Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Association of Peritoneal Transport Properties with 24-Hour Blood Pressure Levels in Capd Patients

← Objectives We aimed to investigate the effects of peritoneal transport characteristics on blood pressure (BP) parameters, measured by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), and on the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. ← Design Cross-sectional and prospective design. ← Setting Tertiary-care center. ← Patients 25 CAPD patients (11 male, 14 female; mean age 47 ± 14 years) were included. Mean time on CAPD was 22.9 ± 18 months and all patients had been dialyzed for more than 6 months. The patients were divided into high, high-average, low-average, and low transport groups according to peritoneal equilibration test results. ← Main Outcome Measures Daytime and nighttime systolic and diastolic BP and left ventricular mass index among the different peritoneal transport groups; changes in BP parameters before and after increase in ultrafiltration. ← Results On 24-hour ABPM records, 13 patients (52%) were found to be hypertensive. Both mean systolic and diastolic BP were significantly increased in high-transporter groups compared to low transporters in both daytime and nighttime BP parameters. Left ventricular mass index was higher in high transporters compared to low transporters, without reaching statistical significance: 160 ± 23 vs 119 ± 41 g/m2, p > 0.05. Following increase in ultrafiltration, mean systolic (145 ± 13 vs 128 ± 5 mmHg, p < 0.001) and diastolic (96 ± 10 vs 81 ± 3 mm Hg, p < 0.001) BP decreased, and BP levels returned to normotensive levels in 6 (46%) of the 13 hypertensive patients, requiring discontinuation of antihypertensive drugs. ← Conclusion Improvement in volume status resulted in a decrease in both daytime and nighttime BP. Differences in peritoneal transport properties were associated with the development of hypertension and LVH.
Methylation contributes to imbalance of PRDM1α/PRDM1bβ expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

The positive regulatory domain 1 (PRDM1) exists as two isoforms: PRDM1α and PRDM1β. The former is frequently inactivated, while the latter is overexpressed in a subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). To investigate the possible epigenetic alteration of PRDM1α and PRDM1β expression, the methylation of these two promoter isoforms was assessed in B lymphoma cell lines and DLBCL samples. Hypomethylation of PRDM1β CpG islands was preferentially detected in lymphoma cells. However, both high and low methylation of PRDM1α CpG islands was simultaneously observed in cases of DLBCL compared with the moderate methylation of non-tumor cases. CpG 16–21-specific high methylation was correlated with low expression of PRDM1α in PRDM1β-positive DLBCL samples. Three increased and one decreased miRNAs were significantly different between cases of DLBCL and non-tumor reactive hyperplasia. Thus, our results indicate that aberrant methylation silencing of PRDM1α and hypomethylation activation of PRDM1β are frequent events in DLBCL.
Pre-clinical safety testing supporting clinical use of allogeneic multipotent adult progenitor cells.

BACKGROUND Successful clinical development of novel cellular therapeutics requires the evaluation of clinical acute toxicity endpoints in scoring patient adverse events (AE) contributing to dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) for establishment of the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD). However, many clinical pathology parameters are not routinely evaluated in pre-clinical safety testing. The objective of this pre-clinical study was to investigate thoroughly the acute toxicity of single- and multiple-dose administrations of allogeneic multipotent adult progenitor cells (MultiStem), which represent a class of stromal stem cells with therapeutic potential. METHODS MultiStem were tested as an adjunct treatment in a rat myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) model for impact on clinical parameters, clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology and histopathology parameters. Animals received MultiStem in a single dose of 12.5 million cells/kg on day 2 after HSCT or in five infusions at this dose on days 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. Controls received phosphate-buffered saline injections and all animals were killed on day 37. RESULTS There were no significant differences between tests and controls regarding evaluation of respiratory distress upon infusion, clinical assessment and hematology and clinical chemistry analysis. Gross necropsy and histopathology analysis showed no organ profile alterations. There was no significant evidence for allogeneic antibody production or T-cell sensitization upon MultiStem infusion. DISCUSSION These studies demonstrate the safety of administration of allogeneic stromal stem cells in repeat dosing regimens in bone marrow transplant settings, and define pre-clinical safety testing standards relevant to the development of cellular therapeutics using allogeneic adherent adult stem cells.
Reciprocal Interactions Between Microglia and Neurons: From Survival to Neuropathology

