Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dietary factors associated with the risk of high iron stores in the elderly Framingham Heart Study cohort.

BACKGROUND High body iron stores may increase the risk of several chronic diseases. Whether dietary factors contribute to the risk of high iron stores is unknown. OBJECTIVE We assessed the relation between dietary factors and the risk of high iron stores in the elderly Framingham Heart Study cohort. DESIGN We examined the relation between the usual intake of dietary factors (food-frequency questionnaire) and the risk of high iron stores (serum ferritin >300 and 200 micro g/L in men and women, respectively) in 614 subjects aged 68-93 y. RESULTS The risk of high iron stores was significantly higher 1) in subjects who took > or =30 mg supplemental Fe/d than in nonusers [odds ratio (OR): 4.32; 95% CI: 1.63, 11.47], 2) in subjects who consumed >21 servings of fruit/wk than in those who consumed < or =14 servings/wk (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.26, 6.61), and 3) in subjects who consumed >4 but <7 or > or=7 servings of red meat/wk than in those who consumed < or =4 servings/wk (ORs: 2.94 and 3.61, respectively; 95% CIs: 1.33, 6.47 and 1.57, 8.27, respectively). Whole-grain intake (>7 servings/wk) was inversely associated (OR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.75). CONCLUSIONS Among elders, intakes of highly bioavailable forms of iron (supplemental iron and red meat) and of fruit, a dietary source of an enhancer of nonheme-iron absorption (vitamin C), promote high iron stores, whereas foods containing phytate (whole grains) decrease these stores. Individual dietary patterns may be important modulators of high iron stores.
Properties and interactions of poly(vinyl alcohol)-sago pith waste biocomposites

In this study, blending of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and sago pith waste (SPW) was prepared by a one-step melt extrusion. The physico-mechanical, Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), moisture sorption, rheological, and thermal characterization were conducted. Incorporation of PVA in SPW improved the tensile modulus, whereas the tensile strength reduced. The FT-IR analysis has shown that SPW could be introduced into the PVA network via the formation of hydrogen bonds between the PVA and SPW clusters. The interaction between PVA and SPW macromolecules has shown that there is a noticeable improvement in the water sorption ability. The rheological properties revealed that the PVA/SPW composites exhibited shear-thinning behavior and the blend viscosities increased with the rise in SPW content because of its rigid structure. Thermal analysis revealed that >50 wt% of PVA could induce greater molecular interaction between the PVA and SPW.
Deep learning improves antimicrobial peptide recognition

Abstract Motivation Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing concern. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), natural components of innate immunity, are popular targets for developing new drugs. Machine learning methods are now commonly adopted by wet-laboratory researchers to screen for promising candidates. Results In this work, we utilize deep learning to recognize antimicrobial activity. We propose a neural network model with convolutional and recurrent layers that leverage primary sequence composition. Results show that the proposed model outperforms state-of-the-art classification models on a comprehensive dataset. By utilizing the embedding weights, we also present a reduced-alphabet representation and show that reasonable AMP recognition can be maintained using nine amino acid types. Availability and implementation Models and datasets are made freely available through the Antimicrobial Peptide Scanner vr.2 web server at www.ampscanner. com. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Changes in skin surface lipid composition induced by severe caloric restriction in man.

