Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic alcohol consumption yields sex differences in whole-body glucose production in rats.

AIMS The effects of chronic alcohol consumption (8 weeks) on glucose kinetics, in the absence (water, 4 g/kg) and presence of an acute ethanol dose (4 g/kg), were examined in 48 h fasted male and female Wistar rats. METHODS Primed continuous infusions of [6-3H]- and [U-14C]glucose were employed to assess rates of glucose appearance (Ra), glucose disappearance (Rd), and apparent glucose carbon recycling. RESULTS After injecting the male and female controls with water, there were no significant alterations in glucose kinetics. Compared to controls, chronic alcohol-fed female animals (injected with water) demonstrated significantly lower: glucose Ra, blood glucose concentration, and apparent glucose carbon recycling for a majority of the experimental period. In separate groups injected with ethanol, the glucose Ra fell by 31% for male rats fed the control diet (MC), 43% for male rats fed the ethanol diet (ME), 29% for female rats fed the control diet (FC), and 42% for female rats fed the ethanol diet (FE). Further, compared to controls (MC and FC), the blood glucose concentration was significantly lower prior to and following the ethanol injection for FE. In addition, FE animals had significantly lower rates of glucose Ra and glucose carbon recycling compared to controls prior to and after the ethanol injection. ME animals demonstrated similar declines in glucose Ra (compared to FE), but only after the ethanol injection. Conversely, ME were able to match the decrease in glucose Ra with comparable declines in glucose Rd resulting in blood glucose concentrations that did not differ from controls. CONCLUSIONS Chronic alcohol consumption results in sex differences in whole-body glucose production and glucose regulation.
Recessive Mutations in the a 3 (VI) Collagen Gene COL6A3 Cause Early-Onset Isolated Dystonia

Isolated dystonia is a disorder characterized by involuntary twisting postures arising from sustained muscle contractions. Although autosomal-dominant mutations in TOR1A , THAP1 , and GNAL have been found in some cases, the molecular mechanisms underlying isolated dystonia are largely unknown. In addition, although emphasis has been placed on dominant isolated dystonia, the disorder is also transmitted as a recessive trait, for which no mutations have been deﬁned. Using whole-exome sequencing in a recessive isolated dystonia-affected kindred, we identiﬁed disease-segregating compound heterozygous mutations in COL6A3 , a collagen VI gene associated previously with muscular dystrophy. Genetic screening of a further 367 isolated dystonia subjects revealed two additional recessive pedigrees harboring compound heterozygous mutations in COL6A3 . Strikingly, all affected individuals had at least one pathogenic allele in exon 41, including an exon-skipping mutation that induced an in-frame deletion. We tested the hypothesis that disruption of this exon is pathognomonic for isolated dystonia by inducing a series of in-frame deletions in zebraﬁsh embryos. Consistent with our human genetics data, suppression of the exon 41 ortholog caused deﬁcits in axonal outgrowth, whereas suppression of other exons phenocopied collagen deposition mutants. All recessive mutation carriers demonstrated early-onset segmental isolated dystonia without muscular disease. Finally, we show that Col6a3 is expressed in neurons, with relevant mRNA levels detectable throughout the adult mouse brain. Taken together, our data indicate that loss-of-function mutations affecting a speciﬁc region of COL6A3 cause recessive isolated dystonia with underlying neurodevelopmental deﬁcits and highlight the brain extracellular matrix as a contributor to dystonia pathogenesis. with AlexaFluor 488 goat anti-mouse (1:500, Life Technologies). Injected embryos were scored based on their motor neuron abnormalities, which included pathﬁnding errors, abnormal branching, and failure to extend. Abnormalities were separated in classes based on severity. All the experiments were repeated three times and a Pearson’s chi-square test ( c 2 ) was used to determine the sig-niﬁcant differences of the morphant phenotype.
Effect of Local Physical Training on the Forearm Arteries and Veins in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Aim: We investigate the effects of local training on the forearm vessels in patients with end-stage renal disease. Methods: Fourteen hemodialysis patients were included. Handgrip training was performed for 8 weeks. The following parameters were measured at the beginning of the study and 4 and 8 weeks later: forearm circumference, maximal handgrip strength, and artery and vein parameters, including endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation (using ultrasound and duplex Doppler scanning). Results: The maximal handgrip strength increased significantly. The radial artery diameters were significantly higher after 8 weeks of training. The endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was found to be significantly increased after 4 and 8 weeks of training. The maximal vein diameters increased significantly with training, with preserved distensibility. Conclusions: The present study suggests that regular handgrip training increases the diameters of forearm vessels. It also improves endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. These changes point to the possible beneficial effects of daily handgrip training in chronic renal failure patients before arteriovenous fistula construction.
VIP‐ and PACAP‐Induced Salivary Chromogranin A Secretion in the Isolated Perfused Submandibular Gland of Rats