Microglia represent a major cellular component of the brain, where they constitute a widely distributed network of immunoprotective cells. During the last decades, it has become clear that the functions traditionally ascribed to microglia, i.e. to dispose of dead cells and debris and to mediate brain inflammatory states, are only a fraction of a much wider repertoire of functions spanning from brain development to aging and neuropathology. The aim of the present survey is to critically discuss some of these functions, focusing in particular on the reciprocal microglia-neuron interactions and on the complex signaling systems subserving them. We consider first some of the functional interactions dealing with invasion, proliferation and migration of microglia as well as with the establishment of the initial blueprint of neural circuits in the developing brain. The signals related to the suppression of immunological properties of microglia by neurons in the healthy brain, and the derangement from this physiological equilibrium in aging and diseases, are then examined. Finally, we make a closer examination of the reciprocal signaling between damaged neurons and microglia and, on these bases, we propose that microglial activation, consequent to neuronal injury, is primarily aimed at neuroprotection. The loss of specific communication between damaged neurons and microglia is viewed as responsible for the turning of microglia to a hyperactivated state, which allows them to escape neuronal control and to give rise to persistent inflammation, resulting in exacerbation of neuropathology. The data surveyed here point at microglial-neuron interactions as the basis of a complex network of signals conveying messages with high information content and regulating the most important aspects of brain function. This network shares similar features with some fundamental principles governing the activity of brain circuits: it is provided with memory and it continuously evolves in relation to the flow of time and information.
Chronic effects of imipramine and lithium on 5-HT receptor subtypes in rat frontal cortex, hippocampus and choroid plexus: quantitative receptor autoradiographic analysis.

The effects of chronic treatment with imipramine or lithium on serotonin (5-HT) receptor subtypes were analyzed in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and choroid plexus of rat brain by quantitative receptor autoradiographic procedures, using radioligands [3H]-5-HT, [3H]-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin ([3H]-8-OH-DPAT), [125I]-iodocyanopindolol ([125I]-CYP), [3H]-mesulergine and [125I]-7-amino-8-iodo-ketanserin ([125I]-ketanserin) or [3H]-spiperone. Chronic i.p. administration of imipramine (20 mg/kg/day for 21 days) decreased the densities of 5-HT1, 5-HT1A, 5-HT1C and 5-HT2 sites in the frontal cortex, hippocampus and choroid plexus. Lithium (2 mEq/kg/day for 21 days) also decreased the densities of 5-HT1, 5-HT1C and 5-HT2 sites in the frontal cortex, and the densities of those including 5-HT1A sites in the hippocampus and choroid plexus. Imipramine and lithium very markedly decreased the density of 5-HT1C sites in the choroid plexus. We propose that methods employing quantitative receptor autoradiographic analysis can be used to characterize and understand the local effects of these drugs on 5-HT receptor subtypes.
Adolescent dietary patterns are associated with lifestyle and family psycho-social factors

Abstract Objective Dietary intake during adolescence contributes to lifelong eating habits and the development of early risk factors for disease in adulthood. Few studies have examined the dietary patterns of adolescents and the social and environmental factors that may affect them during this life stage. The present study describes dietary patterns in a cohort of adolescents and examines their associations with socio-economic factors, as well as parental and adolescent risk factor behaviours. Design A semi-quantitative FFQ was used to assess study adolescents’ usual dietary intake over the previous year. Information was collected on family functioning and various socio-economic and risk factor variables via questionnaire. Adolescents visited the study clinic for anthropometric measurements. Setting The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort Study (Raine Study), Perth, Western Australia. Subjects Adolescents (n 1631) aged 14 years from a pregnancy cohort study. Results Factor analysis identified two distinct dietary patterns that differed predominantly in fat and sugar intakes. The ‘Western’ pattern consisted of high intakes of take-away foods, soft drinks, confectionery, French fries, refined grains, full-fat dairy products and processed meats. The ‘healthy’ pattern included high intakes of whole grains, fruit, vegetables, legumes and fish. ANOVA showed that the ‘Western’ dietary pattern was positively associated with greater television viewing and having a parent who smoked, and was inversely associated with family income. The ‘healthy’ pattern was positively associated with female gender, greater maternal education, better family functioning and being in a two-parent family, and was inversely associated with television viewing. Conclusions The study suggests that both lifestyle factors and family psycho-social environment are related to dietary patterns in Australian adolescents.
Response Variables for Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Conservation Corridors

