Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Placental Pathology in COVID-19

Abstract Objectives To describe histopathologic findings in the placentas of women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy. Methods Pregnant women with COVID-19 delivering between March 18, 2020, and May 5, 2020, were identified. Placentas were examined and compared to historical controls and women with placental evaluation for a history of melanoma. Results Sixteen placentas from patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) were examined (15 with live birth in the third trimester, 1 delivered in the second trimester after intrauterine fetal demise). Compared to controls, third trimester placentas were significantly more likely to show at least one feature of maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM), particularly abnormal or injured maternal vessels, and intervillous thrombi. Rates of acute and chronic inflammation were not increased. The placenta from the patient with intrauterine fetal demise showed villous edema and a retroplacental hematoma. Conclusions Relative to controls, COVID-19 placentas show increased prevalence of decidual arteriopathy and other features of MVM, a pattern of placental injury reflecting abnormalities in oxygenation within the intervillous space associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Only 1 COVID-19 patient was hypertensive despite the association of MVM with hypertensive disorders and preeclampsia. These changes may reflect a systemic inflammatory or hypercoagulable state influencing placental physiology.
Receptor for advanced glycation end products up‐regulation in cerebral endothelial cells mediates cerebrovascular‐related amyloid β accumulation after Porphyromonas gingivalis infection

Cerebrovascular‐related amyloidogenesis is found in over 80% of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases, and amyloid β (Aβ) generation is increased in the peripheral macrophages during infection of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a causal bacterium for periodontitis. In this study, we focused on receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), the key molecule involves in Aβ influx after P. gingivalis infection to test our hypothesis that Aβ transportation from periphery into the brain, known as “Aβ influx,” is enhanced by P. gingivalis infection. Using cultured hCMEC/D3 cell line, in comparison to uninfected cells, directly infection with P. gingivalis (multiplicity of infection, MOI = 5) significantly increased a time‐dependent RAGE expression resulting in a dramatic increase in Aβ influx in the hCMEC/D3 cells; the P. gingivalis‐up‐regulated RAGE expression was significantly decreased by NF‐κB and Cathepsin B (CatB)‐specific inhibitors, and the P.gingivalis‐increased IκBα degradation was significantly decreased by CatB‐specific inhibitor. Furthermore, the P. gingivalis‐increased Aβ influx was significantly reduced by RAGE‐specific inhibitor. Using 15‐month‐old mice (C57BL/6JJmsSlc, female), in comparison to non‐infection mice, systemic P. gingivalis infection for three consecutive weeks (1 × 108 CFU/mouse, every 3 days, intraperitoneally) significantly increased the RAGE expression in the CD31‐positive endothelial cells and the Aβ loads around the CD31‐positive cells in the mice's brains. The RAGE expression in the CD31‐positive cells was positively correlated with the Aβ loads. These observations demonstrate that the up‐regulated RAGE expression in cerebral endothelial cells mediates the Aβ influx after P. gingivalis infection, and CatB plays a critical role in regulating the NF‐κB/RAGE expression.
Comparison of the clinical efficacy of daily use of L‐arginine, tadalafil and combined L‐arginine with tadalafil in the treatment of elderly patients with erectile dysfunction

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the daily oral administrations of L‐arginine, tadalafil and combined L‐arginine with tadalafil in treatments of elderly patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). It was designed as a single‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial. It was conducted on 120 male patients aged ≥60 years old with ED. Patients were randomised classified into four groups (n = 30 each). Oral daily use of L‐arginine (5 g), tadalafil (5 mg), combined L‐arginine (5 g) with tadalafil (5 mg) and placebo were taken for 6 weeks in each group of patients respectively. Patients were assessed before and after treatments using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire and total serum testosterone. The means of Q1–5, total scores of SHIM and total testosterone, in L‐arginine, tadalafil and combined L‐arginine with tadalafil groups were significantly higher after treatments (p = .001). Combined L‐arginine with tadalafil group had the highest SHIM scores and levels of total testosterone. This clinical trial deduced that the combined daily use of L‐arginine with tadalafil therapy for elderly male patients with ED could significantly increase the SHIM scores and levels of total testosterone in comparison to L‐arginine, or tadalafil alone.
Long-term thermal sensitivity of Earth’s tropical forests

The sensitivity of tropical forest carbon to climate is a key uncertainty in predicting global climate change. Although short-term drying and warming are known to affect forests, it is unknown if such effects translate into long-term responses. Here, we analyze 590 permanent plots measured across the tropics to derive the equilibrium climate controls on forest carbon. Maximum temperature is the most important predictor of aboveground biomass (−9.1 megagrams of carbon per hectare per degree Celsius), primarily by reducing woody productivity, and has a greater impact per °C in the hottest forests (>32.2°C). Our results nevertheless reveal greater thermal resilience than observations of short-term variation imply. To realize the long-term climate adaptation potential of tropical forests requires both protecting them and stabilizing Earth’s climate.
Low-residue diet for colonoscopy in veterans: Risk factors for inadequate bowel preparation and patient satisfaction and compliance

