Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Residual thromboxane activity and oxidative stress: influence on mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease

Background Aspirin use is effective in the prevention of cardiovascular disease; however, not all patients are equally responsive to aspirin. Oxidative stress reflected by F2-isoprostane [8-iso-prostaglandin-F2&agr; (8-IsoPGF2&agr;)] is a potential mechanism of failure of aspirin to adequately inhibit cyclooxygenase-1. The objective was to examine the relation between all-cause mortality and the concentrations of urinary 11-dehydro thromboxane B2 (11dhTxB2) and 8-IsoPGF2&agr; in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods The data for this analysis are from a prospective study in which patients were categorized into four groups based on the median values of 11dhTxB2 and 8-IsoPGF2&agr;. Results There were 447 patients included in this analysis with a median (range) age of 66 (37–91) years. The median (range) values of 11dhTxB2 and 8-IsoPGF2&agr; were 1404.1 (344.2–68296.1) and 1477.9 (356.7–19256.3), respectively. A total of 67 (14.9%) patients died over a median follow-up of 1149 days. The reference group for the Cox proportional hazards survival analysis was patients with values of 11dhTxB2 and 8-IsoPGF2&agr; below their corresponding medians. Adjusting for the age and sex, patients with values of 11dhTxB2 greater than the median had a significantly higher risk of mortality when compared with the reference group (high 11dhTxB2 and low 8-IsoPGF2&agr;adj: hazard ratio: 3.2, 95% confidence interval: 1.6–6.6, P=0.002; high 11dhTxB2 and 8-IsoPGF2&agr;adj: hazard ratio: 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.8–7.3, P<0.001). The findings were similar when we adjusted for the comorbidities of cancer, kidney function, and ejection fraction. Conclusion We found that 11dhTxB2 appears to be a better prognostic marker for mortality as compared with 8-IsoPGF2&agr;, suggesting aspirin resistance itself is a stronger independent determinant of death in CAD patients treated with aspirin.
Heavy Metals in Water and Sediment: A Case Study of Tembi River

This study was carried out to examine heavy metals concentration in water and sediment of upstream and downstream of the entry of the sewage to the Tembi River, Iran. Samples were collected from upstream and downstream and were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results indicated that the average concentration of the metals in water and sediment on downstream was more than that of upstream. The comparison of the mean concentrations of heavy metals in water of the Tembi River with drinking water standards and those in the water used for agriculture suggests that the mean concentration of Cu and Zn lies within the standard range for drinking water and the mean concentration of Mn, Zn, and Pb lies within the standard range of agricultural water. The highest average concentration on downstream for Pb in water and for Mn in sediment was 1.95 and 820.5 ppm, respectively. Also, the lowest average concentration on upstream was identified for Cd in water and sediment 0.07 and 10 ppm, respectively. With regard to the results, it gets clear that using the water for recreational purposes, washing, and fishing is detrimental to human health and the environment.
Tuberous sclerosis-associated lesions of the kidney, brain, and skin are angiogenic neoplasms.

BACKGROUND Tuberous sclerosis is an autosomal dominant condition characterized by the development of benign neoplasms of the brain, kidney, and skin. Progressive growth and malignant transformation of brain and kidney lesions constitute the major cause of morbidity and mortality in adults with tuberous sclerosis. In addition, growth of skin lesions may be disfiguring to patients. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether benign tumors in patients with tuberous sclerosis are angiogenic. METHODS Brain, kidney, and skin tumors from patients with tuberous sclerosis were stained with CD31, a specific marker of vascular endothelium. In addition, we used Northern blot analysis to demonstrate that renal angiomyolipoma cells express the potent angiogenesis stimulator vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). RESULTS Brain, kidney, and skin neoplasms from patients with tuberous sclerosis are highly angiogenic. Renal angiomyolipoma cells produce the potent angiogenic factor VEGF. CONCLUSION Benign neoplasms of patients with tuberous sclerosis are highly vascular. Our results provide a rationale for antiangiogenic therapy in the treatment and prevention of tuberous sclerosis-associated neoplasms.
A Model-Based Machine Learning Approach to Probing Autonomic Regulation From Nonstationary Vital-Sign Time Series

