Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Simplified System Usability Scale (SUS) for Cognitively Impaired and Older Adults

We present the 10-item Simplified System Usability Scale (SUS) for Cognitively Impaired and Older Adults, which we have used in several studies since 2016. The Simplified SUS is a revised version of the SUS, a brief, psychometrically valid, and widely used global measure of usability. To improve the ease of administration, the Simplified SUS rewords 9 of 10 SUS items and replaces the original SUS question about inconsistency with a question about confusion. The Simplified SUS retains the SUS's 10-item design, five-item agreement-based Likert scale, and alternating valence of positively worded odd items and negatively worded even items. Because of this, the Simplified SUS can be interpreted the same way as the traditional SUS. The Simplified SUS is an example of an off-the-shelf human factors method adapted for work with vulnerable populations and usable by practitioners or researchers without human factors training.
Diabete et obesite: Qu'avons-nous appris de l'etude des Indiens Pimas?

Plus de la moitie des Indiens Pimas d'Arizona, âges de plus de 35 ans, ont un diabete de type 2 (diabete non insulino-dependant) et plus de 75 % d'entre eux sont en surcharge ponderale ou obeses. Les donnees collectees au cours des vingt dernieres annees ont permis d'identifier les predicteurs metaboliques de ces deux maladies. L'obesite, une diminution de l'action de l'insuline et une diminution de la phase precoce de l'insulinosecretion en reponse au glucose sont des facteurs de risque de developper un diabete de type 2. Une diminution relative du metabolisme de base, une faible oxydation lipidique a jeun, une faible activite physique spontanee, une augmentation de la sensibilite a l'insuline, une faible activite du systeme nerveux sympathique et des concentrations relatives basses de leptine, representent des facteurs de risque de developper une obesite.
Anatomical sites and clinical characteristics of venous thromboembolism in a tertiary hospital

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis is simply the inappropriate activation of clotting factors that occurs in veins. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common medical problem in hospitalized patients that might progress into serious lethal complications. Provoked VTE is associated with well-known risk factors, while unprovoked VTE remains idiopathic. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to describe the anatomical sites, clinical characteristics, and factors associated with recurrence of the thrombotic event within 5 years. METHODS: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), which included 351 hospitalized patients consecutively. We included all Saudi adults diagnosed with initial VTE in 2006–2017 at KAMC. Patients with incomplete medical charts were excluded. The data collected from electronic charts were analyzed using SAS-9.4. RESULTS: Among the 351 participants, 52% were female and two-thirds (62.4%) exceeded the normal body mass index. Provoked VTE (53.5%) was slightly more prevalent than unprovoked VTE (46.4%), but unprovoked VTE was more frequent in populations with recurrent VTE at 19.1%. The most common VTE sites were the left lower limb (38.5%) followed by right lower limb (20.5%) then bilateral lower limbs (12.2%). Only pulmonary embolisms (<0.01) and unprovoked VTE (0.01) were associated with a higher risk of recurrence. However, unprovoked VTE (P = 0.0305) was the only one associated with a higher risk of recurrence after multivariant analysis. CONCLUSION: Venous thrombosis presents mostly with multiple clinical comorbidities in hospitalized patients. Unprovoked VTE was the only risk factor associated with recurrence after multivariant analysis.
Awareness of Undergraduate Dental Students in Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Srinagar, Kashmir, India Towards Early Detection of Oral Cancer

Oral cancer awareness among future dental practitioners may have an impact on the early detection, referral and prevention of oral cancer. A cross-sectional questionnaire based study was undertaken to assess the knowledge of dental students and interns of Government dental college, Srinagar, India, on oral cancer and its prevention measures. Questionnaire was distributed among a total of 100 undergraduate dental students and interns of the government dental college Srinagar India. Questions relating to knowledge of oral cancer, risk factors, and opinions on oral cancer prevention and practices were posed. Only Fifty two students responded and returned the questionnaire. 96.2% thoroughly examine the oral mucosa of their patients and the most carefully examined oral structure was tongue followed by Labial/buccal mucosa, gingiva, floor of the mouth and then vestibule. 88.5% students screen the oral mucosa if the patients are in high risk categories. There is a need to strengthen the undergraduate dental curriculum with regards to oral cancer education; particularly regarding its prevention and early detection. Incorporating the use of oral cancer diagnostic aids should be made obligatory.
Pre-Operative Evaluation of DNA Methylation Profile in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Can Predict Tumor Aggressive Potential

