Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Colorectal cancer susceptibility loci as predictive markers of rectal cancer prognosis after surgery

Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of cancer death. Rectal cancers account for one third of CRC cases. The role and significance of colorectal cancer risk loci in rectal cancer progression has not been investigated. Methods We generated and explored a dataset from 230 rectal cancer patients by gene expression microarray analysis of cancer samples and matched controls, and SNP arrays of germline DNA. Results 8q24 (upstream of MYC) and 18q21 (in the intron of SMAD7), two of the loci most strongly linked with colorectal cancer risk, as well as 20q13 (in the intron of LAMA5), are tightly associated with the prognosis of rectal cancer patients. For SNPs on 18q21 (rs12953717 and rs4464148) and 20q13 (rs4925386), alleles that correlate with higher risk for the development of colorectal cancer are associated with shorter disease free survival. However, for rs6983267 on 8q24, the low risk allele is associated with a higher risk for recurrence and metastasis after surgery, and importantly, is strongly correlated with the resistance of colorectal cancer cell lines to chemoradiotherapy. We also found that although MYC expression is dramatically increased in cancer, patients with higher levels of MYC have a better prognosis. The expression of SMAD7 is weakly correlated with disease free time. Notably, the presence of the 8q24 and 18q21 SNP alleles is not correlated with a change of expression of MYC and SMAD7. rs4464148, and probably rs6983267 and rs4925386, are linked with overall survival time of patients. Conclusions SNPs at three colorectal cancer risk loci detect subpopulations of rectal cancer patients with poor prognosis. rs6983267 probably affects prognosis through interfering with the resistance of cancer cells to chemoradiotherapy.
Effects of long-term supplementation with moderate pharmacologic doses of vitamin E are saturable and reversible in patients with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND Vitamin E supplementation has been proposed as adjunctive therapy to counteract the increased LDL oxidation in diabetes and thus prevent or delay cardiovascular complications. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a moderate pharmacologic dose of vitamin E for </=1 y in patients with type 1 diabetes. DESIGN The study was double blind and the subjects were randomly assigned to 2 groups: the supplemented group (group S; n = 22) received 250 IU (168 mg) RRR-alpha-tocopherol 3 times/d for 1 y and the placebo group (group P; n = 22) received a placebo for 6 mo followed by 250 IU (168 mg) RRR-alpha-tocopherol 3 times/d for an additional 6 mo. RESULTS Serum vitamin E doubled after 3 mo of supplementation, from a mean (+/-SD) of 36.9 +/- 10.9 to 66.4 +/- 18.3 micromol/L (P: < 0.0005). Although lipid profiles, glycated hemoglobin, and blood biochemistry values did not change significantly, copper-induced in vitro peroxidizability of LDL and VLDL decreased after 3 mo of supplementation: the production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances decreased by 30-60% (P: < 0. 005) and the lag time for the appearance of fluorescent products increased from 107 +/- 25 to 123 +/- 30 min in group S (P: = 0.002 compared with group P). Vitamin E supplementation for an additional 3-9 mo resulted in no further changes in serum vitamin E and lipoprotein peroxidizability. Values returned to baseline after supplementation ended. CONCLUSIONS Because the improvement in lipoprotein peroxidizability is saturable and reversible, life-long supplementation with vitamin E should be considered in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Cognitive dietary restraint is associated with higher urinary cortisol excretion in healthy premenopausal women.

