Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What's still growing on your patients' hearing aids?

Many of the people who seek hearing healthcare services have compromised immune systems that make them unusually susceptible to common microorganisms that, under certain conditions, can cause localized infection or systemic disease. Dispensing environments draw patients from all age and socioeconomic groups and who come in with a wide range of underlying diseases and history of pharmacologic interventions. These are all factors with potential implications for a person’s immune system. In a clinical environment where patients may be especially vulnerable to opportunistic infections, infection control procedures play a critical role in reducing crosscontamination and the risk of disease. Hand washing and other aspects of good hygiene are basic and necessary infection control procedures. However, they are not enough. In their handling of hearing aids and of reusable instruments that come in contact with hearing aids, dispensing professionals must also be vigilant about taking measures to minimize the potential for cross-contamination. Hearing aids have been identified as a potential source of microbial transmission. In an earlier investigation, Bankaitis found light to heavy amounts of microbial growth on hearing aid surfaces, which included both expected and unexpected strains of bacteria and/or fungi.1 While some of the recovered microorganisms were consistent with what would be expected to be found in the external auditory canal (e.g., Staphylococcus, diphtheroids, fungal spores), most were not. Furthermore, several of the microorganisms found were extremely virulent (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and others were considered exceptionally unhygienic. For example, several hearing aids were contaminated with light to heavy amounts of bacteria (Enterococci) specifically found in fecal matter. While that study provided initial evidence on contamination of hearing aid surfaces, it evaluated only one hearing aid from each subject. Thus, it did not determine if the microbial composition on a pair of hearing instruments worn by the same subject would vary between ears. The primary purpose of this study was to determine what microbial growth would be detected on the surfaces of hearing aids from a different pool of subjects. A second purpose was to compare the microbial composition between hearing aids worn by the same subject.
Prognosis value of the blood transaminase in acute ischaemic stroke: gender factors should be considered

We appreciate the comments made by Dr Tu and Dr Chen about our recent paper published in Clinical Science [1]. In their letter, they suggest that the results shown in our paper were caused by gender, rather than acute ischaemic stroke. It is well known that gender influences the type of stroke and also the outcome; … We appreciate the comments made by Dr Tu and Dr Chen about our recent paper published in Clinical Science [1]. In their letter, they suggest that the results shown in our paper were caused by gender, rather than acute ischaemic stroke. It is well known that gender influences the type of stroke and also the outcome; …
Automation in Gynecologic Cytology

Automation in cytology can now be considered a mature topic. For the past 2 decades, the field has seen research and development leading to clinical processes and devices and finally to the widespread adoption of technology in the clinical cytology laboratory. This review will cover currently applicable technology, including liquid-based preparation methods and automated primary screening instrumentation. It will detail the general and specific features of each technology and provide data that have been developed in support of the clinical application of each method. New issues of workload and accuracy will be presented, and the implications of human papillomavirus vaccine implementation and its effects on the current screening paradigm will be discussed.
COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY LUNG VOLUME DIFFERS BETWEEN VERTICAL AND INVERTED POSITIONING FOR EGYPTIAN FRUIT BATS (ROUSETTUS AEGYPTIACUS)

Abstract: This prospective study characterizes the impact of positioning on the pulmonary volume and pulmonary atelectasis in Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus). The soft tissue appearance of atelectactic pulmonary parenchyma can obscure or mask pulmonary pathology. Soft tissue within healthy lung parenchyma caused by atelectasis can efface the margins of pathology, such as pulmonary metastasis or pneumonia, due to overlapping attenuation profiles. Pulmonary atelectasis is an unwanted side effect of anesthesia resulting from muscle relaxation and is exacerbated by high (80–100%) inspired oxygen supplementation during general anesthesia. Positioning can help minimize pulmonary atelectasis. Seven R. aegyptiacus received computed tomography imaging in suspended vertical (head-up) and inverted (head-down) positions that generated images in the dorsoventral plane. Vertically positioned bats had a significantly greater lung volume compared to inverted positioning (P = 0.0053). The nondependent portion of the lung apices in the vertically positioned bats had significantly more negative Hounsfield units (i.e. less dense tissue) than the dependent portions of the lung and was also less dense than both portions of the lungs in inverted positioned bats. Although not an intuitive positioning for bats, a vertical orientation generates less pulmonary atelectasis and a greater lung volume compared to bats positioned in a more natural inverted position. Despite physiologic adaptations to hang in an inverted position when not in flight, avoidance of inverted positioning during anesthesia and anesthetic recovery is recommended based on these findings.
MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF FECAL ESCHERICHIA COLI ISOLATED FROM ZOO ANIMALS

