Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
L-Rhamnose increases serum propionate in humans.

BACKGROUND Acetic and propionic acids are produced by colonic bacterial fermentation of unabsorbed carbohydrates and are absorbed into the portal circulation. From there, they travel to the liver, where acetate is a lipogenic substrate and propionate can inhibit lipogenesis. The extent to which peripheral blood short-chain fatty acid concentrations reflect differences in colonic fermentation is uncertain. The unabsorbed sugar lactulose produces mainly acetate when fermented in vitro, whereas L-rhamnose yields propionate. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to ascertain whether ingestion of L-rhamnose and lactulose would have different acute effects on peripheral acetate and propionate concentrations and on breath hydrogen and methane concentrations. DESIGN Twenty-two subjects were fed 25 g L-rhamnose, lactulose, or glucose on 3 separate occasions in a randomized crossover design. Blood and breath samples were collected hourly for 12 h. RESULTS Serum propionate was significantly higher with ingestion of L-rhamnose than with that of lactulose or glucose (P < 0.001). The area under the curve for serum acetate was significantly higher with ingestion of lactulose than with that of glucose (P < 0.03). The ratio of serum acetate to propionate was significantly higher with ingestion of lactulose than with that of glucose or L-rhamnose (P < 0.01). Breath hydrogen was significantly higher with ingestion of lactulose than with that of L-rhamnose or glucose (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS The selective increases in serum acetate and propionate concentrations in humans were obtained by feeding specific fermentable substrates. Presumably, these changes in serum concentrations reflect changes in colonic production. Selective alteration of colonic fermentation products could yield a new mechanism for modifying blood lipids.
Meta-analysis of the association between variants in MAPT and neurodegenerative diseases

Microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene is compelling among the susceptibility genes of neurodegenerative diseases which include Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our meta-analysis aimed to find the association between MAPT and the risk of these diseases. Published literatures were retrieved from MEDLINE and other databases, and 82 case-control studies were recruited. Six haplotype tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs1467967, rs242557, rs3785883, rs2471738, del-In9 and rs7521) and haplotypes (H2 and H1c) were significantly associated with the above diseases. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were evaluated by comparison in minor and major allele frequency using the R software. This study demonstrated that different variants in MAPT were associated with AD (rs2471738: OR= 1.04, 95%CI = 1.00 - 1.09; H2: OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.91 - 0.97), PD (H2: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.74 - 0.79), PSP (rs242557: OR = 1. 96, 95% CI = 1. 71 - 2.25; rs2471738: OR = 1. 85, 95% CI = 1. 48 - 2.31; H2: OR = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.18 - 0.23), CBD (rs242557: OR = 2.51, 95%CI = 1. 66 -3.78; rs2471738: OR = 2.07, 95%CI = 1. 32 -3.23; H2: OR = OR = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.23 - 0.41) and ALS (H2: OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.86 - 0.98) instead of FTD (H2: OR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.78 - 1.32). In conclusion, MAPT is associated with risk of neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting crucial roles of tau in neurodegenerative processes.
The Ehlers–Danlos syndromes, rare types

The Ehlers–Danlos syndromes comprise a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders, which are characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue friability. In the Villefranche Nosology, six subtypes were recognized: The classical, hypermobile, vascular, kyphoscoliotic, arthrochalasis, and dermatosparaxis subtypes of EDS. Except for the hypermobile subtype, defects had been identified in fibrillar collagens or in collagen‐modifying enzymes. Since 1997, a whole spectrum of novel, clinically overlapping, rare EDS‐variants have been delineated and genetic defects have been identified in an array of other extracellular matrix genes. Advances in molecular testing have made it possible to now identify the causative mutation for many patients presenting these phenotypes. The aim of this literature review is to summarize the current knowledge on the rare EDS subtypes and highlight areas for future research. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A review on locomotion robophysics: the study of movement at the intersection of robotics, soft matter and dynamical systems

Discovery of fundamental principles which govern and limit effective locomotion (self-propulsion) is of intellectual interest and practical importance. Human technology has created robotic moving systems that excel in movement on and within environments of societal interest: paved roads, open air and water. However, such devices cannot yet robustly and efficiently navigate (as animals do) the enormous diversity of natural environments which might be of future interest for autonomous robots; examples include vertical surfaces like trees and cliffs, heterogeneous ground like desert rubble and brush, turbulent flows found near seashores, and deformable/flowable substrates like sand, mud and soil. In this review we argue for the creation of a physics of moving systems—a ‘locomotion robophysics’—which we define as the pursuit of principles of self-generated motion. Robophysics can provide an important intellectual complement to the discipline of robotics, largely the domain of researchers from engineering and computer science. The essential idea is that we must complement the study of complex robots in complex situations with systematic study of simplified robotic devices in controlled laboratory settings and in simplified theoretical models. We must thus use the methods of physics to examine both locomotor successes and failures using parameter space exploration, systematic control, and techniques from dynamical systems. Using examples from our and others’ research, we will discuss how such robophysical studies have begun to aid engineers in the creation of devices that have begun to achieve life-like locomotor abilities on and within complex environments, have inspired interesting physics questions in low dimensional dynamical systems, geometric mechanics and soft matter physics, and have been useful to develop models for biological locomotion in complex terrain. The rapidly decreasing cost of constructing robot models with easy access to significant computational power bodes well for scientists and engineers to engage in a discipline which can readily integrate experiment, theory and computation.
Design, control and validation of the variable stiffness exoskeleton FLExo

