Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Femoral–tibial contact stresses on fixed rotational femur models

Objectives This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the femoral–tibial contact pressure on the knee under certain malrotaional degrees. Methods Femoral–tibial contact pressure was carried out on 14 fixed rotational knee models under 200/400/600 N vertical load using ultra-low-pressure sensitive film technology, rotation angles including neutral position (0°, anatomically reduced), 5°, 10°, and 15° internally and externally. Data were collected and analyzed with SPSS software. Results There are significant statistical differences between the medial contact pressure among rotational deformities (including neutral position) (P < 0.01), the increase in the degree of fixed internal malrotation of the femur resulted in a linear increase in the medial femoral–tibial contact pressures (P < 0.05) under 200/400/600 N vertical load, while increase in the degree of fixed external malrotation resulted in a linear decrease (P < 0.05). Except the 200 N compression, we can't find significant differences in lateral contact pressures (P > 0.05). In the comparison of medial to lateral contact pressures, no statistically significant differences were found in neutral and 5° internal rotation under 200/400 N, neutral, 5° internal rotation, and 15° external rotation under 600 N. In contrast, medial contact pressures were higher than lateral at other angles (P < 0.05). Conclusion Obvious contact pressure changes were observed in rotatory femur. Doctors should detect rotational deformity as much as possible during operation and perform anatomical reduction. For patients with residual rotational deformities, indication of osteotomy should not be too broad.
Predictive role of neostromal CD10 expression in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Background: The therapeutic strategy of invasive breast cancer is based on routine histopathological markers (estrogen-, progesterone receptor, HER2, Ki67) routinely evaluated in tumor cells. However, the assessment of cancer stroma could influence therapeutic strategies. Studies have shown that stromal expression of CD10, a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase, is associated with biological aggressiveness of the tumor. In the present retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate stromal CD10 expression and association between CD10 expression and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in invasive breast cancer. Methods: CD10 immunohistochemistry was performed on core biopsies taken before the neoadjuvant therapy. Stromal CD10 expression was determined and compared with well-known predictive and prognostic tissue markers as well as with the following groups defined according to the degree of tumor response: no regression, partial regression, and complete regression. Results: A total of 60 locally advanced invasive breast carcinomas of “no special type” were included. The proportion of CD10 positive tumors was significantly higher in the “no regression” group compared to “complete regression” group (p = 0.000). Stromal CD10 expression was found to be significantly associated with decrease in response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. According to CD10 expression we did not find any difference in hormone receptor status, Ki67, tumor grade or neostromal area. Conclusion: Our data suggest that CD10 expression can serve as a predictive marker of the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Therefore, its inclusion into the routine assessment of biopsies to tailor tumor-specific therapeutic strategies merits consideration.
Type 2 cytokine genes as allergic asthma risk factors after viral bronchiolitis in early childhood

Background Genome-wide association studies of asthma have identified associations with variants in type-2 related genes. Also, specific interactions between genetic variants and viral bronchiolitis in the development of asthma has been suggested. Objective To conduct a gene-based analysis of genetic variants in type 2 cytokine related genes as risk factors for allergic asthma at school age, and further, to study their interaction with specific viral infections in early childhood. Methods A prospectively investigated cohort of children with previous bronchiolitis and controls came for follow-up at school age. The research visit, blinded to viral exposure, included detailed lung function tests, laboratory investigation, and questionnaires. Allergic asthma was defined as typical symptoms plus objective variable airway obstruction, in addition to laboratory verified atopy (elevated eosinophil count or sensitization to an allergen). Targeted and complete sequencing was performed for nine type 2 cytokine candidate genes: IL4, 5, 13, 25, 33 and 37, IL17RB, CRLF2 and TSLP. Results At follow-up, there were 109 children with genetic data, 91 with a history of bronchiolitis (46% respiratory syncytial virus, 24% human rhinovirus, 15% human metapneumovirus and 14% mixed viral etiology) and 18 without. The median age was 9.4 years (range 6-13) and 41 (38%) had laboratory verified atopy. Twenty-one children (19%) met the definition of allergic asthma. After adjusting for age, sex and five viral categories, IL33 achieved nominal significance (p = 0.017) for a positive association with allergic asthma development. In the gene-virus interaction analysis, the variant set in IL17RB demonstrated a nominally significant positive interaction with human metapneumovirus infection (p=0.05). Conclusion The results highlight the multifactorial nature of allergic asthma risk, with both viral infection and inherited genetic variants contributing to increasing risk. Results for IL33 and IL17RB were nominally significant and are potential candidate targets for designing therapeutics and early screening, but these results must be replicated in an independent study.
Metaplasticity framework for cross-modal synaptic plasticity in adults