Abstract: Accredited zoos and animal parks play an important role in animal health research and conservation, providing important insights on matters of public health including zoonotic infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The emergence and spread of AMR is a complex phenomenon that jeopardizes human and animal health and also threatens the long-term survival of endangered species. The presence of β-lactamases in clinical isolates is particularly significant as they can jeopardize the efficacy of critically important antimicrobials. Although the presence of β-lactamases and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) producing Enterobacteriaceae in zoo animals has been reported, data are not available for northern European countries. In addition, few data are available on phylogenetic grouping of Escherichia coli isolated from zoo animals that can provide additional information on the host–bacterium relationship and on the pathogenicity of isolates. This study aimed to characterize fecal E. coli isolated from 33 healthy zoo animals from 22 species in Ireland, using conventional and molecular microbiological methods. All E. coli isolates were ampicillin resistant, but combined resistance to amoxicillin and clavulanic acid was not detected. Three E. coli isolates sampled from one Amur tiger, one Bornean orangutan, and one Southern white rhino were multidrug resistant, and blaTEM was detected in E. coli recovered from the Amur tiger and the Bornean orangutan. Other β-lactamases, including ESBLs and AmpCs and plasmid-mediated mcr-1 and mcr-2, were not detected. Overall, E. coli isolates investigated were susceptible to the majority of the antimicrobials tested, and only two animals shed E. coli carrying β-lactamase–encoding genes. The majority of isolates belonged to phylogenetic group B1. The screening of the AMR phenotype and genotype of zoo animal E. coli provides useful data that is relevant to antimicrobial stewardship in the zoo veterinary services and relevant to the bank of knowledge needed for tackling AMR.
Development of SSR Markers Based on Transcriptome Sequences of the Wolf Spider Pardosa pseudoannulata (Araneae: Lycosidae)1

ABSTRACT: Pardosa pseudoannulata (Boesenberg et Strand, l906) is one of the most common wandering spiders in agricultural fields, and a potential bioindicator for heavy metal contamination. In this study, a high-throughput method was used for discovering the simple sequence repeat (SSR) genetic markers from this spider. In total, 2805 sequences containing a total of 3450 SSRs were identified from the previously constructed transcriptome database, with 516 of the sequences containing more than one SSR. The most abundant SSRs in P. pseudoannulata are di-nucleotide (42.32%) SSRs, followed by mono-nucleotide (41.83%). A/T (41.36%) repeats were the most abundant, followed by AT/AT (28.32%). A total of 6561 pairs of SSR primers were designed using Primer 5.0 software, and a subset of 26 SSR primer pairs was randomly selected and validated by RT-PCR. The SSR markers identified here will be an important resource for measuring genetic diversity and biological monitoring research in P. pseudoannulata.
Indoor Simulated Training Environment for Brain-Controlled Wheelchair Based on Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials

Brain-controlled wheelchair (BCW) has the potential to improve the quality of life for people with motor disabilities. A lot of training is necessary for users to learn and improve BCW control ability and the performances of BCW control are crucial for patients in daily use. In consideration of safety and efficiency, an indoor simulated training environment is built up in this paper to improve the performance of BCW control. The indoor simulated environment mainly realizes BCW implementation, simulated training scenario setup, path planning and recommendation, simulated operation, and scoring. And the BCW is based on steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) and the filter bank canonical correlation analysis (FBCCA) is used to analyze the electroencephalography (EEG). Five tasks include individual accuracy, simple linear path, obstacles avoidance, comprehensive steering scenarios, and evaluation task are designed, 10 healthy subjects were recruited and carried out the 7-days training experiment to assess the performance of the training environment. Scoring and command-consuming are conducted to evaluate the improvement before and after training. The results indicate that the average accuracy is 93.55% and improves from 91.05% in the first stage to 96.05% in the second stage (p = 0.001). Meanwhile, the average score increases from 79.88 in the first session to 96.66 in the last session and tend to be stable (p < 0.001). The average number of commands and collisions to complete the tasks decreases significantly with or without the approximate shortest path (p < 0.001). These results show that the performance of subjects in BCW control achieves improvement and verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed simulated training environment.
Wenxin Granules Influence the TGFβ-P38/JNK MAPK Signaling Pathway and Attenuate the Collagen Deposition in the Left Ventricle of Myocardial Infarction Rats

