Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Mediating Effect of Body Dissatisfaction in Association between Obesity and Dietary Behavior Changes for Weight Loss in Chinese Children.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze the mediating effect of body dissatisfaction in correlation between obesity and dietary behavior changes for weight loss (DBCWL). METHODS A total of 680 primary and middle school students were included in this study. Their body height, weight, and waistline were effectively measured, and they were also evaluated to assess their body dissatisfaction, perception of dietary behaviors, and DBCWL. The correlation among these factors was analyzed using mediating effect models. RESULTS The prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity was significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.05). Overweight/obesity, abdominal obesity, and body dissatisfaction significantly increased the risk for DBCWL (OR = 2.57, 2.77, and 1.95, respectively). Overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity significantly increased the risk for body dissatisfaction (OR = 6.00 and 4.70, respectively). Significant mediating effects of body dissatisfaction were observed in correlation between overweight/obesity and DBCWL and between abdominal obesity and DBCWL (OR = 2.20 and 1.92, respectively; P < 0.05), and the proportions of mediating effects among the total effects were 48.89% and 46.60%, respectively. CONCLUSION Body dissatisfaction might play an important mediating effect in association between DBCWL and obesity, which indicates that guiding children to correctly recognize their body might be more conducive than promoting obese children toward weight loss through dietary behavior changes.
The Source and Pathophysiologic Significance of Excreted Cadmium

In theory, the identification of the source of excreted cadmium (Cd) might elucidate the pathogenesis of Cd-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD). With that possibility in mind, we studied Thai subjects with low, moderate, and high Cd exposure. We measured urine concentrations of Cd, ([Cd]u); N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase, a marker of cellular damage ([NAG]u); and β2-microglobulin, an indicator of reabsorptive dysfunction ([β2MG]u). To relate excretion rates of these substances to existing nephron mass, we normalized the rates to creatinine clearance, an approximation of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (ECd/Ccr, ENAG/Ccr, and Eβ2MG/Ccr). To link the loss of intact nephrons to Cd-induced tubular injury, we examined linear and quadratic regressions of estimated GFR (eGFR) on ECd/Ccr, eGFR on ENAG/Ccr, and ENAG/Ccr on ECd/Ccr. Estimated GFR varied inversely with both ratios, and ENAG/Ccr varied directly with ECd/Ccr. Linear and quadratic regressions of Eβ2MG/Ccr on ECd/Ccr and ENAG/Ccr were significant in moderate and high Cd-exposure groups. The association of ENAG/Ccr with ECd/Ccr implies that both ratios depicted cellular damage per surviving nephron. Consequently, we infer that excreted Cd emanated from injured tubular cells, and we attribute the reduction of eGFR to the injury. We suggest that ECd/Ccr, ENAG/Ccr, and eGFR were associated with one another because each parameter was determined by the tubular burden of Cd.
Gata3 targets Runx1 in the embryonic haematopoietic stem cell niche

Runx1 is an important haematopoietic transcription factor as stressed by its involvement in a number of haematological malignancies. Furthermore, it is a key regulator of the emergence of the first haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) during development. The transcription factor Gata3 has also been linked to haematological disease and was shown to promote HSC production in the embryo by inducing the secretion of important niche factors. Both proteins are expressed in several different cell types within the aorta‐gonads‐mesonephros (AGM) region, in which the first HSCs are generated; however, a direct interaction between these two key transcription factors in the context of embryonic HSC production has not formally been demonstrated. In this current study, we have detected co‐localisation of Runx1 and Gata3 in rare sub‐aortic mesenchymal cells in the AGM. Furthermore, the expression of Runx1 is reduced in Gata3 −/− embryos, which also display a shift in HSC emergence. Using an AGM‐derived cell line as a model for the stromal microenvironment in the AGM and performing ChIP‐Seq and ChIP‐on‐chip experiments, we demonstrate that Runx1, together with other key niche factors, is a direct target gene of Gata3. In addition, we can pinpoint Gata3 binding to the Runx1 locus at specific enhancer elements which are active in the microenvironment. These results reveal a direct interaction between Gata3 and Runx1 in the niche that supports embryonic HSCs and highlight a dual role for Runx1 in driving the transdifferentiation of haemogenic endothelial cells into HSCs as well as in the stromal cells that support this process.
Epidemiological profile and spectrum of neglected tropical disease eumycetoma from Delhi, North India

