Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Automated Confocal Micro-Extensometer Enables in Vivo Quantification of Mechanical Properties with Cellular Resolution[OPEN]

A method of measuring the mechanical properties of cells in living plant tissues in the direction of growth while simultaneously gathering confocal images reveals spatial gradients in extensibility. How complex developmental-genetic networks are translated into organs with specific 3D shapes remains an open question. This question is particularly challenging because the elaboration of specific shapes is in essence a question of mechanics. In plants, this means how the genetic circuitry affects the cell wall. The mechanical properties of the wall and their spatial variation are the key factors controlling morphogenesis in plants. However, these properties are difficult to measure and investigating their relation to genetic regulation is particularly challenging. To measure spatial variation of mechanical properties, one must determine the deformation of a tissue in response to a known force with cellular resolution. Here, we present an automated confocal micro-extensometer (ACME), which greatly expands the scope of existing methods for measuring mechanical properties. Unlike classical extensometers, ACME is mounted on a confocal microscope and uses confocal images to compute the deformation of the tissue directly from biological markers, thus providing 3D cellular scale information and improved accuracy. Additionally, ACME is suitable for measuring the mechanical responses in live tissue. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate that the plant hormone gibberellic acid induces a spatial gradient in mechanical properties along the length of the Arabidopsis thaliana hypocotyl.
System for Predicting Spontaneous Preterm Birth

The authors performed a prospective analysis of the value of a system for scoring the risk of preterm delivery (RPD). The RPD system predicts that approximately 10% of patients will have preterm labor and delivery. Although only one third of these patients deliver before term, they account for approximately two thirds of all preterm births. The discrimination of the RPD system is better for multi-gravid patients than for primigravid patients, and rescoring at 26 to 28 weeks' gestation improves the accuracy of prediction.
Effects of Extender Osmolarity, Cooling Rate, Dilution Rate and Glycerol Addition Time on Post-thaw Ram Semen Characteristics and Fertilization

ABSTRACT Tree experiments were designed to optimize ram semen cryopreservation and to examine the effect of the e xtender B osmolarity, extension time with extender A and B, presence of glycerol in freezing media, cooling rate from 30 EsC to 5 °C, and dilution rate on post-thaw ram semen characteristics and fertilization. Ram ejaculates of thick consistency with rapid wave motion (>+++) and >70% initial motility were pooled. Pooled semen was diluted with Tris based extender using a two-step dilution method. Semen motility and morphology related parameters were assessed at the following five steps : (1) Fresh, (2) after dilution with extender A, (3) at 5 ° C, (4) after equilibration, and (5) after thawing at 37 ° C for 30 min. The extender osmolarity affected significantly post-thaw semen motility, defected acrosomes (DA) and total morphological defect (TMD), generally. There was a significant interaction between the osmolarity, cooling rates, glycerol addition time and first dilution time, on post-thaw motility, DA and TMD. Higher fertilization rates were obtained in fresh semen and Group 15 compared to Group 21 (P +++) ve >%70 baslangic motilitesine sahip olan koc ejekulatlari calismaya dahil edilerek pooling yapildi. Sperma motilitesi ve morfolojisi ile ilgili parametreler (1) taze, (2) sulandirici A ile sulandirdiktan sonra, (3) 5 ° C'ye sogutulduktan sonra, (4) ekilibrasyon sonrasi ve (5) eritme sonrasinda incelendi. Sulandirici ozmolaritesi eritme sonrasi motiliteyi, kusurlu akrozom oranini ve toplam morfolojik bozukluk oranini onemli derecede etkiledi. Ozmolarite,sogutma orani, gliserol ekleme zamani ve ilk sulandirma zamani ile eritme sonrasi motilite, kusurlu akrozom orani ve toplam morfolojik bozukluk oranlari arasinda onemli bir iliski bulundu. Grup 21 ile karsilastirildiginda taze sperma ve grup 15'te onemli derecede daha yuksek fertilizasyon orani elde edildi. Sonuc olarak, sogutma orani, sulandirici ozmolaritesi, gliserol varligi, sulandirici A ve B ile sulandirma zamani ve sulandirma oranlari ile eritme sonrasi spermatolojik ozellikler arasinda onemli bir etkilesim bulundu. Bunun yaninda sulandirici ozmolaritesinin artirilmasi, ozellikle gliserol katilmayan gruplarda daha iyi eritme sonrasi motilite eldesi ile sonuclandi. Eritme sonrasi spermatolojik ozellikler sogutma zamani ve gliserol ilave zamanindan etkilenmedi. Elde edilen sonuclar, dondurma medyumunda gliserol varliginin embriyonik gelisim uzerinde olumsuzbir etkisinin oldugunu ve gliserol ilave edilmeksizin yuksek ozmolariteli sulandiricilar ile dondurulmus koc spermasinin in vitro fertilizasyonda kullanilabilecegini gosterdi. Anahtar Kelimeler: Koc spermasi, ozmolarite, sogutma orani, sulandirici
Anti-edema and analgesic properties of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is an orally effective anti-edema and anaigesic agent. In the carrageenan edema test the potency of THC is 20 times that of aspirin and nearly twice that of hydrocortisone. The anti-edema activity of THC, at least in the carrageenan edema assay, appears to be mediated by stimulation of time pituitary-adrenal axis, since this activity was markedly attenuated in both adrenalectomized and hypophysectomized rats. Howeser, the compound is devoid of corticosteroid-like activity since it did not prolong the survival time of adrenalectomized rats nor did it favorably influence the rate of change of body weight in these animals. Furthermore, THC is an effective inhibitor of developing adjuvant-induced arthritis and suppresses further development of time established disease. The analgesic activity for THC is substantially greater than that for aspirin. The compound has no antipyretic activity at a dose producing profound anti-edema effects.
RNA Silencing Gene Truncation in the Filamentous Fungus Aspergillus nidulans

