Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Dietary Supplementation with Mulberry (Morus alba L.) Leaf Polysaccharides on Immune Parameters of Weanling Pigs

Simple Summary The increasing overuse/misuse of restricted antibiotics in livestock and poultry production has raised a serious health concern. Thus, aiming to improve animals’ health levels, researchers are redirecting their focus onto naturally occurring bioactive ingredients from plants; these compounds have become a potential substitute for antibiotics. Mulberry leaf polysaccharide (MLP) is an important bioactive component, which has notable potential for improving animal immunity. In this context, the present study was designed to investigate the MLPs’ effect on animals’ metabolisms and the immune parameters of weanling pigs. Abstract In this study, the effect of dietary supplementation of mulberry leaf polysaccharides (MLPs) on the immune parameters—i.e., the immune organ weight, serum immunoglobulins, cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) production, and insulin-Like growth factor-1 (IGF1) mRNA expression—of weanling pigs as a model animal was investigated. A total of 120 healthy weanling pigs (aged 28 ± 2 d) with the same body weights were randomly divided into four groups: (1) Control treatment (CT), basal diet (BD), (2) MLP low-dose treatment (MLT), 0.6 g/kg MLP + BD, (3) MLP high-dose treatment (MHT), 1.2 g/kg MLP + BD, and (4) antibiotic treatment (AT), 0.15 g/kg chlortetracycline + BD. The results revealed that the thymus and spleen indices were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in both MLT and MHT groups in comparison with the CT group, while the serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-8, and interferon (IFN-γ) in the MLT group and IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ in the MHT group were also considerably greater (P < 0.05) than the corresponding levels in the CT group. The serum contents of IgG, IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-8 in the MLT group and IL-2 and IL-6 in the MHT group were significantly increased in comparison with the corresponding contents in the AT group (P < 0.05). The transformation rate of lymphocytes in the MLT and MHT groups was higher compared to the CT and AT groups. However, a notable difference was found between the MLT group and the two control groups. The peripheral lymphocyte NO production in the MLT, MHT, and AT groups was significant relative to the CT group. The expression levels of IGF1 mRNA in the liver and muscle longissimus tissues of both the MLT and MHT groups showed significant improvement (P < 0.05) over those in the CT group. Moreover, the IGF1 mRNA expression in the muscle longissimus from the MLT group was significantly higher than in the AT group. In conclusion, the results suggest that incorporating MLPs into the diets of weanling pigs improves the animals’ metabolisms and immune functions, and the effects of the MLT group were superior to those of both the MHT and AT groups.
Dynamic changes of soluble ST2 levels predicted fatality and were involved in coagulopathy in dengue fever in the elderly

Background Severe dengue virus (DENV) infection involves plasma leakage and vascular collapse, and leads to significant morbidity and death. Serum soluble ST2 (sST2 [interleukin (IL)-1 receptor like-1 protein: IL-1-RL-1]) levels are high in pediatric cases of DENV infection, and the disease progresses. However, the correlation between serum sST2 levels and the outcomes of DENV infection in the elderly (≥65 years) is unclear. We thus explored the mechanisms of serial sST2 level changes involved in the coagulopathy and bloodstream infections of elderly patients in Taiwan’s 2015 DENV outbreak. Methods This retrospective study was done in a tertiary medical center in southern Taiwan during the outbreak. All DENV-infected patients who, between July 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015, provided a written informed consent for at least two blood sample analyses were enrolled and reviewed. The serum levels of sST2 were quantified. ΔsST2 is defined as the “changes of sST2 levels in serially paired samples”. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC) analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic ability of ΔsST2. Results Forty-three patients with DENV infection were enrolled. Mean patient age was 75.0 ± 12.2 years and the case fatality rate was 44.2% (19/43). Significantly more non-survivors than survivors had increased ST2 level (78.9% vs. 12.5%, p < 0.001). The AUC value for serum ΔsST2 level was 0.857 for predicting DENV fatality. Moreover, patients given frozen fresh plasma (FFP) transfusions were significantly (p = 0.025) more likely to have higher serum ST2 level changes than were those who had not. DENV-infected patients with early bloodstream infections (BSIs) seemed to have higher ST2 levels than those who did not have BSIs. Conclusions Serum ST2 levels increased in the elderly (≥ 65 years of age) with DENV infection. The changes in serum sST2 levels might be a critical indicator of DENV infection severity for the elderly; sST2 is an important modulator of coagulopathy in severe DENV infections.
Salicylic Acid-Producing Endophytic Bacteria Increase Nicotine Accumulation and Resistance against Wildfire Disease in Tobacco Plants

