Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Pilates Method to Improve Body Balance in the Elderly

Objective: Considering a world-wide increase of the elderly population and the age-related ceasing of functional capacities, maintenance of body balance is crucial to avoid falls and the risk of fractures. The Pilates Method offers exercises aimed at stabilizing the postural muscles and therefore appears to have a good potential in this context. The aim of the study was to assess the possible effects of a Pilates program on body balance in elderly people. The hypothesis was that this type of intervention would improve body balance as compared to another group of elderly people, who participated in a program with unspecific physical activities. Design: The Pilates group (PG, n=19) and the control group (CG, n=20) exercised twice a week for 10 weeks. All participants were submitted to a balance test before and after the intervention.Results: The groups showed similar balance abilities in the pre-test, classified as regular balance abilities. The participants in the CG did not show any improvement in body balance during the post-test, while the participants in the PG showed significant improvements, with a tendency toward a good classification. Older subjects showed a tendency toward a lower capacity in body balance within the groups. Conclusion: The Pilates Method offers a beneficial tool to improve the abilities to maintain body balance. The effects of this method probably represent an entity ofimproved postural muscle functionality and an improved integration of the information provided by various receptor systems in the control of the activity of these muscles.
Organic/Inorganic Self-Assembled Hybrid Nano-Architectures for Cancer Therapy Applications.

Since the conceptualization of nanomedicine, numerous nanostructure-mediated drug formulations have progressed into clinical trials for treating cancer. However, recent clinical trial results indicate such kind of drug formulations has a limited improvement on the antitumor efficacy. This is due to the biological barriers associated with those formulations, for example, circulation stability, extravasation efficiency in tumor, tumor penetration ability and developed multi-drug resistance. When employing for nanomedicine formulations, pristine organic-based and inorganic-based nanostructures have their own limitations. Accordingly, organic/inorganic (O/I) hybrids have been developed to integrate the merits of both, and to minimize their intrinsic drawbacks. In this context, the recent development in O/I hybrids resulting from a self-assembly strategy will be introduced. Through such a strategy, organic and inorganic building blocks can be self-assembled via either chemical covalent bonds or physical interactions. Based on the self-assemble procedure, the hybridization of four organic building blocks including liposomes, micelles, dendrimers and polymeric nanocapsules with five functional inorganic nanoparticles comprising gold nanostructures, magnetic nanoparticles, carbon-based materials, quantum dots and silica nanoparticles will be highlighted. The recent progress of these O/I hybrids in advanced modalities for combating cancer, such as therapeutic agent delivery, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy and immunotherapy will be systematically reviewed. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Performance enhancement of GaSb vertical nanowire p-type MOSFETs on Si by rapid thermal annealing

GaSb is considered as an attractive p-type channel material for future III-V metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) technologies, but the processing conditions to utilize the full device potential such as low power logic applications and RF applications still need attention. In this work, applying rapid thermal annealing (RTA) to nanoscale GaSb vertical nanowire p-type MOS field-effect transistors, we have improved the average peak transconductance (g m,peak) by 50% among 28 devices and achieved 70 μS μm−1 at V DS = −0.5 V in a device with 200 nm gate length. In addition, a low subthreshold swing down to 144 mV dec−1 as well as an off-current below 5 nA μm−1 which refers to the off-current specification in low-operation-power condition has been obtained. Based on the statistical analysis, the results show a great enhancement in both on- and off-state performance with respect to previous work mainly due to the improved electrostatics and contacts after RTA, leading to a potential in low-power logic applications. We have also examined a short channel device with L g = 80 nm in RTA, which shows an increased g m,peak up to 149 μS μm−1 at V DS = −0.5 V as well as a low on-resistance of 4.7 kΩ·μm. The potential of further enhancement in g m via RTA offers a good alternative to obtain high-performance devices for RF applications which have less stringent requirement for off-state performance. Our results indicate that post-fabrication annealing provides a great option to improve the performance of GaSb-based p-type devices with different structures for various applications.
Optimizing fibrin hydrogel toward effective neural progenitor cell delivery in spinal cord injury

