Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation for migraine: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background Medication is commonly used to treat migraine. However, patients may experience adverse events or fail to respond to medication. In recent years, neuromodulation techniques have emerged as potential non-pharmacological therapy for migraine. This article focuses on a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (n-VNS) for migraine to determine the efficacy, safety and tolerability of n-VNS. Methods We searched PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials databases up to July 15, 2022. Primary outcomes were monthly reduced migraine/headache days, and pain-free rates within 2 h. Secondary outcomes were ≥ 50% responder rate, headache intensity, monthly acute medication reduction days, and adverse events. Results Meta-analysis shows that non-invasive cervical vagus nerve stimulation (n-cVNS) significantly impacted ≥50% responder rate (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.47; p = 0.02), but had no significant effect on reducing migraine days (MD, −0.46; 95% CI, −1.21 to 0.29; p = 0.23) and headache days (MD, −0.68; 95% CI, −1.52 to 0.16; p = 0.11). In contrast, low-frequency non-invasive auricular vagus nerve stimulation (n-aVNS) was found to significantly reduce the number of migraine days (MD, −1.8; 95% CI, −3.34 to −0.26; p = 0.02) and headache intensity (SMD, −0.7; 95% CI, −1.23 to −0.17; p = 0.009), but not the number of acute medication days per month (MD, −1.1; 95% CI, −3.84 to 1.64; p = 0.43). In addition, n-cVNS was found safe and well-tolerated in most patients. Conclusion These findings show that n-VNS is a promising method for migraine management.
Effects of adjuvant huaier granule therapy on survival rate of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective: Clinical trials have reported that Huaier granule inhibits the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection. However, its efficacy in patients at different clinical stages of HCC remains unknown. We investigated the effects of Huaier granule on the 3-year overall survival (OS) rate of patients at different clinical stages. Design: This cohort study included 826 patients with HCC, screened between January 2015 and December 2019. The patients were divided into Huaier (n = 174) and control groups (n = 652), and the 3-year OS rates were compared between the two groups. To eliminate bias caused by confounding factors, propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate OS rate and tested the difference using the log-rank test. Results: Multivariable regression analysis revealed that Huaier therapy was an independent protective factor for 3-year survival rate. After PSM (1:2), the Huaier and control groups comprised 170 and 340 patients, respectively. The 3-year OS rate was remarkably higher in the Huaier group than in the control group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.36; 95% confidence interval: 0.26–0.49; p < 0.001). The aHR for Huaier use for 3–12, 12–24, and >24 months was 0.48, 0.23, and 0.16, respectively, indicating a dose-response pattern. For the 3–12-, 12–24-, and >24-month groups, the 3-year OS rate was 54.1%, 68.6%, and 90.4%, respectively. Multivariate stratified analysis confirmed that the mortality risk in Huaier users was lower than that in non-Huaier users in most subgroups. Conclusion: Adjuvant Huaier therapy improved the OS rate in patients with HCC. However, these findings require further verification through prospective clinical studies.
Emergency residents' self-perceived readiness for practice: the association of milestones, entrustable professional activities, and professional identities—a multi-institutional survey

Background As a successful innovation, competency-based medical education and its assessment tools continue to be a key strategy in training future doctors and tracking their performance trajectories. Linked to professional identity, evidence suggests that clinical competence is related to thinking, acting and feeling like a physician. Thus, incorporating the values and attitudes of healthcare professions as part of their professional identity in the clinical workplace improves professional performance. Methods Through a cross-sectional study, we examined the association of milestone, entrustable professional activities (EPA) and professional identity using self-reported tools among emergency medicine residents from 12 teaching hospitals across Taiwan. Milestone, EPA and professional identity were assessed using the Emergency Medicine Milestone Scale, Entrustable Professional Activity Scale and Emergency Physician Professional Identity and Value Scale, respectively. Results The results of a Pearson correlation indicated a significant positive correlation between milestone-based core competencies and EPAs (r = 0.40 ~ 0.74, p < 0.01). The professional identity domain of skills acquisition, capabilities and practical wisdom was positively correlated with milestone-based core competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, and system-based practice (r = 0.18 ~ 0.21, p ≤ 0.05), and six items of EPA (r = 0.16 ~ 0.22, p < 0.05). Additionally, the professional identity domain of professional recognition and self-esteem was positively correlated with practice-based learning and improvement, and system-based practice milestone competencies (r = 0.16 ~ 0.19, p < 0.05). Conclusion This study demonstrates milestone and EPA assessment tools are highly linked and therefore, can be synergistically used by supervisors and clinical educators to evaluate clinical performance during residency training. Emergency physicians’ professional identity is partly influenced by the advancement of skills and a resident’s ability to learn, effectively perform tasks and make appropriate medical decisions at the system level in their clinical practice. Further research is warranted to understand the importance of residents’ competency in relation to their professional identity development trajectory during clinical training.
Visual reading for [18F]Florzolotau ([18F]APN-1607) tau PET imaging in clinical assessment of Alzheimer’s disease