BACKGROUND Cognitive dietary restraint, assessed by the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire restraint subscale, is associated with subclinical menstrual cycle disturbances. This association may be mediated by stress-activated cortisol release. OBJECTIVE We assessed whether 24-h urinary cortisol excretion differs between women with high and low restraint scores. DESIGN Participants (aged 21.6+/-2.5 y; n = 62) with normal-length menstrual cycles and high (n = 33) or low (n = 29) restraint scores completed a questionnaire describing weight history, dietary practices, and exercise. Cortisol, calcium, and creatinine were measured in urine collected over 24 h on a day when all food and beverages were provided and measured. Previously, 3-d food records and anthropometric measurements were obtained. RESULTS Age, height, weight, body mass index, and length of menstrual cycle were similar between groups. The reported amount of exercise was higher (3.4+/-1.7 compared with 2.2+/-1.8 h/wk; P<0.05) and energy intakes (assessed from 3-d and 24-h food records) were lower in the high- than in the low-restraint group. Ratios of urinary cortisol (nmol) to creatinine (mmol) were higher in the high-restraint than in the low-restraint group (42.9+/-12.9 compared with 36.3+/-8.9; P<0.05), whereas ratios of urinary calcium (mmol) to creatinine were lower (0.3+/-0.1 compared with 0.4+/-0.2; P<0.05) in the high-restraint group. Urinary cortisol was not associated with exercise, nutrient intakes, or anthropometric measurements. CONCLUSIONS High dietary restraint scores are associated with urinary cortisol, a biological marker of stress, and high cortisol excretion may affect bone health. Our results suggest that further research is warranted to clarify these associations and to determine whether they persist over time.
Effect of Boundary Conditions on the Hydroelastic Vibrations of Two Parallel Plates

This paper presents the results of numerical solution of the 3D spectral problem on natural vibrations of two parallel identical rectangular plates interacting with a quiescent fluid confined between them. Based on the developed finite element algorithm several examples have been considered to analyze the influence of the fluid height and boundary conditions on the natural frequencies and vibration modes.
Vitamin D supplementation and bone mineral density in early postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND Increased vitamin D intake may preserve or increase bone mineral density (BMD) in older persons. OBJECTIVE A 2-y double-blind study was undertaken to determine whether weekly administration of 10 000 units of vitamin D(2) maintained or increased BMD in younger postmenopausal women more efficiently than did calcium supplements alone. DESIGN One hundred eighty-seven women who were >or= 1 y postmenopausal were randomly assigned to take either 1000 mg Ca/d after the evening meal or 1000 mg Ca/d plus 10 000 U vitamin D(2)/wk in a double-blind, placebo-controlled format. The BMD of the proximal forearm, lumbar spine, femoral neck, Ward's triangle, and femoral trochanter was measured at 6-mo intervals by osteodensitometry. RESULTS During the 2-y period, there was no significant difference in the change in BMD at any site between the subjects taking calcium supplements and those taking calcium plus vitamin D(2). Both groups significantly (P < 0.005) gained BMD in Ward's triangle and the femoral trochanter but significantly (P < 0.005) lost bone in the proximal radius. There was no significant change in the lumbar spine or femoral neck BMD. CONCLUSION In younger postmenopausal women ( age: 56 y) whose average baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was well within the normal range, the addition of 10 000 U vitamin D(2)/wk to calcium supplementation at 1000 mg/d did not confer benefits on BMD beyond those achieved with calcium supplementation alone.
IDH1/2 Mutations Predict Shorter Survival in Chondrosarcoma

Background. Recent studies have shown that isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 (IDH1/2)- activating mutations occur in a variety of cancers, including acute myeloid leukaemia, gliomas, and chondrosarcomas (CHS)s. The effect of IDH1/2 mutation on overall survival (OS) has not been reported in CHS. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of known cancer-related gene mutations in CHS, as well as their prognostic role in patient survival. Methods. DNA from FFPE samples of 80 patients (F:M- 1:1.3; mean age: 58 years; range 27-86) with histologically confirmed CHS (G1:29; G2:34; G3:17) was subjected to library preparation with the Ion AmpliSeq Cancer Hotspot Panel v2 and sequenced on the PGM Ion Torrent. Results. Among the clinical features only histological grade influenced OS. Deep sequencing identified 1784 single nucleotide variants. Of them, 426 were considered to be pathogenic or probably pathogenic. Activating IDH1/2 mutations were found in 27 patients (34%) including 17 R132 IDH1 (21%), 10 R172 IDH2 (13%) and 3 R140 IDH2 variants (4%). Three patients had concurrent IDH1 and IDH2 mutations. The R140 IDH2 mutant has not been reported to date in CHS patients. OS for CHS patients with IDH1/2 mutations was significantly lower than in patients without mutations (93% vs 64%; p<0.001). No other genetic feature of the Cancer Hotspot Panel had an impact on OS. Conclusions. In CHS, IDH1/2-mutation status and the histological aggressiveness of the CHS are important predictors for OS. The R140 IDH2 may also be a novel target for the treatment of CHS patients.
The Logic and Realism of the Hypothesis of Exploitation Ecosystems

