Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The structural characteristics of photoaging in mice caused by the effects of ultraviolet A radiation.

BACKGROUND Due to its deep penetration into the dermis, ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation is considered a primary factor in skin photoaging. The aim of this study is to use a qualitative and quantitative analysis to determine the structural parameters of skin photoaging in mice exposed to UVA radiation, with or without the application of a photoprotective cream. MATERIAL AND METHODS The experiment consisted of the radiation of female BALBc mice in a solarium by UVA rays, up to total dosages of 7800 J/cm² and 12500J/cm². A total of 78 animals were divided into 4 experimental and 2 control groups. All animals were shaved and the animals in 2 experimental groups were treated with a photoprotective cream half an hour before exposure. The samples of the treated skin were stained with Hematoxylin-eosin and Van-Gieson staining methods. All measurements, except for the presence of dyskeratosis, were taken using ImageJ 150i software. RESULTS In the study, the signs of skin photoaging were more evident in untreated groups of animals. Dysceratosis was more frequent in both of the untreated groups of animals (p=0.004) and (p=0.003). The lowest values of epidermal thickness (13.8± 2.6μm and 12.7±2.3μm) were present in both of the untreated groups of animals (p<0.001) and (p<0.001). The highest values of stratum corneum thickness (34.3±8.5μm) were observed in the untreated, shorter radiated group of animals (p<0.001) which was irradiated for the shortest period of time. Beside the control groups, the highest length of dermo-epidermal junction (DEJ) was recorded in the group of treated, longer radiated animals (1467.6±94.6μm) (p=0.373). The lowest values of dermal thickness (115.9±10.5μm and 134.8±21.8μm) and volumetric density of the collagen fibers (31.92±3.19% and 29.40±4.54%) were present in both untreated groups of animals (p<0.001), (p<0.001), (p=0.035). CONCLUSIONS Skin photoaging was most pronounced in the groups of animals irradiated without the application of photoprotective cream.
Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy reveals neuronal-epithelial cell fusion in the mouse cornea

The cornea is the most highly innervated tissue in the body. It is generally accepted that corneal stromal nerves penetrate the epithelial basal lamina giving rise to intra-epithelial nerves. During the course of a study wherein we imaged corneal nerves in mice, we observed a novel neuronal-epithelial cell interaction whereby nerves approaching the epithelium in the cornea fused with basal epithelial cells, such that their plasma membranes were continuous and the neuronal axoplasm freely abutted the epithelial cytoplasm. In this study we sought to determine the frequency, distribution, and morphological profile of neuronal-epithelial cell fusion events within the cornea. Serial electron microscopy images were obtained from the anterior stroma in the paralimbus and central cornea of 8–10 week old C57BL/6J mice. We found evidence of a novel alternative behavior involving a neuronal-epithelial interaction whereby 42.8% of central corneal nerve bundles approaching the epithelium contain axons that fuse with basal epithelial cells. The average surface-to-volume ratio of a penetrating nerve was 3.32, while the average fusing nerve was smaller at 1.39 (p ≤ 0.0001). Despite this, both neuronal-epithelial cell interactions involve similarly sized discontinuities in the basal lamina. In order to verify the plasma membrane continuity between fused neurons and epithelial cells we used the lipophilic membrane tracer DiI. The majority of corneal nerves were labeled with DiI after application to the trigeminal ganglion and, consistent with our ultrastructural observations, fusion sites recognized as DiI-labeled basal epithelial cells were located at points of stromal nerve termination. These studies provide evidence that neuronal-epithelial cell fusion is a cell-cell interaction that occurs primarily in the central cornea, and fusing nerve bundles are morphologically distinct from penetrating nerve bundles. This is, to our knowledge, the first description of neuronal-epithelial cell fusion in the literature adding a new level of complexity to the current understanding of corneal innervation.
Knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy of elderly caregivers in Chinese nursing homes: a cross-sectional study in Liaoning Province

