Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dietary Practices and Nutritional Profile of Female Nurses from Government Hospitals in Delhi, India

Background: Nursing is a demanding profession and nurses face a considerable degree of stress at work that can adversely influence their dietary practices and nutritional status. The current study was designed to conduct a preliminary investigation of the dietary practices and nutritional profile of nurses from government hospitals in Delhi. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 80 female nurses aged between 25 and 39 years from government hospitals. Data on demographic profile and dietary practices were gathered using a questionnaire-cum-interview schedule. Nutrient intake of the participants was determined using a 2-day 24-hour diet recall method, and adequacy of intake of nutrients was assessed using the Nutrient Adequacy Ratio approach. Weight, height, and waist circumference were recorded and the body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were computed. Results: Findings revealed that though majority of nurses were involved in rotating shift duties in their hospitals, more than two-thirds of them had more or less appropriate dietary practices. Intake of most nutrients, except iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12, dietary folate, and riboflavin ranged from fairly adequate to adequate among nearly 85% of the nurses. Approximately 70% of the nurses were categorized as overweight and obese and had a WHtR above 0.52. Conclusions: The study indicated that most female nurses in government hospitals in Delhi had appropriate dietary practices and nutrient intakes but still had high BMI and WHtR, which increased their vulnerability to health problems.
Extended Amygdala and Basal Forebrain

Abstract: The basal forebrain is a confluence of systems that are crucial to understanding some of the most important functions of the brain, including reward and punishment, learning and cognition, and feeding and reproduction. Basic to understanding this broad spectrum of behavior is untangling the interwoven functional systems in basal forebrain. This has been grounded by the appreciation that the major nearby structures, that is, amygdala and basal ganglia, provide a context for interpreting basal forebrain areas that are best viewed as extensions of either of these larger regions. The components of basal forebrain, the ventral striatopallidal system and the medial and central divisions of extended amygdala, are subcortical relays for information garnered from brain stem, thalamus, and cortical areas. With respect to the classically defined amygdala of the temporal lobe, the lateral‐basolateral complex, and the superficial amygdaloid nuclei may tentatively be viewed as specialized cortical regions. Their output targets both the striatopallidal complex and the extended amygdala, with some of the most massive basal forebrain efferents originating in the basolateral amygdaloid complex. The subcortical projections of the basolateral nucleus, at least in the rat, appear to be dichotomous, with anterior (or magnocellular) portions of the nucleus preferentially targeting striatum and ventral striatum (including the core of the nucleus accumbens), while the posterior (small‐celled) portions of the basolateral nucleus target the extended amygdala as well as the shell of the nucleus accumbens. This divergence represents a particular opportunity for behavioral neuroscientists analyzing basal forebrain functions. Studies exploiting the dual subcortical projection of basolateral amygdala indicate distinct functional roles for striatum versus extended amygdala. These reinforce the identification of extended amygdala as a functional‐anatomical entity distinct from the striatopallidal system.
BAFF and TACI Gene Expression Are Increased in Patients with Untreated Very Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective. B cells play important roles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Given the beneficial effect of B cell depletion therapy in RA as well as the observed alterations in B cell subpopulations in this disease, we evaluated whether changes in the expression of genes related to B cell survival and activation were already present in patients with untreated very early RA (VERA; < 6 weeks of disease duration). Methods. The expression of a group of B cell-related activation and survival genes was quantified in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with VERA by real-time PCR and compared with untreated early RA (< 1 year), established treated RA, and other untreated early arthritis conditions. Serum B cell-activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) was quantified by ELISA. Results. BAFF gene expression and serum levels were highest in patients with VERA. The expression of BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) increased with disease progression, while transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor (TACI) was elevated since the first weeks of RA onset. Paired box 5 gene expression was also increased at all RA stages. Chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 5 was elevated only in established RA. No differences were observed in B cell maturation antigen, activation-induced cytidine deaminase, B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein, and B cell lymphoma 2 expression. Conclusion. Disturbances in the expression of B cell-related activation and survival genes, particularly BAFF and TACI, occur from the onset of RA and precede changes in BAFF-R. These alterations can lead to the development of autoreactive B cells from the first weeks of RA onset.
Gellified Emulsion of Ofloxacin for Transdermal Drug Delivery System