Lipid collected from the surface of the human forehead is predominantly (-95%) the product of the sebaceous glands (1) and contains on the average 41 % triglycerides, 16.5% free fatty acids, 25% wax esters, 12% squalene, 1.5% cholesterol, 2% cholesterol esters, and 2% diglycerides (2). This sebum composition shows little variation between normal subjects or over long periods of time in individual subjects, except for the degree of hydrolysis of triglycerides to free fatty acids effected by bacteria (3). We reported previously, however, that the proportion of squalene in this mixture increases markedly in obese subjects undergoing prolonged total fast for weight reduction (4). This change resulted from suppression of the synthesis of all sebum constituents other than squalene, the production of which remained essentially constant. We now have evidence that a similar change in the composition of sebum occurs in normal nonobese subjects under essentially fasting conditions. Material and methods Volunteer subjects consisted of three women and one man, who were at most only moderately in excess of optimal weight. During a 10-day fasting period they were permitted two cups of beef bouillon per day, water ad libitum, and a vitamin mixture supplement for a total daily intake of fewer than 50 kcal. Surface lipid was sampled from the forehead at the same time each day during a preliminary 1-week period, the fasting period. and for at least 10 days after resumption of a normal diet. The lipid samples were collected by rubbing the forehead skin area with a small, hexane-soaked polyurethane sponge mounted on a wire handle and recovered by extraction of the sponge with hexane. The extracts were evaporated under nitrogen and stored at -20 C until analyzed. Ten-microgram aliquots of the lipid samples were analyzed by a quantitative thin-layer chromatographic procedure developed for this purpose (5).
Developmental expression of ROMK in rat kidney.

The apical secretory K+(SK) channel in the principal cell represents the rate-limiting step for K+ secretion across the cortical collecting duct (CCD). Patch clamp analysis of maturing rabbit principal cells identifies an increase in number of conducting SK channels after the 2nd week of life [L. M. Satlin and L. G. Palmer. Am. J. Physiol. 272 ( Renal Physiol. 41): F397-F404, 1997], ∼1 wk after an increase in activity of the amiloride-sensitive epithelial Na+channel (ENaC) is detected. To correlate the postnatal increase in channel activity with developmental expression of ROMK, the molecular correlate of the SK channel, we used gene-specific probes to show a developmental increase in abundance of renal ROMK mRNA and a ROMK-specific antibody to examine the nephron distribution, localization, and abundance of this protein in developing rat kidney. Using antibodies directed against aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) and Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP), we confirmed that ROMK was expressed along the apical membranes of principal cells and thick ascending limbs of Henle (TALH) in adult kidney. Within the midcortex of the neonatal kidney, ROMK-positive segments revealed weak coincident staining with the TALH-specific antibody but did not colabel with an antibody directed against distal and connecting tubule (CNT)-specific kallikrein or the lectin Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), which labels proximal tubules and collecting ducts. In inner cortex and outer medulla of kidneys from 1-wk-old animals, ROMK protein was identified in medullary TALH (MTALH) and DBA-positive collecting ducts. By 3 wk of age, coincident ROMK and DBA expression was detected in midcortical and outer cortical CNTs and CCDs. Immunoblot analysis of plasma membrane-enriched fractions of maturing rat kidney revealed a developmental increase in a ∼40-kDa band, the expected size for ROMK. Immunolocalization of α-ENaC showed apical staining of a majority of cells in distal nephron segments after the 1st week of postnatal life. The β- and γ-ENaC subunit expression was routinely detected in a mostly cytoplasmic distribution immediately after birth, albeit in low abundance; γ-ENaC showed some apical polarization. These results suggest that the postnatal increases in a principal cell apical SK and Na+channel activity are mediated, at least in part, by increases in abundance of ROMK message and protein and ENaC subunit proteins.
Numerical analysis of viscous flow through fibrous media: a model for glomerular basement membrane permeability.