Abstract: In the study reported in this paper, sensitive ELISA for rat CgA was developed using synthetic rat CgA(359–389) as antigen, Nα‐biotinylated glycylglycyl rat CgA(359–389), and antirat CgA(359–389) serum for the measurement of CgA‐LI in rat saliva. CgA‐LI in rat submandibular tissues and saliva was characterized by both immunohistochemical and immunochemical methods. Using isolated perfused rat submandibular gland. VIP at 0.1–1.0 nM in the presence of 0.1 μM ACh was found to cause CgA‐LI secretion, whereas neither PACAP‐27 nor PACAP‐38 showed any effect on CgA secretion.
Characterizing the outcomes of metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma

Outcomes of metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) patients are poorly characterized in the era of targeted therapy. A total of 5474 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in the International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC) were retrospectively analyzed. Outcomes were compared between clear cell (ccRCC; n = 5008) and papillary patients (n = 466), and recorded type I and type II papillary patients (n = 30 and n = 165, respectively). Overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall response rate (ORR) favored ccRCC over pRCC. OS was 8 months longer in ccRCC patients and the hazard ratio of death was 0.71 for ccRCC patients. No differences in PFS or ORR were detected between type I and II PRCC in this limited dataset. The median OS for type I pRCC was 20.0 months while the median OS for type II was 12.6 months (P = 0.096). The IMDC prognostic model was able to stratify pRCC patients into favorable risk (OS = 34.1 months), intermediate risk (OS = 17.0 months), and poor‐risk groups (OS = 6.0 months). pRCC patient outcomes were inferior to ccRCC, even after controlling for IMDC prognostic factors. The IMDC prognostic model was able to effectively stratify pRCC patients.
Distributed fault detection for uncertain nonlinear systems: A network delay compensation strategy

This paper proposes a delay compensation strategy for a distributed fault detection architecture, allowing to manage delays and packet losses in the communication network between the Local Fault Diagnosers. A novel consensus-based estimator with time-varying weights is introduced, permitting to improve detectability in the case of variables shared among more than one subsystem. In the consensus protocol, at each step each agent uses only the information given by the agent and the communication link which are more reliable at that time. The convergence of the proposed estimator is demonstrated and analytical conditions for detectability are derived.
Impact of polyunsaturated vegetable oils on adiponectin levels, glycaemia and blood lipids in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomised, double-blind intervention study.

BACKGROUND Low adiponectin levels are discussed as risk factor for cardiovascular events. This is of special importance in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) because they are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of two plant oils rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with different content of omega-3 fatty acids, on adiponectin levels, glucose and lipid metabolism in T2DM individuals treated either with insulin or oral anti-diabetics (OAD). METHODS Ninety-two subjects with T2DM [34 treated with insulin (T2DM-Ins) and 58 treated with OAD (T2DM-OAD)] participated in this randomised, double-blind, parallel intervention study. Individuals received either 9 g of nut oil (n-3:n-6 ratio: 1.3 : 6.1) or mixed oil (n-3:n-6 ratio: 0.6 : 5.7) per day for 10 weeks. The fatty acid profile, tocopherol, adiponectin levels and parameters regarding glucose and lipid metabolism were assessed at baseline, during and after the intervention. RESULTS Compliance was confirmed by significant increases in γ-tocopherol and PUFA in both oil groups. An increase in adiponectin levels in T2DM-Ins participants (+6.84% in nut oil and +4.47% in mixed oil group after 10 weeks compared to baseline) was observed, albeit not significantly different from T2DM-OAD individuals (P = 0.051). Lipid and glucose metabolism were not affected by the intervention. CONCLUSIONS The present study provides evidence that a small and easy change in dietary behaviour towards better fat quality moderately increases adiponectin levels in T2DM-Ins subjects, independently of the administered plant oil.
Long-acting Insulin Analogs Effect on gh/igf Axis of Children with Type 1 Diabetes: a Randomized, Open-label, Two-period, Cross-over Trial.