Endophytic bacteria (EB) are both a novel source of bioactive compounds that confer phytopathogen resistance and inducers of secondary metabolites in host plants. Twenty-seven EB isolated from various parts of Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Ginkgo biloba, Taxus brevifolia, Pinus densiflora, Salix babylonica, and S. chaenomeloides could produce salicylic acid (SA). The highest producers were isolates EB-44 and EB-47, identified as Pseudomonas tremae and Curtobacterium herbarum, respectively. Nicotiana benthamiana grown from EB-44-soaked seeds exhibited a 2.3-fold higher endogenous SA concentration and increased resistance against P. syringae pv. tabaci, the causative agent of tobacco wildfire disease, than plants grown from water-soaked seeds. N benthamiana and N. tabacum grown from EB-44-treated seeds developed 33% and 54% disease lesions, respectively, when infected with P. syringae pv. tabaci, and showed increased height and weight, in addition to 4.6 and 1.4-fold increases in nicotine accumulation, respectively. The results suggest that SA-producing EB-44 can successfully colonize Nicotiana spp. , leading to increased endogenous SA production and resistance to tobacco wildfire disease. The newly isolated EB can offer an efficient and eco-friendly solution for controlling wildfire disease and nicotine accumulation in Nicotiana, with additional application for other important crops to increase both productivity and the generation of bioactive compounds.
Increased Physical Activity in Preparation for a Women-Only Mass Participation Sport Event: A Framework for Estimating the Health Impact

Mass participation sporting events (MPSEs) are increasing in popularity. However, little research exists into the potential value of these events for improving public health by enhancing physical activity (PA). The aim of this study is to estimate the health impact of increased physical activity as a result of preparing for an MPSE. Participants of a mass participation women-only running event were asked if they performed additional PA in preparation of the event, including the length (weeks) and intensity (min per week). Additionally, self-reported change in health status was evaluated. Based on these results, we have developed a framework for estimating the cumulatively gained quality adjusted life years (QALYs) and monetary value thereof. Of the respondents (N = 468; mean age 42.3 ± 11.9 years), 32% performed additional vigorous PA in preparation of the event, with an average of 63 min per week over 8.8 weeks. Performing additional vigorous PA significantly improved the odds of self-rated health. The estimated total health impact of participants preparing for the Marikenloop was 6.6 QALYs gained with a corresponding monetary value between EUR 133,000 and EUR 532,000. We believe our health impact framework helps to understand that MPSEs can be a notable part of the public health domain.
Examining the Role of Retrobulbar Hyaluronidase in Reversing Filler-Induced Blindness: A Systematic Review

Purpose: To provide a systematic review of the literature concerning retrobulbar hyaluronidase injections as a treatment for hyaluronic acid gel filler-induced blindness and evaluate the level of evidence for this proposed therapy. Methods: The authors performed a search of English language articles published on the use of retrobulbar hyaluronidase to reverse vision loss precipitated by hyaluronic acid gel fillers. Articles reviewed included case reports/series, experimental investigations, expert opinion commentaries, and major reviews. To date, there have been no case–control, cohort, or randomized control studies to evaluate this treatment. Five anecdotal descriptions of hyaluronic acid gel filler blindness treated specifically with retrobulbar hyaluronidase were identified, for a total of 9 patients. One hundred twelve articles in total on this treatment and related topics, including filler-induced blindness and alternative treatments, were identified and reviewed. Results: Of the 9 documented cases of patients treated with retrobulbar hyaluronidase for hyaluronic acid-induced blindness, visual improvement was demonstrated in 2 cases. The successes, however, are undermined by inconsistent pretreatment ophthalmic assessment and documentation. Animal studies demonstrate mixed results. Laboratory studies document the inability of hyaluronidase to cross the optic nerve sheath. Conclusions: There is not currently enough evidence to support retrobulbar hyaluronidase as a treatment for filler-induced blindness. Additional studies are needed to further evaluate its efficacy and explore alternative treatments. The authors review the literature concerning retrobulbar hyaluronidase injections as a treatment for blindness caused by hyaluronic acid gel fillers, evaluating the level of evidence, risks, and alternative treatments.
A Comprehensive Review on Bio-Nanomaterials for Medical Implants and Feasibility Studies on Fabrication of Such Implants by Additive Manufacturing Technique