Viscous flow through fibrous media is characterized macroscopically by the Darcy permeability ( K D). The relationship between K D and the microscopic structure of the medium has been the subject of experimental and theoretical investigations. Calculations of K D based on the solution of the hydrodynamic flow at fiber scale exist in literature only for two-dimensional arrays of parallel fibers. We considered a fiber matrix consisting of a three-dimensional periodic array of cylindrical fibers with uniform radius ( r) and length connected in a tetrahedral structure. According to recent ultrastructural studies, this array of fibers can represent a model for the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). The Stokes flow through the periodic array was simulated using a Galerkin finite element method. The dimensionless ratio K* = K D/ r 2 was determined for values of the fractional solid volume (φ) in the range 0.005 ≤ φ ≤ 0.7. We compared our numerical results, summarized by an interpolating formula relating K* to φ, with previous theoretical determinations of hydraulic permeability in fibrous media. We found a good agreement with the Carman-Kozeny equation only for φ > 0.4. Among the other theoretical analysis considered, only that of Spielman and Goren ( Environ. Sci. Technol. 2: 279-287, 1968) gives satisfactory agreement in the whole range of φ considered. These results can be useful to model combined transport of water and macromolecules through the GBM for the estimation of the radius and length of extracellular protein fibrils.
RNA-binding protein AUF1 suppresses miR-122 biogenesis by down-regulating Dicer1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the common cancers worldwide, especially in developing countries. Although the chronic infections of hepatitis B and C viruses have been established as the etiological factors of HCC, the mechanism for the tumorigenesis and development of HCC is still unclear. The liver-specific microRNA-122 (miR-122), an established tumor-suppressor miRNA, is often down-regulated in HCC, while the underlying mechanism is not well understood. Here we report that the AU-rich element-binding factor AUF1 suppresses the expression of Dicer1, the type III RNase that is required for microRNA maturation, leading to the inhibited biogenesis of miR-122. Overexpression of AUF1 led to the decreased expression of Dicer1 and miR-122, while the level of the miR-122 precursor (pre-miR-122) was increased. On the other hand, siRNA of AUF1 (siAUF1) increased the levels of Dicer1 mRNA and miR-122, but it reduced the abundance of pre-miR-122. Consistent with the reported data, this study demonstrated that AUF1 and Dicer1 showed opposite expression pattern in both human HCC tissues and cell lines. In addition, AUF1 inhibited the expression of Dicer1 by interacting with the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) and coding region of DICER1 mRNA. Moreover, the knockdown of AUF1 by siRNA altered the expression of other miRNAs and promoted HCC cell death. In conclusion, AUF1 down-regulates the expression miR-122 by interacting with the 3′UTR and coding region of DICER1 mRNA and suppressing Dicer1 expression. The AUF1/Dicer1/miR-122 pathway might play a critical role in the development of HCC.
Hypothenar hammer syndrome

Introduction In 1934 von Rosen first described a posttraumatic thrombosis of the distal ulnar artery resulting from blunt a trauma to the hypothenar region. But it was Conn in 1970 who named it the “hypothenar hammer syndrome (HHS)” 1–2.
Effects of dietary calcium intake on body weight and prevalence of osteoporosis in early postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND High calcium intakes seem to be ineffective at reducing bone loss in early postmenopausal women. However, the inverse relation between calcium intake and body weight can attenuate the negative effect of a low dietary calcium intake. OBJECTIVE The objective was to assess the role of dietary calcium and body mass index (BMI) on osteoporosis, defined according to World Health Organization criteria as a lumbar bone density >2.5 SD below the T score. DESIGN This was a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study conducted in 1771 healthy, early postmenopausal women, who were not taking calcium supplements at the first densitometric evaluation. Weekly frequency of dairy food consumption was used to estimate the relative intake of dietary calcium. Total dairy intake was classified into 4 categories by quartile cutoffs. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to study this sample. RESULTS BMI and prevalence of overweight showed significant inverse trends with increasing dairy intake. Calcium intake was not associated with osteoporosis when overweight was not considered. However, when overweight was considered in the analysis, women with the lowest calcium intake were more likely to have osteoporosis (odds ratio: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.89; P = 0.008) than were women with the highest calcium intake. CONCLUSIONS In early postmenopausal women, a low dietary calcium intake may increase the risk of osteoporosis, but its negative effect can be offset by the greater BMI found in women with a low calcium intake.
Thioredoxin-1 Protects Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Hyperoxia-Induced Injury In Vitro