Introduction Tau-targeted positron emission tomography (tau-PET) is a potential tool for the differential diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and to clarify the distribution of tau deposition. In addition to the quantitative analysis of tau-PET scans, visual reading supports the assessment of tau loading for clinical diagnosis. This study aimed to propose a method for visually interpreting tau-PET using the [18F] Florzolotau tracer and investigate the performance and utility of the visual reading. Materials and methods A total number of 46 individuals with 12 cognitively unimpaired subjects (CU), 20 AD patients with mild cognitive impairment (AD-MCI), and 14 AD with dementia (AD-D) patients with both [18F]Florbetapir amyloid PET and [18F]Florzolotau tau PET scans were included. Clinical information, cognitive assessment, and amyloid PET scan results were recorded. For visual interpretation, a modified rainbow colormap was created and a regional tau uptake scoring system was proposed to evaluate the degree of tracer uptake and its spatial distribution within five cortical regions. Each region was scored on a scale of [0, 2] as compared to the background, and that resulted in a global scale range of [0, 10]. Four readers interpreted [18F]Florzolotau PET using the visual scale. The global and regional standardized uptake value ratios (SUVr) were also calculated for analysis. Results The result indicates the average global visual scores were 0 ± 0 in the CU group, 3.43 ± 3.35 in the AD-MCI group, and 6.31 ± 2.97 in the AD-D group (p < 0.001). The consensus among the four observers on image scores was high with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.880 (95% CI: 0.767–0.936). The average global visual score was significantly associated with global SUVr (r = 0.884, p < 0.0001) and with the CDR-sum of box (r = 0.677, p < 0.0001). Conclusion The visual reading method generated a visual score of [18F]Florzolotau tau-PET with good sensitivity and specificity to identify AD-D or CU individuals from the other patients. The preliminary result also showed that the global visual scores are significantly and reliably correlated with global cortical SUVr, and associated well with the clinical diagnosis and cognitive performance.
Applicaition of Data Mining to Traffic Accidents Analysis

On the basis of the idea of association rule combined with rough set,we propounded a kind of(decision) rule reduct algorithm based on preferential information,which was applied to the data analysis of(traffic) accidents of Changchun City,so as to finish the implement of Traffic Accidents Analysis System.
Content development and validation for a mobile application designed to train family caregivers in the use of music to support care of people living with dementia

Background Music therapy is increasingly recognized as an effective support for people living with dementia. However, with incidences of dementia increasing, and limited availability of music therapists, there is a need for affordable and accessible ways that caregivers can learn to use music-therapy based strategies to support the people they care for. The MATCH project aims to address this by creating a mobile application that can train family caregivers in the use of music to support people living with dementia. Methods This study details the development and validation of training material for the MATCH mobile application. Training modules developed based on existing research were assessed by 10 experienced music therapist clinician-researchers, and seven family caregivers who had previously completed personalized training in music therapy strategies via the HOMESIDE project. Participants reviewed the content and scored each training module based on content (music therapists) and face (caregivers) validity scales. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate scores on the scales, while thematic analysis was used to analyze short-answer feedback. Results Participants scored the content as valid and relevant, however, they provided additional suggestions for improvement via short-answer feedback. Conclusion The content developed for the MATCH application is valid and will be trailed by family caregivers and people living with dementia in a future study.
Heterologous vaccination with inactivated vaccine and mRNA vaccine augments antibodies against both spike and nucleocapsid proteins of SARS-CoV-2: a local study in Macao

