anthonyyazdaniml/gliner-biomed-curated-corpus huggingface dataset:
BACKGROUND: Wide consensus exists on the notion that low muscle mass is a predictor of negative health-related events, such as disability, morbidity, and mortality. Indeed, the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 had identified muscle mass as the key component to confirm the diagnosis of sarcopenia. However, the lack of normative values for muscle mass across ages hampers the practical assessment of this important parameter. The aim of the present study was to produce cross-sectional centile and normative values for calf circumference (a surrogate estimation of muscle mass) across a wide spectrum of ages using a large and unselected sample of community-dwellers enrolled in the Longevity Check-up 7+ (Lookup 7+) project.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using the data of Lookup 7+ project, an ongoing study started in June 2015 and conducted in unconventional settings (i.e., exhibitions, malls, and health promotion campaigns). Candidate participants were considered eligible for enrolment if they were at least 45 years of age and provided written informed consent. Calf circumference was measured using an inextensible but flexible plastic tape in a sitting position with the knee and ankle at a right angle and the feet resting on the floor. Normative values for calf circumference from ages 45 to 80 + years were generated.
RESULTS: A total of 11 814 participants were enrolled from 1 June 2015 to 30 September 2022. The mean age of participants included in the analyses was 61.8 years (standard deviation; 10.2 years; range: 45-98 years), and 6686 (57%) were women. Normative values for calf circumference were obtained for men and women, stratified by age groups. Accordingly, a calf circumference tape, with colour bands that demarcate the centiles range into which the patient falls, was created and validated.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study established age- and gender-specific centile reference values for calf circumference. The calf circumference tape can be used to easily interpret the assessment in every-day practice for the early detection of individuals with or at risk of sarcopenia and malnutrition.
Establishing the molecular and cellular mechanisms of fibrosis requires the development of validated and reproducible models. The complexity of in vivo models challenges the monitoring of an individual cell fate, in some cases making it impossible. However, the set of factors affecting cells in vitro culture systems differ significantly from in vivo conditions, insufficiently reproducing living systems. Thus, to model profibrotic conditions in vitro, usually the key profibrotic factor, transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ-1) is used as a single factor. TGFβ-1 stimulates the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, the main effector cells promoting the development and progression of fibrosis. However, except for soluble factors, the rigidity and composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a critical role in the differentiation process. To develop the model of more complex profibrotic microenvironment in vitro, we used a combination of factors: decellularized ECM synthesized by human dermal fibroblasts in the presence of ascorbic acid if cultured as cell sheets and recombinant TGFβ-1 as a supplement. When culturing human mesenchymal stromal cells derived from adipose tissue (MSCs) under described conditions, we observed differentiation of MSCs into myofibroblasts due to increased number of cells with stress fibrils with alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), and increased expression of myofibroblast marker genes such as collagen I, EDA-fibronectin and αSMA. Importantly, secretome of MSCs changed in these profibrotic microenvironment: the secretion of the profibrotic proteins SPARC and fibulin-2 increased, while the secretion of the antifibrotic hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) decreased. Analysis of transciptomic pattern of regulatory microRNAs in MSCs revealed 49 miRNAs with increased expression and 3 miRNAs with decreased expression under profibrotic stimuli. Bioinformatics analysis confirmed that at least 184 gene targets of the differently expressed miRNAs genes were associated with fibrosis. To further validate the developed model of profibrotic microenvironment, we cultured human dermal fibroblasts in these conditions and observed increased expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAPa) after 12 h of cultivation as well as increased level of αSMA and higher number of αSMA + stress fibrils after 72 h. The data obtained allow us to conclude that the conditions formed by the combination of profibrotic ECM and TGFβ-1 provide a complex profibrotic microenvironment in vitro. Thus, this model can be applicable in studying the mechanism of fibrosis development, as well as for the development of antifibrotic therapy.
BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene is known to reduce healthcare-associated infections. However, it remains suboptimal among healthcare providers. In this study, we used the Behaviour-centered Design approach to explore the facilitators and deterrents to hand hygiene among healthcare providers in the Kampala Metropolitan area, Uganda.
METHODS: We conducted a formative qualitative study as part of a cluster randomised trial in 19 healthcare facilities (HCFs). The study used 19 semi-structured and 18 key informant interviews to collect data on hand hygiene status and facilitators and deterrents of hand hygiene. Research assistants transcribed verbatim and used a thematic framework aided by Nvivo 14.0. to undertake analysis. We used thick descriptions and illustrative quotes to enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of our findings.
RESULTS: About 47.4% of the HCFs had sufficient hand hygiene infrastructure, and 57.9% did not report total compliance with hand hygiene during patient care. The physical facilitator for hand hygiene was the presence of constant reminders such as nudges, while the biological included the frequency of patient contact and the nature of clinical work. The only biological deterrent was the heavy workload in HCFs. The executive brain facilitators included knowledge of workplace health risks, infection prevention and control (IPC) guidelines, and a positive attitude. A negative attitude was the executive brain deterrent to hand hygiene. Recognition, rewards, and fear of infections were the only motivated brain facilitators. Behavioural setting facilitators included proximity to functional hand hygiene infrastructure, the existence of active IPC committees, good leadership, and the availability of a budget for hand hygiene supplies. Behavioural setting deterrents included the non-functionality and non-proximity to hand hygiene infrastructure and inadequate supplies.
CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed low compliance with hand hygiene during the critical moments of patient care and inadequacy of hand hygiene infrastructure. The deterrents to hand hygiene included a heavy workload, negative attitude, inadequate supplies, non-functionality, and long distance to hand washing stations. Facilitators included constant reminders, fear of infections, frequency of patient contact and nature of clinical work, positive attitude, knowledge of IPC guidelines, recognition and reward, good leadership, availability of budgets for hand hygiene supplies, availability and proximity to hand hygiene supplies and infrastructure and active IPC committees.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry with number ISRCTN98148144. The trial was registered on 23/11/2020.
Prostate cancer (PC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide in men, with persistently high numbers dying from this disease. Due to low levels of glycolysis in prostate cancer cell, the uses of 18F-FDG PET/CT to detect prostate cancer and its metastases are limited. Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), as known as folate hydrolase I or glutamate carboxypeptidase II, is overexpressed on the cells of prostatic adenocarcinoma. Various low molecular weight radiopharmaceuticals targeting PSMA such as PSMA-617, PSMA-11 for 68Ga-labeling have been developed. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT has demonstrated desirable sensitivity and specificity in the detection of prostate cancer lesions, which can find many micro lesions that cannot be identified by CT, MRI and bone scan. Al18F-PSMA-617 is a novel radiopharmaceutical targeting PSMA. Liu T et.al had demonstrated that Al18F-PSMA-617 accumulates specifically in PSMA-positive tumors with high binding affinity and selectivity. The first in-human evaluation of Al18F-PSMA-617 in a small PCa sample size also confirmed the good detectability of tumor lesions. This pilot study was prospectively designed to evaluate the early dynamic distribution of Al18F-PSMA-617 compared with 68Ga-PSMA-617 in the same group of prostate cancer patients.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies, mostly focusing on the European population, have reported polygenic risk scores (PRSs) might achieve risk stratification of stroke. We aimed to examine the association strengths of PRSs with risks of stroke and its subtypes in the Chinese population.
METHODS: Participants with genome-wide genotypic data in China Kadoorie Biobank were split into a potential training set (n=22 191) and a population-based testing set (n=72 150). Four previously developed PRSs were included, and new PRSs for stroke and its subtypes were developed. The PRSs showing the strongest association with risks of stroke or its subtypes in the training set were further evaluated in the testing set. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association strengths of different PRSs with risks of stroke and its subtypes (ischaemic stroke (IS), intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH)).