Background The poor survival rate of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) transplanted into recipient lungs greatly limits their therapeutic efficacy for diseases like bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) overexpression on improving the potential for bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) to confer resistance against hyperoxia-induced cell injury. Methods 80% O2 was used to imitate the microenvironment surrounding-transplanted cells in the hyperoxia-induced lung injury in vitro. BMSC proliferation and apoptotic rates and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. The effects of Trx-1 overexpression on the level of antioxidants and growth factors were investigated. We also investigated the activation of apoptosis-regulating kinase-1 (ASK1) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK). Result Trx-1 overexpression significantly reduced hyperoxia-induced BMSC apoptosis and increased cell proliferation. We demonstrated that Trx-1 overexpression upregulated the levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase as well as downregulated the production of ROS. Furthermore, we illustrated that Trx-1 protected BMSCs against hyperoxic injury via decreasing the ASK1/P38 MAPK activation rate. Conclusion These results demonstrate that Trx-1 overexpression improved the ability of BMSCs to counteract hyperoxia-induced injury, thus increasing their potential to treat hyperoxia-induced lung diseases such as BPD.
The pain course: a randomised controlled trial comparing a remote-delivered chronic pain management program when provided in online and workbook formats

Abstract This study compared a remote-delivered pain management program, the Pain Course, when delivered in online and workbook formats. Participants (n = 178) were randomised into 2 groups: (1) an Internet Group (n = 84) who were provided with secure accounts to the program in an online format; or (2) a Workbook Group (n = 94) who were mailed workbook versions of the program. The content of both programs was identical and comprised 5 core lessons, which participants were encouraged to work through over an 8-week period, according to a prescribed timetable. All participants were provided with weekly contact with a clinical psychologist through email and telephone throughout the program. The overall findings suggest that the workbook format was no less effective or acceptable than the validated online format. Significant improvements (avg. improvement; Internet Group vs Workbook Group) in levels of disability (PDI: 16% vs 24%; RMDQ: 12% vs 15%), anxiety (GAD-7: 36% vs 26%), and depression (PHQ-9: 36% vs 36%) were observed in both groups immediately posttreatment. Further improvements were observed in disability levels to 3-month follow-up, and improvements across the other primary outcomes were maintained until 12-month follow-up. High treatment completion rates and levels of satisfaction were reported in both groups, and both groups required a similarly small amount of clinician contact per participant (M = 74.85 minutes; SD = 41.03). These results highlight the public health potential of remote-delivered pain management programs, delivered in either workbook or online formats, as methods of increasing access to pain management.
rapid communication Glucagon-like peptide-1 promotes satiety and reduces food intake in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2

Glucagon-like peptide-1 promotes satiety and reduces food intake in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Am. J. Physiol. 276 ( Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 45): R1541–R1544, 1999. —Glucagon-like pep-tide-1-(7—36) amide (GLP-1) is an incretin hormone of the enteroinsular axis. Recent experimental evidence in animals and healthy subjects suggests that GLP-1 has a role in controlling appetite and energy intake in humans. We have therefore examined in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study in 12 patients with diabetes type 2 the effect of intravenously infused GLP-1 on appetite sensations and energy intake. On 2 days, either saline or GLP-1 (1.5 pmol·kg 2 1 ·min 2 1 ) was given throughout the experiment. Visual analog scales were used to assess appetite sensations; furthermore, food and ﬂuid intake of a test meal were recorded, and blood was sampled for analysis of plasma glucose and hormone levels. GLP-1 infusion enhanced satiety and fullness compared with placebo ( P 5 0.028 for fullness and P 5 0.026 for hunger feelings). Energy intake was reduced by 27% by GLP-1 ( P 5 0.034) compared with saline. The results demonstrate a marked effect of GLP-1 on appetite by showing enhanced satiety and reduced energy intake in patients with diabetes type 2.
Anti-Inflammatory and Antitumor Effects of Hydroxytyrosol but Not Oleuropein on Experimental Glioma In Vivo. A Putative Role for the Renin-Angiotensin System

