Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-2 (TREM-2) as Expression of the Relationship Between Microglia and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Novel Marker for a Promising Pathway to Explore

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder, strongly related with age. It has been reported that genetic variants of the Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-2 (TREM2), a cell-surface receptor expressed in microglial cells, greatly increase the risk of AD, thus suggesting an involvement of the microglia in the AD pathogenesis. The aim of this report is to provide an overview of the TREM2 and of its possible implication in the pathogenesis of AD.
Anxiety and depression in adult patients with cystic fibrosis in Croatia: results from adult CF centre

Objectives: Living with chronic illness such as cystic fibrosis (CF) is accompanied by medical and psychological difficulties. To identify and treat depression and anxiety in CF, the CF Foundation and the European CF Society invited a panel of experts, including physicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, a pharmacist, parents and an individual with CF, to develop consensus recommendations for clinical care. The aim of this study was to assess anxiety and depression by using validated mental health survey data. Methods: CF patients were recruited from adult CF centre in Zagreb, Croatia from October 2016 to December 2017. 22 patients (13 female, 9 male, mean age 24, 18-33 years) completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7). Results: 82% and 59% of our patients had a normal anxiety and depression score (0-4), 41% of patients have symptoms of anxiety, and 18% of the patients have symptoms of depression (score between 5 and 9). No one had any serious anxiety and/or depression present. Conclusions: Anxiety and depression are serious complication of chronic illnesses such as cystic fibrosis. Our results highlight the need for improved early identification and management strategies for psychological illnesses in adult CF patients. Research efforts are needed to identify effective strategies for delivering anxiety and depression treatment in CF patients and to assess their risks and benefits. Furthermore, strategies that help patients maintain or even improve lung function may be an interesting topic for further studies to learn more about resources and successful coping strategies.
The Importance of Conventional Radiography and Ultrasound in Determining Bone Age

Growth and development may vary in chronological age in children of the same age, depending on various genetic and social factors [1-4]. For this reason, skeletal maturation, expressed as bone age; has been accepted as an important criterion for assessing growth and development [5]. Bone age is used for diagnosis and treatment in anthropology, cadavers, and dentistry, paediatric, orthopaedic, and forensic cases in the decision-making process, and in the assessment of criminal and legal responsibility. In dentistry, especially in orthodontic treatment-planned patients, the timing of treatment and selection of the treatment method are gaining importance. Researchers use radiographic methods routinely for bone age determination.
Demodex mites modulate sebocyte immune reaction

Rosacea is a common skin condition affecting the face – most commonly of middle‐aged adults ‐ that results in redness and pimples, which can cause much embarrassment for the patient. The cause of rosacea is unknown but there is strong evidence that numbers of the microscopic skin mite called Demodex folliculorum are greatly increased in the facial skin of patients with rosacea. What role this imbalance in numbers of mites may play in the skin and development of rosacea has been unexplained to date and how they interact with our immune system has not been shown previously. We were able to demonstrate, for the first time, that live Demodex mites had the capacity to increase or decrease the inflammatory response in cells found in the oil glands of facial skin (called sebocytes) when these mites were cultured together with those cells in the laboratory. The numbers of mites that were co‐cultured with the cells influenced the type of response elicited by the cells. Increased mite numbers caused a pro‐inflammatory reaction. This new information helps us to understand the capacity of Demodex mites to interact with cells in the skin. It helps us to understand how, in low numbers, mites can reside in normal skin by blocking an inflammatory response by cells. It also gives us insight as to how increased numbers of Demodex mites may induce a different response from cells resulting in inflammation. This research provides us with a possible mechanism linking increased numbers of mites in the skin with the development of rosacea.
DCD and AKI Allografts Offer a Valuable Platform to Study Molecular Pathways Underlying Successful Adaptive Repair of the Kidney after Damage