Physiological variables, such as heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and respiration (RESP), are tightly regulated and coupled under healthy conditions, and a break-down in the coupling has been associated with aging and disease. We present an approach that incorporates physiological modeling within a switching linear dynamical systems (SLDS) framework to assess the various functional components of the autonomic regulation through transfer function analysis of nonstationary multivariate time series of vital signs. We validate our proposed SLDS-based transfer function analysis technique in automatically capturing 1) changes in baroreflex gain due to postural changes in a tilt-table study including ten subjects, and 2) the effect of aging on the autonomic control using HR/RESP recordings from 40 healthy adults. Next, using HR/BP time series of more than 450 adult ICU patients, we show that our technique can be used to reveal coupling changes associated with severe sepsis (AUC = 0.74, sensitivity = 0.74, specificity = 0.60). Our findings indicate that reduced HR/BP coupling is significantly associated with severe sepsis even after adjusting for clinical interventions (P $<=$ 0.001). These results demonstrate the utility of our approach in phenotyping complex vital-sign dynamics, and in providing mechanistic hypotheses in terms of break-down of autoregulatory systems under healthy and disease conditions.
APOE ε2 is associated with intact cognition but increased Alzheimer pathology in the oldest old

Background: Many studies have examined the role of APOE genotype in the development of dementia, specifically Alzheimer disease (AD). The APOE ε4 allele (APOE4) is a risk factor for both clinical and neuropathologic AD whereas the APOE ε2 allele (APOE2) seems to be protective. This would predict, even with advanced age, that APOE2 carriers would be less likely to have dementia and less likely to meet pathologic criteria for AD. Methods: The first 85 genotyped participants from The 90+ Study to come to autopsy were included. All-cause dementia (using DSM-IV criteria) and AD (using National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke–Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria) diagnoses were made by consensus conference using all available information including neuropsychological testing, neurologic examination, and medical records. Neuropathologic examination included Braak and Braak staging for plaques and tangles and diagnosis of neuropathologic AD using National Institute on Aging–Reagan criteria. Results: Across all genotypes, 58.5% of subjects were diagnosed with clinical dementia (81% of dementia was AD) and 50.0% met neuropathologic criteria for AD. Compared to those with an APOE ε3/ε3 genotype (APOE3/3), APOE4 carriers were more likely to be diagnosed with dementia (odds ratio [OR] = 12.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.5–102.0), whereas APOE2 carriers were not (OR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1–1.3). Surprisingly, both APOE4 (OR = 4.6, 95% CI = 1.3–16.5) and APOE2 (OR = 7.8, 95% CI = 1.5–40.2) carriers were more likely to meet neuropathologic criteria for AD than those with APOE3/3 genotype. Conclusions: In the oldest old, the presence of the APOE ε2 allele (APOE2) was associated with a somewhat reduced risk of dementia, but paradoxically was associated with increased Alzheimer disease (AD) neuropathology. Therefore, oldest old APOE2 carriers may have some mechanism that contributes to the maintenance of cognition independently of the formation of AD pathology.
Exaggerated haemodynamic and neural responses to involuntary contractions induced by whole‐body vibration in normotensive obese versus lean women

What is the central question of this study? In obesity, the exaggerated blood pressure response to voluntary exercise is linked to hypertension, yet the mechanisms are not fully elucidated. We examined whether involuntary contractions elicit greater haemodynamic responses and altered neural control of blood pressure in normotensive obese versus lean women. What is the main finding and its importance? During involuntary contractions induced by whole‐body vibration, there were augmented blood pressure and spontaneous baroreflex responses in obese compared with lean women. This finding is suggestive of an overactive mechanoreflex in the exercise‐induced hypertensive response in obesity. Passive contractions did not elicit differential heart rate responses in obese compared with lean women, implying other mechanisms for the blunted heart rate response reported during voluntary exercise in obesity.
Transient depletion of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells results in multiple autoimmune diseases in wild‐type and B‐cell‐deficient NOD mice