Functional roles of the angiotensin peptides of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) cascade can be analyzed through their corresponding proteolytic regulatory enzymes aspartyl aminopeptidase (ASAP), aminopeptidase A (APA), aminopeptidase B (APB), aminopeptidase N (APN) and insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP). These enzyme activities generate active or inactive angiotensin peptides that alter the ratios between their bioactive forms, regulating several important processes such as the regulation of cardiovascular functions, body water regulation, normal memory consolidation and retrieval, but also cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis or the inflammatory response. We have previously described that the treatment with hydroxytyrosol but not with oleuropein or with the mixture of both compounds led to the significant inhibition of tumor growth in an in vivo glioma model by mechanisms not only related to redox balance. Using this glioma model, here we analyze the effects of the phenolic compounds oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol in circulating RAS-regulating ASAP, APA, APN, APB and IRAP specific activities and the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNFα to understand the relationship between the antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroxytyrosol, but not oleuropein, and the components of the RAS. We found that oleuropein increased all the activities analyzed and promoted a pro-inflammatory status, whereas hydroxytyrosol only modified ASAP and IRAP activities and promotes an anti-inflammatory status. When administrated together, oleuropein overrode the effects of hydroxytyrosol. Our results suggest a role for angiotensin III and angiotensin 1-7 in both tumor growth inhibition and anti-inflammatory response promoted by hydroxytyrosol.
Association Between Carotid Intima Media Thickness, Age, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents.

BACKGROUND Measures of carotid intima media thickness (cIMT) in adults are correlated with adiposity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and predict cardiovascular (CV) events. Relations in children are not as well studied. Our objective was to determine the relations of cIMT with body mass index (BMI) and CV risk score in children. METHODS The study included 291 children (158 M/133 F) 6-18 years of age (140 aged 6-11/151 aged 12-18) with measurements of height, weight, waist circumference; fasting lipids, glucose, insulin, and cIMT. A CV risk cluster score was developed from sum of the z-scores of the five MetS components (waist circumference, blood pressure, serum triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin). Partial Pearson correlation coefficients were adjusted for age, sex, and race. RESULTS There was no significant age difference in cIMT from 6 to 18 years of age. BMI and CV risk score were significantly correlated (P < 0.0001), and both were correlated with cIMT (r = 0.14, P = 0.02 and r = 0.16, P = 0.006, respectively). Slight age-related differences in associations of cIMT with CV risk score and BMI were explained by unusual values in a few children. CONCLUSIONS These cross-sectional data in normal children show that cIMT was stable from childhood into adolescence. However, both BMI and CV risk score had small, but significant positive correlations with cIMT. Therefore, maintaining normal levels of adiposity and other risk variables may be useful in preventing early changes associated with preclinical atherosclerosis.
Transfer function analysis of dynamic cerebral autoregulation in humans.

To test the hypothesis that spontaneous changes in cerebral blood flow are primarily induced by changes in arterial pressure and that cerebral autoregulation is a frequency-dependent phenomenon, we measured mean arterial pressure in the finger and mean blood flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (V˙MCA) during supine rest and acute hypotension induced by thigh cuff deflation in 10 healthy subjects. Transfer function gain, phase, and coherence function between changes in arterial pressure andV˙MCA were estimated using the Welch method. The impulse response function, calculated as the inverse Fourier transform of this transfer function, enabled the calculation of transient changes inV˙MCA during acute hypotension, which was compared with the directly measured change in V˙MCA during thigh cuff deflation. Beat-to-beat changes inV˙MCA occurred simultaneously with changes in arterial pressure, and the autospectrum of V˙MCA showed characteristics similar to arterial pressure. Transfer gain increased substantially with increasing frequency from 0.07 to 0.20 Hz in association with a gradual decrease in phase. The coherence function was >0.5 in the frequency range of 0.07-0.30 Hz and <0.5 at <0.07 Hz. Furthermore, the predicted change inV˙MCA was similar to the measuredV˙MCA during thigh cuff deflation. These data suggest that spontaneous changes inV˙MCA that occur at the frequency range of 0.07-0.30 Hz are related strongly to changes in arterial pressure and, furthermore, that short-term regulation of cerebral blood flow in response to changes in arterial pressure can be modeled by a transfer function with the quality of a high-pass filter in the frequency range of 0.07-0.30 Hz.