Transplantation of neural progenitor cell (NPC) possessing the potential to differentiate into neurons may guard against spinal cord injury (SCI)- associated neuronal trauma. We propose that autologous-like NPC may reduce post-transplant immune response. The study used the rat SCI model to prove this concept. For isolation and expansion of rat NPC for cell-based SCI therapy, the in vitro protocol standardized with human NPC seemed suitable. The primary aim of this study is to select a cell/neural tissue-compatible biomaterial for improving NPC survival in vivo. The composition of the fibrin hydrogel is adjusted to obtain degradable, porous, and robust fibrin strands for supporting neural cell attachment, migration, and tissue regeneration. This study employed NPC culture to evaluate the cytocompatibility and suitability of the hydrogel, composed by adding graded concentrations of thrombin to a fixed fibrinogen concentration. The microstructure evaluation by scanning electron microscope guided the selection of a suitable composition for delivering the embedded cells. On adding more thrombin, fibrinogen clotted quickly but reduced porosity, pore size, and fiber strand thickness. The high activity of thrombin also affected NPC morphology and the in vitro cell survival. The selected hydrogel carried viable NPC and retained them at the injury site post-transplantation. The fibrin hydrogel played a protective role throughout the transfer process by providing cell attachment sites and survival signals. The fibrin and NPC together regulated the immune response at the SCI site reducing ED1+ve/ED2+ve macrophages in the early period of 8–16 d after injury. Migration of β-III tubulin+ve neural-like cells into the fibrin-injected control SCI is evident. The continuous use of a non-neurotoxic fibrin matrix could be a convenient strategy for in vitro NPC preparation, minimally invasive cell delivery, and better transplantation outcome.
Periorbital Yumuşak Dokuların Onarımı

Aims: The aim of this study is to discuss the repair and reconstruction methods of the periorbital soft tissue. Material and method: Periorbital soft tissue repair was performed in 51 patients. Fifty-nine repairs or reconstructions were carried out in soft tissues by primary repair, skin graft, local flaps, Z-plasty, W-plasty. The causes of the repair were 17 basal cell carcinomas, 2 epidermoid carcinomas, 17 traumas, 11 benign lesions and 4 scar tissues. Results: Successful results were obtained in primary repairs when reciprocal places sutured. Local flaps were preferred in tissue defects because of similar structure. Full thickness skin graft harvested from the back of the ear was chosen firstly in skin graft repairing and color harmony was achieved. Glabellar flaps that performed without thinning in two cases were detected thick in this region. Conclusion: Periorbital area comprises many important units despite being a little portion in whole body. Desired functional and aesthetic results may be attained to know the anatomy of this area, good evaluation the lesion preoperatively and choose the suitable repair method.
Structural and functional swapping of amyloidogenic and antimicrobial peptides: Redefining the role of amyloidogenic propensity in disease and host defense

Peptides constitute an essential component of all organisms' protein homeostasis ranging from bacteria, plants, and animals. They have organically been evolved to perform a wide range of essential functions, including their role as neurotransmitters, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and hormones. AMPs are short peptides synthesized by almost all organisms, implicated in guarding the host from various microbial infections. Their inherent ability to differentiate the target microbes from the host confers them excellent prospects in fighting against microbial infections and affirming their robust therapeutic potential against numerous drug‐resistant microbes. Amyloidogenic peptides (AMYs) represent another class of short peptides armed with inherent aggregation propensity and form fibrillar aggregates rich in cross β‐sheet structure. They are often involved in various degenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and type‐2 diabetes. Although these two distinct classes of peptides (i.e., AMPs and AMYs) appear to be functionally divergent, recent studies suggest that they possess a significant degree of structural and functional reciprocity. Consistent with this, many AMPs display amphiphilic nature, and hence, they can facilitate membrane remodeling processes, such as pore formation and fusion, similar to AMYs. The mounting evidence suggests the inherent ability of AMPs to self‐assemble to form amyloid‐like structures. On the other hand, the demonstration of antimicrobial properties of AMYs in their monomeric conformation provides a hint about the existence of an evolutionary linkage between these two classes of peptides. The congregation of specific amino acids to form aggregation‐prone regions in a protein/peptide might have served as an evolutionary reservoir from which AMPs and AMYs were consecutively evolved. The current article reviews the fundamental features of the AMPs, AMYs, and their inter‐relatedness and emerging paradigm for their inter‐conversion.
Factors Associated With the Resilience of Nurses During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Abstract Background The delivery of health care during the COVID‐19 outbreak imposed significant challenges on the global nursing workforce and placed them at a higher risk of occupational burnout and turnover. In Lebanon, the pandemic hit when nurses were already struggling with an economic collapse caused by government failures. Resilience may play a protective factor against adversity and enable effective adaption to the burden of the pandemic. Aims To determine the level of resilience in the nursing workforce and its relationship to burnout, intention to quit, and perceived COVID‐19 risk. Methods A cross‐sectional study was employed among all registered nurses affiliated with the Order of Nurses in Lebanon and working in patient care positions in hospitals. The online survey questionnaire incorporated the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Quartile scores were used to differentiate levels of resilience and burnout. Multiple logistic regression identified variables significantly associated with resilience. Results Five‐hundred and eleven nurses responded to the questionnaire. Nurses had a moderate level of resilience (M = 72 ± 13.5). In multivariate analyses, being male (OR = 3.67; 95% CI [1.46, 9.22]; p = .006) and having a master’s degree (OR = 4.082; 95% CI [1.49, 11.20]; p = .006) were independently associated with higher resilience. Resilience levels decreased with higher personal burnout (OR = 0.12; 95% CI [0.03, 0.435]; p = .001), work‐related burnout (OR = 0.14; 95% CI [0.04, 0.46]; p = .001), and client‐related burnout rates (OR = 0.09; 95% CI [0.03, 0.34]; p < .001). Nurses reporting the intention to quit their job had lower resilience scores (OR = 0.20; 95% CI [0.04, 0.88]; p = .033). Linking Evidence to Action Nursing stakeholders must introduce programs to regularly assess and enhance the resilience of nurses especially at time of crisis. Such programs would protect nurses from the perils of burnout and enhance their retention during times when they are most needed. Protecting nurses from burnout is an ethical imperative as well as an operational requirement.
Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids Interact with the Human Bile Acid Transporter NTCP

