Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safety and Effectiveness of Lurasidone in Patients with Schizophrenia: A 12-Week, Open-Label Extension Study

Purpose The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of lurasidone among patients with schizophrenia in a 12-week open-label extension study. Patients and Methods Patients who completed a 6-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study were enrolled in a 12-week open-label extension study with flexible dosing of lurasidone at 40 or 80 mg/day. Safety assessments included adverse events, vital signs, laboratory tests, and electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters. Effectiveness measures included the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score, Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) and quality of life measure. Results A total of 289 patients were enrolled in the open-label extension study. Rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were low; akathisia was the most common TEAE with an incidence of 6.6%. There were 54 patients (18.7%) who discontinued the extension study, with 17 (5.9%) discontinuing due to adverse events. Minimal or no effects of lurasidone on weight, body mass index, metabolic parameters, prolactin, and ECG parameters were evident. There was continued improvement to week 12 in PANSS and CGI-S scores beyond the initial gains made during the prior 6-week double-blind study. Non-responders to lurasidone 40 mg/day in the prior 6-week study showed a mean (standard deviation) improvement from open-label baseline of 10.7 (13.8) points on the PANSS total score after lurasidone dose was increased to a modal dose of 80 mg/day during the extension study. Changes from double-blind baseline in CDSS and quality of life were maintained in the extension study. Conclusion Treatment with lurasidone 40 or 80 mg once daily (flexibly dosed) continued to be well tolerated with patients demonstrating further improvement in symptoms over the course of a 12-week open-label extension study in patients with schizophrenia.
The Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load on the Mortality of Hospitalized Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged worldwide since December 2019. The standard method for diagnosis is via nucleic acid amplification testing, usually with a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Hospitalized infected individuals may require ventilation and may have higher mortality rates. We aim to evaluate the clinical impact of nasopharyngeal viral load on these outcomes. Materials and methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from 17 March 2020 to 1 June 2020 at a tertiary care hospital. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load was assessed using cycle threshold (Ct) values from an RT-PCR assay applied to nasopharyngeal swab samples. We compared the clinical characteristics of survivors vs. non-survivors and assessed whether the viral load was independently associated with in-hospital 30-day mortality. Results We evaluated 197 patients. Thirty-day mortality was verified in 71 (36%) subjects. In the adjusted effects model, only the E-gene Ct value [odd ratio (OR) . 873; confidence interval (CI) 95% . 769-. 992; p . 037], age, the number of days of symptoms before admission, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and the oxygen saturation (SatO2)-to-fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio remained significantly associated with 30-day mortality. There was no identified association between the viral loads and disease severity, the need for ventilation, or length of stay. Discussion Our results are, in part, concordant with previous papers. One possible limitation to our study is the fact that possibly included disproportionately more patients with poorer outcomes since hospitalization was required. Therefore, further research is required. Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 viral load on admission may be an independent predictor of 30-day mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Providing this information to clinicians could potentially be used to guide risk stratification.
Fungal infections in hematopoietic stem-cell transplant patients: a review of epidemiology, diagnosis, and management

The advent of bone marrow transplant has opened doors to a different approach and offered a new treatment modality for various hematopoietic stem-cell-related disorders. Since the first bone marrow transplant in 1957, there has been significant progress in managing patients who undergo bone marrow transplants. Plasma-cell disorders, lymphoproliferative disorders, and myelodysplastic syndrome are the most common indications for hematopoietic stem-cell transplant. Despite the advances, invasive fungal infections remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in this high-risk population. The overall incidence of invasive fungal infection in patients with hematopoietic stem-cell transplant is around 4%, but the mortality in patients with allogeneic stem-cell transplant is as high as 13% in one study. Type of stem-cell transplant, conditioning regimen, and development of graft-versus-host disease are some of the risk factors that impact the risk and outcomes in patients with invasive fungal infections. Aspergillus and candida remain the two most common organisms causing invasive fungal infections. Molecular diagnostic methods have replaced some traditional methods due to their simplicity of use and rapid turnaround time. Primary prophylaxis has undoubtedly shown to improve outcomes even though breakthrough infection rates remain high. The directed treatment has seen a significant shift from amphotericin B to itraconazole, voriconazole, and echinocandins, which have shown better efficacy and fewer adverse effects. In this comprehensive review, we aim to detail epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and management, including prophylaxis, empiric and directed management of invasive fungal infections in patients with hematopoietic stem-cell transplant.
In-Hospital Outcomes of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