Objective This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of elderly caregivers in Chinese nursing homes (NHs) and associated factors with regard to knowledge, attitude about elderly and self-efficacy. Setting A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 12 NHs in Liaoning Province, China. Participants A total of 403 caregivers from 12 NHs were surveyed. Outcome measures Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire composed of the Palmore’s Facts on Aging Quiz I, Kogan’s Attitude Towards Old People Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale and background characteristics of participants. An average score for knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy was calculated. Differences across groups were evaluated using Student’s t-test and analysis of variance. Multivariable linear regression models were established to estimate the associated factors. Results The participating caregivers reported a relative low score on knowledge about the elderly (10.42±2.79), attitude towards old people (127.85±14.36) and self-efficacy (27.12±4.9). Multivariable regression analysis showed that respondents who had high educational level (β=0.212, 95% CI 0.193 to 0.824), received prejob training (β=0.193, 95% CI 0.081 to 1.169) and had high job satisfaction (general satisfaction: β=0.345, 95% CI 0.223 to 1.875; very satisfied: β=0.322, 95% CI 0.210 to 1.283) gave a positive rating on knowledge. Caregivers who were employed as formal staff (β=0.155, 95% CI 0.116 to 1.670), earned a high income (β=0.214, 95% CI 0.117 to 1.461) and had an interest in working with the elderly (β=0.141, 95% CI 0.088 to 1.508) tended to develop a positive attitude towards the elderly. However, caregivers who were female (β=−0.110, 95% CI −1.751 to −0.080) and had long work experience (β=−0.130, 95% CI −1.527 to −0.110) developed negative perception. Caregivers who were older (β=0.215, 95% CI 0.139 to 1.027), received prejob training (β=0.143, 95% CI 0.113 to 1.024), had an interest in working with the elderly (β=0.154, 95% CI 0.114 to 1.015), had high job satisfaction (β=0.177, 95% CI 0.116 to 1.223) and perceived better health status for the elderly (partial disability: β=0.437, 95% CI 0.259 to 1.600; no disability: β=0.288, 95% CI 0.153 to 1.211) gave a positive rating on self-efficacy. Conclusion Knowledge about the elderly, attitude towards old people and self-efficacy of elderly caregivers in Chinese NHs were at low levels. Some targeted intervention programmes, such as conducting professional training for aged care and a performance-based payment system, should be given priority to improve these attributes.
Clinical significance and correlation of microRNA-21 expression and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES: To explore the clinical significance and correlation of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: The observation group contained 184 patients, while the control group contained 150 patients. The expression of miR-21 in the serum of each group was detected by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients and their family members were followed-up for 30 days, among which 35 patients died and 149 patients survived, resulting in a survival rate of 80.97%. According to univariate analysis, there were significant differences in age, cardiac troponin (cTn), heart rate, Killip grade, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) operation rate, miR-21 and NLR. In the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) values of miR-21 and NLR for the diagnosis of AMI were 0.909 and 0.868, respectively, and the area under the combined detection curve was 0.960. In the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the survival of patients with high miR-21 expression and NLR was significantly higher than that of patients with low miR-21 expression and NLR (p=0.027; p=0.001). The correlation showed that miR-21 expression in serum was positively correlated with the NLR in the observation group (r=0.528, p<0.05). cTn, heart rate, Killip classification, PCI operation rate, miR-21, NLR are independent risk factors for AMI. CONCLUSION: miR-21 and NLR play a role in the diagnosis of AMI and can be used as predictors for the survival of AMI.
Clinical and Analytical Performance of the BD Onclarity HPV Assay with SurePath Screening Samples from the Danish Cervical Screening Program Using the VALGENT Framework

