Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of life in chronic pain patients: Illness- and wellness-focused coping as moderators.

Chronic pain is a health problem that significantly influences patients' lives, causing functional, social, socioeconomic, and emotional changes that impact quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate which variables (e.g., psychological morbidity, illness representations, pain, and coping) contribute to QoL and to determine the moderating role of illness- and wellness-focused coping in the relationship between pain interference and Qol, in chronic pain patients. A sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Pain Catastrophizing Scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory, the Short Form Health Survey, and the Brief Pain Inventory were completed by 103 patients with chronic pain. Greater use of wellness-focused coping and being professionally active were associated with better physical QoL. Cognitive representations and illness-focused coping contributed to physical QoL, and psychological morbidity contributed to mental QoL. Illness-focused coping and wellness-focused coping moderated the relationship between pain interference and physical QoL, but not with mental QoL. Since pain interference was positively related to psychological morbidity, and the latter was negatively related to QoL, it is extremely important to evaluate and promote patients' coping strategies that are focused on well-being to improve QoL. Results from this study underline the relevance of a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain and the need to account for psychological morbidity and coping strategies in intervention programs to promote QoL in chronic pain patients.
Synthesis, Photoisomerization, Antioxidant Activity, and Lipid-Lowering Effect of Ferulic Acid and Feruloyl Amides

The Ugi four-component reaction employing naturally occurred ferulic acid (FA) is proposed as a convenient method to synthesize feruloyl tertiary amides. Applying this strategy, a peptoid-like derivative of ferulic acid (FEF77) containing 2 additional hydroxy-substituted aryl groups, has been synthesized. The influence of the configuration of the double bond of ferulic acid and feruloyl amide on the antioxidant activity has been investigated thanks to light-mediated isomerization studies. At the cellular level, both FA, trans and cis isomers of FEF77 were able to protect human endothelial cord vein (HECV) cells from the oxidative damage induced by exposure to hydrogen peroxide, as measured by cell viability and ROS production assays. Moreover, in steatotic FaO rat hepatoma cells, an in vitro model resembling non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the molecules exhibited a lipid-lowering effect, which, along with the antioxidant properties, points to consider feruloyl amides for further investigations in a therapeutic perspective.
Is There a Bias Against Obese Patients in the Treatment of Breast Cancer?

Background Patient and tumor characteristics often coincide with obesity, potentially affecting treatment decision-making in obese breast cancer patients. Independent of all of these factors, however, it is unclear whether obesity itself impacts the decision to offer patients undergoing mastectomy breast reconstruction, postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT), or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We sought to determine whether implicit bias against obese breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy plays a role in their treatment. Methods Medical records of breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy from January 2010 to April 2018 from a single institution were retrospectively reviewed, separated into obese (BMI ≥30) and nonobese (BMI <30) categories, and compared using nonparametric statistical analyses. Results Of 972 patients, 291 (31.2%) were obese. Obese patients were more likely to have node-positive, triple-negative breast cancers (P = .026) and were also more likely to have other comorbidities such as a history of smoking (P = .026), hypertension (P < .001), and diabetes (P < .001). Receipt of immediate reconstruction and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy did not vary between obese and nonobese patients. While obese patients were more likely to undergo neoadjuvant chemotherapy (26.5% vs. 18.1%, P = .004) and PMRT (33.0% vs. 23.4%, P = .003), this did not remain significant when controlling for comorbidities and clinicopathologic confounders. Conclusion Obese patients present with more aggressive tumors and often have concomitant comorbidities. Independent of these factors, however, differences in the treatment of patients undergoing mastectomy do not seem to be affected by an implicit bias against obese patients.
Nutritional rickets & osteomalacia: A practical approach to management