Abstract Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous, suppurative and progressive inflammatory disease that usually involves the subcutaneous tissue and bones after traumatic inoculation of the causative organism. In India, actinomycotic mycetoma is prevalent in south India, south-east Rajasthan and Chandigarh, while eumycetoma, which constitutes one third of the total cases, is mainly reported from north India and central Rajasthan. The objective was to determine the epidemiological profile and spectrum of eumycetoma from a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, North India. Thirty cases of eumycetoma were diagnosed by conventional methods of direct microscopy, culture and species-specific sequencing as per standard protocol. The spectrum of fungal pathogens included Exophiala jeanselmei, Madurella mycetomatis, Fusarium solani, Sarocladium kiliense, Acremonium blochii, Aspergillus nidulans, Fusarium incarnatum, Scedosporium apiospermum complex, Curvularia lunata and Medicopsis romeroi. Eumycetoma can be treated with antifungal therapy and needs to be combined with surgery. It has good prognosis if it is timely diagnosed and the correct species identified by culture for targeted therapy of these patients. Black moulds required prolonged therapy. Its low reporting and lack of familiarity may predispose patients to misdiagnosis and consequently delayed treatment. Hence health education and awareness campaign on the national and international level in the mycetoma belt is crucial.
Nitrous oxide production by ammonia oxidizers: Physiological diversity, niche differentiation and potential mitigation strategies

Oxidation of ammonia to nitrite by bacteria and archaea is responsible for global emissions of nitrous oxide directly and indirectly through provision of nitrite and, after further oxidation, nitrate to denitrifiers. Their contributions to increasing N2O emissions are greatest in terrestrial environments, due to the dramatic and continuing increases in use of ammonia‐based fertilizers, which have been driven by requirement for increased food production, but which also provide a source of energy for ammonia oxidizers (AO), leading to an imbalance in the terrestrial nitrogen cycle. Direct N2O production by AO results from several metabolic processes, sometimes combined with abiotic reactions. Physiological characteristics, including mechanisms for N2O production, vary within and between ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) and comammox bacteria and N2O yield of AOB is higher than in the other two groups. There is also strong evidence for niche differentiation between AOA and AOB with respect to environmental conditions in natural and engineered environments. In particular, AOA are favored by low soil pH and AOA and AOB are, respectively, favored by low rates of ammonium supply, equivalent to application of slow‐release fertilizer, or high rates of supply, equivalent to addition of high concentrations of inorganic ammonium or urea. These differences between AOA and AOB provide the potential for better fertilization strategies that could both increase fertilizer use efficiency and reduce N2O emissions from agricultural soils. This article reviews research on the biochemistry, physiology and ecology of AO and discusses the consequences for AO communities subjected to different agricultural practices and the ways in which this knowledge, coupled with improved methods for characterizing communities, might lead to improved fertilizer use efficiency and mitigation of N2O emissions.
Targeting RAD51 enhances chemosensitivity of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma cells by reducing DNA double-strand break repair

RAD51, is a key homologous recombination protein that repairs DNA damage and maintains gene diversity and stability. Previous studies have demonstrated that the over-expression of RAD51 is associated with chemotherapy resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy, and enhanced activity of DNA damage repair (DDR) systems contributes to resistance of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) resistance to chemotherapy. Thus, targeting RAD51 is a potential strategy for the sensitization of ATL cells to chemotherapeutic drugs by inducing DNA damage. In general, cells can repair minor DNA damage through DDR; however, serious DNA damage may cause cell toxicity in cells which cannot be restored. In the present, down regulation of RAD51 by shRNA and imatinib sensitized Jurkat cells to etoposide by decreasing the activity of homologous recombination (HR). We found that the suppression of RAD51 by shRNA inhibited tumor cells proliferation and enhanced apoptosis of Jurkat cells after etoposide treatment. Importantly, downregulation of RAD51 by imatinib obviously increased the apoptosis of Jurkat cell after etoposide treatment. These results demonstrated that RAD51 may be of great value to as a novel target for the clinical treatment of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL), and it may improve the survival of leukemia patients.
Prediction of Transient or Permanent Congenital Hypothyroidism.

