Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Updated perspectives on the clinical significance of negative symptoms in patients with schizophrenia

ABSTRACT Introduction Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are associated with poor response to available treatments, poor quality of life, and functional outcome. Therefore, they represent a substantial burden for people with schizophrenia, their families, and health-care systems. Areas covered In this manuscript, we will provide an update on the conceptualization, assessment, and treatment of this complex psychopathological dimension of schizophrenia. Expert opinion Despite the progress in the conceptualization of negative symptoms and in the development of state-of-the-art assessment instruments made in the last decades, these symptoms are still poorly recognized, and not always assessed in line with current conceptualization. Every effort should be made to disseminate the current knowledge on negative symptoms, on their assessment instruments and available treatments whose efficacy is supported by research evidence. Longitudinal studies should be promoted to evaluate the natural course of negative symptoms, improve our ability to identify the different sources of secondary negative symptoms, provide effective interventions, and target primary and persistent negative symptoms with innovative treatment strategies. Further research is needed to identify pathophysiological mechanisms of primary negative symptoms and foster the development of new treatments.
Effects of ginkgo leaf tablet on the pharmacokinetics of rosiglitazone in rats and its potential mechanism

Abstract Context Ginkgo leaf tablet (GLT), a traditional Chinese herbal formula, is often combined with rosiglitazone (ROS) for type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment. However, the drug-drug interaction between GLT and ROS remains unknown. Objective To investigate the effects of GLT on the pharmacokinetics of ROS and its potential mechanism. Materials and methods The pharmacokinetics of 10 mg/kg ROS with 100/200 mg/kg GLT as single-dose and 10-day multiple-dose administration were investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. In vitro, the effects of GLT on the activity of CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 were determined in recombinant human yeast microsomes and rat liver microsomes with probe substrates. Results The t 1/2 of ROS increased from 2.14 ± 0.38 (control) to 2.79 ± 0.37 (100 mg/kg) and 3.26 ± 1.08 h (200 mg/kg) in the single-dose GLT administration. The AUC0-t (139.69 ± 45.46 vs. 84.58 ± 39.87 vs. 66.60 ± 15.90 h·μg/mL) and t 1/2 (2.75 ± 0.70 vs. 1.99 ± 0.44 vs. 1.68 ± 0.35 h) decreased significantly after multiple-dose GLT treatment. The IC50 values of quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin, GLT main constituents, were 9.32, 7.67, and 11.90 μmol/L for CYP2C8, and 27.31, 7.57, and 4.59 μmol/L for CYP2C9. The multiple-dose GLT increased rat CYP2C8 activity by 44% and 88%, respectively. Discussion and conclusions The metabolism of ROS is attenuated in the single dose of GLT by inhibiting CYP2C8 and CYP2C9 activity, and accelerated after the multiple-dose GLT treatment via inducing CYP2C8 activity in rats, indicating that the clinical dose of ROS should be adjusted when co-administrated with GLT.
A long-duration race induces a decrease of left ventricular strains, twisting mechanics and myocardial work in trained adolescents