Many studies have evaluated effectiveness of corridors by measuring species presence in and movement through small structural corridors. However, few studies have assessed whether these response variables are adequate for assessing whether the conservation goals of the corridors have been achieved or considered the costs or lag times involved in measuring the response variables. We examined 4 response variables—presence of the focal species in the corridor, interpatch movement via the corridor, gene flow, and patch occupancy—with respect to 3 criteria—relevance to conservation goals, lag time (fewest generations at which a positive response to the corridor might be evident with a particular variable), and the cost of a study when applying a particular variable. The presence variable had the least relevance to conservation goals, no lag time advantage compared with interpatch movement, and only a moderate cost advantage over interpatch movement or gene flow. Movement of individual animals between patches was the most appropriate response variable for a corridor intended to provide seasonal migration, but it was not an appropriate response variable for corridor dwellers, and for passage species it was only moderately relevant to the goals of gene flow, demographic rescue, and recolonization. Response variables related to gene flow provided a good trade‐off among cost, relevance to conservation goals, and lag time. Nonetheless, the lag time of 10–20 generations means that evaluation of conservation corridors cannot occur until a few decades after a corridor has been established. Response variables related to occupancy were most relevant to conservation goals, but the lag time and costs to detect corridor effects on occupancy were much greater than the lag time and costs to detect corridor effects on gene flow.
Why Do People Stop Treating Contaminated Drinking Water With Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS)?

Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) is a simple method designed to treat microbiologically contaminated drinking water at household level. This article characterizes relapse behavior in comparison with continued SODIS use after a 7-month nonpromotion period. In addition, different subtypes among relapsers and continuers were assumed to diverge mainly in their intention to use SODIS and their degree of cognition intensity. Data were taken from a longitudinal SODIS promotion study. Cluster analyses were applied to find subtypes among 166 relapsers and 123 continuers. Overall relapsers have lower values for all psychological variables compared to overall continuers. A low-value and a high-value relapser subtype as well as a low-value and a high-value continuer subtype were found. Low-value relapsers differ from high-value relapsers in one central belief (taste), in affective connotation, social norms, and dissonance. Interestingly, high-value relapsers have values almost as high as low-value continuers, differing only in their degree of habit. Only high-value continuers seem to be stable and did not show a decrease in critical habit variables over time. The different subtypes are placed along the behavior change process, and possible interventions for each type are highlighted.
Weak support for a U-shaped pattern between societal gender equality and fertility when comparing societies across tim

: A number of recent theories in demography suggest a U-shaped relationship between gender equality and fertility. Fertility is theorized to be high in societies with low levels of gender equality, as well as societies with high gender equality, with lower fertility in a transition phase. This study estimates the relationship between gender equality (as operationalized through female political empowerment) and fertility within societies over time, using yearly information on gender equality and fertility for 35 countries. When examining societies across time there is no evidence of a U-shaped relationship between gender equality and fertility. In cross-sectional analyses across countries for recent periods such a U-shaped relationship can be observed. For within-society analyses a negative relationship is clear at lower levels of gender equality, while no pattern can be observed in more gender equal societies. Theories that fertility would increase following increasing gender equality are not supported for changes over time within countries. Implications and robustness of the findings are discussed.
Entrepreneurial Human Capital and Firm Dynamics

This paper shows that entrepreneurial human capital is a key driver of firm dynamics using administrative panel data on the universe of firms and workers in Portugal. Firms started by more educated entrepreneurs are larger at entry and exhibit higher life cycle growth. Consistent with an effect on growth, the thickness of the right tail of the size distribution increases with entrepreneur schooling. The evidence points to several underlying mechanisms, with technology adoption playing the most important part. I develop and estimate a model of firm dynamics that can parsimoniously account for these findings, and use it to draw aggregate implications. Accounting for the effect of entrepreneurial human capital on firm dynamics can substantially increase aggregate returns to schooling and the fraction of cross-country income differences explained by human and physical capital.
Compensatory deficits following rejection: the role of social anxiety in disrupting affiliative behavior

Background: Managing perceived or actual social rejection is an important facet of meeting basic needs for affiliation. Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is characterized by significant distress and debilitation relating to affiliation and recent work suggests higher levels of social anxiety symptoms may adversely affect responses to social rejection. This study examined emotional and behavioral responding to a social rejection stressor to explore whether social anxiety moderates the effects of social rejection on prosocial compensatory behaviors. Methods: Individuals (N=37) evaluated on social anxiety symptoms were assigned to either a social rejection condition or control condition. Results: Consistent with expectation, rejection promoted renewed interest in connecting with sources of positive social interaction among participants low in social anxiety. Participants with higher levels of social anxiety, however, failed to react to rejection in a positive or prosocial manner and exhibited some evidence of negative social responses. Conclusions: Such differential compensatory responding could have important implications for the genesis, maintenance, and treatment of SAD. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Actin polymerization overshoots induced by plus-end capping

