Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular effects of prorenin blockade in genetically spontaneously hypertensive rats on normal and high-salt diet.

Recent reports have demonstrated a potential role of tissue prorenin in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular and renal damage. This study was designed to examine the role of prorenin in the pathogenesis of target organ damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), the best naturally occurring experimental model of essential hypertension. To this end, we studied 20-wk-old male SHRs receiving a normal diet and 8-wk-old male SHRs given food with 8% NaCl. One-half the rats in each group were given prorenin inhibitor (PRAM-1, 0.1 mg.kg(-1). day(-1)) via osmotic minipumps; the other half served as controls. Arterial pressure, left ventricular function, cardiovascular mass indexes, cardiac fibrosis, and renal function were examined at the end of the experiment. Arterial pressure was unaffected by PRAM-1 in rats on either regular or salt-excess diets. In those rats receiving a normal diet, the blockade of prorenin activation consistently reduced left ventricular mass but affected no other variable. Salt-loaded rats given PRAM-1 for 8 wk demonstrated (1) reduced serum creatinine level, (2) decreased left ventricular mass, (3) improved left ventricular function, and (4) reduced left ventricular fibrosis. These data demonstrated that the blockade of nonproteolytic activation of prorenin exerted significant cardiovascular and renal benefit in SHRs with cardiovascular damage produced by salt excess and suggested that the activation of cardiovascular or renal prorenin may be a major mechanism that mediates cardiac and renal damage in this form of accelerated hypertension.
Prescriptive Authority and Nursing: a comparative analysis of Brazil and Canada

Objective: to analyse the differences between medication prescriptions by nurses in Brazil and Ontario, Canada. Methods: a comparative study between two different scenarios; this comparison was not performed between the two countries because Canada does not standardize this practice, which is legally established and is considered as an advanced professional knowledge area in Brazil. Results: prescription is a professional position to be occupied by nurses. However, there is tension surrounding this practice because it is perceived as a threat to privileges or traditions of other health professionals. Prescibing medication by nurses in Brazil and Ontario follows current legislation and training proccess in each context. Conclusions: there are some challenges to be overcome in ensuring the visibility and consolidation of the practice by nurses in these realities: guarantee of professional competence, credibility, acceptability, and the respectability of clientele in your professional scope by other health professionals.
A method to estimate composite doses for organs at risk in prostate cancer patients treated with EBRT in combination with HDR BT

Abstract Background. When evaluating late toxicity after combined external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR BT) prostate cancer treatments, it is important that the composite dose distribution is taken into account. This can be challenging if organ-at-risk (OAR) dose data are incomplete, i.e. due to a limited ultrasound imaging field-of-view in the HDR BT procedure. This work proposes a method that provides estimates of composite OAR doses for such situations. Material and methods. Original EBRT, simulated HDR BT, and composite dose-volume histograms (DVHs) for 10 pelvic OARs in 30 prostate cancer cases were used for method implementation and evaluation (EBRT: 25 × 2.0 Gy + BT: 2 × 10.0 Gy). The proposed method used information from the EBRT DVH to estimate OAR BT doses (with or without fractionation correction). Coefficients of determination (R2) were calculated for linear relationships between several EBRT DVH parameters and a BT DVH parameter of interest. The largest R2 value decided the relationship that best predicted the BT DVH parameter. The composite dose value was then calculated by adding the EBRT DVH and the estimated BT DVH parameter values and was compared to the reference composite value (in 1200 OAR/patient/parameter cases). Results. The linear relationships had an average R2 of 0.68 (range 0.42–0.88). Only one ninth of the 1200 estimated composite DVH values differed more than 2 Gy from their reference values. Conclusion. Given a successful implementation, the proposed method only requires original or simulated BT plan data for a subset of patients to estimate composite doses for large study populations in a time-efficient manner. This can assist in evaluating radiation-induced late toxicity in multimodality treatments with limited OAR dose data.
Precocious development of self-awareness in dolphins

