Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Morphologic Alteration Induced by Short-Term Smoke Exposure in Rats

Background: It is a well-established fact that cigarette smoking causes degenerative, inflammatory, and respiratory diseases in humans.Because many factors such as air pollution and harsh working conditions can easily be eliminated in animal studies, we conducted this study to identify the effect of tobacco on rat trachea. Methods: 24 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into an experimental and a control group. The experimental group of rats was exposed to cigarette smoke for 2 h each day over a duration of 60 consecutive days and the control group was treated in an identical fashion yet exposed only to room air. A morphometric study was performed on tracheal specimens taken from 22 rats (10 smoke-exposed rats and 12 control rats). Results: Our results show that many of the morphological changes of the tracheal epithelium were found in the experimental group and significant quantitative differences were observed between the two groups. Loss of cilia, basal cell hyperplasia, goblet cell hyperplasia and an increased number of subepithelial inflammatory cells were observed by light microscopic examination of the trachea of experimental rats. We found very high levels of plasma thiocyanate after exposure to smoke in the experimental group, but no increase in the control group. Conclusions: The oxidants contained tobacco which could play an important role in the development of these structural and functional abnormalities in the trachea after smoke exposure. In addition, smoking can recruit inflammatory cells to the trachea.
Prevention of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea After Transsphenoidal Surgery by Collagen Fleece Coated With Fibrin Sealant Without Autologous Tissue Graft or Postoperative Lumbar Drainage

BACKGROUND: Autologous tissue grafting and postoperative lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage (PLD) have been used to prevent CSF rhinorrhea after transsphenoidal surgery. OBJECTIVE: To describe the technical details and efficacy of our techniques of using collagen fleece coated with fibrin sealant (TachoComb, Nycomed, Linz, Austria) instead of an autologous tissue graft and refraining from the use of PLD. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 307 consecutive patients who underwent a transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenoma from November 2005 to February 2008. Among them, 90 cases of intraoperative CSF leaks were repaired with TachoComb without an autologous tissue graft or PLD. The repair procedures were tailored according to CSF leakage type, and we used only Bioglue (Cryolife Inc, Atlanta, Georgia) for sellar floor reconstruction. RESULTS: The overall rate of CSF rhinorrhea was 2.2% (2 of 90 cases). The 2 cases of CSF rhinorrhea resulted from large arachnoid defects, and there were no adverse effects from TachoComb such as transmission of viral disease or infection. CONCLUSION: Our technique is an alternative method to the traditional autologous tissue graft technique. PLD is not an essential procedure for the prevention of CSF rhinorrhea if the intraoperative CSF leak is completely sealed off during the transsphenoidal surgery. However, in cases of large arachnoid defects, aggressive repair of the arachnoid defect and sellar floor reconstruction with bone or bony substitutes should be considered in conjunction with our methods.
Who are Italian “NEETs”? “Trust in institutions, political engagement, willingness to be activated and attitudes toward the future in a group at risk for social exclusion

Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) young people are an emerging at-risk-of-social exclusion group in contemporary society. The present research aimed to investigate NEETs’ sociodemographic characteristics and some variables crucial in the transition to adulthood: perceptions about the future job opportunities, their desire to start a family, perceptions about the future, trust in the institutions and social participation. We also aimed to compare NEET and non-NEET young people on these variables to understand what are the determinants of their political and social commitment. Results on a study led to 8112 Italians, aged between 19-29, show that NEETs and non-NEETs are not evenly distributed in the country and by gender. NEETs are generally youngsters desiring to start a family, but with low levels of trust in the future, in other people and in institutions. As part of their risk of social exclusion, they have lower rates of social participation.
Spermatogenesis and mutagenicity of environmental hazards: extrapolation of genetic risk from mouse to man

To perform germ cell mutagenicity studies it is mandatory to know the duration of the different stages of spermatogenesis. The timing of male germ cell development determines the test protocols. Chemical mutagens are characterized by their differential spermatogenic responses, e.g. different chemicals induce mutations in different germ cell stages. Knowledge of the sensitive germ cell stages for a test agent is essential for the evaluation of the genetic hazard, i.e. stem cell effects present permanent genetic hazards and post‐stem cell effects present transient hazards. A variety of assays are available to determine germ cell mutagenicity in treated animals or in the progeny of treated animals. Germ cell cytogenetics in differentiating spermatogonia and the dominant lethal assay are used for genetic hazard identification. Their results allow categorization of chemicals as germ cell mutagens (Maximale Arbeitsplatz Konzentration categories for germ cell mutagens). Gene mutations or reciprocal chromosome translocations induced in germ cells are assessed by observation of mutant offspring of treated males. These results are applicable to the quantification of genetic hazards for chemical exposures which cannot be avoided, i.e. for occupational exposures to chemicals such as butadiene.
Characterization of secretory proteins from cultured cauda epididymal cells that significantly sustain bovine sperm motility in vitro