ABSTRACT We investigated the acute cardiac consequences of a long-duration (>5 h) adventure race in adolescent athletes from evaluations of left ventricular (LV) strains and myocardial work. Twenty trained male adolescents (i.e. 8 ± 4 h·week−1 of endurance sports) aged 14–17 years participated in a competitive long-duration adventure race. Blood samples were collected before, immediately and 24 h after the race to determine the time course of troponin I (cTnI) considered a myocardial damage biomarker. Resting echocardiography was conducted before and after the race to assess myocardial regional strains, LV twisting mechanics and myocardial work using speckle tracking echocardiography. The mean completion time of the race was 05:38 ± 00:20 h, with a mean heart rate (HR) of 83 ± 5% of maximal HR. cTnI concentration significantly increased in 16/20 participants after the race (pre: 0.001 ± 0.002 vs. post: 0.244 ± 0.203 ng·dL−1, p < .001) and returned to baseline within 24 h. Stroke volume, ejection fraction and global longitudinal strains remained unchanged after the race, while LV twist and global myocardial work significantly decreased (8.6 ± 3.3 vs. 6.3 ± 3.3 deg and 2080 ± 250 vs. 1781 ± 334 mmHg%, p < .05). Diastolic function, indexes of myocardial relaxation and LV untwisting rate (−91.0 ± 19.0 vs. −56.4 ± 29.1 deg·s−1, p < .001) were affected after the race. We demonstrated that in trained adolescents, a high-intensity endurance exercise of several hours induced an increase of the cTnI concentration associated with an alteration of myocardial function. Highlights This is the first study to explore the acute cardiac consequences of a very-long duration and high-intensity race in trained adolescents The cardiac evaluations before and immediately after the race were conducted using up-to-date advances in echocardiography, including not only regional left ventricular strains, rotations and twists, but also global myocardial work to consider changes in loading conditions that occur after such exercises. We observed exercise-induced cardiac fatigue in the adolescents, characterized by a drop in myocardial work, associated with an increase of cardiac troponin I in 16/20 participants. The cardiac alterations were principally observed at the apical level of the heart: the apical strains and rotations were decreased and delayed. Consequently, left ventricular twist and twisting rates were also delayed, which probably affected the diastolic function after the race.
Review of management priorities for invasive infections in people who inject drugs: highlighting the need for patient‐centred multidisciplinary care

There has been a global increase in the burden of invasive infections in people who inject drugs (PWID). It is essential that patient‐centred multidisciplinary care is provided in the management of these infections to engage PWID in care and deliver evidence‐based management and preventive strategies. The multidisciplinary team should include infectious diseases, addictions medicine (inclusive of alcohol and other drug services), surgery, psychiatry, pain specialists, pharmacy, nursing staff, social work and peer support workers (where available) to help address the comorbid conditions that may have contributed to the patient’s presentation. PWID have a range of antimicrobial delivery options that can be tailored in a patient‐centred manner and thus are not limited to prolonged hospital admissions to receive intravenous antimicrobials for invasive infections. These options include discharge with outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy, long‐acting lipoglycopeptides (dalbavancin and oritavancin) and early oral antimicrobials. Open and respectful discussion with PWID including around harm reduction strategies may decrease the risk of repeat presentations with injecting‐related harms.
Risk difference tests for stratified binary data under Dallal’s model

In medical studies, the binary data is often encountered when the paired organs or body parts receive treatment. However, the same treatment may lead to different therapeutic effects based on the stratified factors or confounding effects. Under Dallal’s model, the paper proposes the homogeneity test of risk difference to determine the necessity of stratified treatment. When the stratification is not necessary, common test is introduced to investigate if the risk difference is equal to a fixed constant between two groups. Several statistical tests are derived to analyze homogeneity and common hypotheses, respectively. Monte Carlo simulations show that the score tests behave well in both of hypotheses. Wald-type and Rosner’s statistics are always liberal but have higher empirical powers. Especially, the likelihood ratio statistic is better for the homogeneity test in the case of smaller data with larger strata. Two real examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods in ankle instability and otolaryngology studies.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Quantum dense coding via a two-mode squeezed-vacuum state

Quantum dense coding via a two-mode squeezed-vacuum state is proposed, where classical information is encoded in two quadrature components of one mode of a two-mode squeezed-vacuum state. Decoding at a receiver side is performed by simultaneous measurement of two quadrature components of the two-mode state. Since a two-mode squeezed-vacuum state is partially entangled, the information can only be transmitted without error in the strong-squeezing limit.
Dexmedetomidine Diminishes, but Does Not Prevent, Developmental Effects of Sevoflurane in Neonatal Rats