Mirror-self recognition (MSR) is a behavioral indicator of self-awareness in young children and only a few other species, including the great apes, dolphins, elephants and magpies. The emergence of self-awareness in children typically occurs during the second year and has been correlated with sensorimotor development and growing social and self-awareness. Comparative studies of MSR in chimpanzees report that the onset of this ability occurs between 2 years 4 months and 3 years 9 months of age. Studies of wild and captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have reported precocious sensorimotor and social awareness during the first weeks of life, but no comparative MSR research has been conducted with this species. We exposed two young bottlenose dolphins to an underwater mirror and analyzed video recordings of their behavioral responses over a 3-year period. Here we report that both dolphins exhibited MSR, indicated by self-directed behavior at the mirror, at ages earlier than generally reported for children and at ages much earlier than reported for chimpanzees. The early onset of MSR in young dolphins occurs in parallel with their advanced sensorimotor development, complex and reciprocal social interactions, and growing social awareness. Both dolphins passed subsequent mark tests at ages comparable with children. Thus, our findings indicate that dolphins exhibit self-awareness at a mirror at a younger age than previously reported for children or other species tested.
Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Serotonin Act on Excitatory Synaptic Transmission to Suppress Single Layer 2/3 Pyramidal Neuron-Triggered Cell Assemblies in the Human Prefrontal Cortex

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most widely prescribed drugs targeting the CNS with acute and chronic effects in cognitive, emotional and behavioral processes. This suggests that microcircuits of the human cerebral cortex are powerfully modulated by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, however, direct measurements of serotonergic regulation on human synaptic interactions are missing. Using multiple whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from neurons in acute cortical slices derived from nonpathological human samples of the prefrontal cortex, we show that neuronal assemblies triggered by single action potentials of individual neurons in the human cortex are suppressed by therapeutic doses of fluoxetine (Prozac). This effect is boosted and can be mimicked by physiological concentrations of serotonin through 5HT-2A and 5HT-1A receptors. Monosynaptic excitatory connections from pyramidal cells to interneurons were suppressed by application of serotonin leaving the monosynaptic output of GABAergic cells unaffected. Changes in failure rate, in paired-pulse ratio, and in the coefficient of variation of the amplitude of EPSPs suggest a presynaptic action of serotonin. In conclusion, activation of neuronal assemblies, which were suggested as building blocks of high order cognitive processes, are effectively downregulated by the acute action of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or serotonin at the site of pyramidal output in human microcircuits.
Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Properties of Three Actinidia (Actinidia kolomikta, Actinidia arguta, Actinidia chinensis) Extracts in Vitro

The total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, vitamin C content, and antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts from different kiwifruit varieties (Actinidia kolomikta, Actinidia arguta, Actinidia chinensis) were determined in this study. Multiple scavenging activity assays including the hydroxyl radical, O2−·radical, DPPH, and the ABTS+ radical scavenging activity assays were used to identify the antioxidant activities of Actinidia extracts. The cell viability of HepG2 and HT-29 cells was also examined in this study. The results demonstrated that the Actinidia kolomikta extract had a higher antioxidant activity than the other two Actinidia extracts. There is a positive correlation between antioxidant activity and the polyphenols and vitamin C content in all three extracts (R2 ≥ 0.712, p < 0.05). The Actinidia arguta extract had the highest inhibitory effect on HepG2 and HT-29 cell growth. These results provide new insight into the health functions of fruit and demonstrate that Actinidia extracts can potentially have health benefits.
Local robust performance analysis for nonlinear dynamical systems

We propose a computational method for local robust performance analysis of nonlinear systems with polynomial dynamics. Specifically, we characterize upper bounds for local L2 → L2 input-output gains using polynomial Lyapunov/ storage functions satisfying certain dissipation inequalities and compute safe approximations for these upper bounds via sum-of-squares programming problems. We consider both bounded parametric uncertainties and bounded uncertainties due to unmodeled dynamics.
Relationship between bacterial colonisation and the frequency, character, and severity of COPD exacerbations