Epididymis provides a safe environment in which stored‐spermatozoa could survive for days before ejaculation. In vitro studies suggested that epididymal proteins seem to be implicated in sperm survival during coincubation with cultured epididymal cells. This study was basically designed to confirm if secretory proteins from bovine epididymal cell cultures provide sperm protection against rapid loss of sperm motility in vitro. Bovine spermatozoa were incubated in conditioned media (CM), which were prepared from cultured cauda epididymal cell (CEC). Motion parameters were recorded using a computer‐assisted sperm analyzer. Sperm‐free protein extracts from CM were fractionated by ultrafiltration through a 10‐kDa cut off membrane. A significantly positive effect on sperm motility was observed when spermatozoa were incubated in CM (54 ± 4%) and CM >10 kDa (57 ± 4%) compared to CM <10‐kDa fraction (30 ± 3%) or fresh media (34 ± 3%), after a 6‐hr incubation period. This beneficial effect on sperm motility was abolished when the CM >10‐kDa fraction was heat‐treated at 100°C for 10 min. The CM >10 kDa fraction provides factors that remained active even though spermatozoa were washed twice after a 2‐hr preincubation period. To identify potential beneficial factors, bovine spermatozoa were incubated with radiolabeled proteins obtained using 35S‐methionine in culture medium. SDS–PAGE analysis of proteins extracted from CM‐preincubated spermatozoa revealed the presence of a 42‐kDa protein strongly associated to the sperm surface. This 42‐kDa spot was trypsin‐digested and identified by matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time of flight (MALDI‐TOF) as a protein homologue to a 35‐kDa bovine estrogen‐sulfotransferase. This protein can play a role in epididymal biology and sperm function. Taken together, these results suggest that specific epididymal proteins can be implicated in the sperm protection in vitro, and can be characterized in our cell culture system. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 63: 500–509, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
SOCIAL CAPITAL AND IMMIGRANT CHILDREN'S ACHIEVEMENT

We suggest that the commonly used familial closure version of social capital does not provide an adequate explanation for the school achievement of children in immigrant families. Instead, we suggest that extra-familial institutions, notably immigrant religious institutions, contribute to the school performance of children. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we find that the average grades of immigrant children can be accounted for by involvement in ethnic religious organizations, but not by parental involvement in social networks.
Analysis of changes in attenuation of proven renal cysts on different scanning phases of triphasic MDCT.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to document changes in attenuation values on triphasic MDCT of histologically or surgically proven cystic renal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study of all renal lesions greater than 1 cm that underwent triphasic MDCT was performed in 90 patients before partial nephrectomy. Three reviewers independently measured the mean attenuation of all lesions in three phases (unenhanced, corticomedullary, and parenchymal) in a blinded retrospective fashion. Forty-three lesions identified at CT in 27 patients had pathologic or surgical confirmation as cysts (fluid-filled lesions). Mean change in attenuation between phases was calculated and correlated with size, unenhanced density, and percentage of the lesion exophytic from renal parenchyma. All scans were obtained after 150 mL of nonionic contrast material was injected at 3 mL/sec. Scanning delays were 30-40 sec (corticomedullary phase) and 120 sec (parenchymal phase). RESULTS The mean change in attenuation coefficient of the cysts from the unenhanced to the parenchymal phase was -1.8 H (SD, +/- 4.4 H); from the unenhanced to the corticomedullary phase was -2.3 H (+/- 3.9 H); and from the corticomedullary to the parenchymal phase was 0.6 H (+/- 4.2 H). No cyst increased more than 10 H between the unenhanced and the parenchymal phases; more than 95% of cysts increased less than 8 H between any scanning phases. No significant difference was seen in enhancement related to lesion size (p > 0.054), unenhanced attenuation (p > 0.255), or percentage of the lesion that was exophytic (p > 0.124). CONCLUSION The attenuation coefficient of a cystic renal lesion increased by no more than 10 H among the unenhanced, corticomedullary, and parenchymal phase scans.
Persistent attenuation and enhancement of the earthworm main muscle contraction generator response induced by repeated stimulation of a peripheral neuron.