Approximately 80% of female wild‐type non‐obese diabetic (WT NOD) mice spontaneously develop diabetes, whereas B‐cell‐deficient (B−/−) NOD mice are resistant to diabetes. B−/− mice are also resistant to other spontaneous and experimentally induced autoimmune diseases, including arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren syndrome and thyroiditis. Under normal conditions, activation of self‐reactive T cells in the periphery is limited by CD4+ CD25+ natural regulatory T (Treg) cells. B−/− NOD.H‐2h4 mice, normally resistant to spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis (SAT), develop SAT when Treg cells are depleted, suggesting that Treg cells are preferentially activated when autoantigen is initially presented by non‐B‐cell antigen‐presenting cells. To test the hypothesis that increased Treg cell activity in B−/− mice contributes to their resistance to other autoimmune diseases, WT and B−/− NOD mice were given anti‐CD25 to transiently deplete CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells. The WT and B−/− NOD mice given anti‐CD25 developed diabetes much earlier than WT mice given rat IgG, whereas rat IgG‐treated B−/− mice did not develop diabetes. Treg‐cell‐depleted mice had increased lymphocyte infiltration of the pancreas, salivary glands and thyroid compared with controls given rat IgG. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that resistance of B‐cell‐deficient NOD mice to several autoimmune diseases is due to the activity of Treg cells.
Validation of whole-body against conventional magnetic resonance imaging for scoring acute inflammatory lesions in the sacroiliac joints of patients with spondylarthritis.

OBJECTIVE To compare the performance of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus conventional MRI in assessing acute inflammatory lesions of the sacroiliac (SI) joints in patients with established and active spondylarthritis (SpA) using the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) MRI index. This study is validating whole-body MRI against the current MRI standard for assessing active inflammatory lesions of the SI joints in patients with SpA. METHODS Thirty-two SpA patients with clinically active disease (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score >/=4) fulfilling the modified New York criteria were scanned by whole-body and conventional MRI of the SI joints. The MRIs were scored independently in random order by 3 readers blinded to patient identity. Active inflammatory lesions of the SI joints were recorded on a Web-based SPARCC index. Pearson's correlation coefficients were used to compare scores for whole-body and conventional MRI for each reader, whereas intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to compare interobserver reliability. RESULTS The Pearson's correlation coefficients between whole-body and conventional MRI per rater were 0.94, 0.87, and 0.93. The mean sum scores for conventional versus whole-body MRI were statistically significantly higher for all 3 readers, although all patients showing inflammatory lesions on conventional MRI also demonstrated them on whole-body MRI. The ICCs(2,1) were 0.69, 0.78, and 0.95 for conventional MRI, and 0.79, 0.85, and 0.96 for whole-body MRI for the 3 possible reader pairs. CONCLUSION Whole-body and conventional MRI scores show a strong correlation and comparable reliability for the detection of inflammatory lesions of the SI joints.
Comparative studies of sun and solar drying of peeled and unpeeled ginger

Fresh ginger rhizomes were washed, sorted and cut into desired sizes using a knife. Some were peeled to remove the cork skin while others were left unpeeled with the cork skin. The samples were dried in a solar dryer and the open air for two weeks and designated; solar peeled and unpeeled, and open-air peeled and unpeeled Some physico-chemical and organoleptic analyses were carried out on the samples before, during and after drying. The results obtained showed that open-air dried products retained its colour and aroma more than the solar dried samples. Drying was faster with the solar dryer than with the open air method. While the Total variable count (TVC) on the dried ginger was reduced to 66.7% for peeled and 57.6% for unpeeled ginger in the samples subjected to open-air drying, it was reduced to only 47.6%for peeled and 9.63% for unpeeled with solar drying method. The moisture content of the solar dried unpeeled ginger was reduced to 7.0% which is within the standard of 6-9% acceptable to the international market unlike that of open air drying which could only attain about 17.0% moisture content in the study area. Although there was no defined trend in changes of crude protein content of samples with drying time, solar dried ginger appeared to contain less protein than air-dried ones. Keyword: Solar drying, Agricultural product, ginger, preservation
Moisture Sorption And Swelling Of Wood-Polymer Composites

