 1:1 ratio, and are different in men versus women, in high–body weight older patients, and in high-vintage patients.
Clinical value of procalcitonin-to-albumin ratio for identifying sepsis in neonates with pneumonia

Abstract Background It is possible that neonates with pneumonia also have unrecognized sepsis. Identifying sepsis in neonates with pneumonia may cause some trouble for clinicians. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of the procalcitonin-to-albumin ratio (PAR) in identifying sepsis in neonates with pneumonia. Methods We retrospectively included 912 neonates with pneumonia from January 2016 to July 2021. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from electronic medical records. Among neonates with pneumonia, 561 neonates were diagnosed with sepsis, according to the International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus. Neonates were divided into a sepsis group and a pneumonia group. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate whether PAR was a potential independent indicator for identifying sepsis in neonates with pneumonia. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic value of PAR in sepsis. Results Neonates with sepsis have a higher PAR (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis showed that PAR was positively correlated with the level of C-reactive protein (r = 0.446, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that PAR was an independent predictor of the presence of sepsis in neonates with pneumonia. ROC curve analysis revealed that PAR had good power in identifying sepsis in neonates with pneumonia (area under curve (AUC) = 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.68-0.75, p < 0.001). Conclusion PAR can be used as a new biomarker to identify sepsis in neonates with pneumonia. Key Messages Compared with neonates with pneumonia, neonates with both pneumonia and sepsis had a higher PAR. PAR was a useful biomarker in distinguishing septic neonates from neonates with pneumonia.
A smartphone-based online platform for clinical skills training and assessment with standardized patients: platform development and pilot study outcomes

ABSTRACT There are limitations and difficulties in the management of traditional in-person standardized patient (SP) practice. The latest developments in online communication tools and the COVID-19 pandemic have promoted the needs for online clinical skills training objectively. However, existing commercial online platforms may not meet the requests for SP-based medical simulation. This paper described the methodology applied to develop a smartphone-based online platform for the management of clinical skills training and assessment with remote SPs, and aimed to determine whether this new platform is acceptable or useful through a pilot run in September 2020. The post-run survey including questionnaire inspired by technological acceptance model and determinants of the perceived ease of use was used to assess the acceptability and usefulness of the platform. Twenty four-year students of clinical medicine participated in the pilot study with twenty SPs and ten faculties. Data from the post-run survey showed that there was a general recognition that the platform is easy to use among all the users. Two questions regarding the usefulness of the platform showed significant differences between the SPs/faculties and the students. More SPs found the platform useful as a training method than the students did. The faculties showed more attempts than the students to use this platform for clinical skills training in the future. This smartphone-based online platform was widely accepted among the tested students, SPs and faculties, which meets the requests and challenges of the new era. It provides an effective approach for clinical skills training and assessment with remote SPs.
Whole exome and transcript profiling of liver following aflatoxin B1 exposure in rats

We recently developed a rat whole exome sequencing (WES) panel and used it to evaluate early somatic mutations in archival liver tissues from F344/N rats exposed to the hepatocarcinogen, Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a widely studied, potent mutagen and hepatocarcinogen associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Rats were exposed to 1‐ppm AFB1 in feed for 14, 90, and 90 days plus a recovery 60‐day, non‐exposure period (150‐day) timepoint. Isolated liver DNA was exome sequenced. We identified 172 sequence variants across all timepoints, of which 101 were non‐synonymous variants. Well‐annotated genes carried a diverse set of 29 non‐synonymous mutations at 14 days, increasing to 39 mutations at 90 days and then decreasing to 33 mutations following the 60‐day recovery. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis conducted on previously reported, available RNA expression data of the same exome sequenced archival samples identified altered transcripts in pathways associated with malignant transformation. These included HALLMARK gene sets associated with cell proliferation (MYC Targets Version 1 and Version 2, E2F targets), cell cycle (G2M checkpoint, mitotic spindle), cell death (apoptosis), and DNA damage (DNA repair, UV response Up, Reactive oxygen species) pathways. DriverNet Impact analysis integrated exome‐seq and expression data to reveal somatic mutations in Mcm8, Bdp1, and Cct6a that may drive cancer formation. Connectivity with transcript expression changes identified these genes as the top‐ranked candidate driver genes associated with hepatocellular transformation. In conclusion, exome sequencing revealed early somatic mutations that may play a role in cancer cell transformation that are translatable to aflatoxin‐induced HCC.
Body mass index and quality of life in people living with HIV

ABSTRACT With advances in the treatment of HIV, people living with HIV (PLWH) are now expected to have a near-normal life expectancy, but challenges remain in the form of substantially poorer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) than the general population. Being overweight or obese may pose an additional burden in PLWH, but few studies have evaluated the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and HRQoL in PLWH. This study aimed to evaluate and describe the association between HRQoL and BMI among PLWH in the US. Data were obtained from the 2018 and 2019 US National Health and Wellness Survey, an online, self-reported, general population survey. Analyses included 575 PLWH who self-reported a physician diagnosis and prescription use for the treatment of HIV, as well as 1725 propensity score matched non-HIV controls. After adjusting for age, sex, race, and comorbidities, higher BMI was associated with poorer physical (β = −0.18, p = 0.005) and general (β = −0.42, p = 0.014) HRQoL among PLWH. Additionally, PLWH reported poorer mental, physical, and general HRQoL than non-HIV controls; these relationships were not moderated by BMI. The potential negative impact of higher BMI on patients’ humanistic outcomes should be considered in HIV management, including selection of treatment.
Magnetothermodynamic Peristaltic Flow of Bingham Non-Newtonian Fluid in Eccentric Annuli with Slip Velocity and Temperature Jump Conditions