BACKGROUND Growth hormone (GH) secretion is increased in pre-pubertal children with type 1 diabetes and GH excess produces insulin resistance. Early-morning insulinopenia contributes to lower insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) levels and to GH hypersecretion. OBJECTIVE To evaluate differences in GH/IGF-I axis of pre-pubertal children with type 1 diabetes treated with glargine or detemir as long-acting insulin analogues, which was the main outcome measure, and to compare insulin effects in obtaining good metabolic control. SUBJECTS Children with type 1 diabetes. METHODS This was a 32-week, randomized, open-label, two-period, cross-over comparison between bedtime glargine and twice-daily detemir insulin, involving pre-pubertal children in care at a diabetes pediatric centre. After a 8-week-run-in period subjects were randomized to bedtime glargine or twice-daily detemir insulin administration. After a 12-week period treatments were inverted and continued for additional 12 weeks. RESULTS Overall, 15 pre-pubertal children (53.3% males, mean age 8.6±1.5 years, duration of diabetes 4.2±1.5 years) completed the study. Groups did not differ for GH/IGF axis and HbA1c levels. Treatment with glargine was associated with lower fasting glucose values than treatment with detemir (8.1±1.5 vs. 8.2±1.7 mmol/L, p=0.01). Incidence rate of hypoglycemia was not different between insulin treatments (IRR=1.18, 95%CI 1.00-1.38; p=0.07). Detemir treatment was associated with a higher increase in body weight (p=0.008) and height (p=0.02) when compared with glargine. CONCLUSION Detemir and glargine not show significant differential effects on the GH/IGFI axis. The greater weight gain and height associated with detemir treatment, apparently not related to the level of pubertal growth, deserve further investigation.
Comparative investigation of clinical/radiographical signs of mineral trioxide aggregate and formocresol on pulpotomized primary molars

The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate clinically and radiographically the effects of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) as a pulp dressing after coronal pulp amputation (pulpotomy) in primary molars, (2) to compare the effects of MTA and formocresol in pulpotomized primary teeth. Sixty primary mandibular molars of thirty healthy children aged between 5-8 years were treated by conventional pulpotomy technique. The teeth on the right side are assigned to MTA (Group A) and the left side for the Formocresol (Group B). The children were examined clinically and radiographically every 6 months over a period of 36 months. Results of present study revealed that both MTA and Formocresol has the same effect on the first as well as second primary molars, with chi-square value being 1.1483 (P ≥ 0.05). None of the teeth in either group showed any clinical pathology, showing 100% success rate but radiographically formocresol group showed one case of internal resorption that was regarded as failure in the present study. MTA seems to be more promising predictable with positive response in vital pulp therapy in future than formocresol pulpotomy except for the cost factor.
Changes of an injured fornix in a patient with mild traumatic brain injury: Diffusion tensor tractography follow-up study

Abstract Background: This study investigated the changes of an injured fornix from early stage to chronic stage in a patient with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Methods: A 25-year-old female suffered from head trauma resulting from a pedestrian car accident. The patient showed a total score of 86 for memory impairment on the Memory Assessment Scale at 2 weeks after onset; however, her memory has been recovered to within normal range, with a score of 105 at 9 months after onset. Results: The middle portion of the right fornical crus showed narrowing and the discontinued left fornical crus was shortened on 9-month DTT compared with 2-week DTT. Two branches from the right fornical column and body were observed on 9-month DTT; in contrast, the two branches from the left fornical column and the left fornical body were elongated and shortened, respectively, on 9-month DTT compared with 2-week DTT. Conclusions: The narrowed lesion in the middle of the right fornical crus and the shortening of the discontinued left fornical crus appear to indicate degeneration following traumatic axonal injury. In contrast, the neural branches from both fornices appear to be related to the functional recovery mechanisms of the injured fornix.
Evolution in Children’s Science Books: Recommendations and Library Collections, 1863–1956