Sensory loss leads to widespread adaptation of neural circuits to mediate cross-modal plasticity, which allows the organism to better utilize the remaining senses to guide behavior. While cross-modal interactions are often thought to engage multisensory areas, cross-modal plasticity is often prominently observed at the level of the primary sensory cortices. One dramatic example is from functional imaging studies in humans where cross-modal recruitment of the deprived primary sensory cortex has been observed during the processing of the spared senses. In addition, loss of a sensory modality can lead to enhancement and refinement of the spared senses, some of which have been attributed to compensatory plasticity of the spared sensory cortices. Cross-modal plasticity is not restricted to early sensory loss but is also observed in adults, which suggests that it engages or enables plasticity mechanisms available in the adult cortical circuit. Because adult cross-modal plasticity is observed without gross anatomical connectivity changes, it is thought to occur mainly through functional plasticity of pre-existing circuits. The underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms involve activity-dependent homeostatic and Hebbian mechanisms. A particularly attractive mechanism is the sliding threshold metaplasticity model because it innately allows neurons to dynamically optimize their feature selectivity. In this mini review, I will summarize the cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate cross-modal plasticity in the adult primary sensory cortices and evaluate the metaplasticity model as an effective framework to understand the underlying mechanisms.
Why are predator cues in the field not more evocative? A ‘real world’ assay elicits subtle, but meaningful, responses by wild rodents to predator scents

Mismatches between highly-standardized laboratory predatory assays and more realistic environmental conditions may lead to different outcomes. Understanding rodents’ natural responses to predator scents is important. Thus, field studies on the same and related species are essential to corroborate laboratory findings to better understand the contexts and motivational drives that affect laboratory responses to predator scents. However, there are too few field assays to enable researchers to study factors that influence these responses in genetically variable populations of wild rodents. Therefore, we placed laboratory-style chambers and remote-sensing devices near multiple colonies of two species of wild mice (Apodemus agrarius and Apodemus flavicollis) to test dual-motivational drives (appetitive and aversive) in a ‘familiar’, yet natural environment. A highly-palatable food reward was offered daily alongside scents from coyotes, lions, rabbits, and both wet and dry controls. In all but two instances (n = 264), animals entered chambers and remained inside for several minutes. Animals initiated flight twice, but they never froze. Rather, they visited chambers more often and stayed inside longer when predatory scents were deployed. The total time spent inside was highest for lion urine (380% longer than the dry control), followed by coyote scent (75% longer), dry control and lastly, herbivore scents (no difference). Once inside the chamber, animals spent more time physically interacting with predatory scents than the herbivore scent or controls. Our findings support the common assumption that rodents fail to respond as overtly to predatory scents in the field compared to what has been observed in the laboratory, possibly due to their varying motivational levels to obtain food. More time spent interacting with scents in the field was likely a function of ‘predator inspection’ (risk assessment) once subjects were in a presumed safe enclosure. We conclude this sort of chamber assay can be useful in understanding the contexts and motivational drives inherent to field studies, and may help interpret laboratory results. Our results also suggest more attention should be given to subtle behaviors such as scent inspection in order to better understand how, and when, environmental stimuli evoke fear in rodents.
Assessing temporal differences of baseline body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-height ratio in predicting future diabetes

