Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Late-life depression, subjective cognitive decline, and their additive risk in incidence of dementia: A nationwide longitudinal study

Objective Late-life depression and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are significant risk factors for dementia. However, studies with a large sample size are needed to clarify their independent and combined risks for subsequent dementia. Methods This nationwide population-based cohort study included all individuals aged 66 years who participated in the National Screening Program between 2009 and 2013 (N = 939,099). Subjects were followed from the day they underwent screening to the diagnosis of dementia, death, or the last follow-up day (December 31, 2017). Results Depressive symptom presentation, recent depressive disorder, and SCD independently increased dementia incidence with adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 1.286 (95% CI:1.255–1.318), 1.697 (95% CI:1.621–1.776), and 1.748 (95% CI: 689–1.808) respectively. Subjects having both SCD and depression had a higher risk (aHR = 2.466, 95% CI:2.383–2.551) of dementia than having depression (aHR = 1.402, 95% CI:1.364–1.441) or SCD (aHR = 1.748, 95% CI:1.689–1.808) alone. Conclusions Depressive symptoms, depressive disorder, and SCD are independent risk factors for dementia. Co-occurring depression and SCD have an additive effect on the risk of dementia; thus, early intervention and close follow up are necessary for patients with co-occurring SCD and depression.
Factors Affecting Health Literacy as Related to Asthma and COPD Management: Learning from Patient and Health Care Professional Viewpoints

Background: Studies have identified health literacy (HL) as an important determinant of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. There are, however, limited data on patients' and health care professionals (HCPs') insights about the link between HL and management of asthma and COPD. Objective: The aim of this study was to elicit patients' and HCPs' perspectives with respect to factors affecting HL in the context of asthma and COPD management. Methods: A total of 16 semi-structured focus groups (10 in English and 6 in French) with patients with asthma or COPD (n = 93) and 45 interviews with HCPs, researchers, and policymakers were conducted between June 2015 and April 2017. Participants were asked to share their perspectives with respect to five predefined HL domains—accessing, understanding, evaluating, communicating, and using health-related information—in relation to disease self-management practices. Data were analyzed qualitatively, using a content analysis approach. Key Results: Most patients and HCPs reflected on factors hampering HL in relation to asthma and COPD management. Thoughts such as “not having enough time during medical consultations,” “not receiving consistent messages from different health care professionals,” and “language or cultural differences” were frequently mentioned by both patients and HCPs. Conclusions: We identified multiple factors affecting communication between patients and HCPs as it relates to the self-management of their disease. These included inconsistent messages from different providers, limited consultation time, use of technical language, failure to account for cultural differences, and reduced health literacy, especially as it related to written communication. Future interventions that aim to enhance HL skills in the context of asthma and COPD self-management should consider these issues. [HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice. 2021;5(3):e179–e193. ] Plain Language Summary: The current study advances the health literacy (HL) knowledge base by adding patients' and health care professionals' valuable insights on factors that hamper or facilitate HL in relation to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. An important insight from this study is that receiving conflicting information from different health care professional's hampers HL in patients with asthma and/or COPD.
Pulling-Force Spinning Top for Serum Separation Combined with Paper-Based Microfluidic Devices in COVID-19 ELISA Diagnosis

The spread of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resulting in a global pandemic with around four million deaths. Although there are a variety of nucleic acid-based tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2, these methods have a relatively high cost and require expensive supporting equipment. To overcome these limitations and improve the efficiency of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, we developed a microfluidic platform that collected serum by a pulling-force spinning top and paper-based microfluidic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for quantitative IgA/IgM/IgG measurements in an instrument-free way. We further validated the paper-based microfluidic ELISA analysis of SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific IgA/IgM/IgG antibodies from human blood samples as a good measurement with higher sensitivity compared with traditional IgM/IgG detection (99.7% vs 95.6%) for early illness onset patients. In conclusion, we provide an alternative solution for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 in a portable manner by this smart integration of pulling-force spinning top and paper-based microfluidic immunoassay.
Construction and Verification of a Radiation Pneumonia Prediction Model Based on Multiple Parameters