Introduction Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasingly common among patients with other comorbid chronic conditions, particularly diabetes mellitus (DM). Yet, studies that explored the impact of comorbid diabetes on the outcomes of IBD are scanty. Therefore, this study aims to examine the outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease among hospitalized patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sampling (NIS) database from 2016 to 2018, we identified patients' records with a diagnosis of IBD using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes (ICD-10). The overall study population was further stratified by diabetes mellitus status. We matched patients with IBD and diabetes mellitus (IBD DM) with IBD cohorts using a greedy propensity score matching (PSM) ratio of 1:1 and compared in-hospital outcomes between the two cohorts. Conditional logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds of outcomes. Results Out of the 192,456 hospitalizations for IBD, 34,073 (7.7%) had comorbid IBD DM and 158,383 (92.3%) had no diabetes mellitus (IBD only). Patients with IBD DM are likely to be older. They have higher rates of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, obesity, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease, and stroke than the IBD cohort. After propensity score matching, IBD DM was associated with a lower adverse outcome [odds ratio (OR): 0.96, confidence interval (CI): 0.93 - 0.99, p < 0.01], IBD-related complications (intestinal or rectal fistula, intra-abdominal abscess, toxic colitis, intestinal perforation, intestinal obstruction, toxic megacolon, abscess of the abdomen, and perianal abscess), (OR: 0.76, CI: 0.72 - 0.80, P <0.01), IBD-related surgery (intestinal resections, incision, and excisions of intestine and manipulations of the rectosigmoid, rectal and perianal) (OR: 0.90, CI: 0.85 - 0.95, P <0.01). Furthermore, IBD DM was associated with a higher sepsis complication than the IBD-only cohort (OR: 1.24, CI: 1.19 - 1.30, P <0.01). Conclusion Our results highlight the extent to which diabetes mellitus impacts IBD outcomes and prognosis. Additionally, they emphasize the clinical awareness needed in the management of those with comorbid diseases.
Congruence between morphology-based species and Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) in Neotropical Eumaeini (Lycaenidae)

Background With about 1,000 species in the Neotropics, the Eumaeini (Theclinae) are one of the most diverse butterfly tribes. Correct morphology-based identifications are challenging in many genera due to relatively little interspecific differences in wing patterns. Geographic infraspecific variation is sometimes more substantial than variation between species. In this paper we present a large DNA barcode dataset of South American Lycaenidae. We analyze how well DNA barcode BINs match morphologically delimited species. Methods We compare morphology-based species identifications with the clustering of molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) delimitated by the RESL algorithm in BOLD, which assigns Barcode Index Numbers (BINs). We examine intra- and interspecific divergences for genera represented by at least four morphospecies. We discuss the existence of local barcode gaps in a genus by genus analysis. We also note differences in the percentage of species with barcode gaps in groups of lowland and high mountain genera. Results We identified 2,213 specimens and obtained 1,839 sequences of 512 species in 90 genera. Overall, the mean intraspecific divergence value of CO1 sequences was 1.20%, while the mean interspecific divergence between nearest congeneric neighbors was 4.89%, demonstrating the presence of a barcode gap. However, the gap seemed to disappear from the entire set when comparing the maximum intraspecific distance (8.40%) with the minimum interspecific distance (0.40%). Clear barcode gaps are present in many genera but absent in others. From the set of specimens that yielded COI fragment lengths of at least 650 bp, 75% of the a priori morphology-based identifications were unambiguously assigned to a single Barcode Index Number (BIN). However, after a taxonomic a posteriori review, the percentage of matched identifications rose to 85%. BIN splitting was observed for 17% of the species and BIN sharing for 9%. We found that genera that contain primarily lowland species show higher percentages of local barcode gaps and congruence between BINs and morphology than genera that contain exclusively high montane species. The divergence values to the nearest neighbors were significantly lower in high Andean species while the intra-specific divergence values were significantly lower in the lowland species. These results raise questions regarding the causes of observed low inter and high intraspecific genetic variation. We discuss incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization as most likely causes of this phenomenon, as the montane species concerned are relatively young and hybridization is probable. The release of our data set represents an essential baseline for a reference library for biological assessment studies of butterflies in mega diverse countries using modern high-throughput technologies an highlights the necessity of taxonomic revisions for various genera combining both molecular and morphological data.
LC-HRMS Profiling and Antidiabetic, Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities of Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd

Acacia catechu (L.f.) Willd is a profoundly used traditional medicinal plant in Asia. Previous studies conducted in this plant are more confined to extract level. Even though bioassay-based studies indicated the true therapeutic potential of this plant, compound annotation was not performed extensively. This research is aimed at assessing the bioactivity of different solvent extracts of the plant followed by annotation of its phytoconstituents. Liquid chromatography equipped with high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) is deployed for the identification of secondary metabolites in various crude extracts. On activity level, its ethanolic extract showed the highest inhibition towards α-amylase and α-glucosidase with an IC50 of 67.8 ± 1 μg/mL and 10.3 ± 0.1 μg/mL respectively, inspected through the substrate-based method. On the other hand, the plant extract showed an antioxidant activity of 23.76 ± 1.57 μg/mL, measured through radical scavenging activity. Similarly, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of A. catechu showed significant inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus with a zone of inhibition (ZoI) of 13 and 14 mm, respectively. With the LC-HRMS-based dereplication strategy, we have identified 28 secondary metabolites belonging to flavonoid and phenolic categories. Identification of these metabolites from A. catechu and its biological implication also support the community-based usage of this plant and its medicinal value.
A Surgical Algorithm According to Pivot-Shift Grade in Patients With ACL Injury: A Prospective Clinical and Radiological Evaluation

Background: Some patients have a positive pivot-shift finding and rotational instability after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). Three major pathologies known to affect the pivot-shift examination include ACL tear, anterolateral ligament injury, and loss of posterior lateral meniscus root function. Purpose: To describe a surgical algorithm determining indications for lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) based on intraoperative pivot-shift examination to prevent postoperative pivot shift and rotational instability and to evaluate the 2-year clinical and functional outcomes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: The study included 47 consecutive patients (39 men and 8 women) who underwent operative treatment for ACL injury between 2016 and 2017. Pivot-shift examination was performed under anesthesia, and the pivot shift was graded as grade 1 (glide), grade 2 (clunk), or grade 3 (gross). According to the surgical algorithm, single-bundle ACLR was performed in patients with grade 1 pivot shift. In patients with grade 2 with loss of posterior lateral meniscus root function, concurrent lateral meniscal repair was performed, and in patients with grade 2 with an intact lateral meniscus posterior root, concurrent extra-articular iliotibial band tenodesis was performed. Patients with grade 3 underwent ACLR, lateral meniscal repair, and LET. Clinical and radiographic evaluations were performed. Results: The mean age was 27.2 years (range, 16-56 years). In total, 26 (55.3%) patients were evaluated as having pivot-shift grade 1; 16 (34%) patients, grade 2; and 5 (10.6%) patients, grade 3. A total of 7 (14.9%) patients underwent LET in addition to ACLR. Two of these patients had pivot-shift grade 2, and LET was performed since the lateral meniscus posterior root was intact. In 14 of 16 patients with grade 2, lateral meniscus root disruption was detected, and lateral meniscal repair was performed. One patient was excluded from the further follow-up because of graft failure. At a mean postoperative follow-up of 29 months in 46 patients, the pivot-shift examination was negative in all patients. The mean Lysholm and International Knee Documentation Committee subjective scores were 95.35 ± 4.40 and 82.87 ± 9.36, respectively. Radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis was not detected. Conclusion: Only 14.9% of patients needed LET. With proper ACL, lateral meniscal, and anterolateral ligament surgery, it was possible to prevent positive pivot-shift findings postoperatively.
Effects of delivery via pressure-adjustable pneumatic gas-powered dart gun of three antimicrobial drugs (ceftiofur crystalline free acid, tildopirosin, and tulathromycin) on drug disposition and meat quality in cattle

Background Although Beef Quality Assurance guidelines do not recommend use of darting methods to deliver drugs, cattle in the US may be raised on farms and ranches without restraint facilities, and reports from the field suggest that dart guns are being used to deliver antimicrobial drugs. Few studies report whether this route of administration results in altered drug disposition or carcass quality. Methods Forty steers were blocked by sire and then randomly assigned to treatment with saline, ceftiofur crystalline free acid, tildipirosin, or tulathromycin delivered via dart gun. To assess drug disposition, eight ceftiofur, six tulathromycin, and six tildipirosin-treated calves were selected to measure plasma concentrations of drugs up to 10 days after drug administration. Steers were then fed a balanced ration for approximately 6.5 months and slaughtered. To evaluate carcass quality, tenderness of steaks from darted-side and non-darted sides was evaluated via Warner–Bratzler shear force testing. Due to the prohibition of extralabel routes of administration for ceftiofur in the U.S., animals treated with this drug did not enter the food supply. Results Ceftiofur disposition differed from published reports with lower mean Cmax but similar mean apparent elimination half-life. Tildipirosin disposition differed from published reports with lower Cmax and shorter apparent elimination half-life. Tulathromycin was similar to previous published reports but Cmax and apparent elimination half-life was highly variable. All steaks (from darted and non-darted sides) from cattle treated with ceftiofur and saline were more tender than from cattle treated with tulathromycin or tildipirosin (P = 0.003). There was a trend toward more tenderness in steaks from the non-darted compared to the darted side. Steaks from the darted side for one treatment, tildipirosin, were less tender than the non-darted side. Conclusions Pharmacokinetic parameters of ceftiofur crystalline free acid, tildipirosin, and tulathromycin to cattle using pressure-adjustable pneumatic gas-powered dart gun were estimated in this study. Delivery of tildipirosin and tulathromycin to cattle with dart gun may also result in detectable decreases in tenderness of harvested steaks.
Changes in Retina Practice Patterns During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Philippines