RESULTS: In the testing set, during 872 919 person-years of follow-up, 8514 incident stroke events were documented. The PRSs of any stroke (AS) and IS were both positively associated with risks of AS, IS and ICH (p<0.05). The HR for per SD increment (HRSD) of PRSAS was 1.10 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.12), 1.10 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.12) and 1.13 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.20) for AS, IS and ICH, respectively. The corresponding HRSD of PRSIS was 1.08 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.11), 1.08 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.11) and 1.09 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.15). PRSICH was positively associated with the risk of ICH (HRSD=1.07, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.14). PRSSAH was not associated with risks of stroke and its subtypes. The addition of current PRSs offered little to no improvement in stroke risk prediction and risk stratification.
CONCLUSIONS: In this Chinese population, the association strengths of current PRSs with risks of stroke and its subtypes were moderate, suggesting a limited value for improving risk prediction over traditional risk factors in the context of current genome-wide association study under-representing the East Asian population.
BACKGROUND: Calf diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the livestock sector worldwide and it can be caused by multiple infectious agents. In Ethiopia, cattle are the most economically important species within the livestock sector, but at the same time the young animals suffer from high rates of morbidity and mortality due to calf diarrhea. However, studies including both screening and molecular characterization of bovine enteric pathogens are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to both detect and molecularly characterize four of the major enteric pathogens in calf diarrhea, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (E. coli K99 +), Cryptosporidium spp., rotavirus A (RVA), and bovine coronavirus (BCoV) in calves from central Ethiopia. Diarrheic and non-diarrheic calves were included in the study and fecal samples were analyzed with antigen-ELISA and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Positive samples were further characterized by genotyping PCRs.
RESULTS: All four pathogens were detected in both diarrheic and non-diarrheic calves using qPCR and further characterization showed the presence of three Cryptosporidium species, C. andersoni, C. bovis and C. ryanae. Furthermore, genotyping of RVA-positive samples found a common bovine genotype G10P[11], as well as a more unusual G-type, G24. To our knowledge this is the first detection of the G24 RVA genotype in Ethiopia as well as in Africa. Lastly, investigation of the spike gene revealed two distinct BCoV strains, one classical BCoV strain and one bovine-like CoV strain.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Cryptosporidium spp., E. coli K99 + , RVA and BCoV circulate in calves from central Ethiopia. Furthermore, our findings of the rare RVA G-type G24 and a bovine-like CoV demonstrates the importance of genetic characterization.
Typical atrial flutter is the second-most prevalent atrial tachyarrhythmia. No guidelines for treatment exist and few studies investigate treatment of atrial flutter. Mostly, guidelines for atrial fibrillation are followed for treatment of atrial flutter. Atrial flutter has a different pathomechanism as atrial fibrillation, therefore special guidelines for treatment are needed. Among drug treatment and ablation procedures, external electrical cardioversion is commonly used, especially for treatment of acute symptomatic patients. This study may help to further define safe and successful procedures for electrical cardioversion of atrial flutter.
BACKGROUND: Rupture of the knee menisci is a common injury that can have implications for other conditions, such as osteoarthritis. The fracture toughness of soft tissue (Jc) is a mechanical property that characterizes its resistance to tear extension. To date, Jc of the meniscus has not been quantified.
METHODS: Cyclic tensile tests were conducted on meniscus samples to determine Jc and explore its characteristics. Initially, the study investigated the impact of an initial notch on the ultimate tensile stress. This allowed for an understanding of how the presence of a notch affects its structural integrity. Subsequently, Jc was measured in both the radial and circumferential directions to assess its loading direction dependency. Furthermore, the study assessed the effect of anatomical location by comparing samples collected from the femoral and tibial layers.
RESULTS: Defect tolerance of the meniscus is influenced by the loading direction. In the circumferential direction, the presence of an initial notch did not affect the ultimate stress, and no crack expansion was observed. In radial samples with a notch length of 40% or more of the total width, crack propagation occurred, leading to a decrease in the ultimate stress (p< 0.01). Additionally, Jc was found to be higher in the femoral layer compared to the tibial layer (p= 0.017).
