Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein-energy requirements of boys 12-14 y old determined by using the nitrogen-balance response to a mixed-protein diet.

Short-term nitrogen-balance response to graded intakes of a vegetable mixed-protein diet and to a milk-egg protein diet was tested in eight healthy male children aged 12-14 y. They received 72, 104, 136, and 168 mg N.kg body wt-1.d-1 for 10 d while on the mixed diet, and 160 mg N.kg-1.d-1 on the milk-egg diet. The mean regression equation was nitrogen balance = 0.64 (nitrogen intake)-74, all values are in mg N.kg-1.d-1. Apparent digestibility was 86% and 85% for the mixed and milk-egg diets when the subjects received 168 and 160 mg N.kg-1.d-1, respectively. Mean nitrogen intake for satisfactory nitrogen retention for growth on the mixed diet was 147 mg N.kg-1.d-1; the recommended protein allowance to cover 97.5% of the population, which was derived by using a CV of 12.5%, is 1.15 g protein.kg-1.d-1. We conclude that FAO/WHO/UNU recommendations are adequate, at least for short-term nitrogen retention; long-term studies are needed to evaluate the chronic safety of this protein allowance.
Pharmacokinetics of orally and intravenously administered riboflavin in healthy humans.

The pharmacokinetics and utilization (flavocoenzyme synthesis) of orally and intravenously administered riboflavin in healthy humans were assessed. After the determination of circadian rhythms of riboflavin concentrations in blood plasma and urine of four males and five females (control period), each of these subjects received three different oral riboflavin doses (20, 40, and 60 mg) and one intravenous bolus injection of riboflavin (11.6 mg). Vitamins were administered in a randomized, cross-over design with 2 wk between each administration. Blood plasma and urine specimens were collected repeatedly over a period of 48 h after each administration. Concentrations of flavocoenzymes and riboflavin were analyzed in blood plasma; riboflavin was assayed in urine. During the control period, a small circadian variation was observed: plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of riboflavin were low during the afternoon (P < 0.05). Pharmacokinetics were calculated using a two-compartment open model. The maximal amount of riboflavin that can be absorbed from a single dose was 27 mg per adult. Half-life of absorption was 1.1 h. First-order rate constants describing distribution and elimination of riboflavin were significantly higher after intravenous than after oral administration (P < 0.01). Release of flavocoenzymes into plasma was low compared with the increase of riboflavin concentrations. 7 alpha-Hydroxyriboflavin was identified in plasma. Clearance data indicated that urinary excretion of riboflavin contributes to one-half of the overall removal of riboflavin from plasma. No sex differences were observed for any of the pharmacokinetic variables (P > 0.05).
Effect of intravenous taurine supplementation on plasma, blood cell, and urine taurine concentrations in adults undergoing long-term parenteral nutrition.

Thirty-four adults undergoing long-term parenteral nutrition (TPN) were treated either with or without intravenous taurine for less than or equal to 24 mo. Statistical comparisons were carried out in eight patients randomly assigned to receive intravenous taurine, usually 10 mg.kg-1.d-1, and 10 patients not receiving taurine. Compared with normal adults, baseline plasma taurine and urine taurine-creatinine ratios were decreased in both groups and platelet taurine was reduced in the taurine-treated group. During taurine treatment the mean of the mean values for taurine became normal in plasma and platelets and remained normal in erythrocytes, granulocytes, and lymphocytes; urine taurine-creatinine ratios rose to approximately five times normal. During follow-up, patients not given taurine had plasma, erythrocyte, and granulocyte taurine and urine taurine-creatinine ratios below normal values and the concentrations of taurine-treated patients. Their platelet taurine was also subnormal. Thus, 10 mg taurine.kg-1.d-1 intravenously normalizes plasma and blood cell taurine concentrations in long-term TPN patients.
Thrombin activates a membrane-associated calcium-independent PLA2 in ventricular myocytes.

