Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The efficacy of a synbiotic containing Bacillus Coagulans in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

Abstract Aim: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a synbiotic containing Bacillus Coagulans in treatment of IBS. Background: Some studies have shown the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Patients and methods: Adult IBS patients (n=85) were randomized to receive a synbiotic containing Bacillus Coagulans or placebo for 12 weeks. Frequency of IBS symptoms including abdominal pain (scored 1 to 7), and diarrhea and constipation (scored 1 to 5) was evaluated before and after the intervention and then after nine months follow-up. Results: Twenty-three patients in the synbiotic group and 33 patients in the placebo group completed the study (age = 39.8±12.7 years, 78.6% female). After treatment, more reduction in abdominal pain frequency was observed with synbiotic compared with placebo (score reduction 4.2±1.8 vs. 1.9±1.5, P<0.001). Diarrhea frequency was decreased in the synbiotic group, but not in the placebo group (score reduction 1.9±1.2 vs. 0.0±0.5, P<0.001). Decrease in constipation frequency was the same between the two groups (score reduction 0.9±1.2 vs. 0.8±1.1, P=0.561). After nine months follow-up, abdominal pain frequency was decreased (P=0.016), constipation frequency was increased (P<0.001), and diarrhea frequency remained unchanged in the synbiotic group (P=1.000). In the placebo group, abdominal pain frequency was increased (P<0.001), constipation frequency remained unchanged (P=0.553), and diarrhea frequency was increased (P<0.001). Conclusion: Bacillus Coagulans improves abdominal pain and diarrhea in IBS patients. Further studies on a larger sample of patients are warranted.
Regulations of gonadotropin secretion by circulating inhibin , estradiol , and progesterone in cyclic hamsters

HISASHI KISHI,1 MARIKO ITOH,2 KEN-ICHI OHSHIMA,3 MING-WEI WANG,2 GEN WATANABE,3 AND KAZUYOSHI TAYA3 1Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute of Animal Industry Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0991; 2Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506; 3Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan; and 4Department of Endocrine Research, Ligand Pharmaceutical, San Diego, California 92121
The Physical Body Experiences Questionnaire Simplified for Active Aging (PBE-QAG)

Background: The physical activity has been indicated as an experience that can help achieve positive, self-oriented own body awareness. This awareness is an aspect that tends to get worse with age. Objective: Our study aims to verify the internal consistency of a questionnaire on physical awareness in a sample of Italian elders; a secondary objective is to measure if there is a relationship between physical awareness and perceived level of physical activity. Methods: Cross sectional study on a consecutive sample of elderly people was administered the “Physical Body Experiences Questionnaire simplified for active aging (PBE-QAG)”, inspired by the “Physical Body Experiences Questionnaire”, modified, simplified and adapted to be used in the elderly over 65. To elderly people the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha was also used to assess internal reliability of the total PBE-QAG. The factor structure was evaluated through Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs). Results: The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.8 for the “body-mind relationship” scale, 0.81 for the “accepting your body” scale, 0.83 for the “awareness of physical skills” scale, and 0.65 for the “awareness of physical limits” scale. Cronbach’s alpha for the total PBE-QAG was 0.89. The CFA indicated a model with the 4 factors (CFI = 0.989, TLI = 0.984, RMSEA = 0.076). People who conducted physical activity assiduously or regularly and over 10 minutes showed a better score to the PBE-QAG than those who declared a sporadic activity and for “less than 10 minute”, respectively. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the PBE-QAG shows an excellent total internal consistency. In the Italian sample of elderly people the questionnaire shows the model with the 4 factors described in literature.
Functionalization of Cotton Fabrics with Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles for Transdermal Release of Melatonin

Drug delivery by means of transdermal patches raised great interest as a non-invasive and sustained therapy. The present research aimed to design a patch for transdermal delivery of melatonin, which was encapsulated in polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles (NPs) by employing flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) technique. Melatonin-loaded PCL nanoparticles were successfully prepared with precise control of the particle size by effectively tuning process parameters. The effect of process parameters on the particle size was assessed by dynamic light scattering for producing particles with suitable size for transdermal applications. Quantification of encapsulated melatonin was performed by mean of UV spectrophotometry, obtaining the estimation of encapsulation efficiency (EE%) and loading capacity (LC%). An EE% higher than 80% was obtained. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of NPs was performed to confirm effective encapsulation in the solid phase. Cotton fabrics, functionalized by imbibition with the nano-suspension, were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy to check morphology, adhesion and distribution of the NPs on the surface; melatonin transdermal release from the functionalized fabric was performed via Franz’s cells by using a synthetic membrane. NPs were uniformly distributed on cotton fibres, as confirmed by SEM observations; the release test showed a continuous and controlled release whose kinetics were satisfactorily described by Baker–Lonsdale model.
GC-MS-Based Endometabolome Analysis Differentiates Prostate Cancer from Normal Prostate Cells