Defective mineralization of the growth plate and preformed osteoid result in rickets and osteomalacia, respectively. The leading cause of rickets worldwide is solar vitamin D deficiency and/or dietary calcium deficiency collectively termed as nutritional rickets. Vitamin D deficiency predominates in high-latitude countries in at-risk groups (dark skin, reduced sun exposure, infants and pregnant and lactating women) but is emerging in some tropical countries due to sun avoidance behaviour. Calcium deficiency predominates in tropical countries, especially in the malnourished population. Nutritional rickets can have devastating health consequences beyond bony deformities (swollen wrist and ankle joints, rachitic rosary, soft skull, stunting and bowing) and include life-threatening hypocalcaemic complications of seizures and, in infancy, heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. In children, diagnosis of rickets (always associated with osteomalacia) is confirmed on radiographs (cupping and flaring of metaphyses) and should be suspected in high risk individuals with the above clinical manifestations in the presence of abnormal blood biochemistry (high alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone, low 25-hydroxyvitamin D and calcium and/or low phosphate). In adults or adolescents with closed growth plates, osteomalacia presents with non-specific symptoms (fatigue, malaise and muscle weakness) and abnormal blood biochemistry, but only in extreme cases, it is associated with radiographic findings of Looser's zone fractures. Bone biopsies could confirm osteomalacia at earlier disease stages, for definitive diagnosis. Treatment includes high-dose cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol daily for a minimum of 12 wk or stoss therapy in exceptional circumstances, each followed by lifelong maintenance supplementation. In addition, adequate calcium intake through diet or supplementation should be ensured. Preventative approaches should be tailored to the population needs and incorporate multiple strategies including targeted vitamin D supplementation of at-risk groups and food fortification with vitamin D and/or calcium. Economically, food fortification is certainly the most cost-effective way forward.
Sustainable Fabrication of Organic Solvent Nanofiltration Membranes

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) has been considered as one of the key technologies to improve the sustainability of separation processes. Recently, apart from enhancing the membrane performance, greener fabricate on of OSN membranes has been set as a strategic objective. Considerable efforts have been made aiming to improve the sustainability in membrane fabrication, such as replacing membrane materials with biodegradable alternatives, substituting toxic solvents with greener solvents, and minimizing waste generation with material recycling. In addition, new promising fabrication and post-modification methods of solvent-stable membranes have been developed exploiting the concept of interpenetrating polymer networks, spray coating, and facile interfacial polymerization. This review compiles the recent progress and advances for sustainable fabrication in the field of polymeric OSN membranes.
Selecting home care quality indicators based on the Resident Assessment Instrument-Home Care (RAI-HC) for Switzerland: A public health and healthcare providers' perspective

Background Despite an increasing importance of home care, quality assurance in this healthcare sector in Switzerland is hardly established. In 2010, Swiss home care quality indicators (QIs) based on the Resident Assessment Instrument-Home Care (RAI-HC) were developed. However, these QIs have not been revised since, although internationally new RAI-HC QIs have emerged. The objective of this study was to assess the appropriateness of RAI-HC QIs to measure quality of home care in Switzerland from a public health and healthcare providers’ perspective. Methods First, the appropriateness of RAI-HC QIs, identified in a recent systematic review, was assessed by a multidisciplinary expert panel based on the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method taking into account indicators’ public health relevance, potential of influence, and comprehensibility. Second, the QIs selected by the experts were afterwards rated regarding their relevance, potential of influence, and practicability from a healthcare providers’ perspective in focus groups with home care nurses based on the Nominal-Group-Technique. Data were analyzed using median scores and the Disagreement Index. Results 18 of 43 RAI-HC QIs were rated appropriate by the experts from a public health perspective. The 18 QIs cover clinical, psychosocial, functional and service use aspects. Seven of the 18 QIs were subsequently rated appropriate by home care nurses from a healthcare providers’ perspective. The focus of these QIs is narrow, because three of seven QIs are pain-related. From both perspectives, the majority of RAI-HC QIs were rated inappropriate because of insufficient potential of influence, with healthcare providers rating them more critically. Conclusions The study shows that the appropriateness of RAI-HC QIs differs according to the stakeholder perspective and the intended use of QIs. The findings of this study can guide policy-makers and home care organizations on selecting QIs and to critically reflect on their appropriate use.
Disturbances in PP2A methylation and one-carbon metabolism compromise Fyn distribution, neuritogenesis, and APP regulation

The nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase Fyn and protein Ser/Thr phosphatase 2A (PP2A) are major multifunctional signaling molecules. Deregulation of Fyn and altered PP2A methylation are implicated in cancer and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we tested the hypothesis that the methylation state of PP2A catalytic subunit, which influences PP2A subunit composition and substrate specificity, can affect Fyn regulation and function. Using Neuro-2a (N2a) neuroblastoma cell models, we first show that methylated PP2A holoenzymes containing the Bα subunit coimmunoprecipitate and copurify with Fyn in membrane rafts. PP2A methylation status regulates Fyn distribution and Fyn-dependent neuritogenesis, likely in part by affecting actin dynamics. A methylation-incompetent PP2A mutant fails to interact with Fyn. It perturbs the normal partitioning of Fyn and amyloid precursor protein (APP) in membrane microdomains, which governs Fyn function and APP processing. This correlates with enhanced amyloidogenic cleavage of APP, a hallmark of AD pathogenesis. Conversely, enhanced PP2A methylation promotes the nonamyloidogenic cleavage of APP in a Fyn-dependent manner. Disturbances in one-carbon metabolic pathways that control cellular methylation are associated with AD and cancer. Notably, they induce a parallel loss of membrane-associated methylated PP2A and Fyn enzymes in N2a cells and acute mouse brain slices. One-carbon metabolism also modulates Fyn-dependent process outgrowth in N2a cells. Thus, our findings identify a novel methylation-dependent PP2A/Fyn signaling module. They highlight the underestimated importance of cross talks between essential metabolic pathways and signaling scaffolds that are involved in normal cell homeostasis and currently being targeted for cancer and AD treatment.
Flow-induced instability of double-walled carbon nanotubes based on an elastic shell model

Double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) are modeled based on Donnell’s shell theory, and flow-induced instability that is induced when pressure-driven fluid goes through the inner tube at a steady flow velocity is studied. The van der Waals (vdW) interaction between the inner and outer walls is taken into account in the modeling. The numerical simulations show that the vdW interaction has significant effects on the flow-induced instability of DWCNTs. The critical flow velocities and loss of stability are closely related to the ratio of the length to the outer radius. Donnell’s shell model for carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is preferred in simulations because it takes into account the shear effects in the walls. A comparison between the CNTs that are based on a Eulerian beam model and those that are based on Donnell’s shell model shows that when the 50-nm-radius tube length is shorter than 10 μm, the comparative errors between the Eulerian beam and Donnell’s shell models are greatly increased.
Long-term Effect of a Single Subcritical Knee Injury: Increasing the Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Osteoarthritis