Purpose: Ofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone with broad-spectrum antibacterial action, used in treatment of systemic and local infections. Ofloxacin is BCS class II drug having low solubility, high permeability with short half-life. The present work was aimed to design, develop and optimize gellified emulsion of Ofloxacin to provide site targeted drug delivery. Transdermal drug delivery will enhance the bioavailability of the drug giving controlled drug release. Methods: Transdermal drug delivery system was designed with gelling agent (Carbopol 940 and HPMC K100M), oil phase (oleic acid) and emulsifying agent (Tween 80: Span 80). Effect of concentration of gelling agent on release of drug from transdermal delivery was studied by 32 factorial design. Emulgel was evaluated for physical appearance, pH, drug content, viscosity, spreadability, antimicrobial activity, in- vitro diffusion study and ex-vivo diffusion study. Results: FE-SEM study of the emulsion batch B5 has revealed formation of emulsion globules of approximately size 6-8 µm with -11.2 mV zeta potential showing good stability for the emulsion. Carbopol 940 had shown greater linear effect on drug release and viscosity of the formulations due to its high degree of gelling. In-vitro diffusion study through egg membrane had shown 88.58±1.82 % drug release for optimized batch F4. Ex-vivo diffusion study through goat skin indicated 76.68 ± 2.52% drug release. Conclusion: Controlled release Ofloxacin emulgel exhibiting good in-vitro and ex-vivo drug release proving good antimicrobial property was formulated.
Sources and properties of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins containing apoB-48 and apoB-100 in postprandial blood plasma of patients with primary combined hyperlipidemia DOI 10.1194/jlr.M100435-JLR200

Although editing of apolipoprotein (apo)B in the small intestine, yielding apoB-48, is thought to be nearly complete in adult humans, small amounts of intestinal apoB-100 may also be produced. We have evaluated the fraction of unedited apoB secreted from the intestine postprandially in subjects with primary combined hyperlipidemia, a disorder in which secretion of apoB-100 into the blood is increased. Three hours after these subjects and healthy controls were fed a fat-rich meal containing retinol, the distribution of retinyl esters (RE) between plasma triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) fractions containing apoB-100 and apoB-48 was measured under conditions minimizing transfer of RE between lipoprotein particles. The estimated maximal percentage of unedited intestinal apoB-100 (∼3%) was not increased in subjects with primary combined hyperlipidemia, suggesting that reduced editing of intestinal mRNA does not contribute to the pathogenesis of this disorder. Postprandially, the triglyceride content of TRL containing apoB-48 more than doubled, leading to a 20% increase in mean diameter, yet the surface concentration of phospholipids and soluble apolipoproteins (apoE and total apoC) was unchanged. Furthermore, the surface concentrations of these components did not differ among TRL containing apoB-48 and two smaller fractions of apoB-100 TRL with distinct immunoreactivities. These findings suggest that available surface area is a major determinant of the particle content of each of these surface components of TRL species of differing size and origin.
Identification of MHC I class genes in two Platyrrhini species