Nanomaterials have allowed significant breakthroughs in bio-engineering and medical fields. In the present paper a holistic assessment on diverse biocompatible nanocomposites are studied. Their compatibility with advanced fabrication methods such as additive manufacturing for the design of functional medical implants is also critically reviewed. The significance of nanocomposites and processing techniques is also envisaged comprehensively in regard with the needs and futures of implantable medical device industries.
Effect of Gender, Rearing, and Cooking on the Metabolomic Profile of Porcine Muscles

To clarify the relationship between the fiber type composition and meat quality, we performed metabolomic analysis using porcine longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles. In the LD of pigs raised outdoors, the expression of myosin heavy chain (MyHC)1 (slow-twitch fiber marker protein) was significantly increased compared with that of MyHC1 in pigs raised in an indoor pen, suggesting that rearing outdoors could be considered as an exercise treatment. These LD samples were subjected to metabolomic analysis for examining the profile of most primary and secondary metabolites. We found that the sex of the animal and exercise stimulation had a strong influence on the metabolomic profile in the porcine skeletal muscles, and this difference in the metabolomic profile is likely in part due to the changes in the muscle fiber type. We also examined the effects of cooking (70 °C for 1 h). The effect of exercise on the metabolomic profile was also maintained in the cooked muscle tissues. Cooking treatment resulted in an increase in some of the metabolite levels while decreasing in some other metabolite levels. Thus, our study could indicate the effect of the sex of the animal, exercise stimulus, and cooking on the metabolomic profile of pork meat.
Prevalence of Non-B HIV-1 Subtypes in North Italy and Analysis of Transmission Clusters Based on Sequence Data Analysis

HIV-1 diversity is increasing in European countries due to immigration flows, as well as travels and human mobility, leading to the circulation of both new viral subtypes and new recombinant forms, with important implications for public health. We analyzed 710 HIV-1 sequences comprising protease and reverse-transcriptase (PR/RT) coding regions, sampled from 2011 to 2017, from naive patients in Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy. Subtyping was performed by using a combination of different tools; the phylogenetic analysis with a structured coalescence model and Makarov Chain Monte Carlo was used on the datasets, to determine clusters and evolution. We detected 304 (43%) patients infected with HIV-1 non-B variants, of which only 293 sequences were available, with four pure subtypes and five recombinant forms; subtype F1 (17%) and CRF02_AG (51.1%) were most common. Twenty-five transmission clusters were identified, three of which included >10 patients, belonging to subtype CRF02_AG and subtype F. Most cases of alleged transmission were between heterosexual couples. Probably due to strong migratory flows, we have identified different subtypes with particular patterns of recombination or, as in the case of the subtype G (18/293, 6.1%), to a complete lack of relationship between the sequenced strains, revealing that they are all singletons. Continued HIV molecular surveillance is most important to analyze the dynamics of the boost of transmission clusters in order to implement public health interventions aimed at controlling the HIV epidemic.
Anorectal and Urogenital Mycoplasma Genitalium in Nigerian Men who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women: Prevalence, Incidence, and Association with HIV.