Na+/taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) is important for the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids, which has been suggested to contribute to the long serum elimination half-lives of perfluoroalkyl substances in humans. We demonstrated that some perfluoroalkyl sulfonates are transported by NTCP; however, little was known about carboxylates. The purpose of this study was to determine if perfluoroalkyl carboxylates would interact with NTCP and potentially act as substrates. Sodium-dependent transport of [3H]-taurocholate was measured in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) stably expressing NTCP in the absence or presence of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates with varying chain lengths. PFCAs with 8 (PFOA), 9 (PFNA), and 10 (PFDA) carbons were the strongest inhibitors. Inhibition kinetics demonstrated competitive inhibition and indicated that PFNA was the strongest inhibitor followed by PFDA and PFOA. All three compounds are transported by NTCP, and kinetics experiments revealed that PFOA had the highest affinity for NTCP with a Km value of 1.8 ± 0.4 mM. The Km value PFNA was estimated to be 5.3 ± 3.5 mM and the value for PFDA could not be determined due to limited solubility. In conclusion, our results suggest that, in addition to sulfonates, perfluorinated carboxylates are substrates of NTCP and have the potential to interact with NTCP-mediated transport.
Involuntary memory production during voluntary memory production: perceived usefulness, relevance, and intrusiveness

ABSTRACT Research on involuntary autobiographical memories has shown that such memories are also experienced as byproducts of voluntarily produced autobiographical memories [Mace, 2006. Episodic remembering creates access to involuntary conscious memory: Demonstrating involuntary recall on a voluntary recall task. Memory, 14(8), 917–924]. This study examined perceptions of these memories with respect to their evoking voluntary memories. Participants were engaged in an autobiographical memory recall task, and asked to report on the experience of involuntary memories. They were asked to report if involuntary memories and evoking voluntary memories were related, from the same lifetime period, if the involuntary memories had utility and relevance for evoking memories, and if the involuntary memories were experienced as intrusive. The results showed that involuntary memories were related to evoking voluntary memories, frequently from the same lifetime period, and generally not experienced as intrusive. While mostly perceived as relevant to evoking memories, less than one-half of the involuntary memories were perceived as useful. The results raise questions about the functional nature of this type of involuntary remembering.
Association of a Substance Use Disorder with Infectious Diseases among Adult Home Healthcare Patients with a Venous Access Device

Substance use disorders (SUDs) and high incidence of infectious diseases are both critical public health issues. Among patients who use a venous access device (VAD) in home care settings, SUDs may play a role in increasing their risk of having a concurrent infectious disease. This study examined the association of SUD with infectious diseases among adult home healthcare patients with a VAD. We identified adult patients with an existing VAD who were admitted to a home healthcare agency August 1, 2017–July 31, 2018 from the electronic health records of a large Medicare-certified agency. Four serious infectious diseases (endocarditis, epidural abscess, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis) and SUD related to injectable drugs were identified using relevant ICD-10 codes. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the association. Of 416 patients with a VAD, 12% (n = 50) had at least one diagnosis of a serious infectious disease. The percentage of patients who had a serious infectious disease was 40% among those with SUDs, compared with only 11% among those without SUDs. After adjusting for age and sex, the odds of having a serious infectious disease was 3.52 times greater for those with SUDs compared with those without (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 4.52 [1.48-13.79], n = .008). Our findings suggest that home healthcare patients with a VAD and a documented SUD diagnosis may have an increased risk of having a concurrent serious infectious disease. Therefore, patients with an SUD and a VAD would need more attention from home healthcare providers to prevent a serious infectious disease. Further research is suggested on modalities of care for individuals with an SUD and VAD to reduce the incidence of infectious diseases so that care can be delivered safely and efficiently in a home healthcare setting.
Multifocality in patients treated for papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: a preliminary analysis of related risk factors

