Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Light and Hydrogels: A New Generation of Antimicrobial Materials

Nosocomial diseases are becoming a scourge in hospitals worldwide, and new multidrug-resistant microorganisms are appearing at the forefront, significantly increasing the number of deaths. Innovative solutions must emerge to prevent the imminent health crisis risk, and antibacterial hydrogels are one of them. In addition to this, for the past ten years, photochemistry has become an appealing green process attracting continuous attention from scientists in the scope of sustainable development, as it exhibits many advantages over other methods used in polymer chemistry. Therefore, the combination of antimicrobial hydrogels and light has become a matter of course to design innovative antimicrobial materials. In the present review, we focus on the use of photochemistry to highlight two categories of hydrogels: (a) antibacterial hydrogels synthesized via a free-radical photochemical crosslinking process and (b) chemical hydrogels with light-triggered antibacterial properties. Numerous examples of these new types of hydrogels are described, and some notions of photochemistry are introduced.
Scientific literacy and the medical student: A cross-sectional study.

Background. Problem-solving, critical thinking, communication skills and the ability to interpret data are four core components of scientific literacy, which any student must acquire during the educational process. This is of specific relevance to the medical profession as doctors need to be 'scientific' in their approach. The nine domains of scientific literacy are further grouped under two major abilities: understanding methods of enquiry that lead to scientific knowledge and the ability to organize, analyse and interpret quantitative data and scientific information. Methods. We included all first-year medical students within the first 2 months of admission in four medical colleges of India. We used the Test of Scientific Literacy Skills, a self- administered questionnaire, which is a validated and standardized tool for evaluating scientific literacy among students. Results. A total of 525 medical students participated in our study over 3 years-335 were males and the majority of students (73.5%) had joined medical college from schools affiliated with the Central Board of School Education system. The presence of scientific literacy skills across the study sample was low. Conclusion. The relative lack of scientific literacy uncovered by our study needs to be addressed by medical colleges, using innovative student-centred approaches and incorporating social media literacy. Reforms are urgently required in the school education system, which serves as a feeder to the medical education system.
Effects of Long-Term DHA Supplementation and Physical Exercise on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Development in Obese Aged Female Mice

Obesity and aging are associated to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. Here, we investigate whether long-term feeding with a docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-enriched diet and aerobic exercise, alone or in combination, are effective in ameliorating NAFLD in aged obese mice. Two-month-old female C57BL/6J mice received control or high fat diet (HFD) for 4 months. Then, the diet-induced obese (DIO) mice were distributed into four groups: DIO, DIO + DHA (15% dietary lipids replaced by a DHA-rich concentrate), DIO + EX (treadmill running), and DIO + DHA + EX up to 18 months. The DHA-rich diet reduced liver steatosis in DIO mice, decreasing lipogenic genes (Dgat2, Scd1, Srebp1c), and upregulated lipid catabolism genes (Hsl/Acox) expression. A similar pattern was observed in the DIO + EX group. The combination of DHA + exercise potentiated an increase in Cpt1a and Ppara genes, and AMPK activation, key regulators of fatty acid oxidation. Exercise, alone or in combination with DHA, significantly reversed the induction of proinflammatory genes (Mcp1, Il6, Tnfα, Tlr4) in DIO mice. DHA supplementation was effective in preventing the alterations induced by the HFD in endoplasmic reticulum stress-related genes (Ern1/Xbp1) and autophagy markers (LC3II/I ratio, p62, Atg7). In summary, long-term DHA supplementation and/or exercise could be helpful to delay NAFLD progression during aging in obesity.
Protective effect of liraglutide on experimental testicular ischaemia reperfusion in rats