Bowel preparation with low-residue diet (LRD) has resulted in higher patient satisfaction and similar polyp detection rates compared to conventional clear liquid diet. However, there is limited experience with LRD in veterans, in whom conditions associated with poor bowel preparation are more prevalent than the general population. To examine risk factors associated with inadequate bowel preparation, we conducted a chart review of outpatient colonoscopies at the Manhattan VA Medical Center from February 2017 to April 2018. To examine patient satisfaction and compliance, we administered an anonymous questionnaire to patients undergoing outpatient colonoscopy from March to August 2018. Patients assessed by chart review (n = 660) were 92% male with a mean age of 64 years. An adequate Boston Bowel Preparation Scale score ≥2 in each colonic segment was achieved in 94% of procedures. Higher BMI, diabetes, prior inadequate bowel preparation, bowel preparation duration of two days, and opioid use were associated with inadequate bowel preparation on univariable analysis. On multiple logistic regression, only higher BMI remained a predictor, with every one-unit increase associated with a 6% increased odds of poor bowel preparation. Questionnaire responses showed 84% of patients were willing to repeat LRD bowel preparation, 85% found the process easy or acceptable, and 78% reported full adherence to LRD. These findings demonstrate that bowel preparation quality, patient satisfaction, and compliance were all high among veterans using LRD.
Analytical tools and evaluation strategies for nanostructured lipid carrier-based topical delivery systems

ABSTRACT Introduction The inception of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) proved to be a revolutionary step toward the treatment of dermatological disorders. To uncover its true potential, it is imperative that the system be characterized and evaluated comprehensively. Areas covered The present review has been written to furnish an in-depth account of analytical tools and evaluation procedures under one roof. Besides discussing the challenges of topical delivery and benefits of NLCs, the paper elaborates on their physicochemical characterization. Further, in vitro evaluation of NLCs for dermatological benefits, followed by their evaluation in a hydrogel/cream base is covered. Lastly, disease-specific evaluation of NLC-based formulations is presented. Expert opinion The research endeavors for NLCs have largely focused on the fabrication of NLCs for different bioactives. However, scientific efforts should be aimed toward the lesser explored realm of NLCs, i.e. exploitation of analytical techniques, such as Parelectric spectroscopy, Electron Spin Resonance, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. NLCs have been proven for their potential to foster the therapeutic modalities applicable to cutaneous disorders. More attention needs to be devoted to their evaluation for disease-specific parameters. The futuristic steps must involve clinical studies, to lay the path for their commercialization.
Insight into the biomechanics and bioenergetics of human walking: Obese versus healthy children

Since antiquity, human locomotion has allowed individuals to meet others, to find better food and to survive a fight-or-flight situation. As pointed out by Rodolfo Margaria, ‘The study of human locomotion first requires the determination of the energy cost of this exercise and secondly a detailed analysis of the mechanical work performed’. Indeed, to characterize a given type of locomotion, the cost of transport (i.e. the metabolic energy expended to cover a unit distance) and the total mechanical work performed at the whole-body level must be computed. The latter can be considered as the sumof two components: externalwork (theworkdone to raise andaccelerate thebody centreof mass within the environment) and internal work (the work associated with the acceleration of the body segments with respect to the centre of mass) (e.g. Cavagna & Kaneko, 1977). A third parameter, locomotion efficiency, can then be computed and used to describe the interaction between energy expended andwork produced. As suggested by Alexander (1991), measurement of locomotion efficiency can help in understanding whether mechanical work is ‘recycled’ via storage and release of elastic energy, providing important information on the locomotor capability of a subject. Indeed, locomotion efficiency (i.e. work done as a proportion of metabolic cost) approximates muscle efficiency values (∼0.25) in the forms of locomotion where elastic recoil is negligible (e.g. cycling; Minetti, Pinkerton, & Zamparo, 2001 or swimming; Zamparo et al., 2002) but can reach far larger values in walking and running (e.g. up to 0.4 and 0.7, respectively; Cavagna & Kaneko, 1977). In a pathological gait, locomotion (walking) efficiency could thus be impaired when elastic recoil is compromised. In this issue of Experimental Physiology, Oliveira et al. (2020) try to understand how the larger body weight in obese children could affect their mechanics and energetics when walking at different speeds, in comparison to healthy children of the same age. Total mechanical
Evolution of the unique anuran pelvic and hindlimb skeleton in relation to microhabitat, locomotor mode, and jump performance.