The Validation of HPV Genotyping Tests (VALGENT) framework is an international cooperation designed to evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) assays with genotyping capabilities. ABSTRACT The Validation of HPV Genotyping Tests (VALGENT) framework is an international cooperation designed to evaluate human papillomavirus (HPV) assays with genotyping capabilities. Here, we assessed the performance of the BD Onclarity assay using Danish SurePath cervical screening samples collected under the fourth VALGENT installment, consisting of 998 consecutive samples from a screening population and 297 enriched samples with abnormal cytology (100 with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASCUS], 100 with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions [LSIL], and 97 with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions [HSIL]). The Onclarity assay detects six HPV genotypes individually (genotypes 16, 18, 31, 45, 51, and 52) and eight genotypes in three bulks (genotypes 33 and 58; genotypes 56, 59, and 66; and genotypes 35, 39, and 68). The clinical performance of the Onclarity assay for the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grade 2 or worse (≥CIN2) and of two consecutive cytology outcomes negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (2×NILM) was assessed relative to that of the GP5+/6+ PCR-enzyme immunoassay (GP-EIA) by a noninferiority test. The relative sensitivity for ≥CIN2 was 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97 to 1.04), and the relative specificity for 2×NILM was 1.04 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.06). The Onclarity assay was found to be noninferior to the GP-EIA in terms of both sensitivity (P = 0.0006) and specificity (P < 0.0001). The type-specific performance of the Onclarity assay was also assessed, using the GP5+/6+ PCR with Luminex genotyping (GP-LMNX) as the comparator. The Onclarity assay showed good concordance for almost all HPV genotype groups. A stability analysis of SurePath samples was also performed, where a SurePath aliquot was stored refrigerated for 7 months and the internal control of the Onclarity assay was used as a marker for cellularity. The threshold cycle (CT) value was the same (24.8) in the first and second Onclarity runs, showing that a SurePath sample can be stored refrigerated for 7 months and still remain a valid test specimen.
Effects of dl‐3‐n‐butylphthalide on serum lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 and hypersensitive C‐reactive protein levels in acute cerebral infarction

This study aims to explore the curative effect of dl‐3‐n‐butylphthalide (NBP) on patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI) and its effects on serum lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A2 (Lp‐PLA2) and hypersensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) levels.
Laboratory Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Cases of Suspected Child Sexual Abuse

Laboratory diagnosis of microbial agents associated with sexually transmitted infections plays an important role in both the care of victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the investigation of suspected CSA incidents, with law enforcement implications. Rapid and sensitive test results prompt immediate actions to treat and protect the victimized children. ABSTRACT Laboratory diagnosis of microbial agents associated with sexually transmitted infections plays an important role in both the care of victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) and the investigation of suspected CSA incidents, with law enforcement implications. Rapid and sensitive test results prompt immediate actions to treat and protect the victimized children. The development and maturation of automated nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) has greatly improved the assay sensitivity and specificity, with only a 1- to 2-h turnaround time. Unfortunately, the performance characteristics of NAATs have been determined largely with a few limited specimen types and evaluated in adults only. This minireview attempts to cover the scope of infectious agents potentially implicated in CSA, specimen collection, laboratory test modalities, and laboratory report constraints, further complicated by infrequently collected specimen types from prepubertal children <13 years of age.
Characterizing pulsatility in distal cerebral arteries using 4D flow MRI

Recent reports have suggested that age-related arterial stiffening and excessive cerebral arterial pulsatility cause blood–brain barrier breakdown, brain atrophy and cognitive decline. This has spurred interest in developing non-invasive methods to measure pulsatility in distal vessels, closer to the cerebral microcirculation. Here, we report a method based on four-dimensional (4D) flow MRI to estimate a global composite flow waveform of distal cerebral arteries. The method is based on finding and sampling arterial waveforms from thousands of cross sections in numerous small vessels of the brain, originating from cerebral cortical arteries. We demonstrate agreement with internal and external reference methods and show the ability to capture significant increases in distal cerebral arterial pulsatility as a function of age. The proposed approach can be used to advance our understanding regarding excessive arterial pulsatility as a potential trigger of cognitive decline and dementia.
DDBJ Database updates and computational infrastructure enhancement