ABSTRACT The genus Aspergillus is ideally suited for the investigation of RNA silencing evolution because it includes species that have experienced a variety of RNA silencing gene changes. Our work on this subject begins here with the model species Aspergillus nidulans. Filamentous ascomycete fungi generally each encode two of the core RNA silencing proteins, Dicer and Argonaute, but A. nidulans appears to have lost one of each to gene truncation events. Although a role in growth, development, or RNA silencing was not detected for the truncated genes, they do produce spliced and poly(A)-tailed transcripts, suggesting that they may have an undetermined biological function. Population analysis demonstrates that the truncated genes are fixed at the species level and that their full-length orthologs in a closely related species are also unstable. With these gene truncation events, A. nidulans encodes only a single intact Dicer and Argonaute. Their deletion results in morphologically and reproductively normal strains that are incapable of experimental RNA silencing. Thus, our results suggest that the remaining A. nidulans RNA silencing genes have a “nonhousekeeping” function, such as defense against viruses and transposons.
Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors and Hyponatremia in Acutely Medically-Ill Inpatients.

BACKGROUND Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) have become the mainstay of treatment for depression, anxiety, and many other conditions. However, they have been associated with an increased risk of hyponatremia. Little is known about the risk of SSRI-associated hyponatremia in certain potentially at-risk populations, such as patients with acute medical illnesses. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of SSRIs on serum sodium levels in medically-ill inpatients. METHOD We performed a retrospective cohort study of 239 medically-ill inpatients assessed by the psychiatric consultation-liaison team of a large Canadian academic hospital between 2008 and 2014. We grouped patients based on whether they were exposed to an SSRI, a non-SSRI antidepressant, or no antidepressant at all. Our primary outcome was the maximum decrease in serum sodium level observed within 30 days of antidepressant exposure in the inpatient setting. Our secondary outcome was the incidence of hyponatremia (serum sodium level <135 mEq/L) or severe hyponatremia (sodium level <130 mEq/L) within the same time frame. RESULTS The maximum decrease in sodium serum level from baseline did not differ between the 3 groups studied (SSRIs - 3.31 mEq/L vs non-SSRI antidepressants -3.41 mEq/L vs no antidepressants -3.13 mEq/L, F (2) = 0.79, p= 0.92). The incidence of hyponatremia and severe hyponatremia did not differ between groups either. This remained the case after controlling for covariates. CONCLUSION SSRIs do not appear to be associated with an increased risk of hyponatremia in medically-ill inpatients. Clinicians should not avoid prescribing SSRIs in this population based solely on the assumption of hyponatremia risk.
Risk factors affecting nasal colonization of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus when admitted in intensive care unit