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane (SEVO) increases neuronal excitation in neonatal rodent brains through alteration of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)(A) receptor signaling and increases corticosterone release. These actions may contribute to mechanisms that initiate the anesthetic’s long-term neuroendocrine and neurobehavioral effects. Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a non-GABAergic α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, is likely to counteract SEVO-induced neuronal excitation. We investigated how DEX pretreatment may alter the neurodevelopmental effects induced by SEVO in neonatal rats. METHODS: Postnatal day (P) 5 Sprague-Dawley male rats received DEX (25 µg/kg, intraperitoneal) or vehicle before exposure to 2.1% SEVO for 6 hours (the DEX + SEVO and SEVO groups, respectively). Rats in the DEX-only group received DEX without exposure to SEVO. A subcohort of P5 rats was used for electroencephalographic and serum corticosterone measurements. The remaining rats were sequentially evaluated in the elevated plus maze on P80, prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response on P90, Morris water maze (MWM) starting on P100, and for corticosterone responses to physical restraint for 30 minutes on P120, followed by assessment of epigenomic DNA methylation patterns in the hippocampus. RESULTS: Acutely, DEX depressed SEVO-induced electroencephalogram-detectable seizure-like activity (mean ± SEM, SEVO versus DEX + SEVO, 33.1 ± 5.3 vs 3.9 ± 5.3 seconds, P < .001), but it exacerbated corticosterone release (SEVO versus DEX + SEVO, 169.935 ± 20.995 versus 280.853 ± 40.963 ng/mL, P = .043). DEX diminished, but did not fully abolish, SEVO-induced corticosterone responses to restraint (control: 11625.230 ± 877.513, SEVO: 19363.555 ± 751.325, DEX + SEVO: 15012.216 ± 901.706, DEX-only: 12497.051 ± 999.816; F[3,31] = 16.878, P < .001) and behavioral deficiencies (time spent in the target quadrant of the MWM: control: 31.283% ± 1.722%, SEVO: 21.888% ± 2.187%, DEX + SEVO: 28.617% ± 1.501%, DEX-only: 31.339% ± 3.087%; F[3,67] = 3.944, P = .012) in adulthood. Of the 391 differentially methylated genes in the SEVO group, 303 genes in the DEX + SEVO group had DNA methylation patterns that were not different from those in the control group (ie, they were normal). DEX alone did not cause acute or long-term functional abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that the ability of DEX to depress SEVO-induced neuronal excitation, despite increasing corticosterone release, is sufficient to weaken mechanisms leading to long-term neuroendocrine/neurobehavioral abnormalities. DEX may prevent changes in DNA methylation in the majority of genes affected by SEVO, epigenetic modifications that could predict abnormalities in a wide range of functions.
O PTIMUM T AXATION OF L IFE A NNUITIES

The market for private life annuities is characterised by adverse selection, that is, contracts offer lower than fair payoffs to individuals with low life expectancy. Moreover, life expectancy and income have been found to be positively correlated. The paper shows that a linear tax on annuity payoffs, which raises more revenues from long-living individuals than from short-living, represents an appropriate instrument for redistribution, in addition to an optimally designed labour income tax. Further, we find that a nonlinear tax on annuity payoffs can be directly employed to correct the distortion of the rate of return caused by asymmetric information. These results are contrasted with theoretical findings concerning the role of a tax on capital income.
Suicides in Turkey: 25‐year trend (1995–2019)

The assessment of national suicide risks is considered critical in many countries for the establishment of suicide prevention initiatives aimed at considerably lowering suicide rates. The aim of this study is to identify at‐risk suicide populations by reviewing the suicides in Turkey over a 25‐year period. The Turkish Statistical Institute's suicide statistics for 1995–2019 in Turkey was retrospectively reviewed in current article. The data collected in the study was statistically analyzed using the MINITAB vn 14 software. Between 1995 and 2019, the total number of suicides in Turkey was 66,819, and suicide rates, especially in males, showed an increasing trend in this period. Males comprised 68.3% of the total cases, and most (27.2%) were aged 15–24 years. Suicides mostly occurred between May and July (27.7%), of individuals with a primary school level of education (51.7%) and who were married (6.0 per 100,000). Illness was most important risk factor for suicide (36.8%) and hanging (47.5%) was the leading suicide method in all age groups and in both genders. Despite the fact that Turkey's suicide rate is lower than many other countries, the growth in male suicide rates is concerning. Suicides are likely to become a severe problem in Turkey in the near future unless measures like education, psychiatric evaluations, the reactivation of psychological counseling service phone lines, and the establishment of youth counseling centers, as described in this paper, are taken.
Effects of Hearing Loss on Interaural Time Difference Sensitivity at Low and High Frequencies