Activation of phospholipase A2(PLA2) and accumulation of lysophosphatidylcholine contribute importantly to arrhythmogenesis during acute myocardial ischemia. We examined thrombin stimulation of PLA2 activity in isolated ventricular myocytes. Basal and thrombin-stimulated cardiac myocyte PLA2 activity demonstrated a distinct preference for sn-1 ether-linked phospholipids with arachidonate esterified at the sn-2 position. The majority of PLA2 activity was calcium independent and membrane associated. Thrombin stimulation of membrane-associated PLA2 occurs in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. An increase in PLA2 activity was also observed using the synthetic peptide SFLLRNPNDKYEPF (the tethered ligand generated by thrombin cleavage of its receptor). Bromoenol lactone, a selective inhibitor of calcium-independent PLA2, completely blocked thrombin-stimulated increases in PLA2 activity and arachidonic acid release. No significant inhibition of thrombin-induced PLA2 was observed following pretreatment with mepacrine or dibucaine. These data confirm the presence of high-affinity thrombin receptors on isolated cardiac myocytes and demonstrate the specific activation of a unique membrane-associated, calcium-independent PLA2 following thrombin receptor ligation.
Apolipoprotein E gene promoter -219G->T polymorphism increases LDL-cholesterol concentrations and susceptibility to oxidation in response to a diet rich in saturated fat.

BACKGROUND The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene promoter polymorphism (-219G-->T) has been associated with increased risk of myocardial infarction, premature coronary artery disease, and decreased plasma apolipoprotein E concentrations. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine in healthy subjects whether this polymorphism modifies the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation and the lipid response to the content and quality of dietary fat. DESIGN Fifty-five healthy men with the APOE3/E3 genotype (7 GG, 38 GT, and 10 TT) completed 3 dietary periods, each lasting 4 wk. The first was a saturated fatty acid (SFA)-rich diet [38% fat-20% SFA and 12% monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA)-and 47% carbohydrates (CHO)], which was followed by a CHO-rich diet (30% fat-<10% SFA and 12% MUFA-and 55% CHO) or a MUFA-rich diet (38% fat-<10% SFA and 22% MUFA-and 47% CHO) in a randomized crossover design. At the end of each dietary period, LDL oxidation susceptibility, lipids, and lipoproteins were measured. RESULTS Compared with carriers of the G allele, TT subjects had a significantly (P < 0.05) shorter lag time after the SFA diet. The replacement of the SFA diet by the CHO or MUFA diet induced a greater increase (P < 0.05) in lag time in the TT subjects than in the GG or GT subjects. Carriers of the T allele had higher LDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05) and apolipoprotein B (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations after the SFA diet than did GG subjects. Compared with GG subjects, carriers of the T allele had a significantly (P < 0.05) greater decrease in LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B when they changed from the SFA to the CHO diet. CONCLUSION The -219G-->T polymorphism may partially explain differences in individual responses to diet.
Effects of dietary saturated, monounsaturated, and n-3 fatty acids on blood pressure in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND The quantity and quality of fats consumed in the diet influence the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although the effect of diet on plasma lipids and lipoproteins is well documented, less information exists on the role of fats on blood pressure (BP). OBJECTIVE The objective was to evaluate the effects of different types of dietary fat on BP in healthy subjects. DESIGN Healthy subjects (n = 162) were randomly assigned for 3 mo to follow 1 of 2 isoenergetic diets: 1 rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA diet) and the other rich in saturated fatty acids (SFA diet). Each group was further randomly assigned to receive supplementation with fish oil (3.6 g n-3 fatty acids/d) or placebo. RESULTS Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) decreased with the MUFA diet [-2.2% (P = 0.009) and -3.8% (P = 0.0001), respectively] but did not change with the SFA diet [-1.0% (P = 0.2084) and -1.1% (P = 0.2116)]. The MUFA diet caused a significantly lower DBP than did the SFA diet (P = 0.0475). Interestingly, the favorable effects of MUFA on DBP disappeared at a total fat intake above the median (>37% of energy). The addition of n-3 fatty acids influenced neither SBP nor DBP. CONCLUSIONS Changing the proportions of dietary fat by decreasing SFAs and increasing MUFAs decreased diastolic BP. Interestingly, the beneficial effect on BP induced by fat quality was negated by the consumption of a high total fat intake. The addition of n-3 fatty acids to the diet had no significant effect on BP.
Is cytoskeletal tension a major determinant of cell deformability in adherent endothelial cells?