Objective: Patients with lung cancer are at risk of radiation pneumonia (RP) after receiving radiotherapy. We established a prediction model according to the critical indicators extracted from radiation pneumonia patients. Materials and Methods: 74 radiation pneumonia patients were involved in the training set. Firstly, the clinical data, hematological and radiation dose parameters of the 74 patients were screened by Logistics regression univariate analysis according to the level of radiation pneumonia. Next, Stepwise regression analysis was utilized to construct the regression model. Then, the influence of continuous variables on RP was tested by smoothing function. Finally, the model was externally verified by 30 patients in validation set and visualized by R code. Results: In the training set, there was 40 patients suffered≥ level 2 acute radiation pneumonia. Clinical data (diabetes), blood indexes (lymphocyte percentage, basophil percentage, platelet count) and radiation dose (V15 > 40%, V20 > 30%, V35 >18%, V40 > 15%) were related to radiation pneumonia (P < 0.05). Particularly, stepwise regression analysis indicated that the history of diabetes, the basophils percentage, platelet count and V20 could be the best combination used for predicting radiation pneumonia. The column chart was obtained by fitting the regression model with the combined indicator. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the AUC in the development term was 0.853, the AUC was 0.656 in the validation term. And calibration curves of both groups showed the high stability in efficiently diagnostic. Furthermore, the DCA curve showed that the model had a satisfactory positive net benefit. Conclusion: The combination of the basophils percentage, platelet count and V20 is available to build a predictive model of radiation pneumonia for patients with advanced lung cancer.
Family of Single-Micelle-Templated Organosilica Hollow Nanospheres and Nanotubes Synthesized through Adjustment of Organosilica/Surfactant Ratio

A family of hollow organosilica nanospheres and nanotubes was synthesized at appropriately low organosilica-precursor/block-copolymer-surfactant ratios. In Pluronic F127 (EO106PO70EO106) block copolymer templated synthesis of ethylene-bridged organosilicas in the presence of a swelling agent, the lowering of the organosilica-precursor/surfactant ratio led to a change from highly ordered face-centered cubic structure of spherical mesopores to individual hollow spherical nanoparticles. It was hypothesized that at low ratios of organosilica precursor to PEO-PPO-PEO, the framework precursor is solubilized in the micelles and its concentration on their surface is not sufficient to induce appreciable cross-linking between the resulting nanoobjects and the consolidation into larger particles. The inner pore size of the nanospheres was adjusted by varying the micelle expander, allowing us to obtain pore diameters up to ∼20 nm. By employing low precursor/surfactant ratios, hollow spheres of methylene-, ethenylene-.
Prevalence of initial orthostatic hypotension in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Initial orthostatic hypotension (OH) is a clinical syndrome of exaggerated transient orthostasis associated with higher risks of falls, frailty and syncope in older adults. Objective To provide a prevalence estimate of initial OH in adults aged 65 years or older. Methods Literature search of MEDLINE (from 1946), Embase (from 1947) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was performed until 6 December 2019, using the terms ‘initial orthostatic hypotension’, ‘postural hypotension’ and ‘older adults’. Articles were included if published in English and participants were 65 years or older. Random effects models were used for pooled analysis. Results Of 5,136 articles screened, 13 articles (10 cross-sectional; 3 longitudinal) reporting data of 5,465 individuals (54.5% female) from the general (n = 4,157), geriatric outpatient (n = 1,136), institutionalised (n = 55) and mixed (n = 117) population were included. Blood pressure was measured continuously and intermittently in 11 and 2 studies, respectively. Pooled prevalence of continuously measured initial OH was 29.0% (95% CI: 22.1–36.9%, I2 = 94.6%); 27.8% in the general population (95% CI: 17.9–40.5%, I2 = 96.1%), 35.2% in geriatric outpatients (95% CI: 24.2–48.1%, I2 = 95.3%), 10.0% in institutionalised individuals (95% CI: 2.4–33.1%, I2 = 0%) and 21.4% in the mixed population (95% CI: 7.0–49.6, I2 = 0%). Pooled prevalence of intermittently measured initial OH was 5.6% (95% CI: 1.5–18.9%, I2 = 81.1%); 1.0% in the general population (95% CI: 0.0–23.9%, I2 = 0%) and 7.7% in geriatric outpatients (95% CI: 1.8–27.0%, I2 = 86.7%). Conclusion The prevalence of initial OH is high in older adults, especially in geriatric outpatients. Proper assessment of initial OH requires continuous blood pressure measurements.
Incidence of central serous chorioretinopathy (2011–2018): a nationwide population-based cohort study of Japan

Aims The aim of this study was to elucidate the epidemiological background of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), including its incidence and treatment pattern. Methods This was a population-based longitudinal cohort study using a nationwide health insurance claims database of the Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW). As Japan employs universal health coverage, the database covers more than 95% of claims issued in Japan. We accessed all data stored in the database with permission from the MHLW. We traced all individuals aged 30 years or older and identified individuals with new onset of CSC between January 2011 and December 2018. CSC cases were categorised by age and sex for each year, and incidence rate was calculated. We also identified major treatments for CSC to elucidate the initial treatment pattern. Results During the 8-year period, 247 930 incidences of CSC were identified, among which 75.9% were men. The crude incidence rate (per 100 000 person-years) in the general population aged 30 years or older was 34.0 (95% CI 33.9 to 34.2), in men was 54.2 (95% CI 53.9 to 54.4) and in women was 15.7 (95% CI 15.5 to 15.8). The mean age of onset was lower in men than in women (50.5±12.5 years vs 54.7±13.5 years). Most of the patients with newly diagnosed CSC (86.8%) did not receive major treatment. Conclusions The current study provides the nationwide population-based evidence to clarify the detailed epidemiology of CSC. These results could help to understand the pathogenesis and mechanisms of CSC in the future.
Epicardial adipose tissue is associated with cardiorespiratory fitness and hemodynamics among Japanese individuals of various ages and of both sexes