Hypotheses on trophic dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems fall into two major categories: those in which plants are assumed to be invulnerable to their consumers and those in which the build‐up of plant biomass is assumed to require top‐down control of folivores. The hypothesis of exploitation ecosystems (EEH) belongs to the latter category and focuses particularly on the consequences of the high energetic costs of maintenance of endotherms. Carnivorous endotherms require relatively high prey densities in order to break even. Moreover, they are dependent on folivorous prey during the limiting season, at least at high latitudes. The endotherm branch of the grazing web is thus predicted to collapse from three‐link trophic dynamics (carnivores → folivores → plants → inorganic resources) to two‐link dynamics (folivores → plants → inorganic resources) along gradients of decreasing primary productivity. Consequently, the vegetation of cold and unproductive areas is predicted to be under intense winter grazing pressure, which prevents the accumulation of aboveground plant biomass and excludes erect woody plants. In the most extreme habitats (e.g., polar deserts and their high alpine counterparts), even folivorous endotherms are predicted to be absent, and the scanty vegetation is predicted to be structured by preemptive competition. Within temperature‐determined productivity gradients, EEH is corroborated by biomass patterns, by patterns in the structure and dynamics of carnivore, folivore, and plant communities, and by experimental results. The general idea of top‐down trophic dynamics is supported for other autotroph‐based systems, too, but the relevance and sufficiency of the energy constraint in explaining patterns in trophic dynamics appears to be variable. Moreover, critical empirical evidence for or against the capacity of folivorous insects to regulate plant biomass has not yet been obtained. Another open question is the ability of boreal and temperate browsers, evolved in productive environments with intense predation pressure and abundance of forage, to prevent the regeneration of the least palatable tree species. There are, thus, many open questions waiting to be answered and many exciting experiments waiting to be conducted.
Acute effects of various fast-food meals on vascular function and cardiovascular disease risk markers: the Hamburg Burger Trial.

BACKGROUND High-fat meals have negative effects on endothelial function, but vitamin-rich side orders may prevent these negative effects. OBJECTIVE The acute effects of conventional and alternative fast-food meals on vascular function and various cardiovascular biomarkers were investigated. DESIGN In a crossover study, flow-mediated endothelium-dependent dilatation (FMD) and cardiovascular disease risk markers were investigated in 24 healthy volunteers before and 2 and 4 h after 3 fast-food meals: a conventional beef burger with French fries, ketchup, and carbonated lemon-flavored soda (meal 1); a vegetarian burger with French fries, ketchup, and carbonated lemon-flavored soda (meal 2); and a vegetarian burger with salad, fruit, yogurt, and orange juice (meal 3). RESULTS FMD decreased after all 3 fast-food meals: the values were 9.7 +/- 2.5%, 7.5 +/- 3.5%, and 6.2 +/- 3.3% for meal 1; 9.2 +/- 3.4%, 7.1 +/- 3.4%, and 6.3 +/- 4.0% for meal 2; and 8.8 +/- 3.3%, 6.2 +/- 4.0%, and 6.8 +/- 4.3% for meal 3 at baseline, 2 h, and 4 h, respectively. There were significant intraindividual differences for time (P < 0.001) but not for type of meal (P = 0.677). A postprandial increase in baseline diameter of the brachial artery was significant for time (P < 0.001) but not for type of meal (P = 0.148). CONCLUSIONS Against common expectations, a conventional beef burger meal and presumably healthier alternatives with or without vitamin-rich side orders did not differ significantly in their acute effects on vascular reactivity. The frequently reported postprandial decline in FMD may be attributed in part to a postprandial increase in baseline arterial diameter.
Low Normalized Grip Strength is a Biomarker for Cardiometabolic Disease and Physical Disabilities Among U.S. and Chinese Adults