Prostate cancer (PCa) is an important health problem worldwide. Diagnosis and management of PCa is very complex because the detection of serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) has several drawbacks. Metabolomics brings promise for cancer biomarker discovery and for better understanding PCa biochemistry. In this study, a gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabolomic profiling of PCa cell lines was performed. The cell lines include 22RV1 and LNCaP from PCa with androgen receptor (AR) expression, DU145 and PC3 (which lack AR expression), and one normal prostate cell line (PNT2). Regarding the metastatic potential, PC3 is from an adenocarcinoma grade IV with high metastatic potential, DU145 has a moderate metastatic potential, and LNCaP has a low metastatic potential. Using multivariate analysis, alterations in levels of several intracellular metabolites were detected, disclosing the capability of the endometabolome to discriminate all PCa cell lines from the normal prostate cell line. Discriminant metabolites included amino acids, fatty acids, steroids, and sugars. Six stood out for the separation of all the studied PCa cell lines from the normal prostate cell line: ethanolamine, lactic acid, β-Alanine, L-valine, L-leucine, and L-tyrosine.
Differentiated intestinal epithelial cells exhibit increased migration through polyamines and myosin II.

Early mucosal restitution is a rapid process by which differentiated intestinal epithelial cells migrate to reseal superficial wounds. However, most of the in vitro studies for restitution employ undifferentiated intestinal crypt cells as a model. The transcription factor, Cdx2, plays an important role in the regulation of intestinal epithelial differentiation. Forced expression of the Cdx2 gene in undifferentiated intestinal crypt cells induces the development of a differentiated phenotype. The current study was designed to determine changes in differentiated intestinal epithelial cell migration after wounding in the stable Cdx2-transfected IEC-6 cells and then to examine involvement of polyamines and nonmuscle myosin II in the process of cell motility. Cdx2-transfected IEC-6 cells were associated with a highly differentiated phenotype and exhibited increased cell migration after wounding. Migration of Cdx2-transfected IEC-6 cells were approximately four times that of nontransfected IEC-6 cells. Migration after wounding was associated with significant increases in polyamine synthesis. Depletion of cellular polyamines by 5 mM α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, inhibited cell migration without affecting the differentiated phenotype. DFMO also decreased levels of nonmuscle myosin II mRNA and protein and resulted in reorganization of myosin II, along with a marked reduction in stress fibers. Exogenous spermidine given together with DFMO not only returned nonmuscle myosin II levels and cellular distribution toward normal but also restored cell migration to control levels. These results indicate that 1) Cdx2-transfected IEC-6 cells exhibit increased cell migration after wounding and 2) cellular polyamines are absolutely required for stimulation of cell migration in association with their ability to modulate the structural organization of nonmuscle myosin II.
Review of Zhang Jingwei : A Sociophonetic Study on Tonal Variation of the Wúx ī and Shàngh ă i Dialects

Language changes. It is comforting, in our post-postmodernist world, to have this undeniable fact from the era when linguistics was historical linguistics. In retrospect, the discovery of regular language change benefited from two properties of the variation in the observation data. There was large between-language variation, with many Indo-european daughter languages to bring the picture of relationships into focus. The story might have been very different had only Welsh and Srilankan survived. Most importantly, though, a wellestablished classical canon meant minimal within-language variability. Jacob Grimm could happily write that p in Sanskrit (padas), Latin (pes) and Greek (poûs) corresponded to f in Germanic (Gothic fôtus, Old High German vuoz), and from such correspondence sets deduce that part of the Erste Lautverschiebung which described how Indo-european voiceless aspirates had changed into fricatives in Germanic. It is difficult to imagine these insights being won if 18 and 19 century historical linguists had only myriad detailed descriptions of Germanic dialects comprising variation from individual speakers over time and social space as well as geography.
In vivo PTH provokes apical NHE3 and NaPi2 redistribution and Na-K-ATPase inhibition.