The major histocompatibility complex is a diverse gene family that plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune system. In humans, the MHC class I genes consist of the classical loci of HLA‐A, ‐B, and ‐C, and the nonclassical loci HLA‐E, ‐F, and ‐G. In Platyrrhini species, few MHC class I genes have been described so far and were classified as MHC‐E, MHC‐F, and MHC‐G, with MHC‐G possibly representing a classical MHC class I locus while there were arguments about the existence of the MHC‐B locus in Platyrrhini. In this study, MHC class I genes were identified in eight common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) and two brown‐headed spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps). For common marmosets, 401 cDNA sequences were sequenced and 18 alleles were detected, including 14 Caja‐G alleles and 4 Caja‐B alleles. Five to eleven Caja‐G alleles and one to three Caja‐B alleles were detected in each animal. For brown‐headed spider monkeys, 102 cDNA sequences were analyzed, and 9 new alleles were identified, including 5 Atfu‐G and 4 Atfu‐B alleles. Two or three Atfu‐G and two Atfu‐B alleles were obtained for each of animal. In phylogenetic analyses, the MHC‐G and ‐B alleles from the two species and other Platyrrhini species show locus‐specific clusters with bootstrap values of 86% and 50%. The results of pairwise sequence comparisons and an excess of non‐synonymous nucleotide substitutions in the PBR region are consistent with the suggestion that Caja‐G and Atfu‐G may be classical MHC class I loci in the Platyrrhini species… But it appears that MHC‐B locus of the two Platyrrhini species shares features with both classical and nonclasical MHC class I loci. Our results are an important addition to the limited MHC immunogenetic information available for the Platyrrhini species. Am. J. Primatol. 77:527–534, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Serotoninergic axonal contacts on identified cat spinal dorsal horn neurons and their correlation with nucleus raphe magnus stimulation

This study examined the distribution of serotoninergic (5‐HT) immunoreactive axonal contacts on spinal laminae I and II neurons by combining the intracellular horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method with immunocytochemistry. In addition, the 5‐HT distribution was correlated with effects produced by electrical stimulation within the nucleus raphe magnus (NRM). Responses of lamina I neurons and lamina II stalked cells to noxious stimulation were markedly suppressed during NRM stimulation. In contrast, responses of nociceptive lamina IIa islet or non‐nociceptive lamina IIb islet cells remained unchanged during nucleus raphe magnus stimulation. These inhibitory influences were positively correlated with the distribution of 5‐HT immunoreactive contacts on these neurons. Nociceptive lamina I neurons and lamina II stalked cells received a significantly greater number of contacts (average of 74 and 63, respectively) than either nociceptive lamina IIa islet or non‐nociceptive lamina lib islet cells (average of 25 and eight contacts, respectively). Irrespective of cell type, most 5‐HT contacts occurred on dendritic shafts rather than spines. These data reveal a differential distribution of 5‐HT contacts on neurons in spinal laminae I and II, and indicate that at least a portion of the NRM modulation of dorsal horn neuronal activity is serotoninergic and concentrated on the dendritic shafts of nociceptive lamina I neurons and lamina II stalked cells.
Lower Endogenous Androgen Levels and Dyslipidemia in Men with Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE To compare plasma androgen levels in diabetic and nondiabetic men and to determine their relation to diabetic dyslipidemia. DESIGN A population-based, case-control study. SETTING Community. PARTICIPANTS Men 53 to 88 years of age from the Rancho Bernardo, California, cohort who were screened for diabetes using an oral glucose tolerance test. MEASUREMENTS Plasma androgen levels were compared in 44 men with untreated non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and 88 age-matched men who had a normal glucose tolerance test. The relation of lipid and lipoprotein levels to androgen level and diabetic status was assessed before and after adjusting for covariates. RESULTS Men with diabetes had significantly lower plasma levels of free (4.96 nmol/L compared with 5.58 nmol/L) and total testosterone (14.7 nmol/L compared with 17.4 nmol/L), dihydrotestosterone (428 pg/mL compared with 533 pg/mL), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) (1.92 mumol/L compared with 2.42 mumol/L) than nondiabetic men. They also had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and significantly higher triglyceride levels. Differences were not explained by obesity, alcohol use, or cigarette habit. Overall, the total testosterone level, but not the free testosterone level, was positively correlated with the HDL cholesterol level (P = 0.009) and negatively correlated with the triglyceride level (P = 0.0001). Similar associations were seen in analyses restricted to the men without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Lower levels of endogenous androgens are seen in older diabetic men, and low androgen levels are associated with diabetic dyslipidemia.
Interpersonal violence in posttraumatic women: brain networks triggered by trauma-related pictures