Responses evoked in the earthworm, Amynthas hawayanus, main muscle contraction generator M-2 (postsynaptic mechanical-stimulus-sensitive) neuron by threshold mechanical stimuli in 2-s intertrial intervals (ITI) were used as the control or unconditioned responses (UR). Their attenuation induced by decreasing these intervals in non-associative conditioning and their enhancement induced by associating the unconditioned stimuli (US) to a train of short (0.1 s) hyperpolarizing electrical substitutive conditioning stimuli (SCS) in the Peri-Kästchen (PK) neuron were measured in four parameters, i.e., peak numbers (N) and amplitude (AMP) averaged from 120 responses, sum of these amplitudes (sigma AMP) and the highest peak amplitude (V) over a period of 4 min. Persistent attenuation similar to habituation was induced by decreasing the control ITI to 0.5 s and 2.0 s in non-associative conditioning within less than 4 min. Dishabituation was induced by randomly pairing one of these habituated US to an electrical stimulus in the PK neuron. All four parameters of the UR were enhanced by forward (SCS-US), but not backward (US-SCS), association of the US with 25, 100 and 250-Hz trains of SCS with 40-ms interstimulus intervals (ISI) for 4 min and persisted for another 4 min after turning off the SCS. The enhancement of these parameters was proportional to the SCS frequencies in the train. No UR was evoked by the SCS when the US was turned off after 4 min of classical conditioning.
A Novel Anti-angiogenic Form of Antithrombin with Retained Proteinase Binding Ability and Heparin Affinity*

Latent antithrombin, an inactive antithrombin form with low heparin affinity, has previously been shown to efficiently inhibit angiogenesis and tumor growth. We now show that heat treatment similar to that used for preparation of latent antithrombin also transforms antithrombin to another form, which we denote prelatent, with potent anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activity but with retained proteinase- and heparin-binding properties. The ability of prelatent antithrombin to inhibit angiogenesis is presumably due to a limited conformational change, which may partially resemble that in latent antithrombin. Such a change is evidenced by a different cleavage pattern of prelatent than of native antithrombin by nontarget proteinases. Prelatent antithrombin exerts its anti-angiogenic effect by a similar mechanism as latent antithrombin, i.e. by inhibiting focal adhesion formation and focal adhesion kinase activity, thereby leading to decreased proliferation of endothelial cells. The proteinase inhibitory fractions in commercial antithrombin preparations, which have been heat treated during production, also have anti-angiogenic activity, comparable with that of the prelatent antithrombin form.
Degenerative spondylolysis: a concise report of scintigraphic observations.

OBJECTIVES Spondylolysis is traditionally thought to be a diagnosis of adolescence and childhood, and is ascribed to mechanical stress through the immature pars interarticularis. Over the last 4 yr we have noted a presentation of spondylolysis in association with hypertrophic zygapophyseal joint disease in the lumbar spine in an older age group. METHODS Records of 94 patients presenting with low back pain were examined. A pattern of intense zygapophyseal joint uptake in association with extended uptake in the pars interarticularis was ascribed as degenerative spondylolysis. RESULTS The ages of the 94 cases ranged from 33 to 80 yr (mean 64 yr). There were 53 males and 41 females. In the group with degenerative spondylolysis the mean age was 72 yr, with four females and two males. None of these six patients gave a history of childhood spinal disease or back pain and all were relatively inactive in terms of current participation in sport. All cases of spondylolysis were confirmed by computed tomography scanning. CONCLUSION The finding of hypertrophic zygapophyseal joint disease in association with spondylolysis is easily recognized by scintigraphic tomographic imaging.
The risk of nonvertebral fracture related to inhaled corticosteroid exposure among adults with chronic respiratory disease.

OBJECTIVE To examine nonvertebral fracture risk in relation to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) exposure among adults with respiratory disease. DESIGN AND PATIENTS Nested case-control study within a cohort of 89,877 UnitedHealthcare members aged > or = 40 years with physician insurance claims for COPD or asthma, enrolled for > or = 1 year from January 1, 1997 to June 30, 2001. METHODS Cases (n = 1,722) represented patients with a first treated nonvertebral fracture (the index date is the first fracture claim). Control subjects (n = 17,220) were randomly selected from the person-time and assigned a random index date. ICS exposure was ascertained 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months before the index date, with estimated cumulative dose through 0 to 6 months, 7 to 12 months, and 0 to 12 months. Covariates included demographics, oral corticosteroid and other medication exposure, comorbidities, and indicators of respiratory disease severity. Odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for all covariates were estimated by logistic regression. RESULTS No increased fracture risk with ICS exposure as a class or with fluticasone propionate alone was detected. ORs for exposure in the preceding 30 days were 1.05 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89 to 1.24), 1.13 (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.40), and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.78 to 1.21) for all ICS, fluticasone propionate, and other ICS, respectively. No dose-response effect was present. Among patients with COPD only (n = 6,932), no increased risk was found for recent ICS exposure (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.59 to 1.25). CONCLUSIONS Concern about nonvertebral fracture risk should not strongly influence the decision to use recommended doses of ICS for adult patients with asthma or COPD in managed-care settings in the United States. This study could not evaluate very-high ICS dose, long-term ICS exposure, or vertebral fracture risk.
Helicobacter pylori Infection Impairs the Mucin Production Rate and Turnover in the Murine Gastric Mucosa