The mRNA vaccines (RVs) can reduce the severity and mortality of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). However, almost only the inactivated vaccines (IVs) but no RVs had been used in mainland China until most recently, and the relaxing of its anti-pandemic strategies in December 2022 increased concerns about new outbreaks. In comparison, many of the citizens in Macao Special Administrative Region of China received three doses of IV (3IV) or RV (3RV), or 2 doses of IV plus one booster of RV (2IV+1RV). By the end of 2022, we recruited 147 participants with various vaccinations in Macao and detected antibodies (Abs) against the spike (S) protein and nucleocapsid (N) protein of the virus as well as neutralizing antibodies (NAb) in their serum. We observed that the level of anti-S Ab or NAb was similarly high with both 3RV and 2IV+1RV but lower with 3IV. In contrast, the level of anti-N Ab was the highest with 3IV like that in convalescents, intermediate with 2IV+1RV, and the lowest with 3RV. Whereas no significant differences in the basal levels of cytokines related to T-cell activation were observed among the various vaccination groups before and after the boosters. No vaccinees reported severe adverse events. Since Macao took one of the most stringent non-pharmaceutical interventions in the world, this study possesses much higher confidence in the vaccination results than many other studies from highly infected regions. Our findings suggest that the heterologous vaccination 2IV+1RV outperforms the homologous vaccinations 3IV and 3RV as it induces not only anti-S Ab (to the level as with 3RV) but also anti-N antibodies (via the IV). It combines the advantages of both RV (to block the viral entry) and IV (to also intervene the subsequent pathological processes such as intracellular viral replication and interference with the signal transduction and hence the biological functions of host cells).
Quasi-passive lower limbs exosuit: an in-depth assessment of fatigue, kinematic and muscular patterns while comparing assistive strategies on an expert subject’s gait analysis

Wearable robots are becoming a valuable solution that helps injured, and elderly people regain mobility and improve clinical outcomes by speeding up the rehabilitation process. The XoSoft exosuit identified several benefits, including improvement of assistance, usability, and acceptance with a soft, modular, bio-mimetic, and quasi-passive exoskeleton. This study compares two assistive configurations: (i) a bilateral hip flexion (HA, hips-assistance) and (ii) a bilateral hip flexion combined with ankle plantarflexion (HAA, hips-ankles-assistance) with the main goal of evaluating compensatory actions and synergetic effects generated by the human- exoskeleton interaction. A complete description of this complex interaction scenario with this actuated exosuit is evaluated during a treadmill walking task, using several indices to quantify the human-robot interaction in terms of muscular activation and fatigue, metabolic expenditure, and kinematic motion patterns. Evidence shows that the HAA biomimetic controller is synergetic with the musculature and performs better concerning the other control strategy. The experimentation demonstrated a metabolic expenditure reduction of 8% of Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET), effective assistance of the muscular activation of 12.5%, a decrease of the muscular fatigue of 0.6% of the mean frequency, and a significant reduction of the compensatory actions, as discussed in this work. Compensatory effects are present in both assistive configurations, but the HAA modality provides a 47% reduction of compensatory effects when considering muscle activation.
Impaired rich-club connectivity in childhood absence epilepsy

Introduction Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) is a well-known pediatric epilepsy syndrome. Recent evidence has shown the presence of a disrupted structural brain network in CAE. However, little is known about the rich-club topology. This study aimed to explore the rich-club alterations in CAE and their association with clinical characteristics. Methods Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) datasets were acquired in a sample of 30 CAE patients and 31 healthy controls. A structural network was derived from DTI data for each participant using probabilistic tractography. Then, the rich-club organization was examined, and the network connections were divided into rich-club connections, feeder connections, and local connections. Results Our results confirmed a less dense whole-brain structural network in CAE with lower network strength and global efficiency. In addition, the optimal organization of small-worldness was also damaged. A small number of highly connected and central brain regions were identified to form the rich-club organization in both patients and controls. However, patients exhibited a significantly reduced rich-club connectivity, while the other class of feeder and local connections was relatively spared. Moreover, the lower levels of rich-club connectivity strength were statistically correlated with disease duration. Discussion Our reports suggest that CAE is characterized by abnormal connectivity concentrated to rich-club organizations and might contribute to understanding the pathophysiological mechanism of CAE.
Autologous platelet-rich fibrin promotes wound healing in cats

Street cats commonly present large skin wounds that pose significant challenges in veterinary practice. Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is a second-generation platelet concentrate increasingly used in humans to promote wound healing. Ease of use and clinical success in humans has prompted interest in using PRF in veterinary practice. However, until now, there is no reported study on the use of autologous PRF in feline wound management. This study evaluated the effect of application of autologous PRF in cats with naturally occurring cutaneous wounds. 16 cats with full-thickness cutaneous acute/subacute wounds were randomly allocated to PRF or Control (standard care) groups. Each cat was enrolled for 2 weeks. PRF was prepared according to previously described procedures. PRF was applied on Days 1 and 4 in addition to standard wound care. Wound size was measured using tracing planimetry. Wound surface area was calculated using SketchAndCalc™ software on scanned tracing images. Average wound sizes at enrolment were 8.39 cm2 (Control) (standard deviation (SD) 5.08 cm2) and 9.18 cm2 (PRF) (SD 3.71 cm2) (range 2.42–15.97 cm2). By Day 14, the mean wound size for the Control group was 2.17 cm2 (SD 1.52 cm2) and for the PRF was 0.62 cm2 (SD 0.44 cm2) (p = 0.015). At Day 14, the PRF group showed mean 93.85% wound contraction with SD 3.66, while the control group showed mean 76.23% wound contraction with SD 5.30 (p = <0.0001). Based on the results, PRF could be further investigated to promote wound healing in cats as a low-risk and convenient adjunctive therapy.
Enhancing the therapeutic activity of hyperimmune IgG against chikungunya virus using FcγRIIIa affinity chromatography