Background A large number of proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory cytokines are produced in the extracellular matrix (ECM) after myocardial infarction (MI), and the inflammatory pathways activated by these inflammatory stimuli are involved in the regulation of lesions with excessive accumulation of ECM. Wenxin granules can play a protective role against MI, but the mechanism of its effect on the inflammatory pathway and ECM collagen expression is still unclear. Objective To verify the effect of Wenxin granules on the inflammatory pathway and collagen expression after MI. Method The proximal left anterior descending coronary artery in rats was ligated to induce acute MI. Then, animals were randomly assigned to the model group, the Carvedilol group, and the Wenxin Granules group. In addition, sham operation rats were used as the control group. 10 rats were allocated in each group. Gavage was given once a day for 4 weeks. The changes of cardiac hemodynamics were detected by the catheter method, morphological changes were observed by HE staining, and myocardial tissue collagen volume was counted by Immunohistochemistry combined with Masson staining, and the expression of inflammatory TGFβ-p38/JNK MAPK signal pathway markers was detected by Western blot. Results Wenxin granules could significantly improve the hemodynamics, so that the fibrosis scar was relatively dense and uniform, and the residual myocardium was relatively neat, while Collagen type I and III volume and TGFβ expression levels were lessened. Although there were no differences in the expression of CTGF, p38, and JNK proteins, their phosphorylation levels showed significant differences. Conclusion Wenxin granules can affect the inflammation-related TGFβ-p38/JNK MAPK signaling pathway and change the structural properties of myocardium and scar after MI by attenuated collagen deposition in the left ventricular myocardial tissue to improve cardiac function.
GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CANINE DISTEMPER VIRUSES CIRCULATING IN WILDLIFE IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract: Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious disease of wild and domestic mammals. Maintenance of CDV among wildlife plays an important role in the disease epidemiology. Wild animals, including raccoons (Procyon lotor) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), serve as reservoirs of CDV and hamper the control of the disease. Recently, we discovered that at least three different CDV lineages (America-3 [Edomex], America-4, and America-5] that are genetically different from the available vaccine strains are circulating in domestic dogs in the United States. Because wildlife serve as a reservoir for the virus, it is important to determine if wildlife play a role in the maintenance and spread of these lineages. To determine the genetic characteristics of circulating strains of CDV in wildlife in various geographic regions in the United States, we studied the nucleotide sequences of the hemagglutinin (H) gene of 25 CDV strains detected in nondomestic species. The species included were free-ranging wildlife: three fishers (Martes pennanti), six foxes, one skunk (Mephitis mephitis), 10 raccoons, two wolves (Canis lupus), and one mink (Neovison vison). Strains from two species in managed care, one sloth (Choloepus didactylus) and one red panda (Ailurus fulgens), were also evaluated. Phylogenetic analysis of the H genes indicated that in addition to America-3, America-4, and America-5 lineages, there are at least two other lineages circulating in US wildlife. One of these includes CDV nucleotide sequences that grouped with that of a single CDV isolate previously detected in a raccoon from Rhode Island in 2012. The other lineage is independent and genetically distinct from other CDV strains included in the analysis. Additional genetically variable strains were detected, mainly in raccoons, suggesting that this species may be the host responsible for the genetic variability of newly detected strains in the domestic dog population.
Inflammatory Effects of High and Moderate Intensity Exercise—A Systematic Review

Background: Exercise leads to a robust inflammatory response mainly characterized by the mobilization of leukocytes and an increase in circulating inflammatory mediators produced by immune cells and directly from the active muscle tissue. Both positive and negative effects on immune function and susceptibility to minor illness have been observed following different training protocols. While engaging in moderate activity may enhance immune function above sedentary levels, excessive amounts of prolonged, high-intensity exercise may impair immune function. Thus, the aim of the present review was to clarify the inflammatory effects in response to different exercise intensities. Methods: Search was performed on PubMed and was completed on July 31st, 2017. The studies were eligible if they met the predefined inclusion criteria: a) observational or interventional studies, b) conducted in healthy adults (18–65 years), c) written in Portuguese, English or Spanish, d) including moderate and/or intense exercise. Eighteen articles were included. The specific components that were examined included circulating blood levels of cytokines, leukocytes, creatine kinase (CK) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed. Results: Most of the intervention studies showed changes in the assessed biomarkers, although these changes were not consistent. White blood cells (WBC) had an increase immediately after intensive exercise (> 64% VO2max), without alteration after moderate exercise (46–64% VO2max). The results suggested an elevation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely IL-6, followed by an elevation of IL-10 that were more evident after intense exercise bouts. CRP increased both after intense and moderate exercise, with peak increases up to 28 h. CK increased only after intensive and long exercising. Conclusion: In summary, intense long exercise can lead, in general, to higher levels of inflammatory mediators, and thus might increase the risk of injury and chronic inflammation. In contrast, moderate exercise or vigorous exercise with appropriate resting periods can achieve maximum benefit.
Genomic Epidemiology in Filarial Nematodes: Transforming the Basis for Elimination Program Decisions

Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis are targeted for elimination, primarily using mass drug administration at the country and community levels. Elimination of transmission is the onchocerciasis target and global elimination as a public health problem is the end point for lymphatic filariasis. Where program duration, treatment coverage, and compliance are sufficiently high, elimination is achievable for both parasites within defined geographic areas. However, transmission has re-emerged after apparent elimination in some areas, and in others has continued despite years of mass drug treatment. A critical question is whether this re-emergence and/or persistence of transmission is due to persistence of local parasites—i.e., the result of insufficient duration or drug coverage, poor parasite response to the drugs, or inadequate methods of assessment and/or criteria for determining when to stop treatment—or due to re-introduction of parasites via human or vector movement from another endemic area. We review recent genetics-based research exploring these questions in Onchocerca volvulus, the filarial nematode that causes onchocerciasis, and Wuchereria bancrofti, the major pathogen for lymphatic filariasis. We focus in particular on the combination of genomic epidemiology and genome-wide associations to delineate transmission zones and distinguish between local and introduced parasites as the source of resurgence or continuing transmission, and to identify genetic markers associated with parasite response to chemotherapy. Our ultimate goal is to assist elimination efforts by developing easy-to-use tools that incorporate genetic information about transmission and drug response for more effective mass drug distribution, surveillance strategies, and decisions on when to stop interventions to improve sustainability of elimination.
Interleukin-7 Resensitizes Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer to Cisplatin via Inhibition of ABCG2

Treatment with cisplatin (DDP) is one of the standard therapies used to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and fundamentally causes resistance in cancer cells, which eventually poses as an obstacle to the efficacy of chemotherapy in NSCLC. Efforts are on all over the world to explore a sensitizer of NSCLC to DDP. Here, we studied the effect of IL-7 on the resistance of NSCLC to chemotherapy. We observed that IL-7 treatment significantly enhanced DDP-induced effects in A549 and A549/DDP cells (DDP-resistant cells), including decreased cell viability and proliferation, as well as increased cell apoptosis and S arrest, indicating that IL-7 treatment resensitized DDP-resistant NSCLC cells to DDP. Subsequently, IL-7 enhanced the sensitivity of PI3K/AKT signaling and expressions of ABCG2 to DDP. By inhibiting IL-7 signaling via IL-7R knockdown or activating PI3K/AKT signaling via PI3K activation, the resensitization to DDP by IL-7 was abrogated, and the expression levels of ABCG2, p-PI3K, and p-AKT were found to be significantly higher. In vivo results also confirmed that IL-7 only in combination with DDP could remarkably induce tumor regression with reduced levels of ABCG2 in tumorous tissues. These findings indicate that IL-7, apart from its adjuvant effect, could overcome multidrug resistance of DDP to restore its chemotherapy sensitivity.
The Relation between Blood Pressure and Mortality Due to Coronary Heart Disease among Men in Different Parts of the World

Background Elevated blood pressure is known to be a risk factor for death from coronary heart disease (CHD). However, it is unclear whether the risk of death from CHD in relation to blood pressure varies among populations. Methods In six populations in different parts of the world, we examined systolic and diastolic blood pressures and hypertension in relation to long-term mortality from CHD, both with and without adjustment for variability in blood pressure within individual subjects. Blood pressure was measured at base line in 12,031 men (age range, 40 to 59 years) who were free of CHD. During 25 years of follow-up, 1291 men died from CHD. Results At systolic and diastolic blood pressures of about 140 and 85 mm Hg, respectively, 25-year rates of mortality from CHD (standardized for age) varied by a factor of more than three among the populations. Rates in the United States and northern Europe were high (approximately 70 deaths per 10,000 person-years), but rates in Japan and Mediterranean southern Europ.
Functionalization of Bacterial Microcompartment Shell Proteins With Covalently Attached Heme

Heme is a versatile redox cofactor that has considerable potential for synthetic biology and bioelectronic applications. The capacity to functionalize non-heme-binding proteins with covalently bound heme moieties in vivo could expand the variety of bioelectronic materials, particularly if hemes could be attached at defined locations so as to facilitate position-sensitive processes like electron transfer. In this study, we utilized the cytochrome maturation system I to develop a simple approach that enables incorporation of hemes into the backbone of target proteins in vivo. We tested our methodology by targeting the self-assembling bacterial microcompartment shell proteins, and inserting functional hemes at multiple locations in the protein backbone. We found substitution of three amino acids on the target proteins promoted heme attachment with high occupancy. Spectroscopic measurements suggested these modified proteins covalently bind low-spin hemes, with relative low redox midpoint potentials (about −210 mV vs. SHE). Heme-modified shell proteins partially retained their self-assembly properties, including the capacity to hexamerize, and form inter-hexamer attachments. Heme-bound shell proteins demonstrated the capacity to integrate into higher-order shell assemblies, however, the structural features of these macromolecular complexes was sometimes altered. Altogether, we report a versatile strategy for generating electron-conductive cytochromes from structurally-defined proteins, and provide design considerations on how heme incorporation may interface with native assembly properties in engineered proteins.