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of liraglutide on experimental testicular ischaemia reperfusion in rats in terms of biochemistry, histopathology and immunohistochemistry. A total of 28 male Wistar‐Albino rats were divided randomly into 4 groups: control (7), sham (7), ischaemia‐reperfusion (7) and ischaemia‐reperfusion + liraglutide (7). Biochemically, Nitric Oxide, Malondialdehyde, Superoxide dismutase, Glutathione peroxidase and Catalase levels were measured in the testis. Apoptosis protease activating factor‐1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase activity were evaluated immunohistochemically as well. Statistical analyses were made via the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests. In the reperfusion group, CAT and SOD values were increased (p > .05), NO and MDA values were decreased (p < .05) after administration of liraglutide. In addition, GPx values were significantly increased in ischaemia reperfusion + liraglutide administered group compared to reperfusion group (p < .05). Apaf‐1 and iNOS activity were significantly decreased with the addition of liraglutide treatment to the ischaemia‐reperfusion group (p < .05). First of all, we would like to say that liraglutide treatment is moderately preventive against I/R injury in testicular torsion. The anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties of liraglutide are create a moderately protective effect as we show in this study.
Cosolute Interactions on Aqueous Contaminant Concentrations

Abstract Information on the aqueous solubilities of organic substances are important for understanding hydrophobic interactions in water and for assessing the distribution and toxicity of contaminants in aquatic environments. Environmental contaminants are frequently encountered as mixtures, and the behaviour of a compound in a mixture may not correspond to that predicted from the pure compounds data. In this study, solutions often binary aromatic mixtures were examined, each at several molar ratios. The five individual aromatics were benzene, 2-chlorotoluene, 2-sec-butylphenol, aniline, and 2-nitroanisole. The water solubilities of those individual compounds range from about 400 to about 40,000 mg/l. For all these binary systems, the experimental results indicate that there are significant cosolute interactions on aqueous contaminant concentrations which appear dependent on the structures of the cosolutes. The UNIFAC model and an empirical QSAR (not given) model are used for the prediction and the correl.
TERT Promoter Mutation Analysis of Whole-Organ Mapping Bladder Cancers

Background: Multifocal occurrence is a main characteristic of urothelial bladder cancer (UBC). Whether urothelial transformation is caused by monoclonal events within the urothelium, or by polyclonal unrelated events resulting in several tumor clones is still under debate. TERT promoter mutations are the most common somatic alteration identified in UBC. In this study, we analyzed different histological tissues from whole-organ mapping bladder cancer specimens to reveal TERT mutational status, as well as to discern how tumors develop. Methods: Up to 23 tissues from nine whole-organ mapping bladder tumor specimens, were tested for TERT promoter mutations including tumor associated normal urothelium, non-invasive urothelial lesions (hyperplasia, dysplasia, metaplasia), carcinoma in situ (CIS) and different areas of muscle invasive bladder cancers (MIBC). The mutational DNA hotspot region within the TERT promoter was analyzed by SNaPshot analysis including three hot spot regions (−57, −124 or −146). Telomere length was measured by the Relative Human Telomere Length Quantification qPCR Assay Kit. Results: TERT promoter mutations were identified in tumor associated normal urothelium as well as non-invasive urothelial lesions, CIS and MIBC. Analysis of separate regions of the MIBC showed 100% concordance of TERT promoter mutations within a respective whole-organ bladder specimen. Polyclonal events were observed in five out of nine whole-organ mapping bladder cancers housing tumor associated normal urothelium, non-invasive urothelial lesions and CIS where different TERT promoter mutations were found compared to MIBC. The remaining four whole-organ mapping bladders were monoclonal for TERT mutations. No significant differences of telomere length were observed. Conclusions: Examining multiple whole-organ mapping bladders we conclude that TERT promoter mutations may be an early step in bladder cancer carcinogenesis as supported by TERT mutations detected in tumor associated normal urothelium as well as non-invasive urothelial lesions. Since mutated TERT promoter regions within non-invasive urothelial lesions are not sufficient alone for the establishment of cancerous growth, this points to the contribution of other gene mutations as a requirement for tumor development.
Genetics background of β‐thalassemia (3.5 kb deletion) in Southern Thailand: Haplotype analysis using novel reverse dot blot hybridization