Evolution has remained a controversial topic for children in the United States since the 1925 Scopes Trial brought the issue to the national stage. Children’s science trade books in public library children’s collections were important sources of information about evolution. This analysis draws on the Main Street Public Library (MSPL) database of the collections of five small Midwest public libraries from the 1890s to the 1960s. Using this and other historical sources, this article explores and analyzes trade books about evolution that were published and recommended to young people from 1863 to 1956. Knowing which books were recommended for libraries, which were collected by Main Street libraries, and how often evolution appeared in these books provides a lens for understanding how this literature characterized evolution for young readers over time.
Rickettsia parkeri Infection after Tick Bite, Virginia

We describe a man with a febrile illness and an eschar that developed at the site of a tick bite. Rickettsia parkeri was detected and isolated from the eschar. This report represents the second documented case of R. parkeri rickettsiosis in a US serviceman in eastern Virginia.
Adaptation of Internet Addiction Scale in Azerbaijani Language: A Validity-reliability and Prevalence Study

The purpose of the present paper was to adapt Gunuc and Kayri’s (2010) Internet Addiction Scale , with show validity and reliability for many various sampling groups, into the Azerbaijani language. Another objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of Internet addiction among Azerbaijani adolescents and youth, which preemptively requires adaptation of the Internet Addiction Scale into the Azerbaijani language. Samples in the study have been selected separately for both purposes (validity and prevalence). Data were collected from students attending Khazar University in Azerbaijan in 2014-2015, first, in order to conduct Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the scale and second, to determine the prevalence of Internet addiction among youth. Data was obtained from 309 students for the first purpose and from 836 students for the second one. Students in various majors within the research sample were stratified through stratified sampling and students in these majors were randomly selected. The four-factor structure of the scale was tested through CFA. The Cronbach’s Alpha (α) internal consistency coefficient of the scale was calculated as α=. 926. Reliability coefficient of 4 sub-factors, regarding the scale, was found as follows: α=. 844 for Withdrawal , α=. 821 for Controlling difficulty , α=. 829 for Disorder in Functionality and α=. 792 for Social Isolation. The prevalence of Internet addiction among youth in Azerbaijan was determined. The study found that 51.9% were not Internet addicts, 40.6% were moderate Internet addicts, and 7.5% were Internet addicts. These findings show that the rate of Internet addicts, particularly in the categories of moderate Internet addicts and Internet addicts (48.1%), is not small enough to ignore.
Elevated Zeaxanthin Bound to Oligomeric LHCII Enhances the Resistance of Arabidopsis to Photooxidative Stress by a Lipid-protective, Antioxidant Mechanism*

The xanthophyll cycle has a major role in protecting plants from photooxidative stress, although the mechanism of its action is unclear. Here, we have investigated Arabidopsis plants overexpressing a gene encoding β-carotene hydroxylase, containing nearly three times the amount of xanthophyll cycle carotenoids present in the wild-type. In high light at low temperature wild-type plants exhibited symptoms of severe oxidative stress: lipid peroxidation, chlorophyll bleaching, and photoinhibition. In transformed plants, which accumulate over twice as much zeaxanthin as the wild-type, these symptoms were significantly ameliorated. The capacity of non-photochemical quenching is not significantly different in transformed plants compared with wild-type and therefore an enhancement of this process cannot be the cause of the stress tolerant phenotype. Rather, it is concluded that it results from the antioxidant effect of zeaxanthin. 80–90% of violaxanthin and zeaxanthin in wild-type and transformed plants was localized to an oligomeric LHCII fraction prepared from thylakoid membranes. The binding of these pigments in intact membranes was confirmed by resonance Raman spectroscopy. Based on the structural model of LHCII, we suggest that the protein/lipid interface is the active site for the antioxidant activity of zeaxanthin, which mediates stress tolerance by the protection of bound lipids.
A pharmacoeconomic comparison of monotherapy with Tegretol, Finlepsin and Trileptal (preliminary data).

AIM Pharmacoeconomics comprises a system of relatively new methods that inform policy makers about the costs and benefits of different therapies so that limited health care resources may be allocated efficiently. The purpose of this study was to perform a pharmacoeconomic comparison of three of the most widely used antiepileptic drugs in Bulgaria: carbamazepine (two different products: Tegretol and Finlepsin) and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal). PATIENTS AND METHODS The inclusion criteria for entering the study were: women or men of age with newly detected and clinically diagnosed epilepsy,monotherapy treatment with the studied drugs, ability to keep personal records. The follow-up visits were conducted in three-month periods, each visit including a thorough evaluation of effectiveness, costs and quality of life. Effectiveness was assessed as seizure reduction percentage and time till new seizure. Costs included direct and indirect medical and nonmedical costs, related to epilepsy or its treatment. The quality of life of the patient was assessed with Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 31 (QOLIE)--an evaluation instrument accepted for use in clinical practice. The statistical methods used included: descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation and Kaplan-Meyer analyses. RESULTS The mean seizure reduction was 86.05% for Finlepsin, 83.31% for Tegretol and 66.67% for Trileptal. There were no seizure-free patients on Trileptal, while almost 60% of Tegretol and nearly 50% in Finlepsin patients remained seizure-free for a period of one year. CONCLUSIONS The quality of life of all patients was high, indicating good efficacy and safety as assessed by patients. There was a significant difference in terms of costs in the Trileptal group compared with the other two groups --it incurred higher annual costs as well as higher cost-per-QALY value.
B7-H3 Enhances Tumor Immunity In Vivo by Costimulating Rapid Clonal Expansion of Antigen-Specific CD8+ Cytolytic T Cells1

B7-H3 is a B7 family molecule with T cell costimulatory function in vitro. The in vivo role of B7-H3 in the stimulation of tumor immunity is unclear. We report here that expression of B7-H3 by transfection of the mouse P815 tumor line enhances its immunogenicity, leading to the regression of tumors and amplification of a tumor-specific CD8+ CTL response in syngeneic mice. Tumor cells engineered to express B7-H3 elicit a rapid clonal expansion of P1A tumor Ag-specific CD8+ CTL in lymphoid organs in vivo and acquire the ability to directly stimulate T cell growth, division, and development of cytolytic activity in vitro. Our results thus establish a role for B7-H3 in the costimulation of T cell immune responses in vivo.
A randomised controlled trial of a home based exercise programme to reduce the risk of falling among people with Parkinson’s disease

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a personalised home programme of exercises and strategies for repeat fallers with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Method: Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of idiopathic PD, independently mobile, living at home in the community, experiencing more than one fall in the previous 12 months and with intact gross cognitive function were invited to participate in this randomised controlled trial. Usual care was compared with a personalised 6 week, home based exercise and strategy programme. The primary outcomes were rates of falling at 8 weeks and 6 months. Whether participants had repeat fallen, nearly fallen or experienced injurious falls were also examined. Functional Reach, the Berg Balance Test, PD Self-assessment Scale and the Euro Quol were rated by a blinded assessor. Results: Participants were randomised to the exercise (n = 70) and control (n = 72) groups. There was a consistent trend towards lower fall rates in the exercise group at both 8 weeks and 6 months and lower rates of injurious falls needing medical attention at 6 months. Lower rates of repeat near falling were evident for the exercise group at 8 weeks (p = 0.004) and 6 months (p = 0.007). There was a positive effect of exercises at 6 months on Functional Reach (p = 0.009) and quality of life (p = 0.033). No significant differences were found on other secondary outcomes measures. Conclusion: There was a trend towards a reduction in fall events and injurious falls with a positive effect of exercises on near falls and quality of life.