We tested the hypothesis that mechanical tension in the cytoskeleton (CSK) is a major determinant of cell deformability. To confirm that tension was present in adherent endothelial cells, we either cut or detached them from their basal surface by a microneedle. After cutting or detachment, the cells rapidly retracted. This retraction was prevented, however, if the CSK actin lattice was disrupted by cytochalasin D (Cyto D). These results confirmed that there was preexisting CSK tension in these cells and that the actin lattice was a primary stress-bearing component of the CSK. Second, to determine the extent to which that preexisting CSK tension could alter cell deformability, we developed a stretchable cell culture membrane system to impose a rapid mechanical distension (and presumably a rapid increase in CSK tension) on adherent endothelial cells. Altered cell deformability was quantitated as the shear stiffness measured by magnetic twisting cytometry. When membrane strain increased 2.5 or 5%, the cell stiffness increased 15 and 30%, respectively. Disruption of actin lattice with Cyto D abolished this stretch-induced increase in stiffness, demonstrating that the increased stiffness depended on the integrity of the actin CSK. Permeabilizing the cells with saponin and washing away ATP and Ca2+ did not inhibit the stretch-induced stiffening of the cell. These results suggest that the stretch-induced stiffening was primarily due to the direct mechanical changes in the forces distending the CSK but not to ATP- or Ca2+-dependent processes. Taken together, these results suggest preexisting CSK tension is a major determinant of cell deformability in adherent endothelial cells.
Dependence of ventilation image derived from 4D CT on deformable image registration and ventilation algorithms

Ventilation imaging using 4D CT is a convenient and low‐cost functional imaging methodology which might be of value in radiotherapy treatment planning to spare functional lung volumes. Deformable image registration (DIR) is needed to calculate ventilation imaging from 4D CT. This study investigates the dependence of calculated ventilation on DIR methods and ventilation algorithms. DIR of the normal end expiration and normal end inspiration phases of the 4D CT images was used to correlate the voxels between the two respiratory phases. Three different DIR algorithms, optical flow (OF), diffeomorphic demons (DD), and diffeomorphic morphons (DM) were retrospectively applied to ten esophagus and ten lung cancer cases with 4D CT image sets that encompassed the entire lung volume. The three ventilation extraction methods were used based on either the Jacobian, the change in volume of the voxel, or directly calculated from Hounsfield units. The ventilation calculation algorithms used are the Jacobian, ΔV, and HU method. They were compared using the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) index and Bland‐Altman plots. Dependence of ventilation images on the DIR was greater for the ΔV and the Jacobian methods than for the HU method. The DSC index for 20% of low‐ventilation volume for ΔV was 0.33±0.03(1SD) between OF and DM, 0.44±0.05 between OF and DD, and 0.51±0.04 between DM and DD. The similarity comparisons for Jacobian were 0.32±0.03,0.44±0.05, and 0.51±0.04, respectively, and for HU they were 0.53±0.03,0.56±0.03, and 0.76±0.04, respectively. Dependence of extracted ventilation on the ventilation algorithm used showed good agreement between the ΔV and Jacobian methods, but differed significantly for the HU method. DSC index for using OF as DIR was 0.86±0.01 between ΔV and Jacobian, 0.28±0.04 between ΔV and HU, and 0.28±0.04 between Jacobian and HU, respectively. When using DM or DD as DIR, similar values were obtained when comparing the different ventilation calculation methods. The similarity values for the 20% high‐ventilation volume were close to those found for the 20% low‐ventilation volume. The results obtained with DSC index were confirmed when using the Bland‐Altman plots for comparing the ventilation images. Our data suggest that ventilation calculated from 4D CT depends on the DIR algorithm employed. Similarities between ΔV and Jacobian are higher than between ΔV and HU, and Jacobian and HU. PACS number: 87.57. nj
Fatigue Behavior of Stainless Steel 304L Including Strain Hardening, Prestraining, and Mean Stress Effects