Epicardial adipose tissue may affect hemodynamics and cardiorespiratory fitness as it is a metabolically active visceral adipose tissue and a source of inflammatory bioactive substances that can substantially modulate cardiovascular morphology and function. However, the associations between epicardial adipose tissue and hemodynamics and cardiorespiratory fitness remain unclear. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between epicardial adipose tissue volume and hemodynamics, and cardiorespiratory fitness among Japanese individuals of various ages and of both sexes. Epicardial adipose tissue volume was measured in 120 participants (age, 21–85 years) by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. To evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness, peak oxygen uptake was measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Peak cardiac output and arteriovenous oxygen difference were calculated by impedance cardiography. The epicardial adipose tissue volume was significantly increased in middle-aged and older women. The epicardial adipose tissue volume was significantly and negatively correlated to peak cardiac output and peak oxygen uptake, regardless of age and sex; furthermore, epicardial adipose tissue showed a strong negative correlation with peak heart rate. Epicardial adipose tissue and peak cardiac output were significantly associated (β = -0.359, 95% confidence interval, -0.119 to -0.049, p < 0.001), even after multivariate adjustment (R2 = 0.778). However, in the multiple regression analysis with peak oxygen uptake as a dependent variable, the epicardial adipose tissue volume was not an independent predictor. These data suggest that increased epicardial adipose tissue volume may be correlated with decreased peak oxygen uptake, which might have mediated the abnormal hemodynamics among Japanese people of various ages and of both sexes. Interventions targeting epicardial adipose tissue could potentially improve hemodynamics and cardiorespiratory fitness.
Gut–brain interaction: scope of neuromodulation techniques

The complex bidirectional association between the gastrointestinal system and brain is denoted in the gut – brain axis. Brain pathologies may cause disturbances in the gut and vice versa, which indicates that gut pathology may be a cause or effect of brain pathology. 1 Indeed, there is now evidence for increased cortical excitability and impaired motor conduction in disorders of gut such as celiac disease. 2 These changesin the brain may cause alterations in cognition,commonlyreferred to as “ brain fog. ” 2 Dietary modifications (eg, restriction of gluten in diet) may restore the cortical homeostasis to some extent. 2 Similarly, it has been reported that there is alteration in immuno-logical parameters (cytokines, oxidative stress radicals, nitrosative stress parameters, autoimmune activation, amine catabolism, and gut – brain axis alteration) in patients of depression. 3 These parameters have been found to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease too. These changes arelikelyto alterneuroplasticity. Theelevatedinflammatorycytokinesareknown to cause cognitive dysfunctions, which is evident in a spectrum of psychiatric disorders ranging from schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder to Alzheimer ’ s disease. 4 Theactivity ofgut – brain axiscan bemodulated bybroadlytwoapproaches. Thefirst beingthe top-down approach, where cortical neuromodulation will regulate the activity of gut and the second being bottom-up approach, where modulating the gut activity (by altering the gut microbiota) will signal the brain through immune regulation and production of microbial metabolites as well as microbial neural substrates. Supplementation with probiotics causes regulation of gut flora thereby reducing the release of cytokines and its subsequent consequences of cortical
An Evaluation of Racial Diversity in Craniofacial Surgery Literature

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Implicit bias can lead to discrimination of certain populations within healthcare. Representation in medical literature is no exception and it is hypothesized that images with lighter skin tone are more prevalent than darker skin tones in craniofacial literature. Clinical photographs and figure graphics from 5 journals were examined for pre-defined years. Annals of Plastic Surgery, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journals were reviewed. All craniofacial-focused articles containing at least one color image depicting human skin were included. 10,477 images and 627 graphics were evaluated using the Fitzpatrick scale as a guide. Most journals trended toward broader inclusion of nonwhite photographs and graphics over time. In 2016, 47% of articles published in Journal of Craniofacial Surgery included nonwhite images compared to Annals of Plastic Surgery (16%), Aesthetic Surgery Journal (40%), Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (25%), and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (7%). Comparison of domestic and international publications demonstrated that author's country of origin impacted the percentage of nonwhite clinical photographs for most journals. Comparisons of publications by country demonstrated increased diversity in Asia and the Middle East for clinical photographs but not graphics. The frequency of nonwhite figure graphics was staggeringly low, identified in only 18 articles across all journals and years. Craniofacial literature more commonly reflects white skin tones. The trend over time suggests increasing inclusion of racial diversity in clinical photographs; however, figure graphics remain less racially diverse. Time, country of origin, and publishing journal appear to play a role.
On the nonlinear relation between the Coefficient of Haze and Elemental Carbon mass concentration