Transient polymerization beyond the steady state has been experimentally observed in in vitro actin polymerization time courses. These ‘polymerization overshoots’ have previously been described in terms of the time-dependent probabilities for binding distinct nucleotide hydrolysis states within subunits near the plus ends of actin filaments. We demonstrate a different type of overshoot dynamics where the plus-end contribution to polymerization steadily decreases relative to that of the minus end. This decrease occurs due to plus-end capping of an initial impulse of rapidly created actin filaments. We calculate the contribution of these dynamics to observed overshoot magnitudes using rate equations describing the concentration of polymerized actin. We find this contribution is highly sensitive to both initial filament concentration and plus-end capping rate. We develop an analytic formula that describes the magnitude of the overshoot as a function of these two key parameters. The overshoots we describe could be observed by current experimental methods for studying the effects of severing and branching mechanisms upon actin polymerization in the presence of plus-end capping and rapid nucleotide exchange. We also present a plausible cellular mechanism that could greatly amplify these overshoots in vivo.
Community analysis of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Ammophila arenaria in Dutch coastal sand dunes

A polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) approach for the detection and characterization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was developed and applied to the study of AMF communities associated with the main sand‐stabilizing plant species of the Dutch sand dunes, marram grass (Ammophila arenaria, L.). DNA was extracted directly from plant roots, soil or isolated AMF spores, and prominent bands resulting from AMF‐specific DGGE profiles were excised for sequence analysis. This strategy provided a robust means of detecting and identifying AMF‐like species without the use of trap plant cultivation methods. A number of Glomus‐like and Scutellospora‐like sequences was detected, including a putatively novel Glomus species, and differences were observed in the dominant AMF‐like populations detected in healthy vs. degenerating stands of A. arenaria and in bulk sand dune soil. It has previously been suggested that plant pathogens, such as fungi and nematodes, may contribute to the decline of A. arenaria. Although no causal relationship can be drawn between the observed differences in the dominantly detected AMF‐like populations and the vitality of plant growth, these results indicate that mutualistic interactions between this plant and AMF should not be overlooked when examining the role of soil‐borne microorganisms in vegetation dynamics. In addition, there were discrepancies observed between the AMF‐like groups detected in spore populations vs. direct 18S rDNA analysis of root material, corroborating previous suggestions that spore inspection alone may poorly represent actual AMF population structure.
Ramifications of Risk Measures in Implementing Quantitative Performance Assessment for the Proposed Radioactive Waste Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA

As part of its preparation to review a potential license application from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is examining the performance of the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. In this regard, we evaluated postclosure repository performance using Monte Carlo analyses with an NRC‐developed system model that has 950 input parameters, of which 330 are sampled to represent system uncertainties. The quantitative compliance criterion for dose was established by NRC to protect inhabitants who might be exposed to any releases from the repository. The NRC criterion limits the peak‐of‐the‐mean dose, which in our analysis is estimated by averaging the potential exposure at any instant in time for all Monte Carlo realizations, and then determining the maximum value of the mean curve within 10,000 years, the compliance period. This procedure contrasts in important ways with a more common measure of risk based on the mean of the ensemble of peaks from each Monte Carlo realization. The NRC chose the former (peak‐of‐the‐mean) because it more correctly represents the risk to an exposed individual. Procedures for calculating risk in the expected case of slow repository degradation differ from those for low‐probability cases of disruption by external forces such as volcanism. We also explored the possibility of risk dilution (i.e., lower calculated risk) that could result from arbitrarily defining wide probability distributions for certain parameters. Finally, our sensitivity analyses to identify influential parameters used two approaches: (1) the ensemble of doses from each Monte Carlo realization at the time of the peak risk (i.e., peak‐of‐the‐mean) and (2) the ensemble of peak doses calculated from each realization within 10,000 years. The latter measure appears to have more discriminatory power than the former for many parameters (based on the greater magnitude of the sensitivity coefficient), but can yield different rankings, especially for parameters that influence the timing of releases.
New food components and gastrointestinal health

Apart from its main functions of digestion, absorption and faecal processing, the human gastrointestinal tract has a complex pattern of muscular activity regulated by a largely autonomous nervous system, and its various organs contain large concentrations of immune and endocrine tissues. Any failure of these closely-integrated systems can lead to diseases ranging from the mildly irritating to the life threatening. Food contains a huge variety of chemical species, many of which are biologically active, and the distal regions of the gut are colonised by a rich and metabolically-active commensal flora that depend on nutrients derived ultimately from the host’s dietary residues. The present paper explores the evidence for significant effects of food ingredients on functional bowel disorders, intestinal infections, and aspects of epithelial cell physiology involved in the development of colo-rectal neoplasia. Various strategies, including the manipulation of the colo-rectal microflora with pre- and probiotics, and the development of new products and plant varieties containing biologically-active constituents, have the potential to underpin the development of novel functional food products. However, these products will need to be based on proven biological principles, and fully tested for efficacy and safety. The rapidly-developing fields of functional genomics and cell biology will open up new experimental strategies to explore these possibilities, and emerging processing technologies seem likely to provide novel methods for their exploitation.