Background: Prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is difficult to exactly assess on pre-operative biopsies. Since OSCC DNA methylation profile has proved to be a useful pre-operative diagnostic tool, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of DNA methylation profile to discriminate OSCC with high and low aggressive potential. Methods: 36 OSCC cases underwent neoplastic cells collection by gentle brushing of the lesion, before performing a pre-operative biopsy. The CpG islands methylation status of 13 gene (ZAP70, ITGA4, KIF1A, PARP15, EPHX3, NTM, LRRTM1, FLI1, MiR193, LINC00599, MiR296, TERT, GP1BB) was studied by bisulfite Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). A Cox proportional hazards model via likelihood-based component-wise boosting was used to evaluate the prognostic power of the CpG sites. Results: The boosting estimation identified five CpGs with prognostic significance: EPHX3-24, EPHX3-26, ITGA4-3, ITGA4-4, and MiR193-3. The combination of significant CpGs provided promising results for adverse events prediction (Brier score = 0.080, C-index = 0.802 and AUC = 0.850). ITGA4 had a strong prognostic power in patients with early OSCC. Conclusions: These data confirm that the study of methylation profile provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of OSCC and can allow a better OSCC prognostic stratification even before surgery.
Efficacy and Safety of nab-Paclitaxel vs Paclitaxel on Survival in Patients With Platinum-Refractory Metastatic Urothelial Cancer: The Canadian Cancer Trials Group BL.12 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Treatment options for platinum-refractory metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) are limited, and outcomes remain poor. Nab-paclitaxel is an albumin-bound formulation of paclitaxel showing promising activity and tolerability in a prior single-arm trial. Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel vs paclitaxel in platinum-refractory mUC. Design, Setting, and Participants In this investigator-initiated, open-label, phase 2 randomized clinical trial conducted across Canada and Australia from January 2014 to April 2017, eligible patients had histologically confirmed, radiologically evident mUC of the urinary tract. Mixed histologic findings, except small cell, were permitted provided UC was the predominant histologic finding. All patients had received platinum-based chemotherapy either in the metastatic setting or were within 12 months of perioperative chemotherapy. Patients with prior taxane chemotherapy were not included. Patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) 0 to 2 and adequate organ function. Interventions Patients were randomized to nab-paclitaxel, 260 mg/m2, or paclitaxel, 175 mg/m2, every 3 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Results Among 199 patients, median age was 67 (range, 24-88) years; 144 (72%) were men; 167 (84%) were ECOG PS 0-1; 59 (30%) had liver metastases; and 110 (55%) were within 6 months of prior platinum-based chemotherapy. At a median follow-up of 16.4 months, there was no significant difference between nab-paclitaxel vs paclitaxel for median PFS (3.4 months vs 3.0 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.92; 90% CI, 0.68-1.23; 1-sided P = .31). Median overall survival was 7.5 months for nab-paclitaxel vs 8.8 months for paclitaxel (HR, 0.95; 90% CI, 0.70-1.30; 1-sided P = .40); and objective response rate (ORR) was 22% for nab-paclitaxel vs 25% for paclitaxel (P = .97). Grade 3/4 adverse events were more frequent with nab-paclitaxel (64/97 [66%]) compared with paclitaxel (45/97 [46%]), P = . 009; but peripheral sensory neuropathy was similar (all grades, 72/97 [74%] vs 64/97 [66%]; grade 3/4, 7/97 [7%] vs 3/97 [3%]; P = .27). There were no apparent differences in scores for health-related quality of life. Conclusions and Relevance In this open-label, phase 2 randomized clinical trial of patients with platinum-refractory mUC, nab-paclitaxel had similar efficacy to paclitaxel; but worse toxic effects. The ORR with either taxane, however, was higher than previously reported and similar to those reported for the immune checkpoint inhibitors, suggesting that the taxanes remain a reasonable option in this setting. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02033993.
Portal vein embolization with n-butyl-cyanoacrylate before hepatectomy: a single-center retrospective analysis of 46 consecutive patients