Anurans (frogs and toads) have a unique pelvic and hindlimb skeleton among tetrapods. Although their distinct body plan is primarily associated with saltation, anuran species vary in their primary locomotor mode (e.g., walkers, hoppers, jumpers, and swimmers) and are found in a wide array of microhabitats (e.g., burrowing, terrestrial, arboreal, and aquatic) with varying functional demands. Given their largely conserved body plan, morphological adaptation to these diverse niches likely results from more fine-scale morphological change. Our study determines how shape differences in Anura's unique pelvic and hindlimb skeletal structures vary with microhabitat, locomotor mode, and jumping ability. Using microCT scans of preserved specimens from museum collections, we added 3D landmarks to the pelvic and hindlimb skeleton of 230 anuran species. In addition, we compiled microhabitat and locomotor data from the literature for these species that span 52 of the 55 families of frogs and ~210 million years of anuran evolution. Using this robust dataset, we examine the relationship between pelvic and hindlimb morphology and phylogenetic history, allometry, microhabitat, and locomotor mode. We find pelvic and hindlimb changes associated with shifts in microhabitat ("ecomorphs") and locomotor mode ("locomorphs") and directly relate those morphological changes to the jumping ability of individual species. We also reveal how individual bones vary in evolutionary rate and their association with phylogeny, body size, microhabitat, and locomotor mode. Our findings uncover previously undocumented morphological variation related to anuran ecological and locomotor diversification and link that variation to differences in jumping ability among species.
Spathial: an R package for the evolutionary analysis of biological data

SUMMARY A primary problem in high-throughput genomics experiments is finding the most important genes involved in biological processes (e.g. tumor progression). In this applications note, we introduce spathial, an R package for navigating high-dimensional data spaces. spathial implements the Principal Path algorithm, which is a topological method for locally navigating on the data manifold. The package, together with the core algorithm, provides several high-level functions for interpreting the results. One of the analyses we propose is the extraction of the genes that are mainly involved in the progress from one state to another. We show a possible application in the context of tumor progression using RNA-Seq and single-cell datasets, and we compare our results with two commonly used algorithms, edgeR and monocle3, respectively. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The R package spathial is available on the Comprehensive R Archive Network (https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/spathial/index.html) and on GitHub (https://github.com/erikagardini/spathial). It is distributed under the GNU General Public Licence (version 3). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Effect of Echinacea, Aconitum, Lachesis and Apis extracts, and their combinations on phagocytosis of human granulocytes

The influence of Echinacea angustifolia, Aconitum napellus, Lachesis muta, and Apis mellifica, the contents of the combination product Influex (Steigerwald, Germany), on the phagocytosis of human granulocytes was investigated. Incorporation of latex microspheres was measured with a flow cytometric method. With regard to the constituents of the prescription, only vitamin C, lipopolysaccharide, and Echinacea angustifolia were able to enhance the phagocytosis rate. Aconitum, Apis and Lachesis, alone were not able to stimulate phagocytosis but showed an enhancement effect when combined with one another or with Echinacea. For example, a combination of Aconitum (10−2) and Lachesis (10−2) was able to stimulate phagocytosis up to 390%.
Effect of supportive care on the psychosocial health status of women who had a miscarriage.

PURPOSE This study aims to determine the effect of individualized care provided based on Swanson's Caring Theory on the grief, depression, anxiety, and stress levels of women who had a miscarriage. DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 104 women who experienced a miscarriage were randomized as study (n = 52) and control (n = 52) groups. FINDINGS The women's physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive grief symptoms decreased after receiving Swanson's care (P < .001). Negative feelings about the future, level of depression, and anxiety levels diminished after receiving Swanson's Care (P < .001). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Supportive care and counseling provided after miscarriage were found to contribute to women's psychosocial well-being and to improve their ability to cope with psychological symptoms.
Mechanistic insights on skin sensitization to linalool hydroperoxides: EPR evidence on radical intermediates formation in reconstructed human epidermis and 13C-NMR reactivity studies with thiol residues.

Linalool is one of the most commonly used fragrance terpenes in consumer products. While pure linalool is considered as non-allergenic because it has a very low skin sensitization potential, its autoxidation on air leads to allylic hydroperoxides that have been shown to be major skin sensitizers. These hydroperoxides have the potential to form antigens via radical mechanisms. In order to obtain in-depth insights of such reactivity, we first investigated the formation of free radicals derived from linalool hydroperoxides in situ in a model of human reconstructed epidermis by electron paramagnetic resonance combined with spin trapping. The formation of carbon and oxygen centered radical species derived from the hydroperoxides was especially evidenced in an epidermis model, mimicking human skin and thus closer to what may happen in vivo. To further investigate these results, we synthesized linalool hydroperoxides containing a 13C-substitution at positions precursor of carbon radicals to elucidate if one of these positions could react with cysteine, its thiol chemical function being one of the most labile groups prone to react through radical mechanisms. Reactions were followed by mono- and bi-dimensional 13C-NMR. We validated that carbon radicals derived from allylic hydrogen abstraction by the initially formed alkoxyl radical and/or from its β-scission, can alter directly the lateral chain of cysteine forming adducts via radical processes. Such results provide an original vision on the mechanisms likely involved in the reaction with thiol groups that might be present in the skin environment. Consequently, the present findings are a step ahead towards the understanding of protein binding processes to allergenic allylic hydroperoxides of linalool through the involvement of free radical species and thus of their sensitizing potential.
Cumulus Oophorus Expansion of Bovine Oocytes Cultured in vitro: A SEM and TEM Study