Background: Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a well-known risk factor for the development of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), but patients with the “same injury” can have vastly different trajectories for the onset and progression of disease. Minor subcritical injuries preceding the critical injury event may drive this disparity through preexisting tissue pathologies and sensory changes. Purpose: To investigate the role of subcritical injury on ACL rupture risk and PTOA through the evaluation of pain behaviors, joint mechanics, and tissue structural change in a mouse model of knee injury. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Ten-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were allocated to naïve control and subcritical knee injury groups. Injury was induced by a single mechanical compression to the right hindlimb, and mice were evaluated using joint histopathology, anteroposterior joint biomechanics, pain behaviors (mechanical allodynia and hindlimb weightbearing), and isolated ACL tensile testing to failure at 1, 2, 4, or 8 weeks after injury. Results: Subcritical knee injury produced focal osteochondral lesions in the patellofemoral and lateral tibiofemoral compartments with no resolution for the duration of the study (8 weeks). These lesions were characterized by focal loss of proteoglycan staining, cartilage structural change, chondrocyte pathology, microcracks, and osteocyte cell loss. Injury also resulted in the rapid onset of allodynia (at 1 week), which persisted over time and reduced ACL failure load (P = .006; mean ± SD, 7.91 ± 2.01 N vs 9.37 ± 1.01 N in naïve controls at 8 weeks after injury), accompanied by evidence of ACL remodeling at the femoral enthesis. Conclusion: The present study in mice establishes a direct effect of a single subcritical knee injury on the development of specific joint tissue pathologies (osteochondral lesions and progressive weakening of the ACL) and allodynic sensitization. These findings demonstrate a predisposition for secondary critical injuries (eg, ACL rupture) and an increased risk of PTOA onset and progression (structurally and symptomatically). Clinical Relevance: Subcritical knee injuries are a common occurrence and, based on this study, can cause persistent sensory and structural change. These findings have important implications for the understanding of risk factors of ACL injury and subsequent PTOA, particularly with regard to prevention and management strategies following an often underreported event.
Optimization of the Aeration Strategies in a Deammonification Sequencing Batch Reactor for Efficient Nitrogen Removal and Mitigation of N2O Production.

In deammonification systems, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) suppression and nitrous oxide (N2O) mitigation are two important operational objectives. To carry out this multivariable analysis of response, a comprehensive model for the N cycle was developed and evaluated against experimental data from a laboratory-scale deammonification granular sludge sequencing batch reactor. Different aeration strategies were tested, and the manipulated variables comprised the dissolved oxygen (DO) set point in the aerated phase, aeration on/off frequency (F), and the ratio (R) between the non-aerated and aerated phase durations. Experimental results showed that a high ammonium utilization rate (AUR) in relation to the low nitrate production rate (NPR) (NPR/AUR = 0.07-0.08) and limited N2O emissions (EN2O < 2%) could be achieved at the DO set point = 0.7 mg O2/L, R ratio = 2, and F frequency = 6-7 h-1. Under specific operational conditions (biomass concentration, NH4+-N loading rate, and temperature), simulation results confirmed the feasible aeration strategies for the trade-offs between the NOB suppression and N2O emission. The intermittent aeration regimes led to frequent shifts in the predominating N2O production pathways, that is, hydroxylamine (NH2OH) oxidation (aerated phase) versus autotrophic denitrification (non-aerated phase). The inclusion of the extracellular polymeric substance mechanism in the model explained the observed activity of heterotrophs, especially Anaerolineae, and granule formation.
Comparative Evaluation of the Nutritional, Antinutritional, Functional, and Bioactivity Attributes of Rice Bran Stabilized by Different Heat Treatments

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different stabilization treatments—namely, dry-heating, infrared-radiation, and microwave-heating—on the nutritional, antinutritional, functional, and bioactivity attributes of rice bran (RB). Among the heating treatments, infrared-radiation exerted the strongest inactivation, resulting in 34.7% residual lipase activity. All the stabilization methods were found to be effective in the reduction of antinutrients, including phytates, oxalate, saponins, and trypsin inhibitors. No adverse effect of stabilization was noted on chemical composition and fatty acid profile of RB. Instead, stabilization by all heat treatments caused a significant decrease of vitamin E and total phenolics content in RB; the same trend was observed for the antioxidant activity as evaluated by the DPPH test. The antioxidant activity, as evaluated by ABTS and FRAP tests, and water absorption capacity were improved by the stabilization of RB, whereas the oil absorption capacity and emulsifying properties decreased. Microwave-heating enhanced the foaming properties, whereas infrared-radiation improved the water solubility index and swelling power of RB. Consequently, treatment of RB with infrared-radiation has a potential for industrialization to inactivate the lipase and improve some functional properties of this material for uses as a nutraceutical ingredient in food and cosmetic products.
Association of Acinetobacter Baumannii with invasive procedures in hospitalized patients in Jakarta.