Objective Obesity is the prominent modifiable risk factor known to influence the occurrence and progression of diabetes other than age, and the objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the predictive value of three simple baseline anthropometric indicators of obesity, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-height ratio (WHtR), for the occurrence of diabetes at different time points in the future. Methods The study subjects were 12,823 individuals with normoglycemic at baseline who underwent health screening and had measurements of BMI, WC, and WHtR. The outcome of interest was new-onset diabetes during follow-up. Time-dependent receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves of baseline BMI, WC, and WHtR for predicting the risk of diabetes in the next 2 to 12 years were constructed and their area under the ROC curves (AUCs) and corresponding optimal threshold values were calculated for each time point, which were used to compare the accuracy and stability of the above three indicators for predicting the occurrence of diabetes in different future periods. Results During a median follow-up period of 7.02 years, with a maximum follow-up of 13 years, 320 new-onset diabetes were recorded. After adjusting for confounders and comparing standardized hazard ratios (HRs), WC was shown to be the best simple anthropometric indicator of obesity reflecting diabetes risk in all models, followed by WHtR. Time-dependent ROC analysis showed that WC had the highest AUC in predicting the occurrence of diabetes in the short term (2-5 years), and WHtR had the highest AUC in predicting the occurrence of diabetes in the medium to long term (6-12 years), while in any time point, both WC and WHtR had higher AUC than BMI in predicting future diabetes. In addition, we found relatively larger fluctuations in the thresholds of BMI and WC for predicting diabetes over time, while the thresholds of WHtR consistently remained between 0.47-0.50; comparatively speaking, WHtR may have greater application value in predicting future diabetes. Conclusions Our analysis sustained that central obesity is a more important predictor of diabetes, and in clinical practice, we proposed measuring WHtR as a useful tool for predicting future diabetes.
Combination of transcriptional biomarkers and clinical parameters for early prediction of sepsis indued acute respiratory distress syndrome

Objective As a common yet intractable complication of severe sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is closely associated with poor clinical outcomes and elevated medical expenses. The aim of the current study is to generate a model combining transcriptional biomarkers and clinical parameters to alarm the development of ARDS in septic patients. Methods Gene expression profile (GSE66890) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and clinical data were extracted. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from whole blood leukocytes were identified between patients with sepsis alone and septic patients who develop ARDS. ARDS prediction model was constructed using backward stepwise regression and Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Meanwhile, a nomogram based on this model was established, with subsequent internal validation. Results A total of 57 severe septic patients were enrolled in this study, and 28 (49.1%) developed ARDS. Based on the differential expression analysis, six DEGs (BPI, OLFM4, LCN2, CD24, MMP8 and MME) were screened. According to the outcome prediction model, six valuable risk factors (direct lung injury, shock, tumor, BPI, MME and MMP8) were incorporated into a nomogram, which was used to predict the onset of ARDS in septic patients. The calibration curves of the nomogram showed good consistency between the probabilities and observed values. The decision curve analysis also revealed the potential clinical usefulness of the nomogram. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) for the prediction of ARDS occurrence in septic patients by the nomogram was 0.86 (95% CI = 0.767-0.952). A sensitivity analysis showed that the AUROC for the prediction of ARDS development in septic patients without direct lung injury was 0.967 (95% CI = 0.896-1.0). Conclusions The nomogram based on transcriptional biomarkers and clinical parameters showed a good performance for the prediction of ARDS occurrence in septic patients.
Meteorological changes during a solar eclipse

Eclipses provide a unique opportunity to study the atmosphere’s reaction when incident solar radiation is suddenly turned off and then on again. While the responses are similar to those that occur as night falls, the eclipse is more abrupt than the gradual decrease in solar energy as the evening sun approaches the horizon. The entire solar eclipse takes approximately 3 hours with the largest decline in solar energy confined to a 90-minute period. Totality, if it occurs, lasts at best for a little more than 7 minutes, and in the forthcoming eclipse of 11 August 1999, only 2 minutes and 23 seconds (Espenak and Anderson 1997). Responses can be detected from the subsurface soil layers to the mesosphere. Most are relatively subtle though even casual observers will notice the decline in temperature and its subsequent recovery. Historically, measurements of the atmosphere’s responses were primarily concerned with surface temperature after Edmond Halley first publicised a map of the track of the lunar shadow for the eclipse of 22 April 17 15; more recent advances in technology, data density, and theoretical modelling during this century have encouraged a much wider range of measurements. The eclipse of 11 August should continue this trend as the lunar shadow passes over highly instrumented parts of England and central Europe.
Single-cell transcriptomes and T cell receptors of vaccine-expanded apolipoprotein B-specific T cells