Background Evidence highlights the importance of muscular strength as a protective factor for health and function across aging populations. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which low normalized grip strength (NGS) serves as a biomarker for both cardiometabolic disease and physical disability in U.S. and Chinese adults. Methods Middle aged and older adults from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 combined surveys (n = 4,544), and the 2011 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (n = 6,030) were included. Strength was assessed using a handgrip dynamometer, and was normalized to body mass. Weighted logistic regression models were used to assess the association between NGS and diabetes, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol, hypertension, and physical disability status, while controlling for age, sex, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results Every 0.05 lower NGS was independently associated with a 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42-1.56) and 1.17 (95% CI: 1.11-1.23) odds for diabetes; a 1.46 (95% CI: 1.39-1.53) and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.07-1.15) odds of hyperglycemia; a 1.15 (95% CI: 1.07-1.25) and 1.11 (95% CI: 1.08-1.14) odds of hypertriglyceridemia; a 1.22 (95% CI: 1.17-1.27) and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.12-1.18) odds of low HDL-cholesterol; a 1.19 (95% CI: 1.14-1.24) and 1.10 (95% CI: 1.07-1.14) odds of hypertension; and a 1.36 (95% CI: 1.29-1.42) and 1.10 (95% CI: 1.05-1.15) odds for physical disability status in U.S. and Chinese adults, respectively. Conclusions NGS was robustly associated with both cardiometabolic disease risk and physical disabilities in U.S. and Chinese aging adults.
Essential dietary amino acids for growth of larvae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L.

Larvae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. , have been used to evaluate nutritional quality of proteins and protein isolates. However, such investigations have been complicated by lack of knowledge of dietary requirements of the larvae. To determine essential dietary amino acids for growth of Tenebrio molitor, single amino acids were deleted from the amino acid mixture of the diet. Diets were maintained isonitrogenous with supplementary glycine and, in the case of deleted glycine, with glutamic acid. Growth, as measured by gain in weight, and survival were observed over a 4-week period at 27 plus or minus 0.25 degrees and 65 plus or minus 5% relative humidity. The results indicate that larvae of Tenebrio molitor require a dietary source of the same 10 amino acids essential for growth in rats, other vertebrates, and some protozoa. They also showed that serine, tyrosine, glutamic acid, and possibly glycine were dispensable for growth in this insect. Alanine, cystine, proline, and aspartic acid appeared semidispensable. Survival over the 4-week experimental period was unaffected by deleting amino acids from the diet. The results are discussed in relation to amino acid requirements of other insects and to suggested improvement of the diet of the present investigation.
Large-scale impacts of sea star wasting disease (SSWD) on intertidal sea stars and implications for recovery

Disease outbreaks can have substantial impacts on wild populations, but the often patchy or anecdotal evidence of these impacts impedes our ability to understand outbreak dynamics. Recently however, a severe disease outbreak occurred in a group of very well-studied organisms–sea stars along the west coast of North America. We analyzed nearly two decades of data from a coordinated monitoring effort at 88 sites ranging from southern British Columbia to San Diego, California along with 2 sites near Sitka, Alaska to better understand the effects of sea star wasting disease (SSWD) on the keystone intertidal predator, Pisaster ochraceus. Quantitative surveys revealed unprecedented declines of P. ochraceus in 2014 and 2015 across nearly the entire geographic range of the species. The intensity of the impact of SSWD was not uniform across the affected area, with proportionally greater population declines in the southern regions relative to the north. The degree of population decline was unrelated to pre-outbreak P. ochraceus density, although these factors have been linked in other well-documented disease events. While elevated seawater temperatures were not broadly linked to the initial emergence of SSWD, anomalously high seawater temperatures in 2014 and 2015 might have exacerbated the disease’s impact. Both before and after the onset of the SSWD outbreak, we documented higher recruitment of P. ochraceus in the north than in the south, and while some juveniles are surviving (as evidenced by transition of recruitment pulses to larger size classes), post-SSWD survivorship is lower than during pre-SSWD periods. In hindsight, our data suggest that the SSWD event defied prediction based on two factors found to be important in other marine disease events, sea water temperature and population density, and illustrate the importance of surveillance of natural populations as one element of an integrated approach to marine disease ecology. Low levels of SSWD-symptomatic sea stars are still present throughout the impacted range, thus the outlook for population recovery is uncertain.
Effect of lifestyle intervention on metabolic coronary heart disease risk factors in obese older adults.