While many studies have reported a loss of sensitivity to interaural time differences (ITDs) carried in the fine structure of low-frequency signals for listeners with hearing loss, relatively few data are available on the perception of ITDs carried in the envelope of high-frequency signals in this population. The relevant studies found stronger effects of hearing loss at high frequencies than at low frequencies in most cases, but small subject numbers and several confounding effects prevented strong conclusions from being drawn. In the present study, we revisited this question while addressing some of the issues identified in previous studies. Participants were ten young adults with normal hearing (NH) and twenty adults with sensorineural hearing impairment (HI) spanning a range of ages. ITD discrimination thresholds were measured for octave-band-wide “rustle” stimuli centered at 500 Hz or 4000 Hz, which were presented at 20 or 40 dB sensation level. Broadband rustle stimuli and 500-Hz pure-tone stimuli were also tested. Thresholds were poorer on average for the HI group than the NH group. The ITD deficit, relative to the NH group, was similar at low and high frequencies for most HI participants. For a small number of participants, however, the deficit was strongly frequency-dependent. These results provide new insights into the binaural perception of complex sounds and may inform binaural models that incorporate effects of hearing loss.
Leveraging Building Material as Part of the In‐Plane Robotic Kinematic System for Collective Construction

Although collective robotic construction systems are beginning to showcase how multi‐robot systems can contribute to building construction by efficiently building low‐cost, sustainable structures, the majority of research utilizes non‐structural or highly customized materials. A modular collective robotic construction system based on a robotic actuator, which leverages timber struts for the assembly of architectural artifacts as well as part of the robot body for locomotion is presented. The system is co‐designed for in‐plane assembly from an architectural, robotic, and computer science perspective in order to integrate the various hardware and software constraints into a single workflow. The system is tested using five representative physical scenarios. These proof‐of‐concept demonstrations showcase three tasks required for construction assembly: the ability of the system to locomote, dynamically change the topology of connecting robotic actuators and timber struts, and collaborate to transport timber struts. As such, the groundwork for a future autonomous collective robotic construction system that could address collective construction assembly and even further increase the flexibility of on‐site construction robots through its modularity is laid.
Culture of care in animal research – Expanding the 3Rs to include people

Research on animals is essential for science and medical progress. While it is still necessary to conduct this research, it is essential to apply the highest standards in animal welfare, including animal husbandry and care. Furthermore, it is important to recognize the special relationship between research animals and the people who care for them. Caring for research animals can be extremely fulfilling and meaningful, but it also comes with challenges, particularly when caring for animals experiencing pain or distress. These challenges can lead to work-related mental stress. To get more insight into the challenges of working in animal research, we organized a panel discussion at the GV-SOLAS (German Society for Laboratory Animal Science) and IGTP (Interest Group Animal Caretakers) conference 2021 about work wellbeing. This discussion was the first of its kind in Germany. The active panel contributions included the view of an ethical philosopher, a scientist, a lecturer for laboratory animal science, an animal facility manager and an animal caretaker. They gave insights from their perspective into key factors that can affect human wellbeing in animal research. Keys ideas included stigmatization of work, tension between research aims and animal wellbeing, and the importance of supportive culture to overcome work-related strains, as well as lack of education and supportive environments to cope with emotional stress in the workplace. Overall, the discussion has shown that we must also promote human wellbeing when promoting culture of care in animal research, because there is strong relationship between culture of care and individual performance.
Cumulative Incidence of Cancer Among Persons With HIV in North America: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Cancer is increasingly common among persons with HIV. OBJECTIVE To examine calendar trends in cumulative cancer incidence and hazard rate by HIV status. DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design during 1996 to 2009. PARTICIPANTS 86 620 persons with HIV and 196 987 uninfected adults. MEASUREMENTS Cancer type-specific cumulative incidence by age 75 years and calendar trends in cumulative incidence and hazard rates, each by HIV status. RESULTS Cumulative incidences of cancer by age 75 years for persons with and without HIV, respectively, were as follows: Kaposi sarcoma, 4.4% and 0.01%; non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 4.5% and 0.7%; lung cancer, 3.4% and 2.8%; anal cancer, 1.5% and 0.05%; colorectal cancer, 1.0% and 1.5%; liver cancer, 1.1% and 0.4%; Hodgkin lymphoma, 0.9% and 0.09%; melanoma, 0.5% and 0.6%; and oral cavity/pharyngeal cancer, 0.8% and 0.8%. Among persons with HIV, calendar trends in cumulative incidence and hazard rate decreased for Kaposi sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. For anal, colorectal, and liver cancer, increasing cumulative incidence, but not hazard rate trends, were due to the decreasing mortality rate trend (-9% per year), allowing greater opportunity to be diagnosed. Despite decreasing hazard rate trends for lung cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, and melanoma, cumulative incidence trends were not seen because of the compensating effect of the declining mortality rate. LIMITATION Secular trends in screening, smoking, and viral co-infections were not evaluated. CONCLUSION Cumulative cancer incidence by age 75 years, approximating lifetime risk in persons with HIV, may have clinical utility in this population. The high cumulative incidences by age 75 years for Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and lung cancer support early and sustained antiretroviral therapy and smoking cessation.
The natural occurring RRR-α-Tocopherol and synthetic α-Tocopherol stereoisomers in maternal plasma, cord plasma and breast milk among six regions of China