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the changes in clinical practice patterns among retina specialists in the Philippines in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Materials and Methods This was a multi-center cross-sectional study based on a self-reported online survey. An online questionnaire was distributed among practicing retina specialists in the Philippines as listed in the database of the Vitreo-Retina Society of the Philippines using a combination of convenience and snowball sampling. The questionnaire contained questions regarding changes in clinic set-up, laser procedures, intravitreal injections, vitreoretinal surgery, and long-term outlooks. Results A total of 48 responses were recorded and analyzed with a view rate of 41.7%. There was a decrease in the number of clinic consults, laser procedures, intravitreal injections, and vitreoretinal procedures with most reporting only 1–25% of their usual patient load. Several modifications in clinic protocols have been made, including use of personal protective equipment, adjustments in clinic hours, and scheduling of only urgent cases. The adjustments implemented during the pandemic are expected by most respondents to be long-term changes. Conclusion Retina specialists in the Philippines have implemented changes in their practices to combat COVID-19, following guidelines issued by the local and international governing bodies on health.
Identification de pièges dans le buffer des HEMTs AlGaN/GaN basée sur des mesures de paramètres S basse fréquence et sur des simulations physiques

— Dans ce papier, la determination du type, de l'energie d'activation (E a) et de la section de capture (σ n) des pieges de buffer des transistors HEMTs AlGaN/GaN est presentee. Les caracteristiques des pieges, extraites a partir de mesures de parametres S basse frequence, sont validees par des simulations physiques a deux dimensions. En outre, cette etude conclut sur la presence de pieges de buffer GaN de type accepteurs, ayant une concentration de 5.0×10 16 cm −3 et un niveau d'energie d'activation de 0.4 eV en dessous de la bande de conduction du GaN.
Annual Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy for Persons With HIV Infection

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis preventive therapy for persons with HIV infection is effective, but its durability is uncertain. OBJECTIVE To compare treatment completion rates of weekly isoniazid-rifapentine for 3 months versus daily isoniazid for 6 months as well as the effectiveness of the 3-month rifapentine-isoniazid regimen given annually for 2 years versus once. DESIGN Randomized trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02980016). SETTING South Africa, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. PARTICIPANTS Persons with HIV infection who were receiving antiretroviral therapy, were aged 2 years or older, and did not have active tuberculosis. INTERVENTION Participants were randomly assigned to receive weekly rifapentine-isoniazid for 3 months, given either annually for 2 years or once, or daily isoniazid for 6 months. Participants were screened for tuberculosis symptoms at months 0 to 3 and 12 of each study year and at months 12 and 24 using chest radiography and sputum culture. MEASUREMENTS Treatment completion was assessed using pill counts. Tuberculosis incidence was measured over 24 months. RESULTS Between November 2016 and November 2017, 4027 participants were enrolled; 4014 were included in the analyses (median age, 41 years; 69.5% women; all using antiretroviral therapy). Treatment completion in the first year for the combined rifapentine-isoniazid groups (n = 3610) was 90.4% versus 50.5% for the isoniazid group (n = 404) (risk ratio, 1.78 [95% CI, 1.61 to 1.95]). Tuberculosis incidence among participants receiving the rifapentine-isoniazid regimen twice (n = 1808) or once (n = 1802) was similar (hazard ratio, 0.96 [CI, 0.61 to 1.50]). LIMITATION If rifapentine-isoniazid is effective in curing subclinical tuberculosis, then the intensive tuberculosis screening at month 12 may have reduced its effectiveness. CONCLUSION Treatment completion was higher with rifapentine-isoniazid for 3 months compared with isoniazid for 6 months. In settings with high tuberculosis transmission, a second round of preventive therapy did not provide additional benefit to persons receiving antiretroviral therapy. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE The U.S. Agency for International Development through the CHALLENGE TB grant to the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation.
Towards 3-(2-adamantylidene)diamantane derivatives through the McMurry cross coupling reaction

Diamondoid assemblies have a potential in nanoelectronics as the substrates for self-assembled monolayer formation. However, selective functionalization of such molecules is cumbersome. We demonstrate that the McMurry cross-coupling reaction is useful for the preparation of 3-(2-adamantylidene)diamantane derivatives with substituents at the tertiary and secondary positions of the diamantane moiety. This allows to create the surface attachment points in the diamondoid structure.