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors increase with age and body mass index (BMI; in kg/m2). However, whether lifestyle intervention ameliorates metabolic CHD risk factors in obese older adults is unknown. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine whether lifestyle intervention improves metabolic CHD risk factors in obese older adults. DESIGN A 6-mo outpatient randomized controlled trial was conducted in obese (BMI >or= 30) older (>or=65 y) adults randomly assigned to diet and exercise therapy (treatment group; n = 17) or no therapy (control group; n = 10). The main outcomes were CHD risk factors. RESULTS Body weight decreased by 8.4% (8.2 kg) in the treatment group; weight did not change significantly (0.7 kg) in the control group (P < 0.001 between groups). Changes between the control and treatment groups, respectively, in waist circumference (1 and -10 cm), plasma glucose (4 and -4 mg/dL), serum triacylglycerols (0 and -45 mg/dL), and systolic (-2 and -10 mm Hg) and diastolic (0 and -8 mm Hg) blood pressure were different (P < 0.05 for all). The number of subjects with the metabolic syndrome decreased by 59% in the treatment group but did not change significantly in the control group (P < 0.05). Serum free fatty acids increased by 10 micromol/L in the control group and decreased by 99 micromol/L in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Changes between the control and treatment groups, respectively, in C-reactive protein (0.8 and -2.5 mg/L) and interleukin 6 (1.6 and -2.4 pg/mL) were different (P < 0.05 for both). CONCLUSIONS Lifestyle intervention decreases multiple metabolic CHD risk factors simultaneously in obese older adults.
The Path to Memory Is Guided by Strategy: Distinct Networks Are Engaged in Associative Encoding under Visual and Verbal Strategy and Influence Memory Performance in Healthy and Impaired Individuals

Given the diversity of stimuli encountered in daily life, a variety of strategies must be used for learning new information. Relating and encoding visual and verbal stimuli into memory has been probed using various tasks and stimulus types. Engagement of specific subsequent memory and cortical processing regions depends on the stimulus modality of studied material; however, it remains unclear whether different encoding strategies similarly influence regional activity when stimulus type is held constant. In this study, participants encoded object pairs using a visual or verbal associative strategy during fMRI, and subsequent memory was assessed for pairs encoded under each strategy. Each strategy elicited distinct regional processing and subsequent memory effects: middle/superior frontal, lateral parietal, and lateral occipital for visually associated pairs and inferior frontal, medial frontal, and medial occipital for verbally associated pairs. This regional selectivity mimics the effects of stimulus modality, suggesting that cortical involvement in associative encoding is driven by strategy and not simply by stimulus type. The clinical relevance of these findings, probed in a patient with a recent aphasic stroke, suggest that training with strategies utilizing unaffected cortical regions might improve memory ability in patients with brain damage.
Non-seatbelt use and associated factors among passengers

Seatbelt use is the most effective way to save lives and reduce severe injuries. However, the percentage of non-seatbelt use is still high among drivers and passengers. Although the factors related to non-seatbelt use among drivers have been widely studied, the factors associated with non-seatbelt use among passengers have not been well documented. In addition, recent surveys showed that the driver's attitude has a significant impact on the passenger's seatbelt use. However, the lower response rate and less accurate of self-reported seatbelt use in survey studies, especially among participants who had a high level perception of penalty for non-seatbelt use. Therefore, we examined the association between passenger's seatbelt use and driver's seatbelt use with a statewide injury surveillance system. 36,012 passengers who were involved in motor vehicle crashes (MVC) in 2004–2013 were included in this study. Our results showed that if a driver wore a seatbelt, 92.6% of his/her passengers also wore seatbelts while if a driver did not wear a seatbelt, only 19.1% of his/her passengers wore seatbelts. Compared to the passenger whose driver wore a seatbelt, the passenger had a significantly higher probability of non-seatbelt use (odds ratio = 46.7; 95% confidence intervals, 42.7–51.1) if his/her driver did not wear a seatbelt. The driver has the greatest influence on the passenger's seatbelt use. The findings will provide important information for future public health practices to increase seatbelt use at the highest possible rate for passengers, such as educational interventions for drivers and seatbelt reminders use.