CONCLUSION: The study also examined the failure patterns of the meniscus to enhance our understanding of its pathology. These insights contribute to a better comprehension of meniscus injuries and can aid in the development of more effective treatment strategies.
The invention belongs to the field of genetic engineering and chemistry, relating to the application of FD1 in preparing antitumor drugs. The invention provides the application of a micro molecular compound, i.e. 2-({6-[(3-carbonyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-phenyl thiophene-2-group) amino]-6-oxo-acetyl}amine)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1-phenyl thiophene-3-formic acid (FD1) in preparing the antitumor drugs. The compound can significantly inhibit tumor cell proliferation. FD1 is a drug designed aiming at cell targets CYPJ, and is not easy to form drug resistance, and in addition, the effect is particularly obvious on tumor cells of high expression CYPJ protein. Therefore, the micro molecular compound of the invention is developed as a new antitumor drug, and has obvious antitumor effect and good specificity.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a primary cause of cervical and head-and-neck cancers. The HPV genome enters the nucleus during mitosis when the nuclear envelope disassembles. Given that lamins maintain nuclear integrity during interphase, we asked to what extent their loss would affect early HPV infection. To address this question, we infected human cervical cancer cells and keratinocytes lacking the major lamins with a HPV16 pseudovirus (HP-PsV) encoding an EGFP reporter. We found that a sustained reduction or complete loss of lamin B1 significantly increased HP-PsV infection rate. A corresponding greater nuclear HP-PsV load in LMNB1 knockout cells was directly related to their prolonged mitotic window and extensive nuclear rupture propensity. Despite the increased HP-PsV presence, EGFP transcript levels remained virtually unchanged, indicating an additional defect in protein turnover. Further investigation revealed that LMNB1 knockout led to a substantial decrease in autophagic capacity, possibly linked to the persistent activation of cGAS by cytoplasmic chromatin exposure. Thus, the attrition of lamin B1 increases nuclear perviousness and attenuates autophagic capacity, creating an environment conducive to unrestrained accumulation of HPV capsids. Our identification of lower lamin B1 levels and nuclear BAF foci in the basal epithelial layer of several human cervix samples suggests that this pathway may contribute to an increased individual susceptibility to HPV infection.
Purpose : The objective of this study is to establish a nomogram that correlates optimized Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score with sepsis-related indicators, aiming to provide a robust model for early prediction of sepsis prognosis in clinical practice and serve as a valuable reference for improved diagnosis and treatment strategies. Methods : This retrospective study extracted sepsis patients meeting the inclusion criteria from the MIMIC-IV database to form the training group. An optimized APACHE II score integrated with relevant indicators was developed using a nomogram for predicting the prognosis of sepsis patients. External validation was conducted using data from the intensive care unit at Lanzhou University Second Hospital. Results : The study enrolled 1805 patients in the training cohort and 203 patients in the validation cohort. A multifactor analysis was conducted to identify factors affecting patient mortality within 28 days, resulting in the development of an optimized score by simplifying evaluation indicators from APACHE II score. The results showed that the optimized score (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.715) had a higher area under receiver operating characteristic curve than Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (AUC = 0.637) but slightly lower than APACHE II score (AUC = 0.720). Significant indicators identified through multifactor analysis included platelet count, total bilirubin level, albumin level, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, mechanical ventilation use and renal replacement therapy use. These seven indicators were combined with optimized score to construct a nomogram based on these seven indicators. The nomogram demonstrated good clinical predictive value in both training cohort (AUC = 0.803) and validation cohort (AUC = 0.750). Calibration curves and decision curve analyses also confirmed its good predictive ability, surpassing the APACHE II score and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score in identifying high-risk patients. Conclusions : The nomogram was established in this study using the MIMIC-IV database and validated with external data, demonstrating its robust discriminability, calibration, and clinical practicability for predicting 28-day mortality in sepsis patients. These findings aim to provide substantial support for clinicians' decision making.