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prone to frequent exacerbations which are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Stable COPD patients often have lower airway bacterial colonisation which may be an important stimulus to airway inflammation and thereby modulate exacerbation frequency. Methods: Twenty nine patients with COPD (21 men, 16 current smokers) of mean (SD) age 65.9 (7.84) years, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 1.06 (0.41) l, FEV1 % predicted 38.7 (15.2)%, FEV1/FVC 43.7 (14.1)%, inhaled steroid dosage 1.20 (0.66) mg/day completed daily diary cards for symptoms and peak flow over 18 months. Exacerbation frequency rates were determined from diary card data. Induced sputum was obtained from patients in the stable state, quantitative bacterial culture was performed, and cytokine levels were measured. Results: Fifteen of the 29 patients (51.7%) were colonised by a possible pathogen: Haemophilus influenzae (53.3%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (33.3%), Haemophilus parainfluenzae (20%), Branhamella catarrhalis (20%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20%). The presence of lower airway bacterial colonisation in the stable state was related to exacerbation frequency (p=0.023). Patients colonised by H influenzae in the stable state reported more symptoms and increased sputum purulence at exacerbation than those not colonised. The median (IQR) symptom count at exacerbation in those colonised by H influenzae was 2.00 (2.00–2.65) compared with 2.00 (1.00–2.00) in those not colonised (p=0.03). The occurrence of increased sputum purulence at exacerbation per patient was 0.92 (0.56–1.00) in those colonised with H influenzae and 0.33 (0.00–0.60) in those not colonised (p=0.02). Sputum interleukin (IL)-8 levels correlated with the total bacterial count (rho=0.459, p=0.02). Conclusion: Lower airway bacterial colonisation in the stable state modulates the character and frequency of COPD exacerbations.
Chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine coating on central venous catheters is not sufficient for protection against catheter-related infection: Simulation-based laboratory research with clinical validation

Objective The efficacy of chlorhexidine- and silver sulfadiazine-coated central venous catheters (CSS-CVC) against catheter-related infection remains controversial. We hypothesized that the loss of silver nanoparticles may reduce the antibacterial efficacy of CSS-CVCs and that this loss could be due to the frictional force between the surface of the CVC and the bloodstream. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the antimicrobial effect of CSS-CVCs decreases with increasing exposure time in a bloodstream model and quantitatively assay the antimicrobial effect of CSS-CVCs compared with polyurethane and antiseptic-impregnated CVCs. Methods Each CVC was subjected to 120 hours of saline flow and analyzed at intervals over 24 hours. The analyses included energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and optical density after a Staphylococcus aureus incubation test. Results The weight percentage of silver in the CSS-CVCs significantly decreased to 56.18% (44.10% ± 3.32%) with 48-hour catheterization and to 18.88% (14.82% ± 1.33%) with 120-hour catheterization compared with the initial weight percentage (78.50% ± 6.32%). In the S. aureus incubation test, the antibacterial function of CSS-CVCs was lost after 48 hours [3 (N/D) of OD]. Similar results were observed in a pilot clinical study using 18 CSS-CVCs. Conclusions We found that the efficacy of CSS-CVCs decreased over time and that the antibacterial function was lost after 48 hours of simulated wear-out. Therefore, antibiotic-impregnated CVCs may be a better option when longer (>48 hours) indwelling is needed.
Synaptic Kainate Receptors Tune Oriens-Lacunosum Moleculare Interneurons to Operate at Theta Frequency