Changing moisture content in wood can result in dimensional changes that create problems in some circumstances. The swelling of wood by moisture is not reduced by treating the wood with monomers, resins, or polymers unless these substances penetrate the cell walls. In this study maple, red oak, and southern pine specimens were saturated with acrylic and methacrylic monomers in an effort to penetrate the cell walls with monomers. The volumes of the saturated specimens were measured after each of three soak cycles. The swelling resulting from soaking the specimens in monomers was measured. Soaking at 105 C in certain monomers resulted in a range of swelling from 2 to 21% depending on the specific monomer and species of wood. Other monomers generally did not penetrate the cell walls sufficiently to result in swelling of the wood. After the final soak period, a free radical initiator was added and the monomers were polymerized in the wood to make wood-polymer composites. The moisture content and volumetric swelling of the wood-polymer composites at 90% relative humidity were measured. The wood-polymer composites were swelled by moisture at a slower rate than was just wood, but many wood-polymer composites eventually swelled as much as did untreated wood. Some polymers were hygroscopic, which increased the moisture content and volumetric swelling of the wood-polymer composite specimens at 90% relative humidity.
Excessive Accumulation of Chinese Fir Litter Inhibits Its Own Seedling Emergence and Early Growth—A Greenhouse Perspective

Litter accumulation can strongly influence plants’ natural regeneration via both physical and chemical mechanisms, but the relative influence of each mechanism on seedling establishment remains to be elucidated. Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) is one of the most important commercial plantations in southern China, but its natural regeneration is poor, possibly due to its thick leaf litter accumulation. We used natural and plastic litter to study the effects of Chinese fir litter on its own seedling emergence and early growth, as well as to assess whether the effect is physical or chemical in nature. Results showed that high litter amount (800 g·m−2) significantly reduced seedling emergence and the survival rate for both natural and plastic litter. Low litter amount (200 g·m−2) exerted a slightly positive effect on root mass, leaf mass, and total mass, while high litter amount significantly inhibited root mass, leaf mass, and total mass for both natural and plastic litter. Root-mass ratio was significantly lower, and leaf-mass ratio was significantly greater under high litter cover than under control for both natural and plastic litter. Although the root/shoot ratio decreased with increasing litter amount, such effect was only significant for high litter treatment for both natural and plastic litter. Seedling robustness (aboveground biomass divided by seedling height) decreased with increasing litter amount, with high litter treatment generating the least robust seedlings. Because plastic and natural litter did not differ in their effects on seedling emergence and growth, the litter layer’s short-term influence is primarily physical. These data indicated that as litter cover increased, the initial slightly positive effects on seedling emergence and early growth could shift to inhibitory effects. Furthermore, to penetrate the thick litter layer, Chinese fir seedlings allocated more resources towards stems and aboveground growth at the expense of their roots. This study provided experimental evidence of litter amount as a key ecological factor affecting seedling development and subsequent natural regeneration of Chinese fir.
Cross-Sectional Associations of Serum Perfluoroalkyl Acids and Thyroid Hormones in U.S. Adults: Variation According to TPOAb and Iodine Status (NHANES 2007–2008)