β‐thalassemia (β‐thal) (3.5 kb deletion or NC_000011.10:g.5224302‐5227791del3490bp) is a common mutation in southern Thailand. This study aimed to determine genetic diversity in subjects with β‐thal (3.5 kb deletion) alleles and to ascertain the origin of this mutation using haplotype and phylogenetic analysis. The study was carried out on members of the southern Thai population, including 45 normal individuals, 116 heterozygous β‐thal (3.5 kb deletion) and one homozygous β‐thal (3.5 kb deletion). The 5′‐haplotype in β‐globin gene cluster was examined using newly developed reverse dot blot hybridization (RDB) and compared with polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP). The results showed 100% concordance between the haplotype patterns of these two methods. From a total of 324 chromosomes, nine haplotypes were segregated. Haplotype H2 (+ – – – –) was the predominant haplotype observed in all 118 β‐thal (3.5 kb deletion) chromosomes, which revealed a single origin. The phylogenetic tree demonstrated that β‐thal (3.5 kb deletion) has an older genetic defect in this region. Moreover, the developed RDB is simple, less time‐consuming, inexpensive, and does not restriction enzyme digestion.
Systematic Review: Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Platelet-Rich Plasma and Biomaterials as New Regenerative Strategies in Chronic Skin Wounds and Soft Tissue Defects

The number of clinical trials evaluating adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and biomaterials efficacy in regenerative plastic surgery has exponentially increased during the last ten years. AD-MSCs are easily accessible from various fat depots and show intrinsic plasticity in giving rise to cell types involved in wound healing and angiogenesis. AD-MSCs have been used in the treatment of soft tissue defects and chronic wounds, employed in conjunction with a fat grafting technique or with dermal substitute scaffolds and platelet-rich plasma. In this systematic review, an overview of the current knowledge on this topic has been provided, based on existing studies and the authors’ experience. A multistep search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PreMEDLINE, Ebase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Clinicaltrials.gov, Scopus database, and Cochrane databases has been performed to identify papers on AD-MSCs, PRP, and biomaterials used in soft tissue defects and chronic wounds. Of the 2136 articles initially identified, 422 articles focusing on regenerative strategies in wound healing were selected and, consequently, only 278 articles apparently related to AD-MSC, PRP, and biomaterials were initially assessed for eligibility. Of these, 85 articles were excluded as pre-clinical, experimental, and in vitro studies. For the above-mentioned reasons, 193 articles were selected; of this amount, 121 letters, expert opinions, commentary, and editorials were removed. The remaining 72 articles, strictly regarding the use of AD-MSCs, PRP, and biomaterials in chronic skin wounds and soft tissue defects, were analyzed. The studies included had to match predetermined criteria according to the patients, intervention, comparator, outcomes, and study design (PICOS) approach. The information analyzed highlights the safety and efficacy of AD-MSCs, PRP, and biomaterials on soft tissue defects and chronic wounds, without major side effects.
Handling Uncertainty in Model-Based Optimal Experimental Design

In contrast to the majority of published works in the field of model-based optimal experimental design which focused on numerical studies so as to demonstrate the validity of the OED approach or the development of new criteria or numerical approaches, this work is mainly concerned with the experimental application and practical insights gained from the adaption of an optimal design framework. The presented work is discussed based on the determination of protein ion-exchange equilibrium parameters. For this purpose, special attention is paid to the explicit modeling of all laboratory steps so as to prepare, implement, and analyze experiments in order to have a realistic definition of the numeric design problem and to formally include experimental restrictions and sources of uncertainties in the problem formulation. Moreover, whereas the effect of erroneous assumptions in the initially assumed parameter values have been covered by various authors, in this work, uncertainties are considered in a more general.
Investigation of the Demodex Lid Infestation with in Vivo Confocal Microscopy versus Light Microscopy in Patients with Seborrheic Blepharitis