This paper discusses cyclic deformation and fatigue behaviors of stainless steel 304L and aluminum 7075-T6. Effects of loading sequence, mean strain or stress, and prestraining were investigated. The behavior of aluminum is shown not to be affected by preloading, whereas the behavior of stainless steel is greatly influenced by prior loading. Mean stress relaxation in strain control and ratcheting in load control and their influence on fatigue life are discussed. Some unusual mean strain test results are presented for SS304L, where in spite of mean stress relaxation fatigue lives were significantly longer than fully-reversed tests. Prestraining indicated no effect on either deformation or fatigue behavior of aluminum, while it induced considerable hardening in SS304L and led to different results on fatigue life, depending on the test control mode. Possible mechanisms for secondary hardening observed in some tests, characterized by a continuous increase in the stress response and leading to runout fatigue life, are also discussed. The Smith-Watson-Topper parameter was shown to correlate most of the experimental data for both materials under different loading condition.
Conjugated linoleic acid (9,11- and 10,12-octadecadienoic acid) is produced in conventional but not germ-free rats fed linoleic acid.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is an anticarcinogen in several model animal systems. Conjugated linoleic acid occurs naturally in food and is present at higher concentrations in products from ruminant animals. Given that certain rumen microorganisms produce CLA from free linoleic acid, we studied the effect of feeding free or esterified linoleic acid on tissue CLA concentrations using conventional and germ-free rats. Conventional rats were fed a 5% (wt/wt) corn oil control diet alone or supplemented with 5% free linoleic acid or 8.63% corn oil (equivalent to 5% linoleic acid in triglyceride). Germ-free rats were fed autoclavable nonpurified diet alone or supplemented with 5% free linoleic acid. Analyses of CLA concentrations were performed on lipids extracted from liver, lung, kidney, skeletal muscle and abdominal adipose tissue, and on liver phospholipid and neutral lipid fractions. Tissue CLA concentrations were higher in conventional rats fed free linoleic acid (the major isomers were cis-9, trans-11 and trans-9, cis-11) than in control animals. Conjugated linoleic acid concentrations in free linoleic acid-fed rats were maximal at 4 wk, and levels were 5-10 times higher than those of controls. Elevated CLA concentrations were also observed in liver phospholipid and neutral lipid fractions. In contrast, CLA concentrations in the tissues of germ-free rats were not affected by diet. Feeding the corn oil-fortified diet to conventional rats did not increase CLA concentration in the tissues. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
and Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions The Glucose Intolerance Induced by Caffeinated Coffee Ingestion Is Less Pronounced than That Due to Alkaloid Caffeine in Men 1,2

Although acute alkaloid caffeine (CAF) ingestion results in an impaired glucose tolerance, chronic coffee (RCOF) ingestion decreases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This study examines the hypothesis that CAF ingestion impairs glucose tolerance to a greater extent than RCOF and that the ingestion of decaffeinated coffee (DECAF) results in a positive effect. Eleven healthy males underwent 4 double-blinded randomized trials. Each trial included the ingestion of either: 1 ) CAF in capsule form (4.45 mg/kg body weight), 2 ) RCOF (4.45 mg/kg body weight caffeine), 3 ) dextrose (placebo, PL) in capsule form, or 4 ) DECAF (equal in volume to the RCOF trial), followed 1-h later by a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test. Blood samples were collected at baseline ( (cid:1) 30), 0 (time of treatment ingestion), 60 (initiation of oral glucose tolerance test), 75, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min. Area under the curve for glucose and insulin were higher ( P # 0.05 ) following CAF than both PL and DECAF and, although a similar trend (P ¼ 0.07 ) was observed following RCOF compared with DECAF, the effect was less pronounced. Interestingly, DECAF resulted in a 50% lower glucose response ( P # 0.05 ) than PL, suggesting that the effects of PL and DECAF on glucose tolerance are not the same. These ﬁndings suggest that the effects of CAF and RCOF are not identical and may provide a partial explanation as to why acute CAF ingestion impairs glucose tolerance while chronic RCOF ingestion protects against type 2 diabetes. J. Nutr. 136: 1276–1280, 2006.
Clinical characteristics and pharmacokinetics of purified soy isoflavones: single-dose administration to healthy men.