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of death worldwide. CD4 T cells responding to Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), the core protein of most lipoproteins, have been identified as critical disease modulators. In healthy individuals, ApoB-reactive (ApoB+) CD4 T cells are mostly regulatory T cells (Tregs), which exert anti-inflammatory effects. Yet, they may obtain pro-inflammatory features and thus become proatherogenic. Evidence from animal studies suggests that vaccination against certain major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II-binding ApoB peptides induces an expansion of ApoB+ Tregs and thus confers atheroprotection. To date, in-depth phenotyping of vaccine-expanded ApoB+ T cells has not yet been performed. To this end, we vaccinated C57BL/6J mice with the ApoB-peptide P6 (ApoB978–993 TGAYSNASSTESASY) and performed single-cell RNA sequencing of tetramer-sorted P6+ T cells. P6+ cells were clonally expanded (one major, two minor clones) and formed a transcriptional cluster distinct from clusters mainly containing non-expanded P6+ and P6– cells. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that most expanded P6+ cells had a strong Treg signature and highly expressed genes mediating suppressive functions. Yet, some expanded P6+ cells only had a residual Treg signature and expressed genes related to T helper 1 (TH1) cells, which are proatherogenic. Modeling the T cell receptor (TCR) and P6:MHC-II interaction showed that only three amino acid residues in the α and β chain contact the P6 peptide in the MHC-II groove and thus determine the specificity of this TCR to P6. Our data begin to reveal the vaccination-induced response to an ApoB epitope.
Evaluation of adalimumab effects on left ventricle performance by echocardiography indexes among patients with immunosuppressant refractory ulcerative colitis

Background and aims Inflammatory bases lead to a simultaneous flourishing of cardiovascular complications with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). As a released cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) can either disrupt or preserve cardiovascular performance. Due to this controversy, this study aimed to appraise the short-term anti-TNF (adalimumab [ADA]) relics on cardiac function by gauging the echocardiography indexes in patients with immunosuppressant refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods All cases with a definite diagnosis of UC were included based on providing written informed consent and owning the severe form of active disease (Mayo score ≥7), which did not dampen with immunosuppressant. Patients were excluded in the case of previous cardiac ailments/risk factors and prior related surgical or pharmaceutical intervention. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was carried out before and 3 months after biological regimen allocation and changes in indexes [ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV)/left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), and global longitudinal strain (GLS) in standard parasternal short axis from mid-ventricular level, two-, three-, and four-chamber apical long axes] were compared via statistical analyses. Results The study consisted of 13 (65%) men and 7 (35%) women, with a mean age of 36.54 ± 11.3 years. Participants mainly possessed Montreal class I (45%) and an average of 3.25 years of disease duration. The intervention significantly controlled inflammation [endoscopic Mayo score (P = 0.001), partial Mayo score (P = 0.001), and C-reactive protein (P = 0.001)]. Endoscopic and clinical remission was obtained in 7 (35%) and 9 (45%) patients, respectively; however, no significant discrepancy related to the LVEDV (P = 0.86), LVESV (P-value = 0.25), EF (P-value = 0.06), and GLS in standard parasternal short axis (P = 0.73), long axis [apical 2-chamber (P-value = 0.61), apical 3-chamber (P-value = 0.15), and apical 4-chamber (P-value = 0.19) views] was observed before and after the intervention. Furthermore, no statistically significant correlation between disease activity and cardiac function was found, neither before nor after ADA administration. Conclusion The present perusal found no deterioration in left ventricular function indexes with ADA intervention among patients with IBD without cardiac ailment. Thus, prescribing the anti-TNF to alleviate the inflammation can be carried out with less concern about cardiac consequences and considering other adverse traces in the target group.
Editorial: Old and new psychoactive substances: Pharmacology and potential applications

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Telescope alignment: is the zero-coma condition sufficient?

Modern telescopes have demonstrated the possibility of obtaining very high quality images (as good as 0.3 arc sec) from ground-based telescopes. To maintain this quality during regular use places stringent requirements on many other aspects like alignment (traditionally zero coma) and pointing and tracking, especially if active optics is used. We argue that for these stringent conditions to be met, for correcting coma, tilt and decentering have to be measured and corrected separately, both at the initial set-up of the telescope, and during normal operations. Otherwise: (1) a complex pattern of astigmatism can be introduced during the initial alignment phase; (2) pointing changes are introduced during observations, which though possible to correct, can limit the optical quality.