ABSTRACT Aim The comparison of the diagnostic efficiency of a reference method (light microscopy [LM] using 10% potassium hydroxide [KOH]) with the use of 100% alcohol to in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) for the detection of Demodex eyelid infestation in seborrheic blepharitis patients. Methods Eyelashes were epilated from the right eyes for the reference method and the left eyes for the alcohol group in 58 eyes of 29 patients. IVCM was used on the left eyes. The primary outcomes were the number of Demodex mites per lash and the rate of Demodex positivity (≥1 mite). Results The rate of Demodex positivity was similar among the three groups (KOH: 82.8%, alcohol: 86.2%, IVCM: 72.4%; p >.05). The mean number of mites per lash in the KOH group (1.5 ± 1.3) was higher than in the alcohol (0.9 ± 0.6, p =.041) and IVCM groups (0.9 ± 0.9, p =.036). Conclusion KOH was found to be superior in terms of the quantification of mites compared to alcohol and IVCM.
Studies of the Solvent Extraction of Niobium-95 in the Tribenzyl Amine-Hydrochloric Acid System

The distribution coefficients of Nb/sup 95/ between hydrochloric acid and tribenzylamine were investigated. Discussion is given on the mechanism of amine extraction and the species of Nb in hydrochloric acid. The formation of niobium chlorocomplexes is promoted as the temperature increases, but dehydroxylation may occur simultaneously.
Associations between gene polymorphisms and selected meat traits in cattle — A review

Maintaining a high level of beef consumption requires paying attention not only to quantitative traits but also to the quality and dietary properties of meat. Growing consumer demands do not leave producers many options for how animals are selected for breeding and animal keeping. Meat and carcass fatness quality traits, which are influenced by multiple genes, are economically important in beef cattle breeding programs. The recent availability of genome sequencing methods and many previously identified molecular markers offer new opportunities for animal breeding, including the use of molecular information in selection programs. Many gene polymorphisms have thus far been analyzed and evaluated as potential candidates for molecular markers of meat quality traits. Knowledge of these markers can be further applied to breeding programs through marker-assisted selection. In this literature review, we discuss the most promising and well-described candidates and their associations with selected beef production traits.
Spatial-frequency Analysis of the Anatomical Differences in Hamstring Muscles

Spatial frequency analysis (SFA) is a quantitative ultrasound method that characterizes tissue organization. SFA has been used for research involving tendon injury, but may prove useful in similar research involving skeletal muscle. As a first step, we investigated if SFA could detect known architectural differences within hamstring muscles. Ultrasound B-mode images were collected bilaterally at locations corresponding to proximal, mid-belly, and distal thirds along the hamstrings from 10 healthy participants. Images were analyzed in the spatial frequency domain by applying a two-dimensional Fourier Transform in all 6.5 × 6.5 mm kernels in a region of interest corresponding to the central portion of the muscle. SFA parameters (peak spatial frequency radius [PSFR], maximum frequency amplitude [Mmax], sum of frequencies [Sum], and ratio of Mmax to Sum [Mmax%]) were extracted from each muscle location and analyzed by separate linear mixed effects models. Significant differences were observed proximo-distally in PSFR (p = .039), Mmax (p < .0001), and Sum (p < .0001), consistent with architectural descriptions of the hamstring muscles. These results suggest that SFA can detect regional differences of healthy tissue structure within the hamstrings—an important finding for future research in regional muscle structure and mechanics.
Short-term safety of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after local resection for patients with high-risk submucosal invasive rectal cancer: a single-arm, multicenter phase II trial

Abstract Background Surgery is recommended for patients with high-risk submucosal invasive rectal cancer (SM-RC) after local resection but affects the quality of life due to stoma placement or impaired anal function; therefore, alternative treatment approaches are needed to prevent local metastasis. The purpose of this study was to assess the short-term safety of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy with capecitabine in patients with high-risk submucosal invasive rectal cancer after local resection. Methods This single-arm, multicenter, phase II trial included patients undergoing local resection for high-risk submucosal invasive rectal cancer within 12 weeks prior to enrollment. High-risk submucosal invasive rectal cancer was defined as the presence of at least one of the following factors: poor differentiation of adenocarcinoma, submucosal invasion depth > 1 mm, presence of lymphovascular invasion and grade-2 or -3 tumour budding. Protocol treatment comprised 45.0 Gy radiotherapy with conventional fractionation and 1650 mg/m2 capecitabine given twice daily until radiotherapy completion. The primary endpoint was treatment completion rate with an expected rate of 95% and a threshold of 80%. Results Twenty-nine patients from six institutions were enrolled between May 2015 and February 2018. One patient was ineligible. Twenty-three patients completed treatment, with a completion rate of 82% (80% confidence interval, 69–91%); the remaining five patients completed treatment with protocol deviation. The median relative dose intensity of capecitabine was 100% (range, 58–100%). Common adverse events included radiation dermatitis (54%), anal pain (39%) and anal mucositis (29%). No grade-3 or higher adverse events were reported. Conclusions Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy using capecitabine demonstrated acceptable short-term safety profiles in patients with high-risk submucosal invasive rectal cancer after local resection.
Can “Functional Sweetener” Context Increase Liking for Cookies Formulated with Alternative Sweeteners?