A vaccine compn. comprising the attenuated strain of Salmonella choleraesuis ATCC 15478 or 15479 and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent. The compn. may be stored as a freeze dried culture and is preferably used as an injectable vaccine. Vaccine for the prevention of Salmonella choleraesuis infection (paratyphoid) in pigs. The injectable vaccine should contain 108-109 viable bacteria per ml. In 8-week old pigs a single dose of 1-10 mls. can be used.
Participants in this arm will follow the regular Halt-intervention. Halt professionals, not trained in YIM-approach, will be instructed to follow their regular working procedure. On average, the intervention consists of 3 meetings: an initial meeting, an intervention meeting, and a closing meeting. The aim is to complete the intervention within 100 days (min.-max.: 1-6 meetings, 1-20 hours). During the initial meeting, compulsory activities are screening and risk assessment, reflection on the committed offense/crime, and parental involvement. Based on these activities, the duration and the content of the intervention are determined. Professionals can select activities from 5 different modules: (1) reflection on behaviour, (2) parental involvement, (3) social skills training, (4) victim-offender reconciliation, and (5) future. A form of victim-offender reconciliation, however, is compulsory. Professionals are required to register relevant information regarding the Halt-process.
The primary purpose of this proposed 5-year study is to determine whether a Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management (CBSM) intervention, demonstrated to be effective in reducing distress, enhancing coping, and maintaining health among HIV+ non-drug abusers (see Schneiderman and Antoni, 2000), can be effectively adapted for our target population of culturally diverse, HIV+, low-income "Recovering Drug Abusers" (RDAs). Since the late 1980s, members of our research team (i.e., Schneiderman, Antoni, Klimas, Fletcher) have been developing, refining and evaluating the effects of CBSM among HIV+ Men who have Sex with Men (MSM). In the early/mid 90s, we began to adapt and evaluate the effects of CBSM in other non-drug abusing subgroups that were emerging with increasing levels of HIV seroprevalence (e.g., pregnant women, African American and Hispanic men and women). After accumulating considerable support for the effectiveness of CBSM in these subgroups in the late 90s, our research team (i.e., Malow, Schneiderman, Antoni, Klimas, Page) turned its attention to developing the CBSM for one of the most neglected and understudied populations affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in this country: "inner city" minority drug abusers. With supplemental funding on two NIH grants to conduct formative stage1 pilot research, our project team has been able to develop and document the feasibility and potential promise of the CBSM approach adapted/translated for RDAs (CBSM-RDA). This application proposes to take the next logical step in continuing this work: conducting a 3, 6, 8, 10, and 12 month follow-up outcome study comparing CBSM-RDA with a matched attention, time and interest value Health Promotion Comparison (HPC) condition, in 225 male and 225 female HIV+ RDAs with respect to key biopsychosocial health endpoints: distress (i.e., depressive symptoms, and mood state), quality of life, drug abuse relapse, unsafe sex, Combination Antiretroviral Therapy (CART) medication adherence and health status indicators (e.g., Viral Load, CD4 count, physical symptoms).
Transplantation is one of the most challenging and complex areas of medicine, and involves the transfer of a tissue or organ from a donor to a recipient patient. Rejection arises due to sensitisation of the cell-mediated immune system of the recipient to the foreign (allogeneic) antigens of the donor. In particular, the recipient's immune system reacts to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules presented on the surface of the donor tissues (the graft). In this context, there is an interest to produce anti-HLA-A2 chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to create alloantigen-specific Tregs that can be highly suitable in transplantation. The inventors have now isolated an anti-HLA-A2 human monoclonal antibody (named as "A2Ab") of low affinity (10 -6  M) and performed an affinity maturation in of said antibody. Said antibodies would be very suitable for generating CAR-Treg cells. Accordingly, the present invention relates to human monoclonal antibodies binding to HLA-A2.