Among 413 Nigerian men who have sex with men and transgender women, retrospective testing for Mycoplasma genitalium revealed mostly asymptomatic infections of the anorectum (prevalence 36.8%, incidence 18.4 cases/100 person-years) and urogenital tract (12.4%, 4.0 cases/100 person-years). Risk factors included HIV and increasing number of sex partners.
Effect of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation during childhood in preventing allergic disease: a systematic review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background Early omega-3 fatty acids exposure can influence early immune development and potentially prevent allergic disease. Objectives To review the effects of omega-3 fatty acids during childhood on allergic disease outcomes. Methods We conducted searches of the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and international trial registers (ClinicalTrials.gov and ISRCTN Registry) to September 30, 2018. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies regarding the effect of omega-3 fatty acids during childhood on allergic disease outcomes. A total of 8 publications from 2 prospective cohort studies and 6 reports representing 5 unique RCTs were included. Results The results of meta-analysis showed that omega-3 fatty acids during childhood did not appear to significantly alter the risk of any atopy (≤3 years old: RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.47 to 1.04, p = 0.08; > 3 years old: RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.16, p = 0.77), wheeze (≤3 years old: RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.26, p = 0.375; > 3 years old: RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.53 to 2.00, p = 0.929) and eczema (≤3 years old: RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.08, p = 0.20; > 3 years old: RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.35, p = 0.60). Conclusions There is limited evidence to support omega-3 fatty acids during childhood could reduce the risk of allergic disease.
The effect of Testis compositum in the treatment of Acne vulgaris

Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition, affecting mostly adolescents. This study attempts to demonstrate the effect of the homoeopathically prepared remedy Testis compositum in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Thirty participants were selected for the study, but only 28 completed the study. The study was conducted over a period of 8 weeks. All the participants formed the control group during the first two weeks of the study, and then formed the experimental group for the next six weeks. During the control period, the participants received placebo medication. At the start of the control period, and at two week intervals through the duration of the study, the participants were assessed by counting the acne lesions – only facial Acne vulgaris was assessed during the trial. At the start of the control period, the start of the experimental period, and after completion of all treatment, frontal and bilateral facial photographs were taken to enable visualisation of the changes that occurred during the study. The results were statistically analysed using the t-test, the Wilcoxon test and descriptive statistics. The results show that treatment with Testis compositum had a significant effect in improving acne vulgaris.
ProReveal: Progressive Visual Analytics With Safeguards

We present a new visual exploration concept—Progressive Visual Analytics with Safeguards—that helps people manage the uncertainty arising from progressive data exploration. Despite its potential benefits, intermediate knowledge from progressive analytics can be incorrect due to various machine and human factors, such as a sampling bias or misinterpretation of uncertainty. To alleviate this problem, we introduce PVA-Guards, safeguards people can leave on uncertain intermediate knowledge that needs to be verified, and derive seven PVA-Guards based on previous visualization task taxonomies. PVA-Guards provide a means of ensuring the correctness of the conclusion and understanding the reason when intermediate knowledge becomes invalid. We also present ProReveal, a proof-of-concept system designed and developed to integrate the seven safeguards into progressive data exploration. Finally, we report a user study with 14 participants, which shows people voluntarily employed PVA-Guards to safeguard their findings and ProReveal’s PVA-Guard view provides an overview of uncertain intermediate knowledge. We believe our new concept can also offer better consistency in progressive data exploration, alleviating people’s heterogeneous interpretation of uncertainty.
Honokiol: A Review of Its Anticancer Potential and Mechanisms