Background: Multifocality is usually detected afterwards surgery for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and has been reported in 18-87% of PTC. Methods: This is a retrospective single-center study involving a series of 238 patients that underwent thyroidectomy or lobectomy after preoperative fine needle aspiration (FNA) diagnosis of Thyr 5 or Thyr 6, according to Bethesda classification, from January 2015 to December 2019 at the General Surgery Unit of the University - Hospital of Parma. We divided patients into two main groups: patients with multifocal papillary thyroid cancer at postoperative diagnosis and patients with unifocal papillary thyroid cancer. The aim of the study is to identify demographic or preoperative radiological risk factors for the presence of multifocal PTC and to verify the presence of cyto-histological features of greater aggressiveness in multifocal tumors than in unifocal ones. Results: Out of our sample, 176 patients were females (73,9%) and 62 males (26,1%) with a mean age of 50,45 ±14,41. Preoperative cytological diagnosis resulted Thyr 5 in 47 cases (19,7%) and Thyr 6 in 191 cases (80,3%). Multifocal cancer was reported in 35,8% of the females and in 32,3% of the males. Older age was significatively related to the presence of multifocal papillary carcinoma (p<0.05). Preoperative bilateral thyroid nodules were associated with a higher finding of multifocal disease at histological examination (p<0.05). The presence of multifocal disease was related with a higher soft tissue invasion at the histological specimen (p<0.05). Tumor size was not related to multifocal PTC in our study. Conclusions: Older age of patient and preoperative bilateral thyroid nodules are significantly associated to multifocal thyroid cancer. In add to this, multifocal disease is related to higher finding of perithyroidal tissue invasion at histological exam. In case of predictive factors for multifocal PTC, surgeons should take total/near-total thyroidectomy always into consideration. (www.actabiomedica.it)
The Role of Hounsfield Unit in Intraoperative Endplate Violation and Delayed Cage Subsidence with Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion

Study Design Retrospective clinical case series. Objectives To investigate the risk factors for intraoperative endplate violations and delayed cage subsidence after oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) surgery. Secondly, to examine whether low Hounsfield unit (HU) values at different regions of the endplate are associated with intraoperative endplate violation or delayed cage subsidence. Methods 61 patients (aged 65.1 ± 9.5 years; 107 segments) who underwent OLIF with or without posterior instrumentation from May 2015 to April 2019 were retrospectively studied. Intraoperative endplate violation was measured on sagittal reconstructed computerized tomography (CT) images immediate postoperatively, while delayed cage subsidence was evaluated using lateral radiographs and defined at 1-month follow-up or later. Demographic information and clinical parameters such as age, body mass index, bone mineral density, number of surgical levels, cage dimension, disc height restoration, visual analogue scale (VAS), and HU at different regions of the endplate were obtained. Results Total postoperative cage subsidence was identified in 45 surgical levels (42.0%) in 26 patients (42.6%) up till postoperative 1-year follow-up. Low HU value at the ipsilateral epiphyseal ring was an independent risk factor for intraoperative endplate violation (P = .008) with a cut-off value of 326.21 HUs. Low HU values at the central endplate had a significant correlation with delayed cage subsidence in stand-alone cases (P = .013) with a cut-off value of 296.42 HUs. VAS scores were not different at 1 week postoperatively in cases with or without intraoperative endplate violation (3.12 ± .73 vs 2.89 ± .72, P = .166) and showed no difference at 1 year with or without delayed cage subsidence (1.95 ± .60 vs 2.26 ± .85, P = .173). Conclusions Intraoperative endplate violation and delayed cage subsidence are not uncommon with OLIF surgery. HUs of the endplate are good predictors for intraoperative endplate violation and cage subsidence since they can represent the regional bone quality of the endplate in contact with the implant. VAS improvements were not affected by intraoperative endplate violation or delayed cage subsidence at 1-year follow-up. Level of Evidence Level III.