The TSH cut-off used to diagnose congenital hypothyroidism and start thyroxine replacement therapy was 10 μIU/mL, while recent guidelines suggest a cut-off of 20 μIU/mL [3]. This could have three consequences: (i) the number of cases labelled as transient hypothyroidism (TH), but not permanent hypothyroidism (PH), can increase because of lowered cut-off as shown in some previous studies [4]; (ii) there is a risk of overtreating euthyroid neonates and a possible increase in behavioural problems in later life [5]; and (iii) the difference in TSH levels at diagnosis could have achieved statistical significance because of possible inclusion of euthyroid neonates in TH group, a finding not noted in previous studies.
Swimming‐related effects on cerebrovascular and cognitive function

Both acute and regular exercise influence vascular and cognitive function. Upright aquatic exercise increases mean middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAvmean) and has been suggested as favorable for cerebrovascular adaptations. However, MCAvmean has not been reported during swimming. Thus, we examined the cerebrovascular and cognitive effects of swimming. Ten land‐based athletes (22 ± 5 years) and eight swimmers (19 ± 1 years) completed three cognitive tasks and four conditions that were used to independently and collectively delineate the swimming‐related factors (i.e., posture, immersion, CO2 retention [end‐tidal CO2; PETCO2], and motor involvement). Measurements of MCAvmean and PETCO2 were taken throughout each condition. Prone posture increased MCAvmean by 11% (P < 0.01 vs. upright land). Water immersion independently increased MCAvmean when upright (12%; P < 0.01) but not prone (P = 0.76). The consequent rise in PETCO2 during head‐out, breast‐stroke swimming (50% heart rate range) independently increased MCAvmean by 14% (P < 0.01), while the motor involvement of swimming per se did not significantly change MCAvmean (P = 0.32). While accounting for sex, swimmers had ~17% lower MCAvmean during all rest conditions (P ≤ 0.05). However, in a subset of participants, both groups had similar internal carotid artery diameters (P = 0.99) and velocities (P = 0.97). Water immersion per se did not alter cognition (P ≥ 0.15), but 20 min of moderate‐intensity swimming improved visuomotor performance by 4% (P = 0.03), regardless of athlete group (P = 0.12). In conclusion, breast‐stroke swimming increased MCAvmean mostly due to postural and PETCO2 effects, with minimal contributions from water immersion or motor activity. Lastly, swimming improved cognitive functioning acutely, regardless of athlete group. Future research should explore the chronic effects of swimming on cerebrovascular function and cognition, particularly in aging.
Comparison of the 10-year outcomes of cemented and cementless unicompartmental knee replacements: data from the National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man

Background and purpose — Unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR) offers advantages over total replacement but has higher revision rates, particularly for aseptic loosening. The cementless Oxford UKR was introduced to address this. We undertook a registry-based matched comparison of cementless and cemented UKRs. Patients and methods — From 40,552 Oxford UKRs identified by the National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Isle of Man (NJR) we propensity score matched, based on patient, surgical, and implant factors, 7,407 cemented and 7,407 cementless UKRs (total = 14,814). Results — The 10-year cumulative implant survival rates for cementless and cemented UKRs was 93% (95% CI 90–96) and 90% (CI 88–92) respectively, with this difference being significant (HR 0.76; p = 0.002). The risk of revision for aseptic loosening was less than half (p < 0.001) in the cementless (0.42%) compared with the cemented group (1.00%), and the risk of revision also decreased for unexplained pain (to 0.46% from 0.74%; p = 0.03) and lysis (to 0.04% from 0.15%; p = 0.03). However, the risk of revision for periprosthetic fracture increased significantly (p = 0.01) in the cementless (0.26%) compared with the cemented group (0.09%). 10-year patient survival rates were similar (HR 1.2; p = 0.1). Interpretation — The cementless UKR has improved 10-year implant survival compared with the cemented UKR, independent of patient, implant, and surgical factors. This improved survival in the cementless group was primarily the result of lower revision rate for aseptic loosening, unexplained pain, and lysis, suggesting the fixation of the cementless was superior. However, there was a small increased risk of revision for periprosthetic fracture with the cementless implant.
A LysargiNase- and chemical derivatization-based strategy LAACTer facilitating in-depth profiling of C-terminome.