Background: Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFASs) are suspected thyroid toxicants, but results from epidemiological studies are inconsistent. Objectives: We examined associations between serum PFASs and thyroid hormones (THs) in a representative, cross-sectional sample of U.S. adults. We hypothesized that people with high thyroid peroxidase antibodies and low iodine would be more susceptible to PFAS-induced thyroid disruption. Methods: Our sample included 1,525 adults (≥ 18 years) from the 2007–2008 NHANES study with available serum PFASs and THs. We examined associations between four serum PFASs [perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)], and serum THs [free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), fT3/fT4, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total T3 (TT3), and total T4 (TT4)] using multivariable linear regression. We stratified subjects into four groups by two indicators of thyroid “stress”: thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb ≥ 9 IU/mL) and iodine status (< 100 μg/L urine). Results: Of 1,525 participants, 400 (26%) had low iodine only (T0I1), 87 (6%) had high TPOAb only (T1I0), and 26 (2%) had both high TPOAb and low iodine (T1I1). In general, associations were similar among participants in the groups with neither (T0I0) or only one thyroid stressor (T0I1 or T1I0), suggesting that PFAS–TH associations were not modified by high TPOAb or low iodine alone. However, PFHxS and PFOS were negatively associated (p < 0.05) with fT4, and all four PFASs were positively associated (p < 0.05) with fT3, fT3/fT4, TSH, and TT3 in the group with joint exposure to high TPOAb and low iodine (T1I1). Conclusions: We found evidence of PFAS-associated thyroid disruption in a subset of U.S. adults with high TPOAb (a marker of autoimmune hypothyroidism) and low iodine status, who may represent a vulnerable subgroup. However, the small sample size, cross-sectional design, and possibility of reverse causation are limitations of this work. Citation: Webster GM, Rauch SA, Ste Marie N, Mattman A, Lanphear BP, Venners SA. 2016. Cross-sectional associations of serum perfluoroalkyl acids and thyroid hormones in U.S. adults: variation according to TPOAb and iodine status (NHANES 2007–2008). Environ Health Perspect 124:935–942; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/ehp.1409589
Expression of progenitor markers is associated with the functionality of a bioartificial adrenal cortex

Encapsulation of primary bovine adrenocortical cells in alginate is an efficacious model of a bioartificial adrenal cortex. Such a bioartificial adrenal cortex can be used for the restoration of lost adrenal function in vivo as well as for in vitro modeling of the adrenal microenvironment and for investigation of cell–cell interactions in the adrenals. The aim of this work was the optimization of a bioartificial adrenal cortex, that is the generation of a highly productive, self-regenerating, long-term functioning and immune tolerant bioartificial organ. To achieve this, it is necessary that adrenocortical stem and progenitor cells are present in the bioartificial gland, as these undifferentiated cells play important roles in the function of the mature gland. Here, we verified the presence of adrenocortical progenitors in cultures of bovine adrenocortical cells, studied the dynamics of their appearance and growth and determined the optimal time point for cell encapsulation. These procedures increased the functional life span and reduced the immunogenicity of the bioartificial adrenal cortex. This model allows the use of the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist triptorelin, the neuropeptide bombesin, and retinoic acid to alter cell number and the release of cortisol over long periods of time.
Open Access Research

which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Research Ovarian matrix metalloproteinases are differentially regulated during the estrous cycle but not during short photoperiod induced regression in Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) Abstract Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated as mediators for ovarian remodeling events, and are involved with ovarian recrudescence during seasonal breeding cycles in Siberian hamsters. However, involvement of these proteases as the photoinhibited ovary undergoes atrophy and regression had not been assessed. We hypothesized that 1) MMPs and their tissue inhibitors, the TIMPs would be present and differentially regulated during the normal estrous cycle in Siberian hamsters, and that 2) MMP/TIMP mRNA and protein levels would increase as inhibitory photoperiod induced ovarian degeneration. Results: MMP-9 exhibited a 1.6-1.8 fold decrease in mRNA expression in DII (p < 0.05), while all other MMPs and TIMPs tested showed no significant difference in mRNA expression in the estrous cycle. Extent of immunostaining for MMP-2 and-9 peaked in P and E then significantly declined in DI and DII (p < 0.05). Extent of immunostaining for MMP-14, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 was significantly more abundant in P, E, and DI than in DII (p < 0.05). Localization of the MMPs and TIMPs had subtle differences, but immunostaining was predominant in granulosa and theca cells, with significant differences noted in staining intensity between preantral follicles, antral follicles, corpora lutea, and stroma classifications. No significant changes were observed in MMP and TIMP mRNA or extent of protein immunostaining with exposure to 3, 6, 9, or 12 weeks of SD, however protein was present and was localized to follicular and luteal steroidogenic cells. Conclusions: Although MMPs appear to be involved in the normal ovarian estrus cycle at the protein level in hamsters, those examined in the present study are unlikely to be key players in the slow atrophy of tissue as seen in Siberian hamster ovarian regression. Background Normal ovarian function is dependent on a series of tissue remodeling events taking place throughout the reproductive cycle. For a number of species, including Siberian