In this paper we present the design of a one degree of freedom assistive platform to augment the strength of upper limbs. The core element is a variable stiffness actuator, closely reproducing the behavior of a pair of antagonistic muscles. The novelty introduced by this device is the analogy of its control parameters with those of the human muscle system, the threshold lengths. The analogy can be obtained from a proper tuning of the mechanical system parameters. Based on this, the idea is to control inputs by directly mapping the estimation of the muscle activations, e.g. via ElectroMyoGraphic(EMG) sensors, on the exoskeleton. The control policy resulting from this mapping acts in feedforward in a way to exploit the muscle-like dynamics of the mechanical device. Thanks to the particular structure of the actuator, the exoskeleton joint stiffness naturally results from that mapping. The platform as well as the novel control idea have been experimentally validated and the results show a substantial reduction of the subject muscle effort.
Individual and temporal variability of the retina after chronic bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO)

Animal models of disease are an indispensable element in our quest to understand pathophysiology and develop novel therapies. Ex vivo studies have severe limitations, in particular their inability to study individual disease progression over time. In this respect, non-invasive in vivo technologies offer multiple advantages. We here used bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) in mice, an established model for ischemic retinopathy, and performed a multimodal in vivo and ex vivo follow-up. We used scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), ocular coherence tomography (OCT) and electroretinography (ERG) over 6 weeks followed by ex vivo analyses. BCCAO leads to vascular remodeling with thickening of veins starting at 4 weeks, loss of photoreceptor synapses with concomitant reduced b-waves in the ERG and thinning of the retina. Mononuclear phagocytes showed fluctuation of activity over time. There was large inter-individual variation in the severity of neuronal degeneration and cellular inflammatory responses. Ex vivo analysis confirmed these variable features of vascular remodeling, neurodegeneration and inflammation. In summary, we conclude that multimodal follow-up and subgroup analysis of retinal changes in BCCAO further calls into question the use of ex vivo studies with distinct single end-points. We propose that our approach can foster the understanding of retinal disease as well as the clinical translation of emerging therapeutic strategies.
Comparison of Transcutaneous and Serum Bilirubin Measurements in Neonates 30 to 34 Weeks' Gestation Before, During, and After Phototherapy

Background: The use of noninvasive, transcutaneous bilirubin monitoring (TcB) as a jaundice screen in full-term infants is well established; however, there is a paucity of research evaluating the use of TcB in premature infants. Purpose: To compare agreement and consistency of transcutaneous and serum bilirubin measurements in a multiracial premature infant population ranging from 30 to 34 weeks' gestation before, during, and after phototherapy. Methods: Forty-five neonates, 30 to 34 weeks' gestation, were enrolled in this prospective, correlational study over a 12-month period. One set of paired transcutaneous and serum bilirubin measurements, per neonate, was obtained before phototherapy, during therapy, and after phototherapy. Exclusion criteria included neonates with positive direct coombs test or evidence of hemolytic disease, major congenital anomalies, hydrops fetalis, and those not expected to survive. Results: There was a strong, positive correlation between TcB and total serum monitoring (TSB) measurements obtained pretherapy (r = 0.797, P < .001). A moderate correlation was noted between TcB and TSB measurements obtained during therapy (r = 0.588, P < .001). A strong correlation was noted between TcB and TSB measurements obtained posttherapy (r = 0.869, P < .001). There were no significant differences between paired samples across time (F = 0.891, P = .41, partial &eegr;2 = 0.01). The TSB measurements were consistently lower than TcB pretherapy, during, and posttherapy. Implications for Practice: The TcB measurements provide a reliable estimation, generally within 2 to 3 mg/dL of TSB levels, in premature infants 30 to 34 weeks' gestation. Implications for Research: Investigation of consumption of time and nursing personnel required to perform TcB testing, compared with TSB testing, is indicated. Cost analyses comparing TcB-driven screening protocols and interval TSB measurements, among premature infants, are indicated. As newer generations of TcB devices are approved for use, additional studies using mixed-race populations of premature infants will be necessary to continue to evaluate the reliability and validity of this screening tool within the everyday neonatal intensive care unit.
Associations of whole-grain, refined-grain, and fruit and vegetable consumption with risks of all-cause mortality and incident coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