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that in vivo administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH) provokes diuresis/natriuresis through redistribution of proximal tubule apical sodium cotransporters (NHE3 and NaPi2) to internal stores and inhibition of basolateral Na-K-ATPase activity and to determine whether the same cellular signals drive the changes in apical and basolateral transporters. PTH-(1-34) (20 U), which couples to adenylate cyclase (AC), phospholipase C (PLC), and phospholipase A2(PLA2), or [Nle8,18,Tyr34]PTH-(3-34) (10 U), which couples to PLC and PLA2 but not AC, were given to anesthetized rats as an intravenous bolus followed by low-dose infusion (1 U ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1for 1 h). Renal cortex membranes were fractionated on sorbitol density gradients. PTH-(1-34) increased urinary cAMP excretion 3-fold, urine output (V) 2.0 ± 0.1-fold, and lithium clearance (CLi) 2.8 ± 0.3-fold. With this diuresis/natriuresis, 25% of NHE3 and 18% of NaPi2 immunoreactivity redistributed from apical membranes to higher density fractions containing intracellular membrane markers, and basolateral Na-K-ATPase activity decreased 25%. [Nle8,18,Tyr34]PTH-(3-34) failed to increase V or CLi or to provoke redistribution of NHE3 or NaPi2, but it did inhibit Na-K-ATPase activity 25%. We conclude that in vivo PTH stimulates natriuresis/diuresis associated with internalization of apical NHE3 and NaPi2 and inhibition of Na-K-ATPase activity, that cAMP-protein kinase A stimulation is necessary for the natriuresis/diuresis and NHE3 and NaPi2 internalization, and that Na-K-ATPase inhibition is not secondary to depressed apical Na+ transport.
Neuronal NOS contributes to biphasic autoregulatory response during enhanced TGF activity.

To assess the afferent arteriolar autoregulatory response during increased activity of the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism and to delineate the contribution of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) to this response, afferent arteriolar diameter responses to changes in renal perfusion pressure (RPP) were monitored in vitro using the blood-perfused rat juxtamedullary nephron preparation. At RPP of 100 mmHg, basal afferent arteriolar diameter averaged 21.1 ± 1.4 μm ( n = 9). The initial and sustained constrictor responses of afferent arterioles to a 60-mmHg increase in RPP averaged 14.8 ± 1.4% and 13.3 ± 1.3%, respectively. Acetazolamide treatment, which enhances TGF responsiveness by increasing distal nephron volume delivery, significantly decreased basal afferent arteriolar diameter by 8.2 ± 0.5% and enhanced the initial response (25.5 ± 2.3%) to a 60-mmHg increase in RPP but did not alter the sustained response (14.3 ± 1.5%). In another series of experiments, nNOS inhibition with 10 μM S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline (l-SMTC) significantly decreased afferent arteriolar diameter from 20.3 ± 1.3 to 18.3 ± 1.1 μm ( n = 7) and enhanced both the initial (34.4 ± 3.5%) and sustained constrictor responses (27.6 ± 2.9%) to a 60-mmHg increase in RPP. Treatment with acetazolamide further enhanced both initial (56.4 ± 3.0%) and sustained responses (54.6 ± 2.7%). Interruption of distal delivery by transection of the loops of Henle prevented the enhanced responses to increases in RPP elicited with either acetazolamide orl-SMTC. These results indicate that nNOS contributes to the counteracting resetting process of biphasic afferent arteriolar constrictor responses to increases in RPP through a TGF-dependent mechanism.
Reconsidering the Relationship between Air Pollution and Deprivation

This paper critically examines the relationship between air pollution and deprivation. We argue that focusing on a particular economic or social model of urban development might lead one to erroneously expect all cities to converge towards a particular universal norm. A naive market sorting model, for example, would predict that poor households will eventually be sorted into high pollution areas, leading to a positive relationship between air pollution and deprivation. If, however, one considers a wider set of theoretical perspectives, the anticipated relationship between air pollution and deprivation becomes more complex and idiosyncratic. Specifically, we argue the relationship between pollution and deprivation can only be made sense of by considering processes of risk perception, path dependency, gentrification and urbanization. Rather than expecting all areas to eventually converge to some universal norm, we should expect the differences in the relationship between air pollution and deprivation across localities to persist. Mindful of these insights, we propose an approach to modeling which does not impose a geographically fixed relationship. Results for Scotland reveal substantial variations in the observed relationships over space and time, supporting our argument.
A homologous form of human interleukin 16 is implicated in microglia recruitment following nervous system injury in leech Hirudo medicinalis

In contrast to mammals, the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis can completely repair its central nervous system (CNS) after injury. This invertebrate model offers unique opportunities to study the molecular and cellular basis of the CNS repair processes. When the leech CNS is injured, microglial cells migrate and accumulate at the site of lesion, a phenomenon known to be essential for the usual sprouting of injured axons. In the present study, we demonstrate that a new molecule, designated HmIL‐16, having functional homologies with human interleukin‐16 (IL‐16), has chemotactic activity on leech microglial cells as observed using a gradient of human IL‐16. Preincubation of microglial cells either with an anti‐human IL‐16 antibody or with anti‐HmIL‐16 antibody significantly reduced microglia migration induced by leech‐conditioned medium. Functional homology was demonstrated further by the ability of HmIL‐16 to promote human CD4+ T cell migration which was inhibited by antibody against human IL‐16, an IL‐16 antagonist peptide or soluble CD4. Immunohistochemistry of leech CNS indicates that HmIL‐16 protein present in the neurons is rapidly transported and stored along the axonal processes to promote the recruitment of microglial cells to the injured axons. To our knowledge, this is the first identification of a functional interleukin‐16 homologue in invertebrate CNS. The ability of HmIL‐16 to recruit microglial cells to sites of CNS injury suggests a role for HmIL‐16 in the crosstalk between neurons and microglia in the leech CNS repair. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sympathetic nerve activity during natural stimulation of horizontal semicircular canals in humans.