In this paper, we studied the peristaltic flow and heat transfer of an incompressible, electrically conducting Bingham Non-Newtonian fluid in an eccentric uniform annulus in the presence of external uniform magnetic field with slip velocity and temperature jump at the wall conditions. The viscous and Joule dissipations are taken into account. The inner tube is rigid and moving with a constant axial velocity, while the outer tube has a sinusoidal wave traveling down its wall. Under zero Reynolds number condition with the long wavelength approximation, the axial velocity and the stream function are obtained analytically. A numerical solution for the governing partial differential equation of energy is performed in order to analyze the temperature distribution. The effects of all parameters of the problem are numerically discussed and graphically explained.
Rational design of mini protein mimicking uricase: Encapsulation in ZIF‐8 for uric acid detection

Five mini proteins mimicking uricase comprising 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 amino acids were designed based on the conserved active site residues within the same dimer, using the crystal structure of tetrameric uricase from Arthrobacter globiformis (PDB ID: 2yzb) as a template. Based on molecular docking analysis, the smallest mini protein, mp20, shared similar residues to that of native uricase that formed hydrogen bonds with uric acid and was chosen for further studies. Although purified recombinant mp20 did not exhibit uricase activity, it showed specific binding towards uric acid and evinced excellent thermotolerance and structural stability at temperatures ranging from 10°C to 100°C, emulating its natural origin. To explore the potential of mp20 as a bioreceptor in uric acid sensing, mp20 was encapsulated within zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (mp20@ZIF‐8) followed by the modification on rGO‐screen printed electrode (rGO/SPCE) to maintain the structural stability. An irreversible anodic peak and increased semicircular arcs of the Nyquist plot with an increase of the analyte concentrations were observed by utilizing cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), suggesting the detection of uric acid occurred, which is based on substrate–mp20 interaction.
Spectral approach to pulse propagation in a dispersive nonlinear medium

The nonlinear physical processes influencing pulse propagation are emphasized by analyzing equations for the pulse spectrum amplitude and phase. A constant pulse is maintained when it has the correct form necessary to suppress the four-photon mixing processes, so that the amplitude is constant and the total optical Kerr effect counterbalances the frequency dependence of the linear dispersion, thus preventing variable frequency-dependent terms in the phase. The effects are demonstrated explicitly and offer an alternative to the self-phase-modulation picture based on the equivalent nonlinear Schrodinger equation. The fundamental soliton is immediately obtained. Constants associated with pulse propagation in a nonlinear medium are related to moments of the pulse spectrum. The constraints on pulse shape and magnitude are discussed, and the effects of power absorption are examined.
Diabetes, Edentulism, and Cognitive Decline: A 12-Year Prospective Analysis

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a recognized risk factor for dementia, and increasing evidence shows that tooth loss is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. However, the effect of the co-occurrence of DM and edentulism on cognitive decline is understudied. This 12-y cohort study aimed to assess the effect of the co-occurrence of DM and edentulism on cognitive decline and examine whether the effect differs by age group. Data were drawn from the 2006 to 2018 Health and Retirement Study. The study sample included 5,440 older adults aged 65 to 74 y, 3,300 aged 75 to 84 y, and 1,208 aged 85 y or older. Linear mixed-effect regression was employed to model the rates of cognitive decline stratified by age cohorts. Compared with their counterparts with neither DM nor edentulism at baseline, older adults aged 65 to 74 y (β = −1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.56 to −0.65; P < 0.001) and those aged 75 to 84 y with both conditions (β = −1.35; 95% CI, −2.09 to −0.61; P < 0.001) had a worse cognitive function. For the rate of cognitive decline, compared to those with neither condition from the same age cohort, older adults aged 65 to 74 y with both conditions declined at a higher rate (β = −0.15; 95% CI, −0.20 to −0.10; P < 0.001). Having DM alone led to an accelerated cognitive decline in older adults aged 65 to 74 y (β = −0.09; 95% CI, −0.13 to −0.05; P < 0.001); having edentulism alone led to an accelerated decline in older adults aged 65 to 74 y (β = −0.13; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.08; P < 0.001) and older adults aged 75 to 84 (β = −0.10; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.03; P < 0.01). Our study finds the co-occurrence of DM and edentulism led to a worse cognitive function and a faster cognitive decline in older adults aged 65 to 74 y.
Hindcasts and forecasts of suicide mortality in US: A modeling study

Deaths by suicide, as well as suicidal ideations, plans and attempts, have been increasing in the US for the past two decades. Deployment of effective interventions would require timely, geographically well-resolved estimates of suicide activity. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of a two-step process for predicting suicide mortality: a) generation of hindcasts, mortality estimates for past months for which observational data would not have been available if forecasts were generated in real-time; and b) generation of forecasts with observational data augmented with hindcasts. Calls to crisis hotline services and online queries to the Google search engine for suicide-related terms were used as proxy data sources to generate hindcasts. The primary hindcast model (auto) is an Autoregressive Integrated Moving average model (ARIMA), trained on suicide mortality rates alone. Three regression models augment hindcast estimates from auto with call rates (calls), GHT search rates (ght) and both datasets together (calls_ght). The 4 forecast models used are ARIMA models trained with corresponding hindcast estimates. All models were evaluated against a baseline random walk with drift model. Rolling monthly 6-month ahead forecasts for all 50 states between 2012 and 2020 were generated. Quantile score (QS) was used to assess the quality of the forecast distributions. Median QS for auto was better than baseline (0.114 vs. 0.21. Median QS of augmented models were lower than auto, but not significantly different from each other (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p > .05). Forecasts from augmented models were also better calibrated. Together, these results provide evidence that proxy data can address delays in release of suicide mortality data and improve forecast quality. An operational forecast system of state-level suicide risk may be feasible with sustained engagement between modelers and public health departments to appraise data sources and methods as well as to continuously evaluate forecast accuracy.