Content: Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from antral follicles (3–6 mm in diameter). COCs with a compact multilayered cumulus investment were cultured for 9, 13 and 24 hours, respectively, and processed for scanning or transmission electron microscopy after different periods of culture including a 0 hour control group. In all 0 hour control COCs initial formation of cumulus cell projections, blebs and microvilli were observed. The start of cumulus-oocyte disconnection in cattle was observed after 9 hours of in vitro culture. These connections were almost completely discrupted after 13 hours, when a continuous production of extracellular matrix was observed. The full expansion of corona radiata cells was not observed even after 24 hours. Some cumulus oophorus cells were bound together with junctions of the zonula adherens type after 24 hours when extracellular matrix was found only in deeper layers. The full expansion of corona radiata cells was not the prerequisite for disconnection of cumulus-oocyte complex. Inhalt: Kumulus oophorus Expansion von in vitro kultivierten Rinderoozyten: Eine SEM und TEM Untersuchung Kumulus-Oozyten-Komplexe (COC) von Rindern wurden aus antralen Follikeln aspiriert (Durchmesser 3–6 mm). COC's mit kompakten mehrschichtigen Kumulus wurden fur 9, 13 und 24 Stunden kultiviert und fur die Scanner- oder Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie vorbereitet. Verschiedene Kulturzeiten incl. einer 0-Stundengruppe als Kontrolle wurden untersucht. In allen Kontroll COC's wurden beginnende Formationen yon Kumuluszellprojektionen, Blaschen und Mikrovilli beobachtet. Nach 9-stundiger in vitro Kultur begann die Losung zwischen Kumulus und Oozyte. Die Verbindungen waren nach 13 Stunden vollstandig unterbrochen, wobei eine kontinuierliche Produktion extrazellularer Matrix beobachtet wurde. Eine vollstandige Expansion der Corona radiata Zellen wurde auch nicht nach 24 Stunden beobachtet. Nach 24 Stunden waren einige Cumulus Oophorus Zellen uber Verbindungen des Zonula adherens Typs verknupft, wobei extrazellulare Matrix nur in den tieferen Zellschichten gefunden wurde. Eine vollstandige Kumulusexpansion ist keine Voraussetzung fur die Auflosung des Kumulus-Oozyten-Komplexes.
Antiproliferation Effects of Germinated-Korean Rough Rice Extract on Human Cancer Cells

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of 70% ethanol extracts of various germinated-rough rice cultivars: (`Ilpum`, `Goami2`, `Keunnun`, `Sulgaeng`, `Baegjinju`, and `Heugkwang`) on proliferation of human cancer cell lines (MKN-45, HCT116 and NCI-H460). Antiproliferation effects of rough rice on different cancer cell lines were higher in after germination than before germination. The viability of HCT-116 colon cancer cells was lowest at 18.89% in after germination of `Heugkwang` at 1.0 mg/mL. The cell viability of MKN-45 lung cancer cells and MKN-45 stomach cancer cells were in the range of 5~10% in after germination of `Ilpum`, `Goami2`, `Baegjinju`, and `Sulgaeng`, and `Heugkwang` at 1.0 mg/mL. These results suggest that germinated rough rice might have a potential preventive effect on human cancer cells.
Phylogenetic positioning of anomalous eucalypts by using ITS sequence data

We investigated the phylogenetic affinities of the following six taxonomically anomalous species of Eucalyptus: E. cladocalyx, E. cosmophylla, E. gomphocephala, E. longifolia, E. paludicola and E. pumila. ITS sequence data were obtained from these species and combined with an existing large ITS data set for subgenus Symphyomyrtus. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony and Bayesian approaches showed that E. longifolia belongs in section Maidenaria and E. gomphocephala belongs in section Bisectae I. The phylogenetic affinities of the other four species were not fully resolved by ITS sequence data. E. cladocalyx has affinities with sections Adnataria, Dumaria and Bisectae I; E. cosmophylla and E. paludicola have affinities with sections Exsertaria, Latoangulatae and Maidenaria; and E. pumila appears to be a morphologically divergent member of section Latoangulatae or Exsertae. The implications of the results for conservation of native eucalypt gene pools are discussed.