Introduction Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a re-emerging mosquito transmitted alphavirus of global concern. Neutralizing antibodies and antibody Fc-effector functions have been shown to reduce CHIKV disease and infection in animals. However, the ability to improve the therapeutic activity of CHIKV-specific polyclonal IgG by enhancing Fc-effector functions through modulation of IgG subclass and glycoforms remains unknown. Here, we evaluated the protective efficacy of CHIKV-immune IgG enriched for binding to Fc-gamma receptor IIIa (FcγRIIIa) to select for IgG with enhanced Fc effector functions. Methods Total IgG was isolated from CHIKV-immune convalescent donors with and without additional purification by FcγRIIIa affinity chromatography. The enriched IgG was characterized in biophysical and biological assays and assessed for therapeutic efficacy during CHIKV infection in mice. Results FcγRIIIa-column purification enriched for afucosylated IgG glycoforms. In vitro characterization showed the enriched CHIKV-immune IgG had enhanced human FcγRIIIa and mouse FcγRIV affinity and FcγR-mediated effector function without reducing virus neutralization in cellular assays. When administered as post-exposure therapy in mice, CHIKV-immune IgG enriched in afucosylated glycoforms promoted reduction in viral load. Discussion Our study provides evidence that, in mice, increasing Fc engagement of FcγRs on effector cells, by leveraging FcγRIIIa-affinity chromatography, enhanced the antiviral activity of CHIKV-immune IgG and reveals a path to produce more effective therapeutics against these and potentially other emerging viruses.
Mendelian randomization analyses of smoking and Alzheimer’s disease in Chinese and Japanese populations

Background Previous epidemiological studies have reported controversial results on the relationship between smoking and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, we sought to assess the association using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods We used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with smoking quantity (cigarettes per day, CPD) from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of Japanese population as instrumental variables, then we performed two-sample MR analysis to investigate the association between smoking and AD in a Chinese cohort (1,000 AD cases and 500 controls) and a Japanese cohort (3,962 AD cases and 4,074 controls), respectively. Results Genetically higher smoking quantity showed no statistical causal association with AD risk (the inverse variance weighted (IVW) estimate in the Chinese cohort: odds ratio (OR) = 0.510, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.149–1.744, p = 0.284; IVW estimate in the Japanese cohort: OR = 1.170, 95% confidence interval CI = 0.790–1.734, p = 0.434). Conclusion This MR study, for the first time in Chinese and Japanese populations, found no significant association between smoking and AD.
Bystanders’ reactions to animal abuse in relation to psychopathy, empathy with people and empathy with nature

Social and academic interest in animal abuse has recently increased thanks to greater awareness of the importance of biodiversity in promoting sustainability. The redefinition of human-animal relationships, in the context of the fight against speciesism and the defense of veganism, has also contributed to this greater attention. Moreover, public awareness of animal rights has strengthened social reactions to violence against animals, though there are still some social sectors that are indifferent to these changes. Thus, better knowledge of the psychological mechanisms underlying reactions to animal abuse could contribute to better informal, social control of such abuse. The main aim of this study is to analyze the relationships between psychopathy, empathy with people, and empathy with nature arising from people’s reactions to protected and domestic animal abuse and illegal dumping. Also, as previous studies have shown differences between men and women, both in animal abuse and in personality traits, thus gender is taken into account when analyzing these relationships. A total of 409 people, resident in a highly environmentally protected territory, participated in this study. They were aged between 18 and 82 years old and 49.9% women. Participants were asked about assigned punishments, as well as the probability of intervening personally and/or calling the police, in relation to ten scenarios, based on press releases, describing one of three types of transgression of environmental laws: abuse of protected animals, abuse of domestic animals or illegal dumping. They also responded to Spanish adaptations of the Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits, the Basic Empathy Scale, the Dispositional Empathy with Nature Scale, and the Social Desirability Scale. Each participant was randomly given ten scenarios corresponding to just one transgression type but all the personality scales. Results show that people’s reactions were greater for abuse of domestic than protected animals or for illegal dumping, irrespective of gender. Empathy with nature was related to the reaction against animal abuse more than empathy with people and psychopathy. Results are discussed highlighting the need for future research into similarities and differences between animal abuse and other types of environmental offences, which have many victims but no single being suffering.