INTRODUCTION Acinetobacter baumannii, a multidrug-resistant Gram-negative opportunist has been known among the cause of nosocomial infection. Risk factors of infection related to A. baumannii have been reported elsewhere. This study aimed to find the association of A. baumannii positive culture and invasive procedures in patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit and Hospital ward in Jakarta. METHODOLOGY This study was a retrospective, 1:1 matched case-control study with total sampling method from in-patients in the ICU and the Internal Medicine Wards (IMW) of a Private Hospital, North Jakarta in 2015 - 2018. Data retrieved were positive culture of A. baumannii. Positive cultures of multi-sensitive bacteria were included as a control group. Antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out as recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. RESULTS A total of 88 in-patients were studied, and A. baumannii isolates were identified from 44 patients. Most of A. baumannii showed resistant to almost all antibiotics tested, except for colistin. Bivariate analysis showed a significant association of A. baumannii positive culture and the use of ventilator in the ICU (p = 0,039), and with urinary catheters in the IMW (p = 0,022). Multivariate analysis showed that length of stay also has a significant association to A. baumannii positive culture in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS The use of ventilators and urinary catheters showed a significant association with Acinetobacter baumannii positive culture in patients in the ICU and in the IMW respectively. All of the A. baumannii isolates were susceptible to colistin.
Parental Stress, Anxiety and Depression Symptoms Associated with Self-Efficacy in Paediatric Type 1 Diabetes: A Literature Review

Background: Parents play a significant role in the management and monitoring of their children’s Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), being considered a family disease. The current review intends to investigate parental stress, depression and anxiety symptoms associated with self-efficacy referred to paediatric diabetes management. Method: A literature review was carried out using PsycINFO, Web of Science and PubMed where the following terms were considered: diabetes mellitus, paediatric, parent-child relationship, self-efficacy, parenting stress, perceived stress, stress, depression, anxiety. Standing a defined list of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 33 papers were finally included. Results: Findings have shown that parents experience relatively high levels of anxiety, depression and stress symptoms related to managing a child with T1DM and are associated with parental self-efficacy. Parental stress predicts a worsening in the control of HbA1c levels, while parental diabetes-specific distress predicts an increase in children depression symptoms. High parental self-efficacy associates with better monitoring, allowing better adherence and more balanced HbA1c levels in the children. Conclusions: Interventions aimed at fostering social support, improving diabetes management, and decreasing perceived stress, might alleviate parents’ psychological symptoms by focusing on increasing their self-efficacy. Digital interventions might also represent valuable solutions to support parents in the management of paediatric diabetes not presented and substantiated in the main text and should not exaggerate the main conclusions.
Effects of rapid maxillary expansion on temporomandibular joints: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on the condylar position, disc joint, joint space, and interarticular relationship in growing patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A systematic search was performed in nine databases. The clinical studies selected included those with pre- and post-magnetic resonance, conventional computed tomography or cone beam tomography in growing patients. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for controlled clinical studies and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Quality Assessment for Before-After Studies With No Control Group. RESULTS Initially, 4303 records were identified. Only eight studies fulfilled the criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis. Of those, two were controlled clinical studies with a risk of uncertain to high bias. The remaining papers had a low to moderate risk of bias. Results showed that RME in children and adolescents promoted the following: remodeling in the head and or condylar branch, changes in condylar position and joint space, maintenance of improved symmetry between the condyles, and no ability to modify the position or shape of the articular disc. CONCLUSIONS RME in growing patients is able, in the short term, to modify the condyle-fossa relationship but does not change the position or shape of the articular disc. The intercondylar symmetric relationship is maintained or improved. Although the NHLBI score shows low to moderate risk of bias, the clinical relevance of these review findings is limited by Cochrane and Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation scores.