Abstract Interpersonal violence (IPV) is one of the most frequent causes for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women. Trauma-related triggers have been proposed to evoke automatic emotional responses in PTSD. The present functional magnetic resonance study investigated the neural basis of trauma-related picture processing in women with IPV-PTSD (n = 18) relative to healthy controls (n = 18) using a newly standardized trauma-related picture set and a non-emotional vigilance task. We aimed to identify brain activation and connectivity evoked by trauma-related pictures, and associations with PTSD symptom severity. We found hyperactivation during trauma-related vs neutral picture processing in both subcortical [basolateral amygdala (BLA), thalamus, brainstem] and cortical [anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), insula, occipital cortex] regions in IPV-PTSD. In patients, brain activation in amygdala, ACC, insula, occipital cortex and brainstem correlated positively with symptom severity. Furthermore, connectivity analyses revealed hyperconnectivity between BLA and dorsal ACC/mPFC. Results show symptom severity-dependent brain activation and hyperconnectivity in response to trauma-related pictures in brain regions related to fear and visual processing in women suffering from IPV-PTSD. These brain mechanisms appear to be associated with immediate responses to trauma-related triggers presented in a non-emotional context in this PTSD subgroup.
The impact of atypical antipsychotic medications on long-term memory dysfunction in schizophrenia spectrum disorder: a quantitative review

This meta-analytic review examines the ef.cacy of antipsychotic medications in ameliorating schizophrenia-related long-term memory (LTM) impairments. Twenty-three studies were reviewed that compared schizophrenia spectrum patients treated (a) with atypical versus typical antipsychotic medications, or (b) with various atypical treatments. In 17 atypical versus typical trials aggregating 939 participants, superior overall (verbal and nonverbal) LTM was detected in patients assigned to atypical trials. However, this difference was small (effect size estimate (ES) 0.17; 95% Con.dence Interval (CI) 0.04 to 0.31) and speci.c to certain atypical treatments. Relative to typical antipsychotic trials, LTM superiority was marginally signi.cant for risperidone trials (ES 0.20; 95% CI 0.03 to 0.44) and signi.cant for olanzapine trials (ES 0.29; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.49). In contrast, clozapine trials did not produce a LTM advantage over typical trials (ES 0.06; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.23). Due to the lack of available studies, the effect of quetiapine was indeterminate. Direct comparison between atypical trials revealed a similar effect pattern. A marginally signi.cant superiority in overall LTM was detected for risperidone and olanzapine compared to clozapine (ES 0.28; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.59), which reached signi.cance for verbal LTM (ES 0.36; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.67). Finally, the bene.cial impact of antipsychotic medications emerged as a function of differences in the anticholinergic properties of the treatment arms being compared.
Difficulties in Treating Patients with Eating Disorders: A Review of Patient and Clinician Variables

Objective: Patients with eating disorders (EDs) are often difficult to treat. Despite recent advances in treatment, a significant percentage of patients remain treatment refractory. This paper reviews variables that contribute to these difficulties and recent strategies that focus on increasing patient motivation for treatment. Method: The authors relate their clinical experience and synthesize the literature examining aspects of patients with EDs that may contribute to their treatment resistance and therapist variables that may contribute to negative nontherapeutic reactions. Results: Patient variables include the nature of the symptoms that patients experience, issues of trust, the not uncommon failure of ambulatory treatments, and issues related to comorbidity. Aspects of clinicians include lack of understanding of the biopsy chosocial pathophysiology of these conditions and lack of experience and appreciation for the countertransferential reactions that these patients evoke in caregivers. Conclusions: Improving understanding of the reasons for treatment refractoriness inpatients with EDs is critical to improving their care. New interventions aimed at enhancing motivation may facilitate this process.
Alcohol Injury Damages Intestinal Stem Cells