Abstract The Bioinformation and DDBJ Center (https://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp) in the National Institute of Genetics (NIG) maintains a primary nucleotide sequence database as a member of the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC) in partnership with the US National Center for Biotechnology Information and the European Bioinformatics Institute. The NIG operates the NIG supercomputer as a computational basis for the construction of DDBJ databases and as a large-scale computational resource for Japanese biologists and medical researchers. In order to accommodate the rapidly growing amount of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) nucleotide sequence data, NIG replaced its supercomputer system, which is designed for big data analysis of genome data, in early 2019. The new system is equipped with 30 PB of DNA data archiving storage; large-scale parallel distributed file systems (13.8 PB in total) and 1.1 PFLOPS computation nodes and graphics processing units (GPUs). Moreover, as a starting point of developing multi-cloud infrastructure of bioinformatics, we have also installed an automatic file transfer system that allows users to prevent data lock-in and to achieve cost/performance balance by exploiting the most suitable environment from among the supercomputer and public clouds for different workloads.
Origins of Chinese reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) based on mitochondrial DNA analyses

The most southern population of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) inhabits northeastern China, but the migration route and origin of this population have not been confirmed. The sequences of mitochondrial DNA control regions from domestic and wild herds from Eurasia and China were analysed. The results showed that the Chinese reindeer population originated independently from north-central Russian domestic herds, belonging to a large reindeer population that was present across Beringia during the last glacial period. Some studies have reported that the Chinese reindeer population is closely related to wild forest reindeer herds in Russia. Our results, however, indicate that wild forest reindeer herds of southeastern Russia contributed little or nothing to the Chinese reindeer herd gene pool. Chinese reindeer herds have a much greater genetic similarity to more northerly distributed tundra-type herds that inhabit open areas. The present findings will be essential for future conservation planning for Chinese reindeer.
Interventions during the second stage of labour: an exploration of what may affect their use in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

This thesis is an exploratory qualitative study using an ethnographic approach to explore the use of interventions during the second stage of labour among healthcare professionals and what may be influencing their use within two large government hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data collection methods included participant observations of 19 labours and births and semi-structured interviews with 29 healthcare professionals comprising obstetricians [n=10], midwives [n=12], nurses [n=6] and nurse-midwife [n=1]. In addition, the hospital labour and delivery ward policies and guidelines from those hospitals were collected. Data collection took place over a two-month period in 2011 at King’s Hospital, and a two month period in 2012 at City Hospital (pseudonyms), after seeking ethical approval from City University and from each of the hospitals involved in the study. All participant observations, interviews, field notes (diary), and hospital documentation was recorded using a word processing package (Word 2010) and then transferred into qualitative data analysis software (QDAS) (Atlas.ti 7) which was used for organising and coding interviews transcripts, observations field notes and hospital policy documents. The findings from this PhD confirm that the influences on use of interventions during childbirth are complex. The findings revealed a number of rationalisations that professionals give for the many interventions used during labour and birth. Primary interventions used routinely included continuous Electronic Foetal Monitoring (EFM), bladder catheterisation, intravenous infusion, denial of companionship, episiotomy practice, lithotomy position, limitations on mobility and on duration of second stage of labour, directed pushing. Rates of instrumental delivery and Caesarean section were increasing. Thematic analysis of the data identified two core and inter-related explanatory themes in relation to the use of interventions observed during the second stage of labour in Jeddah: ways of seeing childbirth and power. The findings demonstrate the influence of a hierarchical system of control, the impact of the medical model, and the role of power in medical surveillance and fear culture on the use of interventions during the second stage of labour.
Olfactory bulbectomy and raphe nucleus relationship: a new vision for well-known depression model