Background Colonization with methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a risk factor for subsequent invasive MRSA infection, particularly in patients admitted for critical care. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors affecting nasal colonization of MRSA in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU). Methods Between August 1, 2011 and June 30, 2012, we screened for MRSA nasal colonization in 350 patients by Real‐time PCR within 24 hours of admission by means of swab samples taken from the anterior nares. According to the results of PCR, the patients were divided into 2 groups: the positive group with nasal MRSA colonization and the negative group without nasal MRSA colonization. The 31 (8.86%) patients were MRSA positive. The risk factors evaluated included thirteen variables, which were analyzed by t test for continuous variables and &khgr;2 test for discrete variables. The variables with significance (P <0.05) were analyzed with stepwise Logistic regression. Results There were differences (P <0.05) in four variables between two groups. The duration of stay in hospital prior to ICU admission in the positive group was (35.7±16.1) days, vs. (4.5±3.1) days in the negative group. The average blood albumin level was (28.4±2.9) g/L in the positive group, vs. (30.5±4.3) g/L in the negative group. Of 31 patients in the positive group, seven had been treated with antibiotics longer than seven days vs. 34 of 319 patients in the negative group. In the positive group, four of 31 patients received treatment with more than two classes of antibiotics prior to admission in ICU, contrasted to 13 of 319 patients in the negative group. Furthermore, stepwise Logistic regression analysis for these four variables indicates that the duration of stay in hospital prior to ICU admission may be an independent risk factor. Conclusions MRSA colonization in ICU admission may be related to many factors. The duration of stay in hospital prior to ICU admission is an independent risk factor.
Photic input pathways that mediate the Drosophila larval response to light and circadian rhythmicity are developmentally related but functionally distinct

The Drosophila melanogaster larval photosensory organ that mediates the response to light consists of bilaterally symmetrical clusters of 12 photoreceptors. These are distinguished on the basis of expression of the rhodopsins Rh5 and Rh6. The Rh6‐expressing cells correspond to the Hofbauer‐Buchner (H‐B) eyelet found later in the posterior margin of the adult compound eye and recently shown to function as an input pathway in the entrainment of circadian rhythmicity in adult Drosophila. In addition, the axons of the larval photoreceptors are found in intimate association with a subset of the main circadian pacemaker neurons located in the developing accessory medulla, the small ventral lateral neurons (LNv). The observed spatial overlap between components of the circadian circuitry, input pathway, and pacemaker neurons—and the larval visual organ—suggest a functional relationship between these two photosensory input pathways. In this study we determined the requirement of specific rhodopsin‐expressing photoreceptors including the presumptive H‐B eyelet and pacemaker neurons in the larval locomotory response to visual stimuli. Our results demonstrate that two of the most important components of the neuronal circuitry underlying circadian rhythmicity in Drosophila, namely, the extraretinal H‐B cluster and the circadian pacemakers, while in intimate association with the larval visual system are not required for the larval motor response to light. J. Comp. Neurol. 481:266–275, 2005. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bcl‐2 Protects Against Apoptosis in Neuronal Cell Line Caused by Thapsigargin‐Induced Depletion of Intracellular Calcium Stores