BACKGROUND Soy isoflavones are potential cancer chemoprevention treatments. OBJECTIVE We conducted safety studies of purified unconjugated genistein, daidzein, and glycitein, and defined pharmacokinetic parameters for their absorption and metabolism. DESIGN Thirty healthy men ingested a single dose of 1 of 2 isoflavone preparations purified from soy. The delivered doses of genistein (1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 mg/kg body wt) were higher than those previously administered to humans. Formulation A was composed of 90 +/- 5% genistein, 10% daidzein, and 1% glycitein. Formulation B was composed of 43% genistein, 21% daidzein, and 2% glycitein. RESULTS We observed no clinically significant behavioral or physical changes after treatment. We observed elevations in lipoprotein lipase and hypophosphatemia that were possibly related to the treatment but that were associated with no clinical toxicity. Considerable quantities of isoflavones were excreted in urine as conjugates. The terminal elimination rate, elimination half-life, area under the curve, maximum plasma concentration, apparent systemic clearance, and volume of distribution were estimated for genistein and daidzein. The mean elimination half-lives with both formulations were 3.2 h for free genistein and 4.2 h for free daidzein. The mean pseudo half-lives were 9.2 h for total genistein and 8.2 h for total daidzein. CONCLUSIONS Dietary supplements of purified unconjugated isoflavones administered to humans in single doses exceeding normal dietary intake manyfold resulted in minimal clinical toxicity. Genistein and daidzein (free and total) were rapidly cleared from plasma and excreted in urine.
Interleukin-4 inhibits mitogen-induced proliferation of human airway smooth muscle cells in culture.

The increase in the amount of airway smooth muscle in the bronchial wall associated with asthma is partly due to hyperplasia. It is therefore important to determine which factors regulate growth and especially proliferation. In this study, we describe the effect of interleukin-4 (IL-4), a mast cell- and T lymphocyte-derived cytokine, on human airway smooth muscle proliferation as determined by [3H]thymidine uptake in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS), platelet-derived growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and thrombin. IL-4 (5, 15, 50, and 150 ng/ml) significantly decreased 10% FBS-induced proliferation by 50, 73, 43, and 46%, respectively. The proliferative responses to platelet-derived growth factor (20 and 40 ng/ml), basic fibroblast growth factor (30 ng/ml), and thrombin (1 and 10 U/ml) were significantly reduced by 19, 21, 37, 36, and 57% respectively in the presence of 50 ng/ml of IL-4. We investigated the effect of IL-4 and other known inhibitors of smooth muscle proliferation, namely PGE2, heparin, and forskolin, on intracellular cAMP concentrations. IL-4 (50 ng/ml) and heparin (100 U/ml) did not alter intracellular cAMP levels when cells were treated with 1 or 10% FBS. PGE2 (1 μM) and forskolin (10 μM) significantly increased cAMP concentration above the control value in nonproliferating cells (1% FBS treated) by 7- and 37-fold, respectively. The effect of IL-4 (50 ng/ml), PGE2 (1 μM), and forskolin (10 μM) on cyclin D1 protein expression in 10% FBS-stimulated human airway smooth muscle cells was also examined. PGE2 and forskolin did not significantly inhibit cyclin D1 expression. However, IL-4 decreased cyclin D1 expression by 21%. These results provide evidence that IL-4 decreases human airway smooth muscle cell proliferation via a mechanism that is cAMP independent and mediated, in part, by a decrease in cyclin D1 protein expression.
Antibody Biomimetic Material Made of Pyrrole for CA 15-3 and Its Application as Sensing Material in Ion-Selective Electrodes for Potentiometric Detection

This work reports a very simple approach for creating a synthetic antibody against any protein of interest and its application in potentiometric transduction. The selected protein was Breast Cancer Antigen (CA 15-3), which is implicated in breast cancer disease and used to follow-up breast cancer patients during treatment. The new material with antibody-like properties was obtained by molecular-imprinting technology, prepared by electropolymerizing pyrrol (Py, 5.0 × 10−3 mol/L) around Breast Cancer Antigen (CA 15-3) (100 U/mL) on a fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) conductive glass support. Cyclic voltammetry was employed for this purpose. All solutions were prepared in 4-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) buffer, of pH 6.5. The biomarker was removed from the imprinted sites by chemical action of ethanol. The biomimetic material was then included in poly vinyl chloride (PVC) plasticized membranes to act as potentiometric ionophore, having or not a lipophilic ionic additive added. The corresponding selective electrodes were evaluated by calibration curves (in buffer and in synthetic serum) and by selectivity testing. The best analytical performance was obtained by selective electrodes including the plastic antibody and no lipophilic additive. The average limits of detection were 1.07 U/mL of CA 15-3, with a linear response from 1.44 to 13.2 U/mL and a cationic slope of 44.5 mV/decade. Overall, the lipophilic additives yielded no advantage to the overall potentiometric performance. The application of the MIP-based electrodes to the analysis of spiked synthetic serum showed precise and accurate results.