Cancer is characterised by uncontrolled cell division and abnormal cell growth, which is largely caused by a variety of gene mutations. There are continuous efforts being made to develop effective cancer treatments as resistance to current anticancer drugs has been on the rise. Natural products represent a promising source in the search for anticancer treatments as they possess unique chemical structures and combinations of compounds that may be effective against cancer with a minimal toxicity profile or few side effects compared to standard anticancer therapy. Extensive research on natural products has shown that bioactive natural compounds target multiple cellular processes and pathways involved in cancer progression. In this review, we discuss honokiol, a plant bioactive compound that originates mainly from the Magnolia species. Various studies have proven that honokiol exerts broad-range anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo by regulating numerous signalling pathways. These include induction of G0/G1 and G2/M cell cycle arrest (via the regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and cyclin proteins), epithelial–mesenchymal transition inhibition via the downregulation of mesenchymal markers and upregulation of epithelial markers. Additionally, honokiol possesses the capability to supress cell migration and invasion via the downregulation of several matrix-metalloproteinases (activation of 5′ AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and KISS1/KISS1R signalling), inhibiting cell migration, invasion, and metastasis, as well as inducing anti-angiogenesis activity (via the down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)). Combining these studies provides significant insights for the potential of honokiol to be a promising candidate natural compound for chemoprevention and treatment.
Prognostic value of baseline 18F‐FDG PET/CT metabolic parameters in paediatric lymphoma

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of metabolic parameters, including maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), total metabolic tumour volume (tMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), measured at baseline 18F‐FDG PET/CT in paediatric lymphoma.
Review of kerma-area product, effective dose and dose conversion coefficients for non-cardiac interventional fluoroscopy procedures.

PURPOSE To provide current data on average air kerma-area product (PKA ) and effective dose (E) for non-cardiac interventional fluoroscopy procedures and suggested values of dose coefficients (DCE ) for conversion of PKA to estimates of effective dose. METHODS A PubMed literature search covering the time period from 2006 to August 2019 was performed to obtain recent data on PKA , E and DCE for interventional fluoroscopy procedures. RESULTS There is very wide variation in the reported values of PKA , E, and DCE in the literature. A number of factors are involved in this variability and the resultant uncertainty in average values of these dose quantities. CONCLUSION The values of PKA , average E and suggested DCE presented here can be of use for comparison of the radiation detriment from different procedures and may be useful for categorizing detriment within an order of magnitude or so. They do not represent actual or expected radiation dose or detriment from any specific procedure or for a specific patient and should be not be used as such.
Switching to a Healthy Diet Prevents the Detrimental Effects of Western Diet in a Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer Model

Inflammatory bowel disease increases the odds of developing colitis-associated cancer. We hypothesized that Western-style diet (WD) aggravates azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS)-induced colitis-associated tumorigenesis and that switching to the standard AIN93G diet will ameliorate disease symptoms even after cancer initiation. Female BALB/c mice received either WD (WD group) or standard AIN93G diet (AIN group) for the whole experimental period. After five weeks, the mice received 12.5 mg/kg AOM intraperitoneally, followed by three DSS cycles. In one group of mice, the WD was switched to AIN93G the day before starting the first DSS cycle (WD/AIN group). Feeding the WD during the whole experimental period aggravated colitis symptoms, shortened the colon (p < 0.05), changed microbiota composition and increased tumor promotion. On molecular level, the WD reduced proliferation (p < 0.05) and increased expression of the vitamin D catabolizing enzyme Cyp24a1 (p < 0.001). The switch to the AIN93G diet ameliorated this effect, reflected by longer colons, fewer (p < 0.05) and smaller (p < 0.01) aberrant colonic crypt foci, comparable with the AIN group. Our results show that switching to a healthy diet, even after cancer initiation is able to revert the deleterious effect of the WD and could be an effective preventive strategy to reduce colitis symptoms and prevent tumorigenesis.
Single‐cell analysis of CD8 T lymphocyte diversity during adaptive immunity

An effective adaptive immune response to microbial infection relies on the generation of heterogeneous T lymphocyte fates and functions. CD8 T lymphocytes play a pivotal role in mediating immediate and long‐term protective immune responses to intracellular pathogen infection. Systems‐based analysis of the immune response to infection has begun to identify cell fate determinants and the molecular mechanisms underpinning CD8 T lymphocyte diversity at single‐cell resolution. Resolving CD8 T lymphocyte heterogeneity during adaptive immunity highlights the advantages of single‐cell technologies and computational approaches to better understand the ontogeny of CD8 T cellular diversity following infection. Future directions of integrating single‐cell multiplex approaches capitalize on the importance of systems biology in the understanding of immune CD8 T cell differentiation and functional diversity.