Abstract: The toxicity of thapsigargin, a selective inhibitor of endoplasmic reticular Ca2+‐ATPase, was investigated in GT1‐7 cells, a murine hypothalamic cell line. Treatment of these cells with 50 or 100 nM thapsigargin greatly reduced cell viability at 24 and 48 h. These doses of thapsigargin induced a rapid rise in free cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), followed by a sustained increase. Addition of EGTA to chelate extracellular Ca2+ diminished somewhat the size of the initial increase of [Ca2+]i caused by thapsigargin, and abolished the sustained increase. The sustained increase could also be abolished by addition of La3+ and by SKF 96365, a drug selective for receptor‐mediated calcium entry, but not by verapamil or flunarizine. Pretreatment with 50 µM BAPTA/AM, a cytosolic Ca2+ chelator, inhibited the peak [Ca2+]i caused by thapsigargin but did not inhibit the sustained elevation of [Ca2+]i. Neither EGTA nor BAPTA/AM inhibited the cell death induced by thapsigargin. The cell death was characterized by DNA fragmentation (“laddering”), nuclear condensation and fragmentation, and was inhibited by protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, all characteristic of apoptotic cell death. Overexpression of the proto‐oncogene bcl‐2 in GT1‐7 cells inhibited significantly DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation and fragmentation, and cell death induced by thapsigargin. However, Bcl‐2 did not alter either basal [Ca2+]i or the elevation of [Ca2+]i induced by thapsigargin. Our results suggest that abnormal Ca2+ release from endoplasmic reticulum caused by thapsigargin induces GT1‐7 death by apoptosis and that this effect does not depend on Ca2+ influx from the extracellular space. Bcl‐2 inhibited apoptosis induced by thapsigargin, but the mechanism is unlikely to be inhibition of endoplasmic reticular Ca2+ release in GT1‐7 neuronal cells.
Asians' knowledge and behaviour on preventive health issues: smoking, alcohol, heart disease, pregnancy, rickets, malaria prophylaxis and surma.

A survey was taken of ethnic East Indians living in inner city Glasgow on their health knowledge and behavior regarding both traditional Asian and modern Western medicine. 65 persons selected from the clients at the Greater Glasgow Health Board were interviewed at home. The interviews conducted in Punjabi or through an interpreter were based on a questionnaire containing 55 open questions. The results were analyzed with the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Answers were rated as correct or incorrect and scored on a range of 1-10. Younger Asians scored higher on knowledge of Western medicine than did older persons (p<.01). Traditional medical views were reflected in adherence to taboos against alcohol by women and Muslims against smoking by women and Sikhs and against "hot" foods (such as lentils prawns and dried fruit) by pregnant women. 18% used surma a powder applied to the conjunctiva which may contain lead; only 25% were aware of lead poisoning as a risk. 78% cited 1 or more correct responses for dangers of smoking. 47% answered correctly on hazards of alcohol. 64% gave 1 or more correct answers regarding prevention of heart disease. 59% knew a preventive action to avoid rickets. Only 50 had anything to say about maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Very few took antimalarial drugs when visiting India although several took "injections. " The results showed that Asians are relatively ill-informed about health issues but seemed to be receptive to Western medical ideas.
IgE‐mediated occupational allergy to a spider mite

Two patients who suffered from allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and contact urticaria caused by the two‐spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae, Koch) are described. Both patients worked in a greenhouse where they came in contact with both spider mites and predator mites living on bean leaves. Prick, Prausnitz‐Küstner and RAST tests indicated type I allergy to spider mite but not to predator mite. Both patients had a high level (RAST score 4) of spider‐mitE‐specific IgE in their sera. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) inhibition studies revealed no cross‐reactivity between spider mite and house dust mite allergens.
Transcriptional activation of MMP-13 by periodontal pathogenic LPS requires p38 MAP kinase

Matrix metalloprotease-13 (MMP-13) is induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased expression is associated with a number of pathological conditions such as tumor metastasis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal diseases. MMP-13 gene regulation and the signal transduction pathways activated in response to bacterial LPS are largely unknown. In these studies, the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways in the regulation of MMP-13 induced by lipopolysaccharide was investigated. Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans significantly (P < 0.05) increased MMP-13 steady-state mRNA (average of 27% and 46% increase, respectively) in murine periodontal ligament fibroblasts. MMP-13 mRNA induction was significantly reduced by inhibition of p38 MAP kinase. Immunoblot analysis indicated that p38 signaling was required for LPS-induced MMP-13 expression. Lipopolysaccharide induced proximal promoter reporter (—660/+32 mMMP-13) gene activity required p38 signaling. Collectively, these results indicate that lipopolysaccharide-induced murine MMP-13 is regulated by p38 signaling through a transcriptional mechanism.
Characteristics of intergenerational contractions of the CTG repeat in myotonic dystrophy.