Abstract Background/aim: The olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) technic is a well-known animal model for depression. According to serotonin hypothesis of depression, one of the possible explanations to this mechanism is the destroying effect of OBX on raphe nuclei which especially include serotonergic neurons. In this study, we aimed to explore histopathological findings in raphe nuclei in OBX rats. Materials and methods: Forty-eight rats (8 control group, 10 sham group, and 30 as the study group) were used. No procedure was applied to the control group. Only frontal burr holes were performed at the level of olfactory bulbs (OBs) on the sham group. Mechanical OBX by compression was applied to 20 rats and the OBs of 10 rats were cauterized. Their OBs, olfactory cortices, raphe nuclei were extracted, tissue specimens were taken than examined by using histopathological methods including hematoxylin and eosin, S-100, and TUNEL staining. Physical dissector method was used to evaluate the number of living and apoptotic neurons in the raphe nuclei. Results: Prominent neuronal loss and morphological changes in the dorsal raphe nuclei were detected in study groups. Conclusion: Raphe nuclei degeneration, related alterations in neurotransmitter system activities and functional brain connectivity might be related to neurobiology of depression.
Síndroma de leriche num doente infectado pelo vih

The survival of HIV infected patients has significantly increased due to highly effective antiretroviral therapy, and long term complications, namely cardiovascular diseases, became an increasing health problem. Besides coronary heart disease, peripheral arterial disease seems also more prevalent in patients infected by this vi - rus. In addition to traditional risk factors, HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy exposure have been associated with atherosclerotic disease. The authors report the case of an HIV-infected young adult patient, previously not treated, with open aortoiliac atherosclerotic disease (Leriche's syndrome).
Allele frequency net database (AFND) 2020 update: gold-standard data classification, open access genotype data and new query tools

Abstract The Allele Frequency Net Database (AFND, www.allelefrequencies.net) provides the scientific community with a freely available repository for the storage of frequency data (alleles, genes, haplotypes and genotypes) related to human leukocyte antigens (HLA), killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR), major histocompatibility complex Class I chain related genes (MIC) and a number of cytokine gene polymorphisms in worldwide populations. In the last five years, AFND has become more popular in terms of clinical and scientific usage, with a recent increase in genotyping data as a necessary component of Short Population Report article submissions to another scientific journal. In addition, we have developed a user-friendly desktop application for HLA and KIR genotype/population data submissions. We have also focused on classification of existing and new data into ‘gold–silver–bronze’ criteria, allowing users to filter and query depending on their needs. Moreover, we have also continued to expand other features, for example focussed on HLA associations with adverse drug reactions. At present, AFND contains >1600 populations from >10 million healthy individuals, making AFND a valuable resource for the analysis of some of the most polymorphic regions in the human genome.
Epigenetic profiling of MUTYH, KLF6, WNT1 and KLF4 genes in carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is distinguished by epigenetic elements like DNA methylation, histone modification, histone acetylation and RNA remodeling which is related with genomic instability and tumor initiation. Correspondingly, as a main epigenetic regulation, DNA methylation has an impressive ability in order to be used in CRC targeted therapy. Meaningly, DNA methylation is identified as one of most important epigenetic regulators in gene expression and is considered as a notable potential driver in tumorigenesis and carcinogenesis through gene-silencing of tumor suppressors genes. Abnormal methylation situation, even in the level of promoter regions, does not essentially change the gene expression levels, particularly if the gene was become silenced, leaving the mechanisms of methylation without any response. According to the methylation situation which has a strong eagerness to be highly altered on CpG islands in carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis, considering its epigenetic fluctuations in finding new biomarkers is of great importance. Modifications in DNA methylation pattern and also enrichment of methylated histone signs in the promoter regions of some certain genes like MUTYH, KLF4/6 and WNT1 in different signaling pathways could be a notable key contributors to the upregulation of tumor initiation in CRC. These epigenetic alterations could be employed as a practical diagnostic biomarkers for colorectal cancer. In this review, we will be discuss these fluctuations of MUTYH, KLF4/6 and WNT1 genes in CRC.