GABAergic interneurons of the hippocampus play an important role in the generation of behaviorally relevant network oscillations. Among this heterogeneous neuronal population, somatostatin (SOM)-positive oriens-lacunosum moleculare (O-LM) interneurons are remarkable because they are tuned to operate at theta frequencies (6–10 Hz) in vitro and in vivo. Recent studies show that a high proportion of glutamatergic synapses that impinge on O-LM interneurons are mediated by kainate receptors (KA-Rs). In the present study, we thus tested the hypothesis that KA-Rs transmit afferent inputs in O-LM neurons during synaptic stimulation at theta frequency. We combined multibeam two-photon calcium imaging in hippocampal slices from SOM–enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mice, to record the activity of SOM cells as well as hundreds of neurons simultaneously, and targeted electrophysiological recordings and morphological analysis to describe the morphofunctional features of particular cells. We report that EGFP-positive O-LM neurons are the only subtype of interneuron that reliably follows synaptic stimulation of the alveus in the theta frequency range. Electrophysiological recordings revealed the crucial contribution of KA-Rs to the firing activity and to the glutamatergic response to theta stimuli in O-LM cells compared with other cell types. The reliable activation of O-LM cells in the theta frequency range did not simply result from the longer kinetics of KA-R-mediated postsynaptic events (EPSPKA) but presumably from a specific interaction between EPSPKA and their intrinsic active membrane properties. Such preferential processing of excitatory inputs via KA-Rs by distally projecting GABAergic microcircuits could provide a key role in theta band frequency oscillations.
Cell cycle synchronization and BrdU incorporation as a tool to study the possible selective elimination of ErbB1 gene in the micronuclei in A549 cells

Lung cancer often exhibits molecular changes, such as the overexpression of the ErbB1 gene that encodes epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). ErbB1 amplification and mutation are associated with tumor aggressiveness and low response to therapy. The aim of the present study was to design a schedule to synchronize the cell cycle of A549 cell line (a non-small cell lung cancer) and to analyze the possible association between the micronuclei (MNs) and the extrusion of ErbB1 gene extra-copies. After double blocking, by the process of fetal bovine serum deprivation and vincristine treatment, MNs formation was monitored with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation, which is an S-phase marker. Statistical analyses allowed us to infer that MNs may arise both in mitosis as well as in interphase. The MNs were able to replicate their DNA and this process seemed to be non-synchronous with the main cell nuclei. The presence of ErbB1 gene in the MNs was evaluated by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). ErbB1 sequences were detected in the MNs, but a relation between the MNs formation and extrusion of amplified ErbB1could not be established. The present study sought to elucidate the meaning of MNs formation and its association with the elimination of oncogenes or other amplified sequences from the tumor cells.
Seed storage proteins: structures and biosynthesis.

in them. The presence of these groups may allow the plant to maintain high levels of storage protein synthesis despite variations in sulfur availability. The strict tissue specificity of seed storage protein synthesis contrasts with that of tuber storage proteins, which may be synthesized in vegetative tissues under unusual conditions (for example, in vitro or after removal of tubers) (Shewry, 1995). A second common property of seed storage proteins is their presence in the mature seed in discrete deposits called protein bodies, whose origin has been the subject of some dispute and may in fact vary both between and within species. Finally, all storage protein fractions are mixtures of components that exhibit polymorphism both within single genotypes and among genotypes of the same species. This polymorphism arises from the presence of multigene families and, in some cases, proteolytic processing and glycosylation.
Two applications of information extraction to biological science journal articles: enzyme interactions and protein structures.

Information extraction technology, as defined and developed through the U.S. DARPA Message Understanding Conferences (MUCs), has proved successful at extracting information primarily from newswire texts and primarily in domains concerned with human activity. In this paper we consider the application of this technology to the extraction of information from scientific journal papers in the area of molecular biology. In particular, we describe how an information extraction system designed to participate in the MUC exercises has been modified for two bioinformatics applications: EMPathIE, concerned with enzyme and metabolic pathways; and PASTA, concerned with protein structure. Progress to date provides convincing grounds for believing that IE techniques will deliver novel and effective ways for scientists to make use of the core literature which defines their disciplines.
A fish and tetrapod fauna from Romer's Gap preserved in Scottish Tournaisian floodplain deposits

The end‐Devonian mass extinction has been framed as a turning point in vertebrate evolution, enabling the radiation of tetrapods, chondrichthyans and actinopterygians. Until very recently ‘Romer's Gap’ rendered the Early Carboniferous a black box standing between the Devonian and the later Carboniferous, but now new Tournaisian localities are filling this interval. Recent work has recovered unexpected tetrapod and lungfish diversity. However, the composition of Tournaisian faunas remains poorly understood. Here we report on a Tournaisian vertebrate fauna from a well‐characterized, narrow stratigraphic interval from the Ballagan Formation exposed at Burnmouth, Scotland. Microfossils suggest brackish conditions and the sedimentology indicates a low‐energy debris flow on a vegetated floodplain. A range of vertebrate bone sizes are preserved. Rhizodonts are represented by the most material, which can be assigned to two taxa. Lungfish are represented by several species, almost all of which are currently endemic to the Ballagan Formation. There are two named tetrapods, Aytonerpeton and Diploradus, with at least two others also represented. Gyracanths, holocephalans, and actinopterygian fishes are represented by rarer fossils. This material compares well with vertebrate fossils from other Ballagan deposits. Faunal similarity analysis using an updated dataset of Devonian–Carboniferous (Givetian–Serpukhovian) sites corroborates a persistent Devonian/Carboniferous split. Separation of the data into marine and non‐marine partitions indicates more Devonian–Carboniferous faunal continuity in non‐marine settings compared to marine settings. These results agree with the latest fossil discoveries and suggest that the Devonian–Carboniferous transition proceeded differently in different environments and among different taxonomic groups.
Non‐invasive measurement of steady‐state vitreous lactate concentration

The cellular events leading to the proliferation of new preretinal blood vessels into the vitreous are unknown. It has been hypothesized that a metabolic trigger, such as increased lactate concentration, induces ambient growth factors to initiate this neovascularization. However, this hypothesis has not been tested in vivo because non‐invasive methods for measuring vitreous lactate concentration have not been available. In this study, we identified lactate as the dominant resonance in normal rabbit vitreous using a water‐suppressed, localized proton NMR method; negligible spectral contamination from lipid, alanine and threonine was demonstrated. The steady‐state vitreous lactate concentration in vivo was 11.3 ± 4 mM (mean ± SD, n = 7 eyes) which was not statistically different (p = 0.498) to the enzymatically determined lactate content in vitreous from a parallel group of animals [12.1 ± 0.6 mM (n = 6 eyes)]. Non‐invasive measurement of steady‐state vitreous lactate concentration using localized proton NMR represents the necessary first step in understanding the role of lactate in neovascularization.
Rôle de l'espèce ingénieure Upogebia pusilla dans le fonctionnement biogéochimique des écosystèmes intertidaux à herbier (Zostera noltei) du bassin d'Arcachon

Dans le bassin d’Arcachon, le crustace thalassinide Upogebia pusilla habite preferentiellement les vasieres intertidales colonisees par les zosteres naines (Zostera noltei) ou il trouve la stabilite sedimentaire indispensable a l’etablissement durable de son terrier. Du fait de la profondeur de ce dernier (> 30 cm) et de sa grande mobilite, cette espece ingenieure a souvent ete negligee dans les etudes anterieures ayant pour objectif de mieux comprendre le role des communautes macro-benthiques dans le fonctionnement des herbiers de phanerogames et les consequences de leur regression rapide. Ce manuscrit presente une etude integree du role d’U. pusilla dans le fonctionnement de son ecosysteme en s’attachant particulierement a caracteriser et quantifier les relations entre (1) ses differentes activites (fouissage, ventilation, locomotion, …), (2) les modes de bioturbation qui en resultent et (3)leurs impacts respectifs sur la dynamique biogeochimique sedimentaire. Ce travail montre qu’U. pusilla engendre un remaniement et une bioirrigation intenses de la matrice sedimentaire qui l’entoure. Sa presence stimule ainsi fortement la remineralisation de la matiere organique sedimentee et les echanges de solutes a travers l’interface eau-sediment.Bien que l’influence d’U. pusilla sur ces processus ecologiques et biogeochimiques soit tres dependante des conditions environnementales (e.g., saisonnalite, prevalence parasitaire),l’ensemble de mes resultats suggere que le declin progressif de ses populations, consequence directe de la degradation de son habitat, est susceptible de fortement alterer le fonctionnement global des ecosystemes du bassin d’Arcachon.