In myotonic dystrophy (DM), the size of a CTG repeat in the DM kinase gene generally increases in successive generations with clinical evidence of anticipation. However, there have also been cases with an intergenerational contraction of the repeat. We examined 1,489 DM parent-offspring pairs, of which 95 (6.4%) showed such contractions in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL). In 56 of the 95 pairs, clinical data allowed an analysis of their anticipation status. It is surprising that anticipation occurred in 27 (48%) of these 56 pairs, while none clearly showed a later onset of DM in the symptomatic offspring. The contraction occurred in 76 (10%) of 753 paternal transmissions and in 19 (3%) of 736 maternal transmissions. Anticipation was observed more frequently in maternal (85%) than in paternal (37%) transmissions (P < .001). The parental repeat size correlated with the size of intergenerational contraction (r2 = .50, P << .001), and the slope of linear regression was steeper in paternal (-.62) than in maternal (-.30) transmissions (P << .001). Sixteen DM parents had multiple DM offspring with the CTG repeat contractions. This frequency was higher than the frequency expected from the probability of the repeat contractions (6.4%) and the size of DM sib population (1.54 DM offspring per DM parent, in 968 DM parents). We conclude that (1) intergenerational contractions of the CTG repeat in leukocyte DNA frequently accompanies apparent anticipation, especially when DM is maternally transmitted, and (2) the paternal origin of the repeat and the presence of the repeat contraction in a sibling increase the probability of the CTG repeat contraction.
A New Technique for the Quantification of Peripheral Edema with Application in Both Unilateral and Bilateral Cases

Current noninvasive techniques for the routine and frequent quantification of peripheral lymphedema in patients are total limb volume measurement (by water immersion or by circumferential measurements) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). However both of these techniques require standardizing the measurement using a contralateral measurement from the unaffected limb. Hence these techniques are essentially restricted to unilateral lymphedema. This paper describes the results from a preliminary study to investigate an alter native approach to the analysis of the data from multiple frequency BIA to produce an index of lymphedema without the need for normalization to another body segment. Twenty patients receiving surgical treatment for breast cancer were monitored prior to surgery and again after diagnosis with unilateral lymphedema. The data recorded were total limb volume, by circumferential measurements; and BIA measurements of both limbs. From these measure ments total limb volumes and extracellular fluid volumes were calculated and expressed as ratios of the affected limb to that of the unaffected limb. An index of the ratio of the extra cellular fluid volume to the intracellular fluid volume was determined. This ECW/ICW index was calculated for both the affected and unaffected limbs at both measurement times. Results confirmed that the established techniques of total limb volume and extracellular fluid volume normalized to the unaffected contralateral limb were accurate in the detection of lymphedema (p < 10-6). Comparison of the ECW/ICW index from the affected limb after diagnosis with that from the pre-surgery measurement revealed a significant (p < 10-6) and considerable (75%) increase. The results of this pilot study suggest that by using multiple frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, an index of the ECW/ICW ratio can be obtained and this index appears to have an equal, or better, sensitivity than the other techniques in detecting lymphedema. More importantly, this index does not require normalization to another body segment and can be used to detect all types of peripheral edema including both unilateral and bilateral lymphedema.
Measurement of alveolar carbon dioxide tension at maximal expiration as an estimate of arterial carbon dioxide tension in patients with airway obstruction.

Arterial and alveolar carbon dioxide tension at end-tidal and maximal expiration were measured simultaneously in 104 patients with chronic obstructive respiratory disease. Regardless of the degree of abnormality of distribution of ventilation, there was a consistent relationship between arterial and maximal expiratory carbon dioxide tension. Therefore, close approximation of arterial carbon dioxide tension was obtained from the measurement of carbon dioxide tension at maximal expiration by rapid infrared carbon dioxide analysis. An infrared carbon dioxide analyzer might be used at the bedside or in the laboratory for frequent monitoring of arterial carbon dioxide tension without repeated arterial punctures.