Introduction Although the increased incidence of DGF in AKI/DCD recipients, DCD/AKI grafts typically recover and resume an excellent kidney function within one month from the surgery. Therefore, we hypothesize that comparative analysis of peripheral blood and renal allograft tissue throughout the initial 30 days of follow up after a kidney transplant will result in the identification and characterization of ongoing mechanisms of regeneration and repair (RR). Methods Peripheral blood was collected from kidney transplant (KT) patients immediately prior to transplant, immediately after transplant (for up to 5 consecutive days), twice weekly for the next 3 weeks, and at post-transplant day 30 following transplantation of living donor (LD, control group), DCD or AKI donor grafts. Total RNA was isolated from each patient sample and assayed on whole genome microarrays. Longitudinal gene expression was evaluated to identify molecular pathways and processes involved in the recovery phase following KT. Results Remarkably, comparative analysis of longitudinal peripheral blood gene expression between recipients of AKI/DCD vs. LD grafts revealed two significant gene clusters, representing a total of 141 genes that show a different expression profile between AKI/DCD and LD samples. The 77 transcripts that comprise cluster 1 show a significant over-representation of genes in several key biological pathways including mTOR signaling, Granzyme B Signaling, and Th1 and Th2 Activation and wnt Pathway. Immunological Disease is the top diseases and disorders category over-represented in this cluster. The second cluster of differentially-expressed genes (N=64) in the comparison between AKI/DCD and LD are significantly over-represented in Toll-like Receptor Signaling, Adrenergic signaling, and fMLP Signaling in neutrophils pathways. The most significant diseases and disorders category over-represented in the set of transcripts is Inflammatory Response. The 141 transcripts that are differentially expressed in the longitudinal comparison between LD and AKI/DCD include genes found to be different in LD vs AKI only (N=65), LD vs DCD only (N=63) and LD vs AKI + DCD. The 13 transcripts found to differentially-expressed in both DCD and AKI samples compared to LD may represent the most biologically relevant gene targets differentiating the two groups and warrant further investigation. Conclusions The pattern of gene expression in the peripheral blood of KT patients is significantly different, depending upon the source of donor graft. These markedly different expression patterns, particularly the coordinate elevation hundreds of expressed genes seen in DCD and AKI recipients beyond post-transplant day 1, provide further insight into mechanisms (and timing) of kidney RR that occurs following kidney transplantation.
THE EFFICACY OF EPIDURAL STEROID INJECTIONS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH LUMBOSACRAL DEGENERATIVE SPINE DISEASES

BACKGROUND Degenerative diseases of the lumbosacral region are becoming a more frequent presentation to the clinician, particularly with the increasing ageing population worldwide. These conditions result in impingement of the nerve roots and inflammation, causing radiculopathy along the course of the affected nerve root. Epidural steroid injections are commonly employed to alleviate the radiculopathy when the use of conservative methods of treatment have failed. The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of this treatment modality in our setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was an observational study carried out at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Patients who had epidural steroids within one-year period (July 2016 June 2017), who were being managed for degenerative spine disease of the lumbosacral region were included in the study. The data was obtained from the case records of the patients. Epidural steroids were administered under sterile conditions. 80 mg of Methylprednisolone was used with 3 mL of 1% lignocaine. This was administered via the interlaminar route to the epidural space. The patients’ responses were assessed using the numeric pain scale (11-point scale from 10 to 0). Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Pain before the procedure, pain after the procedure and the pain differential on the scale were assessed as well as complications. The paired t-test was used to analyse the mean pain scores at 95% confidence interval and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 34 patients were involved in the study. 11 males and 23 females with a male: female ratio of 1: 2.1. The ages of the patients ranged from 20 to 80 years with a mean age of 57.2. The pathologies were disc degeneration and herniation 21 (61.8%), degenerative spondylolisthesis 6 (17.5%), spinal canal stenosis 4 (11.8%) and prolapsed intervertebral disc 3 (8.8%). The mean score before the procedure was 8.8 ± 0.81; 6 (17.6%) patients scored 10, 17 (50%) scored 9, 9 (26.5%) scored 8 and 2 (5.9%) scored 7. Mean pain scores after the procedure was 2.2 ± 1.34; 14 (41.2%) patients scored 1, 9 (26.5%) scored 2, 5 (14.7%) scored 3, 4 (11.8%) scored 4 and 1 each (2.9%) scored 5 and 6; 31 (85.3%) patients had a reduction by 50% or more in their pain scores. A statistically significant difference (t= 25.09; p < 0.000 at 95% confidence interval) was observed between the mean pain scores before and after epidural steroid injection. CONCLUSION Epidural steroid injections are a safe and effective method of treating patients with radiculopathy from lumbosacral degenerative spine diseases.
A 40-year-old male with diabetes and limb threatening ischemia

Introduction: Silent myocardial ischemia is defined as documented ischemia in the absence of typical angina or its equivalents and is more common in individuals with diabetes. Type I SMI, the least common form (2.5–10% of middle aged men), occurs in asymptomatic patients with obstructive coronary artery disease who do not experience angina symptoms at any time. Case Report: This case describes silent myocardial ischemia Type I in a young, 40-year-old male with diabetes, severe peripheral vascular disease of the lower limb and advanced occlusive coronary artery disease without a history compatible with angina. Conclusion: Improving clinician awareness of silent myocardial ischemia in high-risk populations represents an important opportunity to reduce adverse cardiovascular events and death rates.
Health-related quality of life of partners of adults with haemophilia

Abstract Assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in haemophilia is important in order to provide information for clinical decision-making and to verify the impact of haemophilia on patients and their partners. A crosssectional single-centre study was performed to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and burden of the disease on partners of adult patients with haemophilia. Self-reported outcomes were completed by partners and patients (SF-36, VAS of Interference); partners also completed the Caregivers’ Burden Scale. A total of 108 of 150 eligible partners of adults with haemophilia (72%) participated. Mean age for partners was 44.7 years (range 20-79) and for patients 47.1 years (range 20-81). The majority of couples were married (65.7%). Couples reported being together a mean of 19.8 years and had, on average, 1.7 children. Partners of haemophilia patients across all severities reported lower HRQoL in the ‘emotional role’ domain of SF-36 (P=<0.041), with highest impairments observed among partners of moderately affected patients. Partners reported significantly less interference with daily life compared to patients (P<0.001). In general, partners reported low burden of haemophilia in the Caregivers’ Burden Scale; ‘emotional involvement’ was the greatest burden in the mild and moderate group; while in the severe group ‘general strain’ was the greatest burden. Partners of severe haemophilia patients on prophylaxis reported, in general, good HRQoL and low burden of the disease. Partners of moderate patients reported decreased HRQoL and higher burden. Our findings may be of importance for the care of the ageing person with haemophilia (PWH).
Migration patterns of young Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) determined with archival tags

We investigated the migration and behavior of young Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) using archival tags that measure environmental variables, record them in memory, and estimate daily geographical locations using measured light levels. Swimming depth, ambient water temperature, and feeding are described in a companion paper. Errors of the tag location estimates that could be checked were –0.54° ±0.75° (mean ±SD) in longitude and –0.12° ±3.06° in latitude. Latitude, estimated automatically by the tag, was problematic, but latitude, estimated by comparing recorded sea-surface temperatures with a map of sea-surface temperature, was satisfactory. We concluded that the archival tag is a reliable tool for estimating location on a scale of about one degree, which is sufficient for a bluefin tuna migration study. After release, tagged fish showed a normal swimming behavioral pattern within one day and normal feeding frequency within one month. In addition, fish with an archival tag maintained weight-at-length similar to that of wild fish; however, their growth rate was less than that of wild fish. Of 166 fish released in the East China Sea with implanted archival tags, 30 were recovered, including one that migrated across the Pacific Ocean. Migration of young Pacific bluefin tuna appears to consist of two phases: a residency phase comprising more than 80% of all days, and a traveling phase. An individual young Pacific bluefin tuna was observed to cover 7600 km in one traveling phase that lasted more than two months (part of this phase was a trans-Pacific migration completed within two months). Many features of behavior in the traveling phase were similar to those in the residency phase; however the temperature difference between viscera and ambient temperature was larger, feeding was slightly more frequent, and dives to deeper water were more frequent.
Mitochondrial mechanisms of apoptosis in case of experimental combined trauma of the chest and both thighs

L’objectif de l’étude. Cette étude vise à étudier les caractéristiques de l’apoptose des neutrophiles sanguins en cas de traumatisme combiné de la poitrine et des deux cuisses chez le rat. Méthodes. L’analyse des échantillons cellulaires pour déterminer les espèces réactives de l’oxygène a été évaluée par la méthode de la cytométrie en flux avec un diacétate de 2.7-dichlorodihydrofluorescéine. Le pourcentage de neutrophiles à faible potentiel mitochondrial transmembranaire et le pourcentage de neutrophiles apoptotiques ont été évalués par la méthode de cytométrie en flux avec des kits spécifiques. ABSTRACT
Outcomes in Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in Dilated Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy Compared With Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Background—Data on the outcomes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) are insufficient. The Heart Center of Leipzig VT (HELP-VT) study was conducted prospectively to compare outcomes after radiofrequency catheter ablation of VT in patients with NIDCM compared with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Methods and Results—Two hundred twenty-seven patients, 63 with NIDCM and 164 with ICM, presenting with sustained VT were ablated with radiofrequency catheter ablation. Noninducibility of any clinical and nonclinical VT was achieved in 66.7% of NIDCM and in 77.4% of ICM patients. Ablation of the clinical VT only was achieved in 18.3% of ICM and in 22.2% of NIDCM patients. There was no statistically significant difference in short-term outcomes between the 2 groups. At the 1-year follow-up, VT-free survival in NIDCM was 40.5% compared with 57% in ICM. In univariate analysis, the hazard ratio for VT recurrence was significantly higher for NIDCM (1.62; 95% confidence int.
Endoscopic Miniinvasive Alternative Treatment Methods for Disseminated Cancer of the Thoracic Esophagus

The article is devoted to the actual problem - miniinvasive surgical treatment of patients with disseminated cancer of the thoracic esophagus, discussion of modern treatment tactics for this pathology, estimation of the possibilities of new techniques. The analysis of indications, volume and minimally invasive manipulations at the treatment of esophageal cancer in accordance with the localization and the process prevalence was carried out.
Sequential feeding of β-adrenergic agonists to realimentated cull cows

Sixty cull cows were utilized to investigate the effects of feeding a single or sequence of β-adrenergic agonists (β-AA) on performance, mRNA expression, carcass traits, economics, meat palatability, and ground beef color. Treatments included: 1) concentrate fed for 74 d (C); 2) concentrate fed for 49 d then supplemented with ractopamine-HCl for 25 d (RH); 3) concentrate fed for 51 d then supplemented with zilpaterol-HCl for 20 d (ZH); 4), concentrate fed for 26 d then supplemented with RH for 25 d followed by ZH for 20 d (RH + ZH). No differences existed among treatments for performance or carcass characteristics. However, cows supplemented with ZH (ZH and RH + ZH treatments) had increased LM areas (P = 0.18) compared to control and RH cows. Sequential feeding of RH followed by ZH had no influence on β2-adrenergic receptor (AR) mRNA expression. However, β2-AR mRNA was increased (P < 0.05) in the RH and ZH treatments when RH or ZH was supplemented during the last 20 to 25 d of feeding. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) Type IIa mRNA decreased (P < 0.05) from d 24 to 51 in all cows, while MHC-IIx increased (P < 0.05) in the ZH and RH + ZH treatments during ZH supplementation. No differences were observed in ground beef color shelflife among treatments. Effects of β-AA supplementation on meat palatability varied among muscles. Infraspinatus steaks had improved (P < 0.05) WBSF values with β-AA supplementation. Psoas major steaks from the RH + ZH treatment were rated as more tender than steaks from all other treatments. Non-enhanced LM steaks from ZH supplemented cows had higher (P = 0.12) WBSF values along with decreased (P < 0.0001) percentages of degraded desmin compared to control and RH cows. Collagen solubility of the LM was increased with ZH supplementation compared to RH and control cows. Enhancement of steaks with 0.1 M calcium lactate improved LM tenderness of β-AA supplemented cows. Implanting and feeding cull cows for 74 d, regardless of β-AA supplementation, added value by transiting cows from a “cull” cow to “white” cow market.
Genetic diversity studies of Trifolium species from the extremes of the UK

Crop wild relatives have been identified as ecologically and economically important plant genetic resources but are often a neglected resource. The recognition of the need for their specific conservation and their value for future use has been strengthened by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, both of which have been ratified by the UK. This thesis provides a detailed view of the ecological, geographic and genetic background to three crop wild relative species, Trifolium dubium, T. pratense and T. repens, of which the latter two are amongst some of the most economically important legume species in the UK. Assessments of ecogeography, amplified fragment polymorphism and single nucleotide polymorphism markers were employed to investigate the distribution of variation in these species across the UK, including outlying island sites. Based on this information it was possible to look for isolation by distance in populations in UK; identify areas containing unique variation; assess the conservation importance of island sites surrounding the UK and speculate on the causes of the observed patterns of diversity. Conservation recommendations were based on the cumulative data from this research to identify how the recommendations change with an increased focus on genetic diversity. These results provide insights into the use of different types of background information when setting conservation plans in widespread species, contributing to the development of conservation strategies for widespread species in general.
Health-Promoting Lifestyle Behaviours Among Primary Healthcare Professional Nurses in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Nurses play significant roles in health promotion and health education about healthy lifestyle practices and are considered role models of healthy lifestyle behaviours. It is unclear if their knowledge of healthy lifestyle choices translate to practice. This study assessed the lifestyle behaviours of primary healthcare professional nurses in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This descriptive, cross-sectional study involved 203 purposively selected primary healthcare nurses in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. We utilised the WHO STEPwise questionnaire to assess the lifestyle behaviour (smoking, alcohol use and physical activity) of the nurses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out at a significance level of p<0.05. The participants’ mean age was 45.17 (Standard Deviation±11.26) years. Of all the participants, 27% had ever taken alcohol, and 18% currently use alcohol. Only 8% had ever smoked and of these, 3% currently smoke. Of all the participants, 33% do not engage in physical activities, and only 29% of them met the WHO recommendation for being active. Most of them were aware of the benefits of physical activities. Majority of the participants cited lack of time (74%) and lack of commitment (63%) as barriers to physical activity and few of them cited health challenges (3.9%). Among the primary health care professional nurses in this setting, we found a high prevalence of alcohol use and low prevalence of smoking and physical activity among primary health care nurses in this setting. There is a need to implement effective workplace strategies and wellness programmes that will foster healthy lifestyle practices among the nurses.