Various strategies for replacing sugar with naturally derived sweeteners are being developed and tested. In this study, the effect of the “functional sweetener” context, which is created by providing health-promoting information, on liking for the sweeteners was investigated using a cookie model system. Cookie samples were prepared by replacing the sugar of 100% sucrose cookies (control) with phyllodulcin, rebaudioside A, xylobiose and sucralose either entirely or partly. The sensory profile of the samples was obtained using descriptive evaluations. Hedonic responses to cookie samples were collected from 96 consumers under blind and informed conditions. Replacement of 100% sucrose with rebaudioside A or phyllodulcin significantly increased bitterness but replacement of 50% sugar elicited sensory characteristics similar to those of the control. Although the “functional sweetener” context did not influence overall liking, liking for the samples was more clearly distinguished when information was provided. Consumers were segmented into three clusters according to their shift in liking in the informed condition: when information was presented, some consumers decreased their liking for sucralose cookies, while other consumers increased or decreased their liking for sucrose cookies. Results suggest that the influence of information varies among individual consumers and that cognitive stimulation, such as health-promoting information, affects liking.
A Multi-Objective Approach for Drug Repurposing in Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder that occurs during pregnancy. It is a complex disease with unknown pathogenesis and the leading cause of fetal and maternal mortality during pregnancy. Using all drugs currently under clinical trial for preeclampsia, we extracted all their possible targets from the DrugBank and ChEMBL databases and labeled them as “targets”. The proteins labeled as “off-targets” were extracted in the same way but while taking all antihypertensive drugs which are inhibitors of ACE and/or angiotensin receptor antagonist as query molecules. Classification models were obtained for each of the 55 total proteins (45 targets and 10 off-targets) using the TPOT pipeline optimization tool. The average accuracy of the models in predicting the external dataset for targets and off-targets was 0.830 and 0.850, respectively. The combinations of models maximizing their virtual screening performance were explored by combining the desirability function and genetic algorithms. The virtual screening performance metrics for the best model were: the Boltzmann-Enhanced Discrimination of ROC (BEDROC)α=160.9 = 0.258, the Enrichment Factor (EF)1% = 31.55 and the Area Under the Accumulation Curve (AUAC) = 0.831. The most relevant targets for preeclampsia were: AR, VDR, SLC6A2, NOS3 and CHRM4, while ABCG2, ERBB2, CES1 and REN led to the most relevant off-targets. A virtual screening of the DrugBank database identified estradiol, estriol, vitamins E and D, lynestrenol, mifrepristone, simvastatin, ambroxol, and some antibiotics and antiparasitics as drugs with potential application in the treatment of preeclampsia.
Fibrosis and Conduction Abnormalities as Basis for Overlap of Brugada Syndrome and Early Repolarization Syndrome

Brugada syndrome and early repolarization syndrome are both classified as J-wave syndromes, with a similar mechanism of arrhythmogenesis and with the same basis for genesis of the characteristic electrocardiographic features. The Brugada syndrome is now considered a conduction disorder based on subtle structural abnormalities in the right ventricular outflow tract. Recent evidence suggests structural substrate in patients with the early repolarization syndrome as well. We propose a unifying mechanism based on these structural abnormalities explaining both arrhythmogenesis and the electrocardiographic changes. In addition, we speculate that, with increasing technical advances in imaging techniques and their spatial resolution, these syndromes will be reclassified as structural heart diseases or cardiomyopathies.