We have shown that static head-down neck flexion elicits increases in muscle (MSNA) but not skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA) in humans. These findings suggest that stimulation of the otolith organs causes differential sympathetic outflow to vascular beds. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether yaw head rotation (YHR), which stimulates the horizontal semicircular canals, elicits sympathetic nerve responses. To test this question, we recorded MSNA ( n = 33) and SSNA ( n = 25) before and during 3 min of sinusoidal YHR performed at 0.1, 0.6, and 1.0 Hz. At all frequencies, YHR elicited no significant changes in heart rate and mean arterial pressure. Likewise, YHR did not significantly change either MSNA or SSNA at all frequencies. Our results indicate that stimulation of the horizontal semicircular canals by YHR does not alter SNA to either muscle or skin. Moreover, these results provide evidence to support the concept that the otolith organs but not the horizontal semicircular canals participate in the regulation of SNA in humans.
Methamphetamine Preconditioning Alters Midbrain Transcriptional Responses to Methamphetamine-Induced Injury in the Rat Striatum

Methamphetamine (METH) is an illicit drug which is neurotoxic to the mammalian brain. Numerous studies have revealed significant decreases in dopamine and serotonin levels in the brains of animals exposed to moderate-to-large METH doses given within short intervals of time. In contrast, repeated injections of small nontoxic doses of the drug followed by a challenge with toxic METH doses afford significant protection against monoamine depletion. The present study was undertaken to test the possibility that repeated injections of the drug might be accompanied by transcriptional changes involved in rendering the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system refractory to METH toxicity. Our results confirm that METH preconditioning can provide significant protection against METH-induced striatal dopamine depletion. In addition, the presence and absence of METH preconditioning were associated with substantial differences in the identity of the genes whose expression was affected by a toxic METH challenge. Quantitative PCR confirmed METH-induced changes in genes of interest and identified additional genes that were differentially impacted by the toxic METH challenge in the presence of METH preconditioning. These genes include small heat shock 27 kD 27 protein 2 (HspB2), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), c-fos, and some encoding antioxidant proteins including CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-1, and heme oxygenase-1 (Hmox-1). These observations are consistent, in part, with the transcriptional alterations reported in models of lethal ischemic injuries which are preceded by ischemic or pharmacological preconditioning. Our findings suggest that multiple molecular pathways might work in tandem to protect the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway against the deleterious effects of the toxic psychostimulant. Further analysis of the molecular and cellular pathways regulated by these genes should help to provide some insight into the neuroadaptive potentials of the brain when repeatedly exposed to drugs of abuse.
Facilitation in plant communities: the past, the present, and the future

1 Once neglected, the role of facilitative interactions in plant communities has received considerable attention in the last two decades, and is now widely recognized. It is timely to consider the progress made by research in this field. 2 We review the development of plant facilitation research, focusing on the history of the field, the relationship between plant–plant interactions and environmental severity gradients, and attempts to integrate facilitation into mainstream ecological theory. We then consider future directions for facilitation research. 3 With respect to our fundamental understanding of plant facilitation, clarification of the relationship between interactions and environmental gradients is central for further progress, and necessitates the design and implementation of experiments that move beyond the clear limitations of previous studies. 4 There is substantial scope for exploring indirect facilitative effects in plant communities, including their impacts on diversity and evolution, and future studies should connect the degree of non‐transitivity in plant competitive networks to community diversity and facilitative promotion of species coexistence, and explore how the role of indirect facilitation varies with environmental severity. 5 Certain ecological modelling approaches (e.g. individual‐based modelling), although thus far largely neglected, provide highly useful tools for exploring these fundamental processes. 6 Evolutionary responses might result from facilitative interactions, and consideration of facilitation might lead to re‐assessment of the evolution of plant growth forms. 7 Improved understanding of facilitation processes has direct relevance for the development of tools for ecosystem restoration, and for improving our understanding of the response of plant species and communities to environmental change drivers. 8 Attempts to apply our developing ecological knowledge would benefit from explicit recognition of the potential role of facilitative plant–plant interactions in the design and interpretation of studies from the fields of restoration and global change ecology. 9 Synthesis: Plant facilitation research provides new insights into classic ecological theory and pressing environmental issues. Awareness and understanding of facilitation should be part of the basic ecological knowledge of all plant ecologists.