BACKGROUND Alcohol consumption is associated with intestinal injury including intestinal leakiness and the risk of developing progressive gastrointestinal cancer. Alcoholics have disruption of intestinal barrier dysfunction that persists weeks after stopping alcohol intake, and this occurs in spite of the fact that intestinal epithelial cells turn over every 3 to 5 days. The renewal and functional regulation of the intestinal epithelium largely relies on intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Chronic inflammation and tissue damage in the intestine can injure stem cells including accumulation of mutations that may result in ISC dysfunction and transformation. ISCs are a key element in intestinal function and pathology; however, very little is known about the effects of alcohol on ISCs. We hypothesize that dysregulation of ISCs is one mechanism by which alcohol induces long-lasting intestinal damage. METHODS In Vivo: Small intestinal samples from alcohol- and control-fed mice were assessed for ISC markers (Lgr5 and Bmi1) and the changes of the β-catenin signaling using immunofluorescent microscopy, Western blotting, and RT-PCR. Ex Vivo: Organoids were generated from small intestine tissue and subsequently exposed to alcohol and analyzed for ISC markers, β-catenin signaling. RESULTS Chronic alcohol consumption significantly decreased the expression of stem cell markers, Bmi1 in the small intestine of the alcohol-fed mice and also resulted in dysregulation of the β-catenin signaling-an essential regulator of its target gene Lgr5 and ISC function. Exposure of small intestine-derived organoids to 0.2% alcohol significantly reduced the growth of the organoids, including budding, and total surface area of the organoid cultures. Alcohol also significantly decreased the expression of Lgr5, p-β-catenin (ser552), and Bmi1 in the organoid model. CONCLUSIONS Both chronic alcohol feeding and acute exposure of alcohol resulted in ISC dysregulation which might be one mechanism for alcohol-induced long-lasting intestinal damage.
Chudley‐McCullough syndrome: Expanded phenotype and review of the literature

Chudley‐McCullough syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition characterized by profound sensorineural deafness, hydrocephalus secondary to obstruction of the foramen of Monro, and other structural abnormalities of the brain. We describe a family including two brothers and a sister with this condition. Each has profound sensorineural deafness that was either congenital or rapidly progressive in infancy and asymmetric dilatation of the lateral ventricles secondary to obstruction of the foramen of Monro. They also have additional brain abnormalities, including arachnoid cyst, partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, and abnormalities in the migration of cerebellar cells. This report is the fourth description of this condition within four years, suggesting Chudley‐McCullough may not be as rare as once assumed. We, therefore, recommend an audiological assessment for all children with hydrocephalus, especially those with obstruction of the foramen of Monro. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Molecular analysis of two phytohemagglutinin genes and their expression in Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Pinto, a lectin‐deficient cultivar of the bean

Phytohemagglutinin (PHA), the seed lectin of the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, is encoded by two highly homologous, tandemly linked genes, dlec1 and dlec2, which are coordinately expressed at high levels in developing cotyledons. Their respective transcripts translate into closely related polypeptides, PHA‐E and PHA‐L, constituents of the tetrameric lectin which accumulates at high levels in developing seeds. In the bean cultivar Pinto UI111, PHA‐E is not detectable, and PHA‐L accumulates at very reduced levels. To investigate the cause of the Pinto phenotype, we cloned and sequenced the two PHA genes of Pinto, called Pdlec1 and Pdlec2, and determined the abundance of their respective mRNAs in developing cotyledons. Both genes are more than 90% homologous to the normal PHA genes found in other cultivars. Pdlec1 carries a 1‐bp frameshift mutation close to the 5′ end of its coding sequence. Only very truncated polypeptides could be made from its mRNA. The gene Pdlec2 encodes a polypeptide, which resembles PHA‐L and its predicted amino acid sequence agrees with the available Pinto PHA amino acid sequence data. Analysis of the mRNA of developing cotyledons revealed that the Pdlec1 message is reduced 600‐fold, and Pdlec2 mRNA is reduced 20‐fold with respect to mRNA levels in normal cultivars. A comparison of the sequences which are upstream from the coding sequence shows that Pdlec2 has a 100‐bp deletion compared to the other genes (dlec1, dlec2 and Pdlec1). This deletion which contains a large tandem repeat may be responsible for the low level of expression of Pdlec2. The very low expression of Pdlec1 is as yet unexplained.