Background Preoperative portal vein embolization (PVE) is performed to induce hypertrophy of the future liver remnant enabling major liver resection in patients with various types of liver tumors. Purpose To evaluate safety and effectiveness of PVE with n-butyl-cyanoacrylate (NBCA). Material and Methods All consecutive patients referred to our hospital for PVE between July 2006 and July 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Volumetry was performed on computed tomography images before and after PVE, segmenting the total liver volume and the future liver remnant (FLR), i.e. liver segments I–III. Results PVE was performed in 46 patients (18 women, 28 men; mean age = 61 years) using local anesthesia. The ipsilateral technique was used in 45 patients. Adverse events were rare. The mean FLR volume increase was 56%, the degree of hypertrophy was 9.7%, and the kinetic growth rate was 2.1%/week. The median ± SD period between PVE and liver surgery was 7 ± 3 weeks. Forty-two patients (91%) had surgery; liver resection was performed in 37 (80%) patients. Three patients (7%) developed transient liver failure after surgery. There was no 90-day post-PVE or postoperative mortality. Conclusion PVE using NBCA through the ipsilateral approach in local anesthesia is safe and effective in inducing hypertrophy of the future liver remnant enabling surgery, and thereby increasing survival in patients with liver tumors.
Interleukin-2 signals converge in a lymphoid–dendritic cell pathway that promotes anticancer immunity

IL-2 immunotherapy expands tumor-infiltrating DCs through a lymphoid pathway, favoring the conversion of poorly immunogenic into immunogenic tumors. Hidden virtues of interleukin-2 Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an immunostimulatory cytokine that is being tested as an anticancer therapy due to its ability to activate T cells and natural killer cells. Unexpectedly, Raeber et al. discovered that IL-2 can also activate dendritic cells, an entirely different type of cells involved in antitumor immunity. The authors analyzed data from a clinical trial in human patients being treated with recombinant IL-2. They also pursued more detailed studies in mouse models to identify the mechanisms responsible for dendritic cell activation, helping to explain how IL-2 sensitizes tumors to immune destruction. Tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells (DCs) correlate with effective anticancer immunity and improved responsiveness to anti–PD-1 checkpoint immunotherapy. However, the drivers of DC expansion and intratumoral accumulation are ill-defined. We found that interleukin-2 (IL-2) stimulated DC formation through innate and adaptive lymphoid cells in mice and humans, and this increase in DCs improved anticancer immunity. Administration of IL-2 to humans within a clinical trial and of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R)–biased IL-2 to mice resulted in pronounced expansion of type 1 DCs, including migratory and cross-presenting subsets, and type 2 DCs, although neither DC precursors nor mature DCs had functional IL-2Rs. In mechanistic studies, IL-2 signals stimulated innate lymphoid cells, natural killer cells, and T cells to synthesize the cytokines FLT3L, CSF-2, and TNF. These cytokines redundantly caused DC expansion and activation, which resulted in improved antigen processing and correlated with favorable anticancer responses in mice and patients. Thus, IL-2 immunotherapy–mediated stimulation of DCs contributes to anticancer immunity by rendering tumors more immunogenic.
The effect of dietary alfalfa meal on the chicken meat quality

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of feed mixtures with proportion of alflafa meal 4% on body weight of broiler chickens, fat content their meat and oxidative stability meat fat under storage conditions. Final hybrid Cobb 500 chickens were used in the experiment. The broiler chickens were fed with feed mixtures starter from the 1st to the 18th day, grower from the 19th to the 31st day and finisher from the 32nd to the 38th ad libitum. An alfalfa meal of 4% was added in the feed mixtures of experimental group. In our experiment, we used alfalfa meal, which was made from Medicago sativa L. harvested in the bud's phase. The carcasses of broilers were stored at -18° C for a period of nine months. The average weight of chickens at the end of our experiment, the control group was 1685.6 g. In experimental group with addition of 4% alfalfa meal in feed mixtures, the chickens weighed 1709.6 g. The difference in body weight between the groups was not statistically significant ( p >0.05). The average fat content in chicken meat was lower in the group with a share of 4% alfalfa meal 2.33 g.100g -1 compared to the fat content in meat chickens control group 2.59 g.100g -1 . Differences in fat content in meat between the groups were not statistically significant ( p >0.05). In our experiment, the average peroxide value of fat in meat under storage conditions 9 months at -18°C was lower in the group with a share of 4% alfalfa meal 2.42 µmol O2.g -1 compared with an average value of peroxide number 5.79 µmol O2.g -1 in the control group. Medicago sativa L. is an interesting object for research. It is characterized by high content of protein and biologically active substances that are effective for the promotion of health, and also an improvement the nutritional value and technological properties of the poultry food, when is used in feed mixtures.
Empagliflozin reduces the senescence of cardiac stromal cells and improves cardiac function in a murine model of diabetes

The sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin reduces heart failure in diabetes, but underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We hypothesized that empagliflozin could counteract the senescence of cardiac stromal cells (CSC), the action of which limits cardiac damage and cardiac fibrosis in diabetic‐like conditions in vitro and in vivo. CSC were isolated from murine heart biopsies (n = 5) through cardiosphere (CSp) formation and incubated for 3 or 48 hours with 5.5 mmol/L normal glucose (NG), high glucose (12‐5 and 30.5 mmol/L, HG) or a hyperosmolar control of mannitol (HM) in the presence or absence of empagliflozin 100 nmol/L. The senescent CSC status was verified by β‐gal staining and expression of the pro‐survival marker Akt (pAkt) and the pro‐inflammatory marker p38 (p‐P38). The cardiac effects of empagliflozin were also studied in vivo by echocardiography and by histology in a murine model of streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetes. Compared to NG, incubations with HG and HM significantly reduced the number of CSps, increased the β‐gal‐positive CSC and P‐p38, while decreasing pAkt, all reversed by empagliflozin (P < .01). Empagliflozin also reversed cardiac dysfunction, cardiac fibrosis and cell senescence in mice with (STZ)‐induced diabetes (P < .01). Empagliflozin counteracts the pro‐senescence effect of HG and of hyperosmolar stress on CSC, and improves cardiac function via decreasing cardiac fibrosis and senescence in diabetic mice, possibly through SGLT2 off‐target effects. These effects may explain empagliflozin unexpected benefits on cardiac function in diabetic patients.
In Vitro Innovation of Tendon Tissue Engineering Strategies

Tendinopathy is the term used to refer to tendon disorders. Spontaneous adult tendon healing results in scar tissue formation and fibrosis with suboptimal biomechanical properties, often resulting in poor and painful mobility. The biomechanical properties of the tissue are negatively affected. Adult tendons have a limited natural healing capacity, and often respond poorly to current treatments that frequently are focused on exercise, drug delivery, and surgical procedures. Therefore, it is of great importance to identify key molecular and cellular processes involved in the progression of tendinopathies to develop effective therapeutic strategies and drive the tissue toward regeneration. To treat tendon diseases and support tendon regeneration, cell-based therapy as well as tissue engineering approaches are considered options, though none can yet be considered conclusive in their reproduction of a safe and successful long-term solution for full microarchitecture and biomechanical tissue recovery. In vitro differentiation techniques are not yet fully validated. This review aims to compare different available tendon in vitro differentiation strategies to clarify the state of art regarding the differentiation process.
Composition of essential oils and ethanol extracts of the leaves of Lippia species: Identification, quantitation and antioxidant capacity

The principal components of essential oils, obtained by steam-hydrodistillation from the fresh leaves of five species of the genus Lippia, namely Lippia gracilis AV, Lippia sidoides Mart, Lippia alba carvoneifera, Lippia alba citralifera and Lippia alba myrceneifera and ethanol extracts, were evaluated. The greater antioxidant capacity (IC50 = 980 μg/mL; p < 0.05), assessed by the HPLC-based hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase assay, was determined in the essential oil obtained from Lippia alba carvoneifera, while the remainder were comparatively inactive (IC50 > 2000 μg/mL). Major compounds in the oils were, thymol (Lippia sidoides Mart, 13.1 g/k), carvone (Lippia alba carvoneifera, 9.6 g/kg), geranial (Lippia alba citraleifera, 4.61 g/kg; Lippia alba myrceneifera, 1.6 g/kg), neral (Lippia alba citraleifera, 3.4 g/kg; Lippia alba myrceneifera, 1.16 g/k), carvacrol (Lippia gracilis AV, 5.36 g/kg) and limonene (Lippia alba carvoneifera, 5.14 g/kg). Of these, carvone (IC50 = 330 μM) along with thymol (1.88 units), and carvacrol (1.74) units, were highly active in the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase, and ORAC assays respectively. The following compounds namely 1: calceolarioside E, 2: acteoside, 3: isoacteoside, 4: luteolin, 5: 5,7,3 ́,4 ́-tetrahydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy flavone (spinacetin), 6: naringenin, 7: apigenin, 8: 6-methoxy apigenin (hispidulin), 9: 5,7,3 ́-trihydroxy-3,6,4 ́trimethoxy flavone, 10: 5,7,4 ́-trihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy flavone, 11: naringenin-4 ́-methyl ether, 12: 5,7dihydroxy-3,6,4 ́-trimethoxy flavone (santin), 13: 5,7-dihydroxy-6,4 ́-dimethoxy-flavone (pectolinaringenin) and 14: 5-hydroxy-3,7,4 ́-trimethoxy flavone were identified in the ethanol extracts. Of the leaf ethanol extracts, strong antioxidant capacity was only evident in that of Lippia alba carvoneifera (IC50 = 1.23 mg/mL). Overall, the data indicates that use of the leaves of Lippia species in food preparations, should be beneficial to health.
Discrepancy between immunohistochemistry and sequencing for BRAF V600E in odontogenic tumours: comparative analysis of two VE1 antibodies.