BACKGROUND Recent epidemiologic study results showed that subjects who had high intakes of whole-grain foods had lower risks of death and heart disease than did subjects who had low intakes. However, the findings were inconsistent for fruit and vegetable intake. OBJECTIVE The relations of whole-grain, refined-grain, and fruit and vegetable intakes with the risk of total mortality and the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic stroke were studied in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort (baseline: age 45-64 y, n = 15,792). DESIGN Proportional hazards regression analyses were used to assess the relations of whole-grain, refined-grain, and fruit and vegetable intakes with the risk of death and the incidence of CAD and ischemic stroke, with adjustment for age, sex, ethnicity, energy intake, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Dietary intakes were assessed by using a food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS Over an 11-y follow-up period, whole-grain intake was inversely associated with total mortality and incident CAD. The relative hazards of death for quintiles 2-5 of fruit and vegetable intake were 1.08 (95% CI: 0.88, 1.33), 0.94 (0.75, 1.17), 0.87 (0.68, 1.10), and 0.78 (0.61, 1.01), respectively; P for trend = 0.02. An inverse association between fruit and vegetable intake and CAD was observed among African Americans but not among whites (P for interaction = 0.01). The risk of ischemic stroke was not significantly related to whole-grain, refined-grain, or fruit and vegetable consumption. CONCLUSION These observational findings suggest a beneficial effect of whole-grain and fruit and vegetable consumption on the risks of total mortality and incident CAD but not on the risk of ischemic stroke.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging of human hypothalamic responses to sweet taste and calories.

BACKGROUND Evidence exists that beverages do not trigger appropriate anticipatory physiologic responses, such as cephalic phase insulin release. Therefore, it is of interest to elucidate the food properties necessary for triggering adaptive responses. Previously, we found a prolonged dose-dependent decrease in the hypothalamic functional magnetic resonance imaging signal after ingestion of a glucose solution. OBJECTIVES The aims of the present study were to measure the effects of sweet taste and energy content on the hypothalamic response to glucose ingestion and to measure the concomitant changes in blood glucose and insulin concentrations. DESIGN Five healthy, normal-weight men participated in a randomized crossover design trial. The subjects were scanned 4 times for 37 min on separate days with functional magnetic resonance imaging. After 7 min, they ingested 1 of the following 4 stimuli (300 mL of each): water (control), a glucose solution, an aspartame (sweet taste) solution, or a maltodextrin (nonsweet carbohydrate) solution. RESULTS Glucose ingestion resulted in a prolonged and significant signal decrease in the upper hypothalamus (P < 0.05). Water, aspartame, and maltodextrin had no such effect. Glucose and maltodextrin ingestions resulted in similar increases in blood glucose and insulin concentrations. However, only glucose triggered an early rise in insulin concentrations. Aspartame did not trigger any insulin response. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that both sweet taste and energy content are required for a hypothalamic response. The combination of sweet taste and energy content could be crucial in triggering adaptive responses to sweetened beverages.
Seizure onset zone localization using postictal hypoperfusion detected by arterial spin labelling MRI

Neurological dysfunction following epileptic seizures is a well-recognized phenomenon. Several potential mechanisms have been suggested to explain postictal dysfunction, with alteration in cerebral blood flow being one possibility. These vascular disturbances may be long lasting and localized to brain areas involved in seizure generation and propagation, as supported by both animal and human studies. Therefore, measuring perfusion changes in the postictal period may help localize the seizure onset zone. Arterial spin labelling is a non-invasive, rapid and reproducible magnetic resonance imaging technique that measures cerebral perfusion. To this end, we measured postictal perfusion in patients with drug resistant focal epilepsy who were admitted to our seizure-monitoring unit for presurgical evaluation. Twenty-one patients were prospectively recruited and underwent arterial spin labelling scanning within 90 min of a habitual seizure. Patients also underwent a similar scan in the interictal period, after they were seizure-free for at least 24 h. The acquired scans were subtracted to identify the areas of significant postictal hypoperfusion. The location of the maximal hypoperfusion was compared to the presumed seizure onset zone to assess for concordance. Also, the localizing value of this technique was compared to other structural and functional imaging modalities. Postictal perfusion reductions of >15 units (ml/100 g/l) were seen in 15/21 patients (71.4%). In 12/15 (80%) of these patients, the location of the hypoperfusion was partially or fully concordant with the location of the presumed seizure onset zone. This technique compared favourably to other neuroimaging modalities, being similar or superior to structural magnetic resonance imaging in 52% of cases, ictal single-photon emission computed tomography in 60% of cases and interictal positron emission tomography in 71% of cases. Better arterial spin labelling results were obtained in patients in whom the seizure onset zone was discernible based on non-invasive data. Thus, this technique is a safe, non-invasive and relatively inexpensive tool to detect postictal hypoperfusion that may provide useful data to localize the seizure onset zone. This technique may be incorporated into the battery of conventional investigations for presurgical evaluation of patients with drug resistant focal epilepsy.
Residential Proximity to Major Roadways, Fine Particulate Matter, and Hepatic Steatosis: The Framingham Heart Study