Abstract The study aimed to investigate RRR-α-Tocopherol and synthetic α-Tocopherol stereoisomers in maternal plasma, cord plasma and breast milk from different regions of China, providing a reference for further guidance on maternal diet and the potential need to supplement mothers with vitamin E. Two hundred and twenty-one sample sets from maternal plasma, cord plasma and three stages of milk (colostrum: 1–5 d after delivery; transitional milk: 10–15 d; mature milk: 40–45 d) were collected longitudinally in six regions of Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Chengdu, Lanzhou and Changchun. α-Tocopherol and the stereoisomers were determined by HPLC with a fluorescence detector. The RRR configuration accounted for more than 80 % of α-Tocopherol in maternal plasma, cord plasma and breast milk. Overall, there were regional differences both in α-Tocopherol and RRR. There were significant correlations between α-Tocopherol and RRR in maternal plasma, cord plasma and milk (P < 0.001). As well as negative correlations among α-Tocopherol, RRR and weight-related indicators, which refer to pre-gestation weight and BMI, pre-delivery weight and BMI and pregnancy weight gain, in almost all of samples. This study suggested that RRR-α-Tocopherol was the dominant configuration of α-Tocopherol and the main active form of vitamin E in the early life, guiding the rational supplement of pregnant women and the addition of α-Tocopherol in infant formula milk powder.
Differences in Treatment Effects of Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Insomnia Based on Sleep Reactivity: A Preliminary Study

ABSTRACT Introduction Sleep reactivity is the trait‐like degree to which stress disrupts sleep, resulting in difficulty falling and staying asleep. Although previous studies have suggested that individuals who have high sleep reactivity may be resistant to cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) effects, there have been no studies that have investigated this empirically. This study explored differential treatment responses in CBT-I based on sleep reactivity levels. Material and Method Participants for this study were nineteen insomnia patients who met DSM-5 criteria for insomnia disorder. All participants received four weekly sessions of structured cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). Individuals completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Korean version of Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (K-CESD-R), Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST), Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Scale-16 (DBAS-16), the Daily Inventory of Stressful Events (DISE) and a sleep diary. Participants were classified into two groups based on sleep reactivity level (high and low sleep reactivity). Result Following treatment, significant changes were found for ISI, K-CESD-R, DBAS-16 and FIRST scores, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, sleep efficiency, number of awakenings, sleep quality and feeling refreshed upon awakening in both groups. Improvements in sleep efficiency was lower in the high sleep reactivity group compared to the low sleep reactivity group. No differences in ISI, K-CESD-R, DBAS-16 scores, and stress event frequency during the treatment duration were found between groups. Conclusion These findings suggest that sleep reactivity level may be an important factor that affects treatment outcome of CBT-I. Furthermore, the results may suggest that individual response to stress events are more important than the stressor itself.