BACKGROUND Although immunohistochemistry (IHC) along with molecular tests has been investigated in ameloblastoma for BRAF V600E detection, VE1 IHC has not been studied in odontogenic carcinomas (OCs) and benign mixed epithelial and mesenchymal odontogenic tumours (BMOTs). Here, we performed BRAF V600E mutation analysis, examined the expression pattern of VE1 IHC, and comparatively evaluated the performance of two VE1 antibodies in ameloblastomas, OCs, and BMOTs. METHODS BRAF V600E detection was performed using Sanger sequencing in a total of 47 odontogenic tumours: 28 ameloblastomas, 6 OCs, and 13 BMOTs. VE1 IHC was conducted using two different antibodies (IHC-A and IHC-V), and their performance was analysed by calculating the sensitivity and specificity compared with sequencing. RESULTS BRAF V600E mutations were identified in 24/28 (85.7%) ameloblastomas, 2/5 (40.0%) ameloblastic carcinomas (ACs), 3/7 (42.9%) ameloblastic fibromas, and 1/2 (50.0%) ameloblastic fibro-odontomas. In the presence of the mutation, VE1 showed diffuse cytoplasmic staining in ameloblastomas and ACs, whereas all BMOTs were negative for VE1. IHC-A and IHC-V yielded a sensitivity of 76.7% and 60.0% respectively, although both antibodies showed 100% specificity. CONCLUSION OCs and BMOTs have BRAF V600E mutations in common at lower frequencies than ameloblastoma. Diffuse VE1 cytoplasmic staining in AC suggests the utility of MAPK-targeted therapy as selectively applied in ameloblastoma, and consistent VE1 false-negative expression in BMOTs requires further investigation. Considering the high specificity but low sensitivity of VE1 IHC, molecular tests should be performed to determine the presence of BRAF V600E mutations in odontogenic tumours.
Long‐term effects of 7‐year warming experiment in the field on leaf hydraulic and economic traits of subtropical tree species

Rising temperature associated with climate change may have substantial impacts on forest tree functions. We conducted a 7‐year warming experiment in subtropical China by translocating important native forest tree species (Machilas breviflora, Syzygium rehderianum, Schima superba and Itea chinensis) from cooler high‐elevation sites (600 m) to 1–2°C warmer low‐elevation sites (300 and 30 m) to investigate warming effects on leaf hydraulic and economic traits. Here, we report data from the last 3 years (Years 5–7) of the experiment. Warming increased leaf hydraulic conductance of S. superba to meet the higher evaporative demand. M. breviflora (300 m), S. rehderianum, S. superba and I. chinensis (300 and 30 m) exhibited higher area‐based and mass‐based maximum photosynthetic rates (Aa and Am, respectively) related to increasing stomatal conductance (gs) and stomatal density in the wet season, which led to rapid growth; however, we observed decreased growth of M. breviflora at 30 m due to lower stomatal density and decreased Aa in the wet season. Warming increased photosynthetic nitrogen‐use efficiency and photosynthetic phosphorus‐use efficiency, but reduced leaf dry mass per unit area due to lower leaf thickness, suggesting that these tree species allocated more resources into upregulating photosynthesis rather than into structural investment. Our findings highlight that there was trait variation in the capacity of trees to acclimate to warmer temperatures such that I. chinensis may benefit from warming, but S. superba may be negatively influenced by warming in future climates.
Trefoil Factor Family Member 2 (TFF2) as an Inflammatory-Induced and Anti-Inflammatory Tissue Repair Factor

Trefoil factor family member 2 (TFF2) is known for its involvement in mucosal repair. Whereas it is overexpressed during inflammatory processes, adding TFF2 leads to an anti-inflammatory effect that would contribute to create the microenvironment required for tissue repair. These properties present TFF2 with a homeostatic pattern during inflammatory processes as illustrated by selected examples.