We examined associations between ambient air pollution and hepatic steatosis among 2,513 participants from the Framingham (Massachusetts) Offspring Study and Third Generation Cohort who underwent a computed tomography scan (2002-2005), after excluding men who reported >21 drinks/week and women who reported >14 drinks/week. We calculated each participant's residential-based distance to a major roadway and used a spatiotemporal model to estimate the annual mean concentrations of fine particulate matter. Liver attenuation was measured by computed tomography, and liver-to-phantom ratio (LPR) was calculated. Lower values of LPR represent more liver fat. We estimated differences in continuous LPR using linear regression models and prevalence ratios for presence of hepatic steatosis (LPR ≤ 0.33) using generalized linear models, adjusting for demographics, individual and area-level measures of socioeconomic position, and clinical and lifestyle factors. Participants who lived 58 m (25th percentile) from major roadways had lower LPR (β = -0.003, 95% confidence interval: -0.006, -0.001) and higher prevalence of hepatic steatosis (prevalence ratio = 1.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.05, 1.28) than those who lived 416 m (75th percentile) away. The 2003 annual average fine particulate matter concentration was not associated with liver-fat measurements. Our findings suggest that living closer to major roadways was associated with more liver fat.
Critical Differences between Microscopic (MIFE) and Macroscopic (MAFE) Fat Embolism during Liposuction and Gluteal Lipoinjection

Background: Liposuction and gluteal lipoinjection are two of the most frequent surgical procedures in body contouring surgery, and two of the most important complications are microscopic (MIFE) and macroscopic (MAFE) fat embolism. Despite a high index of morbidity and mortality, few reports exist about these complications, and although they have the same causal agent, their etiopathogenesis, clinical evolution, treatment, prognosis, and prevention are totally different. Therefore, the authors performed a comprehensive review of the literature to exhaustively analyze both pathologic conditions and present the differences between them. Methods: A detailed search was carried out in PubMed of studies on humans from 1946 to March of 2017 in any language and including the keywords microscopic fat embolism and macroscopic fat embolism with either liposuction or gluteal lipoinjection. The articles found were selected according to the search criteria and were analyzed to provide the final data and recommendations. Results: Of the 1245 and 26 articles that were found on complications related to liposuction and gluteal lipoinjection, respectively, only 41 on liposuction and microscopic fat embolism and seven on gluteal lipoinjection and microscopic fat embolism met the specific criteria for inclusion in the analysis. Only two articles on liposuction and two on gluteal lipoinjection referred to macroscopic fat embolism as a complication. Conclusion: Although microscopic fat embolism and macroscopic fat embolism are pathologic conditions with high morbidity and mortality rates in association with liposuction and gluteal lipoinjection, few reports about them exist; therefore, the authors made recommendations based on this study for their diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
The p38 mitogen activated protein kinase inhibitor losmapimod in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with systemic inflammation, stratified by fibrinogen: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Background Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in COPD patients. Systemic inflammation associated with COPD, is often hypothesised as a causal factor. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases play a key role in the inflammatory pathogenesis of COPD and atherosclerosis. Objectives This study sought to evaluate the effects of losmapimod, a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, on vascular inflammation and endothelial function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with systemic inflammation (defined by plasma fibrinogen >2·8g/l). Methods This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase II trial that recruited COPD patients with plasma fibrinogen >2.8g/l. Participants were randomly assigned by an online program to losmapimod 7·5mg or placebo tablets twice daily for 16 weeks. Pre- and post-dose 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography co-registered with computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) imaging of the aorta and carotid arteries was performed to quantify arterial inflammation, defined by the tissue-to-blood ratio (TBR) from scan images. Endothelial function was assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Results We screened 160 patients, of whom, 36 and 37 were randomised to losmapimod or placebo. The treatment effect of losmapimod compared to placebo was not significant, at -0·05 for TBR (95% CI: -0·17, 0·07), p = 0·42, and +0·40% for FMD (95% CI: -1·66, 2·47), p = 0·70. The frequency of adverse events reported was similar in both treatment groups. Conclusions In this plasma fibrinogen-enriched study, losmapimod had no effect on arterial inflammation and endothelial function at 16 weeks of treatment, although it was well tolerated with no significant safety concerns. These findings do not support the concept that losmapimod is an effective treatment for the adverse cardiovascular manifestations of COPD.