ABSTRACT Coefficient of Haze (CoH) was the official proxy for the mass concentration of particulate matter in the US from ca. 1950 onwards. Originally, a linearity between CoH and sample load was claimed, but although shortly after the introduction of the method it was found that the relation between mass loading and the fraction of light 10 absorbed by the sample was identical to the nonlinear curve of the European “Black Smoke” (BS) method this correction was not officially adopted. We found that BS is a linear proxy for Elemental Carbon (EC) enabling an easy nonlinear conversion of CoH to EC concentration. Earlier it had been assumed that light-absorption by a sample is equal in the two methods, although CoH is obtained by light transmission while BS by light reflection. The “Filter Smoke Number” (FSN), used for diesel-soot emissions, is in essence the light-absorption by samples collected on the same filter type as in the CoH method (but probed in reflection). We noticed that the curve relating load and FSN is indistinguishable from the BS/EC curve. Ingram showed that light-absorption measured in reflection and transmission for this filter type is highly similar, so the standard BS/EC curve can be used to compare BS/EC and CoH. At low loadings the relation of EC concentration and CoH was quite similar to the equivalency factor of Black Carbon (BC) concentration and CoH. At CoH = 8, the historic limit of a severe smog day; however, the EC/BC-concentration alone was three times higher than that based on a (linear) equivalency factor. At CoH = 8, EC/BC mass concentrations alone reached the OSHA 8-hr workplace exposure limit of 150 µg m−3 for total carbon (the sum of organic carbon (OC) and EC). Implications: In this MS we show that the historic database of Coefficient of Haze (CoH) data can be converted to Elemental Carbon (EC) concentrations via several steps involving other historic and current measurement techniques (the European Black Smoke (BS) technique and techniques to measure Black Carbon (BC) and EC). The originally claimed linear relation between CoH and sample load is in reality a strongly nonlinear relation, so using the original linear relation leads to severe underestimations of historic EC concentrations especially on days with high concentrations of EC.
Platelet‐in‐Box Colloidal Quantum Wells: CdSe/CdS@CdS Core/Crown@Shell Heteronanoplatelets

Here, the CdSe/CdS@CdS core/crown@shell heterostructured nanoplatelets (NPLs) resembling a platelet‐in‐box structure are developed and successfully synthesized. It is found that the core/crown@shell NPLs exhibit consistently substantially improved photoluminescence quantum yield compared to the core@shell NPLs regardless of their CdSe‐core size, CdS‐crown size, and CdS‐shell thickness. This enhancement in quantum yield is attributed to the passivation of trap sites resulting from the critical peripheral growth with laterally extending CdS‐crown layer before the vertical shell growth. This is also verified with the disappearance of the fast nonradiative decay component in the core/crown NPLs from the time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. When compared to the core@shell NPLs, the core/crown@shell NPLs exhibit relatively symmetric emission behavior, accompanied with suppressed lifetime broadening at cryogenic temperatures, further suggesting the suppression of trap sites. Moreover, constructing both the CdS‐crown and CdS‐shell regions, significantly enhanced absorption cross‐section is achieved. This, together with the suppressed Auger recombination, enables the achievement of the lowest threshold amplified spontaneous emission (≈20 μJ cm−2) from the core/crown@shell NPLs among all different architectures of NPLs. These findings indicate that carefully heterostructured NPLs will play a critical role in building high‐performance colloidal optoelectronic devices, which may even possibly challenge their traditional epitaxially grown thin‐film based counterparts.
MRN Complex and Cancer Risk: Old Bottles, New Wine

The MRN complex, composed of MRE11A, RAD50, and NBN, mediates vital molecular functions to maintain genomic stability and hence protect against related disorders. Germline mutations in the MRN genes predispose to three different syndromes: ataxia-telangiectasia-like disorder (MRE11A deficiency), Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS; NBN deficiency), and NBS-like disorder (RAD50 deficiency). The potential cancer component of these syndromes in addition to the close physical and functional proximity of the MRN complex to BRCA1 has promoted the MRN genes as candidate risk genes for developing breast cancer. This notion has been challenged by independent large-scale population-based studies. Despite having their two-decade old candidacy as breast cancer genes close to being refuted, it has recently been reported that the MRN genes rise to have potential new roles in clonal hematopoiesis. In this article, we discuss the history and current status of MRN genes' clinical utility in breast cancer and then focus on their recently uncovered and less understood roles in clonal hematopoiesis that likely predispose to health-related disorders such as hematologic malignancies and/or cardiovascular morbid events.