Global identification of protein C-termini is highly challenging due to their low abundance in conventional shotgun proteomics. Several enrichment strategies has been developed to facilitate the detection of C-terminal peptides. One major issue of previous approaches is the limited C-terminome coverage. Herein, we integrated LysargiNase digestion, chemical acetylation on neo-N-terminus, and a-ion-aided peptide matching into polyallylamine-based C-terminomics (termed as LAACTer). In this strategy, we leveraged a less-exploited protease, LysargiNase, to cover previously unidentifiable C-terminome, and employed chemical acetylation and a-ion-aided peptide matching to efficiently boost peptide identifications. Triplicates of LAACTer identified a total of 834 C-termini from proteome of 293T cell, which expanded the coverage by 164% (643 more unique C-termini) compared with the parallel experiments using original workflow. Compared with the largest human C-terminome datasets (containing 800~900 C-termini), LAACTer not only achieved comparable profiling depth but also yielded 465 previously unidentified C-termini. When coupled with the stable-isotope labelling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) technology to identify the GluC-cleaved products, LAACTer quantified 400% more C-terminal peptides than the original workflow. By in-depth C-terminome profiling, we globally analyzed the sequence features of both original and truncated C-termini. From the results, we suggested LAACTer could be useful for analyses of cellular proteolysis events and the C-terminus-related regulatory mechanism of protein stability. In conclusion, we reason LAACTer could be a powerful proteomic tool for in-depth C-terminomics and would benefit better functional understanding of protein C-termini.
Mutual role of ecto-5'-nucleotidase/CD73 and concentrative nucleoside transporter 3 in the intestinal uptake of dAMP

2'-Deoxyadenosine 5'-monophosphate (dAMP), a deoxyribonucleotide found in DNA, affects intestinal cell growth. The molecular mechanisms underlying gastrointestinal absorption of foreign DNA ingested along with food has hardly been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism underlying intestinal absorption of dAMP. The uptake of [3H]dAMP by Caco-2 cells was Na+- and pH-dependent and was inhibited by various nucleosides. In contrast, nitrobenzylthioinosine (NMBPR), an equilibrative nucleoside transporter inhibitor, showed little inhibitory effects on [3H]dAMP uptake. Additionally, human concentrative nucleoside transporter (CNT) 3, transiently expressed in COS-7 cells, mediated the uptake of [3H]dAMP. A kinetic study revealed that the Km value of CNT3-mediated uptake of dAMP (59.6 μM) was close to that of 2'-deoxyadenosine (dAdo) (56.3 μM), whereas the dAMP Vmax (15.6 pmol·mg protein–1min–1) was 500-fold lesser than the dAdo Vmax (7782 pmol·mg protein–1min–1). Further, [3H]dAMP uptake was greater in COS-7 cells expressing ecto-5'-nucleotidase/CD73 with CNT3 than in those expressing CNT3 alone. These data suggest that, although dAMP is a substrate of CNT3, it is dephosphorylated to dAdo by CD73 and is efficiently absorbed as dAdo from the intestinal lumen.
Studies on relationship between blood pressure management and stroke in the China expert’s consensus on symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis

缺血性卒中的血压管理问题一直是颇有争议的临床问题，甚至不同的研究给出了相互矛盾的结果。 随着近来坎地沙坦急性卒中试验(Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial, SCAST)和中国急性缺血性卒中的降压试验(China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke, CATIS)等一些大型随机临床对照研究结果的问世，这个问题的方向似乎越来越明晰，但仍然有些令人费解的地方。 本文就症状性动脉粥样硬化颅内动脉狭窄中国专家共识中血压管理与卒中关系问题阐述了几点个人的见解，并对一些看起来矛盾的问题给出了相关的解释。 通过分析提出，动脉内膜易损病变对缺血性卒中血压管理中可能存在的J曲线现象发挥一定作用，血压对卒中风险的影响可能因此出现拐点。 对于存在症状性颅内动脉狭窄患者，要重视血管评估尤其是对动脉易损病变评估的重要性，并以此来指导制定症状性动脉粥样硬化颅内血管狭窄患者血压管理、抗动脉硬化及抗栓治疗的策略。
Probable Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Lower Respiratory Symptoms Among Rescue/Recovery Workers and Community Members After the 9/11 World Trade Center Attacks—A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis

OBJECTIVE Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and lower respiratory symptoms (LRS) often coexist among survivors of the September 11, 2001 (9/11) World Trade Center (WTC) attacks. Research in police and nontraditional responders suggests that PTSD mediates the relationship between 9/11 physical exposures and LRS, but not vice versa. We replicated these findings in WTC rescue/recovery workers (R/R workers), extended them to exposed community members, and explored the interplay between both physical and psychological 9/11 exposures, probable PTSD, and LRS over a 10-year follow-up. METHODS Participants were 12,398 R/R workers and 12,745 community members assessed in three WTC Health Registry surveys (2003-2004, 2006-2007, and 2011-2012). LRS and 9/11 exposures were self-reported. Probable PTSD was defined as a PTSD Checklist score ≥44. RESULTS Probable PTSD predicted LRS (R/R workers: β = 0.88-0.98, p < .001; community members: β = 0.67-0.86, p < .001) and LRS predicted PTSD (R/R workers: β = 0.83-0.91, p < .001; community members: β = 0.68-0.75, p < .001) at follow-ups, adjusting for prior symptoms and covariates. In both R/R workers and community members, probable PTSD mediated the relationship between 9/11 physical exposures (dust cloud, long duration of work) and LRS (indirect effects, p = .001-.006), and LRS mediated the physical exposure-PTSD relationship (indirect effects, p = .001-.006). In R/R workers, probable PTSD mediated the psychological exposure (losing friends or loved ones, witnessing horrific events)-LRS relationship (indirect effect, p < .001), but LRS did not mediate the psychological exposure-PTSD relationship (indirect effect, p = .332). In community members, high 9/11 psychological exposure predicted both probable PTSD and LRS at follow-ups; probable PTSD mediated the psychological exposure-LRS relationship (indirect effect, p < .001), and LRS mediated the psychological exposure-PTSD relationship (indirect effect, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS Probable PTSD and LRS each mediated the other, with subtle differences between R/R workers and community members. A diagnosis of either should trigger assessment for the other; treatment should be carefully coordinated.
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing in a combined screening approach to individuate pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis

Abstract Objectives The DETECT algorithm has been developed to identify SSc patients at risk for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) yielding high sensitivity but low specificity, and positive predictive value. We tested whether cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) could improve the performance of the DETECT screening strategy. Methods Consecutive SSc patients over a 30-month period were screened with the DETECT algorithm and positive subjects were referred for CPET before the execution of right-heart catheterization. The predictive performance of CPET on top of DETECT was evaluated and internally validated via bootstrap replicates. Results Out of 314 patients, 96 satisfied the DETECT application criteria and 54 were positive. PAH was ascertained in 17 (31.5%) and pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension in 23 (42.6%) patients. Within CPET variables, the slope of the minute ventilation to carbon dioxide production relationship (VE/VCO2 slope) had the best performance to predict PAH at right-heart catheterization [median (interquartile range) of specificity 0.778 (0.714–0.846), positive predictive value 0.636 (0.556–0.750)]; exploratory analysis on pre-capillary yielded a specificity of 0.714 (0.636–0.8) and positive predictive value of 0.714 (0.636–0.8). Conclusion In association with the DETECT algorithm, CPET may be considered as a useful tool in the workup of SSc-related pulmonary hypertension. The sequential determination of the VE/VCO2 slope in DETECT-positive subjects may reduce the number of unnecessary invasive procedures without any loss in the capability to capture PAH. This strategy had also a remarkable performance in highlighting the presence of pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension.