Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Campylobacteriosis in Poland in 2015 and 2016

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to assess the epidemiological situation of campylobacteriosis in Poland in 2015 and 2016 in comparison to the previous years. MATERIAL AND METHODS The evaluation is based on analysis of data from the annual bulletins „Infectious diseases and poisoning in Poland”, information from individual campylobacter case reports sent to the Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance, NIPH-NIH by regional sanitary-epidemiological stations, information on outbreaks sent by local sanitary-epidemiological stations through the system ROE (Electronic Registry of Epidemic Outbreaks) and data on deaths from the Department of Demographic Studies of the Central Statistical Office. RESULTS In Poland in 2015 653 cases of campylobacteriosis were registered, in 2016 – 787 cases. In comparison to 2014: the number of cases in 2015 number of cases remained at he similar level, in 2016 there was 20% increase in the number of cases. The incidence was 1.7/100 000 population in 2015 and 2.05/100 000 in 2016. All cases registered in 2015 were confirmed cases, among those occurred in 2016 there were 773 confirmed cases and 14 probable cases. In both, 2015 and 2016 incidence significantly higher than the average for Poland was in 3 voivodeships: Lubuskie (5.39/100 000 in 2015 and 5.9/100 000 in 2016), Warmińsko-Mazurskie (4.78 and 4.03) and Śląskie (4.43 and 4.47). The overall proportion of hospitalizations was higher than in previous years – 75.5% in 2015 and 77.1% in 2016. In both 2015 and 2016 Campylobacter species was determined in more than 80% of cases, among them above 90% of infections were caused by C. jejuni. As in previous years most cases occurred among children aged from 0 to 4. In 2015 there were 4 outbreaks of campylobacteriosis, in 2016 – 5 outbreaks. CONCLUSIONS In Poland there is continuous increase in number of registered campylobacteriosis cases but diagnosis and reporting is overall rare. Routine Campylobacter diagnosis is performed only in some poviats what makes assessment of epidemiological situation in a country not possible to conduct.
Internet delivered question and answer column for patients with schizophrenia

The purpose of this study was to describe the use of an Internet delivered question and answer column among patients with schizophrenia. The column was developed for research purposes. The study sample consisted of patients (N = 100) admitted to acute inpatient psychiatric care in two hospital districts. Descriptive data were collected from the column to which a nurse replied within 3 days and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The column had four to five questions weekly. The most common age of users was 18–24 years, and the gender distribution was almost equal. Column use was heaviest among students (44%) and least among unemployed people (19%). Out of 85 questions or comments sent to the column, 25 (29%) were related to program training and the remaining 60 (71%) were related to medication (31%), illness and tests (25%), other questions or comments (9%), daily life and coping with it (4%), and places to receive treatment (2%). An Internet delivered question and answer column can be included in the care of patients with schizophrenia. However, it requires a new type of basic and additional education in the field of mental health care in order for nurses to be able to provide nursing via the Internet forum.
Persistence of human papillomavirus 16, 18 and 52 variants in Inuit women from Northern Quebec, Canada

ABSTRACT Intratypic DNA polymorphism has been described for human papillomavirus (HPV) types infecting Inuit women in Nunavik, Quebec, a high-risk population for HPV infection and cervical cancer, but there is no previous research on the association between HPV polymorphism and infection persistence in Inuit women. Polymorphism of HPV types 16, 18 and 52 was described in a subset of 64 participants with multiple clinic visits within a cohort of 677 Nunavik Inuit women aged 15–69 recruited in 2002–2010 with testing results. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between HPV variants and infection persistence and clearance. Infections with HPV16 lineage A3 variants cleared 3.13 times faster (95% CI: 1.10–8.97) than those with lineage A1 variants. HPV52 lineage C variants cleared slower than lineage A variants (HR = 0.28, 95% CI: 0.08–0.98). HPV polymorphism may be associated with viral persistence for certain HPV types in this population.
Pregabalin ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-induced Pancreatic Inflammation in Aged Rats.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine pancreatic pathology and the prophylactic effects of pregabalin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced sepsis model in aged rats. METHODS Twenty-four female, one-year-old, Wistar Albino rats were assigned to three groups; Group I (control), Group II (study group: 5mg/kg LPS intraperitoneal, single dose) and Group III (treatment group: 5mg/kg LPS + 30 mg/kg oral pregabalin one hour before LPS). Animals were sacrificed by exsanguination 6 hours after LPS administration. Blood and pancreatic tissue samples were collected for biochemical, pathological, and immunohistochemical analyses. RESULTS LPS caused increases in serum amylase and lipase levels, but led to reduction in glucose levels. Following histopathological analysis, numerous neutrophil leucocyte infiltrations were observed in vessels and pancreatic tissues. Increased caspase-3 expression was observed in both the endocrine and exocrine pancreas in the LPS group. Similarly, IL-6, caspase-3 (Cas-3), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and serum amyloid-A (SAA) expressions were increased by LPS. Pregabalin improved biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical findings. CONCLUSION This study showed that LPS causes pathological findings in the pancreas, but pregabalin has ameliorative effects in aged rats with sepsis. Cas-3, IL-6, iNOS, G-CSF, and SAA all play pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of LPS-induced pancreatic damage.
A Novel Framework for Estimating Time-Varying Multivariate Autoregressive Models and Application to Cardiovascular Responses to Acute Exercise

Objective: We present a novel modeling framework for identifying time-varying (TV) couplings between time-series of biomedical relevance. Methods: The proposed methodology is based on multivariate autoregressive (MVAR) models, which have been extensively used to study couplings between biosignals. Contrary to the standard estimation methods that assume time-invariant relationships, we propose a modified recursive Kalman filter (KF) to track changes in the model parameters. We perform model order selection and hyperparameter optimization simultaneously using Genetic Algorithms, greatly improving accuracy and computation time. In addition, we address the effect of residual heteroscedasticity, possibly associated with event-related changes or phase transitions during a given experimental protocol, on the TV-MVAR coupling measures by using Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models to fit the TV-MVAR residuals. Results: Using simulated data, we show that the proposed framework yields more accurate parameter estimates compared to the conventional KF, particularly when the true system parameters exhibit different rate of variations over time. Furthermore, by accounting for heteroskedasticity, we obtain more accurate estimates of the strength and directionality of the underlying couplings. We also use our approach to investigate TV hemodynamic interactions during exercise in young and old healthy adults, as well as individuals with chronic stroke. We extract TV coupling patterns that reflect well known exercise-induced effects on the underlying regulatory mechanisms with excellent time resolution. Conclusion and Significance: The proposed modeling framework can be used to efficiently quantify TV couplings between biosignals. It is fully automated and does not require prior knowledge of the system TV characteristics.
The Tug-of-War between Plants and Viruses: Great Progress and Many Remaining Questions

Plants are persistently challenged by various phytopathogens. To protect themselves, plants have evolved multilayered surveillance against all pathogens. For intracellular parasitic viruses, plants have developed innate immunity, RNA silencing, translation repression, ubiquitination-mediated and autophagy-mediated protein degradation, and other dominant resistance gene-mediated defenses. Plant viruses have also acquired diverse strategies to suppress and even exploit host defense machinery to ensure their survival. A better understanding of the defense and counter-defense between plants and viruses will obviously benefit from the development of efficient and broad-spectrum virus resistance for sustainable agriculture. In this review, we summarize the cutting edge of knowledge concerning the defense and counter-defense between plants and viruses, and highlight the unexploited areas that are especially worth investigating in the near future.
Extending Three Existing Models to Analysis of Trust in Automation: Signal Detection, Statistical Parameter Estimation, and Model-Based Control

Objective: The objective is to propose three quantitative models of trust in automation. Background: Current trust-in-automation literature includes various definitions and frameworks, which are reviewed. Method: This research shows how three existing models, namely those for signal detection, statistical parameter estimation calibration, and internal model-based control, can be revised and reinterpreted to apply to trust in automation useful for human–system interaction design. Results: The resulting reinterpretation is presented quantitatively and graphically, and the measures for trust and trust calibration are discussed, along with examples of application. Conclusion: The resulting models can be applied to provide quantitative trust measures in future experiments or system designs. Applications: Simple examples are provided to explain how model application works for the three trust contexts that correspond to signal detection, parameter estimation calibration, and model-based open-loop control.
Sexual Homicide of Children: A New Classification

The sexual homicide of a child is an unusual event, and very few studies have been conducted on the topic. Previous studies have mainly focused on the differences between sexual homicide of child and adult victims. The current study aims to identify a typology of sexual homicide of children based on modus operandi, offenders’ and victims’ characteristics. Using two-step cluster analysis on a sample of 72 cases of extra familial sexual homicide of children (aged 16 years or below) from France, six clusters have been identified on the basis of eight modus operandi variables: intentional/prepubescent, inadvertent/prepubescent, intentional/preteen, inadvertent/preteen, indiscriminate/teen, and intentional/teen. External validity of the classification was tested using 51 additional variables related to victims, offenders, and other modus operandi characteristics. Findings showed that sexual homicide of children is a heterogeneous phenomenon, largely influenced by the actual age of the victim and the type of violence used. Implications of the findings are discussed considering prevention, criminal investigation, and correctional practices.
Body composition in adolescents and young adults with anorexia nervosa: A clinical review.

BACKGROUND Anorexia nervosa is a serious health condition characterized by a significant low body weight and alteration in body composition components. AIM In the current paper, we aim to summarize the available literature concerning changes in body fat, lean, and bone masses, during anorexia nervosa and after complete weight restoration. METHOD Data were summarized using a narrative approach based on clinical expertise in the interpretation of the available evidence base in the literature. RESULTS The available data revealed three main findings. Firstly, anorexia nervosa causes a significant reduction in body fat mass, however it is completely restored after short-term weight normalization but with a central adiposity phenotype that does not seem to negatively influence treatment outcomes and appears to normalize after 1 year of normal weight maintenance. Secondly, anorexia nervosa causes a significant reduction in bone mineral density, but weight restoration is associated first (≈12 months) with stabilization of bone mineral density, followed by improvements (after ≈16 months); and finally, with complete normalization (after ≈30 months) after normal-weight maintenance. Thirdly, during anorexia nervosa loss of lean and skeletal body mass occurring in particular from the extremities rather than the central regions has been consistently reported, especially in patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≤ 16.5 Kg/m2 however short-term weight restoration is associated with complete normalization. CONCLUSION Anorexia nervosa adversely affects body composition, however this medical complication seems to be reversible through the main treatment strategy of body weight restoration followed by normal weight maintenance, and this should be openly discussed with patients.
Distribution of brain sodium accumulation correlates with disability in multiple sclerosis: a cross-sectional 23Na MR imaging study.

PURPOSE To quantify brain sodium accumulations and characterize for the first time the spatial location of sodium abnormalities at different stages of relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) by using sodium 23 ((23)Na) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was approved by the local committee on ethics, and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Three-dimensional (23)Na MR imaging data were obtained with a 3.0-T unit in two groups of patients with RR MS-14 with early RR MS (disease duration <5 years) and 12 with advanced RR MS (disease duration >5 years)-and 15 control subjects. Quantitative assessment of total sodium concentration (TSC) levels within compartments (MS lesions, white matter [WM], and gray matter [GM]) as well as statistical mapping analyses of TSC abnormalities were performed. RESULTS TSC was increased inside demyelinating lesions in both groups of patients, whereas increased TSC was observed in normal-appearing WM and GM only in those with advanced RR MS. In patients, increased TSC inside GM was correlated with disability (as determined with the Expanded Disability Status Scale [EDSS] score; P = .046, corrected) and lesion load at T2-weighted imaging (P = .003, corrected) but not with disease duration (P = .089, corrected). Statistical mapping analysis showed confined TSC increases inside the brainstem, cerebellum, and temporal poles in early RR MS and widespread TSC increases that affected the entire brain in advanced RR MS. EDSS score correlated with TSC increases inside motor networks. CONCLUSION TSC accumulation dramatically increases in the advanced stage of RR MS, especially in the normal-appearing brain tissues, concomitant with disability. Brain sodium MR imaging may help monitor the occurrence of tissue injury and disability.
Iron Transport from Ferrous Bisglycinate and Ferrous Sulfate in DMT1-Knockout Human Intestinal Caco-2 Cells

This experiment was conducted to investigate the transport characteristics of iron from ferrous bisglycinate (Fe-Gly) in intestinal cells. The divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1)-knockout Caco-2 cell line was developed by Crispr-Cas9, and then the cells were treated with ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) or Fe-Gly to observe the labile iron pool and determine their iron transport. The results showed that the intracellular labile iron increased significantly with Fe-Gly or FeSO4 treatment, and this phenomenon was evident over a wide range of time and iron concentrations in the wild-type cells, whereas in the knockout cells it increased only after processing with high concentrations of iron for a long time (p < 0.05). DMT1-knockout suppressed the synthesis of ferritin and inhibited the response of iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP-1) and IRP-2 to these two iron sources. The expression of peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) was not altered by knockout or iron treatment. Interestingly, the expression of zinc-regulated transporter (ZRT) and iron-regulated transporter (IRT)-like protein 14 (Zip14) was elevated significantly by knockout and iron treatment in wild-type cells (p < 0.05). These results indicated that iron from Fe-Gly was probably mainly transported into enterocytes via DMT1 like FeSO4; Zip14 may play a certain role in the intestinal iron transport.
Proteomic Profiles of the Longissimus Muscles of Entire Male and Castrated Pigs as Related to Meat Quality

Simple Summary The meat (loin muscle) of entire male pigs and barrows (surgical castrates) was analyzed for various properties to understand the etiology of differences in quality. Proteomic analysis indicated a higher level of proteolysis in the entire male pigs. Nevertheless, their meat exhibited more toughness, which could be associated with lower intramuscular fat and lower water holding capacity, the latter resulting from higher levels of protein oxidation. Abstract There are indications of reduced meat quality in entire male pigs (EMs) in comparison to surgically castrated pigs (SCs); however, the differences are not strongly confirmed, and the etiology is not clarified. In the present study, samples of the longissimus dorsi, pars lumborum muscle (LL) from EMs (n = 12) and SCs (n = 12) of the same age and weight were evaluated at the physico-chemical and proteomic level. EMs exhibited lower intramuscular fat content, higher collagen content with higher solubility, a higher level of protein carbonyl groups (indicating higher protein oxidation), lower water holding capacity, and tougher meat than SCs. Proteomic analysis revealed differences in heat shock proteins expression, while a greater abundance of several other identified proteins (malate dehydrogenase, Na/K-transporting adenosintriphosphatase (ATP-ase) subunit alpha-1, and blood plasma proteins) indicates that EMs have a more oxidative metabolic profile than that of SCs. More abundant protein fragments (mainly actin and myosin heavy chain) suggest a higher degree of proteolysis in EMs, which was not followed by lower meat toughness.
Development of a rapid and reliable analytical method for screening poloxamer 188 for use in cell culture process

Poloxamer P188 is a common nonionic surfactant additive used in cell culture media as a cellular protectant from the hydrodynamic forces and shear stress during bioprocessing. Presence of a hydrophobic high molecular weight impurity contaminant has been shown to compromise its protective properties and lead to batch failure. In this work we present, a reliable, sensitive, and rapid analytical method to detect and quantify the contaminant impurity in poloxamer 188. This method replaces a laborious and time‐consuming functional test in the form of a shake flask assay. The method is based upon reversed‐phase liquid chromatography with charged aerosol detection, simple mobile phase compositions, and a three‐step gradient. The method was optimized to resolve the impurity from the main P188 fraction in less than 10 min. Analytical method qualification and functional test comparison demonstrate equivalent or better high throughput impurity screening performance. Attempts to identify the impurity and establish suitable method positive control standards are also discussed.
Targeting the Post-Irradiation Tumor Microenvironment in Glioblastoma via Inhibition of CXCL12

Radiotherapy is a mainstay in glioblastoma therapy as it not only directly targets tumor cells but also depletes the tumor microvasculature. The resulting intra-tumoral hypoxia initiates a chain of events that ultimately leads to re-vascularization, immunosuppression and, ultimately, tumor-regrowth. The key component of this cascade is overexpression of the CXC-motive chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), formerly known as stromal-cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1). We here review the role of CXCL12 in recruitment of pro-vasculogenic and immunosuppressive cells and give an overview on future and current drugs that target this axis.
A Single-Center Case Series Describing Tracheobronchial Bonastent Implantation

Background: The Bonastent is one of the newest self-expanding metallic tracheobronchial prostheses being used in the central airways. Experience with this stent is limited; there is a gap in literature. We report herein a case series of Bonastent implantation across a variety of tracheobronchial pathologies. Methods: All adult patients who had a Bonastent implanted within the tracheobronchial tree between November 2017 through May 2018 were included in this case series. Data were derived from a combination of sources: electronic medical records and a Research Electronic Data Capture–based bronchoscopy registry. Demographic, procedural, and short-term outcome data were collected for each patient. Results: Thirteen Bonastents were implanted in 11 patients during the observational period. Seven patients were male (64%); the mean age was 62.2 years. The most common indication was nonmalignant airway obstruction in a transplanted lung (n=6, 56%). Over half of all stents (n=8) were implanted in the bronchus intermedius. Three patients (27%) had clinically significant obstruction from their Bonastent. Conclusion: The Bonastent is the newest self-expanding metallic endotracheobronchial stent on the market. Like any other stent, it has its advantages and drawbacks. Interestingly, we noted 3 instances of tissue ingrowth through the covered portion of the stent. Larger studies with a longer follow-up periods are needed to assess long-term efficacy and safety of this relatively novel stent.
Mimaporia, a new genus of Epicopeiidae (Lepidoptera), with description of a new species from Vietnam.

The Epicopeiidae is a small geometroid family distributed in the East Palaearctic and Oriental regions. It exhibits high morphological diversity in body size and wing shape, while their wing patterns involve in various complex mimicry rings. In the present study, we attempted to describe a new genus, and a new species from Vietnam, with comments on two assumed congeneric novel species from China and India. To address its phylogenetic affinity, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the family by using sequence data of COI, EF-1α, and 28S gene regions obtained from seven genera of Epicopeiidae with Pseudobiston pinratanai as the outgroup. We also compared the morphology of the new taxon to other epicopeiid genera to affirm its taxonomic status. The results suggest that the undescribed taxon deserve a new genus, namely Mimaporia gen. n. The species from Vietnam, Mimaporia hmong sp. n. , is described as new to science. Under different tree building strategies, the new genus is the sister group of either Chatamla Moore, 1881 or Parabraxas Leech, 1897. The morphological evidence, which was not included in phylogenetic analyses, however, suggests its potential affinity with Burmeia Minet, 2003. This study also provides the first, although preliminary, molecular phylogeny of the family on which the revised systematics and interpretation of character evolution can be based.