ABSTRACT To protect the surface of the stomach, the epithelial cells secrete a mucus layer, which is mainly comprised of the MUC5AC mucin. Further protection is provided by a thick glycocalyx on the apical surface of the epithelial cell, with the cell surface mucin MUC1 as a major component. Here, we investigate the production rate and turnover of newly synthesized mucin in mice and analyze the effects of early colonization and chronic infection with H. pylori. Metabolic incorporation of an azido GalNAc analog (GalNAz) was used as a nonradioactive method to perform pulse experiments in the whole animal. First, the subcellular movement of newly synthesized mucin and mucin turnover was determined in uninfected mice. Based on the time line for mucin transport and dissemination, 2, 6, and 12 h after GalNAz injection was selected to collect the stomachs from mice infected with H. pylori strain SS1 during early colonization (7 days) and chronic infection (90 days). The results demonstrated that the speed from the start of glycosylation to the final destination is faster for the membrane-bound mucin to reach the glycocalyx (2 h) than for the secretory mucins to become secreted into the mucus layer (5 h). Furthermore, infection with H. pylori reduces the rate of mucin turnover and decreases the levels of Muc1. Since H. pylori colonizes this mucus niche, the decreased turnover rate indicates that H. pylori creates a more stable and favorable environment for itself by impairing the defense mechanism for clearing the mucosal surface of pathogens by mucus flow.
Convergence in pigmentation at multiple levels: mutations, genes and function

Convergence—the independent evolution of the same trait by two or more taxa—has long been of interest to evolutionary biologists, but only recently has the molecular basis of phenotypic convergence been identified. Here, we highlight studies of rapid evolution of cryptic coloration in vertebrates to demonstrate that phenotypic convergence can occur at multiple levels: mutations, genes and gene function. We first show that different genes can be responsible for convergent phenotypes even among closely related populations, for example, in the pale beach mice inhabiting Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts. By contrast, the exact same mutation can create similar phenotypes in distantly related species such as mice and mammoths. Next, we show that different mutations in the same gene need not be functionally equivalent to produce similar phenotypes. For example, separate mutations produce divergent protein function but convergent pale coloration in two lizard species. Similarly, mutations that alter the expression of a gene in different ways can, nevertheless, result in similar phenotypes, as demonstrated by sister species of deer mice. Together these studies underscore the importance of identifying not only the genes, but also the precise mutations and their effects on protein function, that contribute to adaptation and highlight how convergence can occur at different genetic levels.
Ocular biometry and determinants of refractive error in rural Myanmar: the Meiktila Eye Study

Objective: To describe the ocular biometry and determinants of refractive error in an adult population in Myanmar. Methods: A cross-sectional, population-based survey of the inhabitants 40 years of age and over from villages in the Meiktila District was performed; 2481 eligible participants were identified, and 2076 participated in the study. Biometric components including axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), vitreous chamber depth (VCD), lens thickness (LT) and corneal curvature (CC) were measured. Lens opalescence was measured using the Lens Opacity Grading System III. Non-cycloplegic refraction was measured with an autorefractor. Results: Complete biometric, refractive and lenticular data were available on 1498 participants. Men had longer ALs, ACDs, VCDs and steeper CCs than women. There was an increase in LT, nuclear opalescence (NO) and myopic shift with increasing age, with no significant change in AL with age. In the 40–59 year age group, VCD was a significant predictor of refractive error, but LT (p<0.001) and NO (p<0.001) were stronger predictors. In the 60+ age group, NO (p<0.001) was also the dominant predictor of refractive error. Conclusion: This Burmese population, particularly women, has a relatively short AL and ACD. NO is the strongest predictor of refractive error across all age groups in this population.
Review: Deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease

During the last 15 years deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been established as a highly-effective therapy for advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD). Patient selection, stereotactic implantation, postoperative stimulator programming and patient care requires a multi-disciplinary team including movement disorders specialists in neurology and functional neurosurgery. To treat medically refractory levodopa-induced motor complications or resistant tremor the preferred target for high-frequency DBS is the subthalamic nucleus (STN). STN-DBS results in significant reduction of dyskinesias and dopaminergic medication, improvement of all cardinal motor symptoms with sustained long-term benefits, and significant improvement of quality of life when compared with best medical treatment. These benefits have to be weighed against potential surgery-related adverse events, device-related complications, and stimulus-induced side effects. The mean disease duration before initiating DBS in PD is currently about 13 years. It is presently investigated whether the optimal timing for implantation may be at an earlier disease-stage to prevent psychosocial decline and to maintain quality of life for a longer period of time.