Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy as interlinking pathways in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

Purpose of review The purpose of this study is to provide an overview of the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recent findings Human genetic studies have identified several UPR-related genes and autophagy-related genes as IBD risk loci. Impairment of each branch of the UPR causes spontaneous enteritis or creates higher susceptibility for intestinal inflammation in model systems. Deficiency of either UPR or autophagy in small intestinal epithelial cells promotes each other's compensatory engagement, which is especially prominent in Paneth cells such that, in the absence of both, severe spontaneous enteritis emerges. Summary Interactions between the UPR and autophagy exhibit critical synergistic interactions within the intestinal epithelium and especially Paneth cells that are of considerable importance to the maintenance of homeostasis. When dysfunctional in the Paneth cell, spontaneous inflammation can emerge that may extend beyond the epithelium providing direct experimental evidence that subsets of Crohn's disease may emanate from primary Paneth cell disturbances.
DNA fragmentation, transgene expression and embryo development after intracytoplasmic injection of DNA–liposome complexes in IVF bovine zygotes

Summary This study was designed to evaluate the quality and viability of bovine embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF), after intracytoplasmic injection of pCX–EGFP–liposome complexes or pBCKIP2.8–liposome complexes (plasmids that codify the human insulin gene). Cleavage, blastocysts and expanded blastocysts rates of these both groups were not different from that of controls (IVF or IVF embryos injected with liposomes alone; IVF-L). The percentage of EGFP-positive (EGFP+) blastocysts was 41.8%. In Experiment 2, the blastocysts obtained after injection of pCX–EGFP–liposome complexes that did or did not express the transgene, were analyzed by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labelling) assay at days 6, 7 and 8 of culture in vitro(Bd6, Bd7 and Bd8), in order to evaluate DNA fragmentation. The EGFP+ blastocysts showed different proportions of TUNEL-positive cells (T+) at Bd6, Bd7 and Bd8 (91, 73.7 and 99.5%, respectively) while blastocysts without EGFP expression (EGFP−) showed statistically lower numbers of fragmented nuclei (0, 44.6 and 85%, respectively; P < 0.05). There was no evidence of DNA fragmentation in either Bd6 or Bd7 IVF and IVF-L control blastocysts, but T+ nuclei were detected at Bd8 in both groups (66.4 and 85.8% respectively). Finally, IVF blastocysts (n = 21) injected with insulin–liposome complexes, cultured for 6, 7 and 8 days, were transferred to recipient cows. Pregnancy rates of 18.2% (2/11) and 40% (2/5) resulted from the transfer of Bd6 and Bd7 cells, respectively. Two pregnancies developed to term but they were not transgenic for the insulin gene. In conclusion, EGFP expression affects DNA integrity but not embryo development. Moreover, additional transfers are required in order to overcome the drawbacks generated by in vitro culture length and transgene expression.
Phoenix from the Ashes: Fire, Torpor, and the Evolution of Mammalian Endothermy

The asteroid strike causing global wildfires and the demise of dinosaurs and many other organisms at the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary ~65 Million years ago opened new niches for the evolution of modern mammalian lineages. While it is generally accepted that small ectotherms probably survived the post-impact winter that lasted for months because of their low metabolic rate (MR) and thus low food requirements, it is unknown how the small endothermic mammalian ancestors that were present at this time managed to do so. However, it is highly unlikely that a strictly homeothermic small terrestrial mammal with a constant high body temperature (Tb), high MR and consequently high food requirements would have had a chance, because they can survive without food for only a few days. It instead has been proposed that to survive the catastrophic K-Pg events, these small ancestral mammals must have been ‘heterothermic endotherms’ capable of using torpor for energy conservation. Torpor is characterised by substantial falls of MR and Tb often to fractions of basal MR, permitting small mammals to survive without food for up to an entire year. This hypothesis is supported by recent evidence revealing that the use of torpor increases substantially after fires, when availability of food and shelters is reduced, as would have been the case at the K-Pg boundary; charcoal and ash further enhance torpor in anticipation of prolonged detrimental conditions. Further, even at the beginning of the evolution of endothermy, heterothermy likely played a key role in the transition from ectothermy to endothermy. Our review will address current hypotheses and discuss the theoretical possibilities considering these and other new data with regard to two crucial evolutionary events: (i) the role of heterothermy in the evolution of avian and mammalian endothermy and (ii) the role of heterothermy in mammalian survival at the K-Pg boundary.
Investigational VEGF antagonists for psoriasis

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mediates angiogenesis consequent to binding to VEGF receptors (VEGFRs) and is upregulated in patients with psoriasis. VEGF is also upregulated in other diseases characterised by angiogenesis including proliferative retinopathy and cancer. Several VEGF antagonists have been approved for the treatment of these conditions and may also have the potential to treat psoriasis. Areas covered: A PubMed literature search was performed to identify preclinical and clinical research regarding investigational VEGF antagonists for the treatment of psoriasis. Various agents have been reviewed including monoclonal antibodies against VEGF and VEGFRs, decoy anti-VEGF receptors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors that block the effects of VEGF/VEGFR binding. Expert opinion: Several investigational drugs have demonstrated potential to treat psoriasis. Clinical observations of psoriasis remission following administration of bevacizumab, sunitinib and sorafenib in cancer patients are encouraging. Of particular interest is a novel anti-VEGF/anti-TNF-α decoy receptor (Valpha), whose dual action could be beneficial given the numerous pathogenetic pathways in psoriasis. A topical tyrosine kinase inhibitor also has potential given the cost and safety advantages conferred by this mode of administration. More research is warranted both in the prototypical drugs and in those already marketed for other indications.
Anorectal melanoma: review of diagnosis and treatment based on a case report

Anorectal Melanoma is a rare and very aggressive tumor that should be part of the range of differential diagnoses of colorectal diseases. Today, the main discussion on the topic is about the best treatment, whether it should be more conservative or more aggressive. In order to review the main points on the subject, the authors report a case of a patient treated at the Coloproctology Service at the Sao Lucas Hospital, PUCRS.
Mental Imagery as the Adaptationist Views It

Mental images are one of the more obvious aspects of human conscious experience. Familiar idioms such as "the mind's eye" reflect the high status of the image in metacognition. Theoretically, a defining characteristic of mental images is that they can be analog representations. But this has led to an enduring puzzle in cognitive psychology: How do "mental pictures" fit into a general theory of cognition? Three empirical problems have constituted this puzzle: The incidence of mental images has been unpredictable, innumerable ordinary concepts cannot be depicted, and images typically do not resemble things well. I argue in this paper that theorists have begun to address these problems successfully. I argue further that the critical theoretical framework involves thinking of mental images as information within a cognitive system that is fundamentally adaptive. The main outline of the adaptationist framework was evident in the school of thought known as American Functionalism, but adaptationism has formed a consistent pattern of theorizing across many authors and decades. I briefly describe Functionalism and then present seven basic claims about imagery that were common in the years before the predominance of behaviorism. I then show how these claims have reappeared and been further articulated in modern cognitive psychology. I end with a brief integration of some of the basic elements of an adaptationist theory of imagery.
Business Cycles in Emerging Markets: The Role of Liability Dollarization and Valuation Effects

Understanding differences in business cycle phenomena between Emerging Market Economies (EMEs) and industrialized countries has been at the center of recent research on macroeconomic fluctuations. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of certain credit market imperfections in different EMEs. To this end, we develop a small open economy Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) framework featuring both permanent and transitory productivity shocks, differentiated home and foreign goods, and endogenous exchange rate movements. Furthermore, our model incorporates liability dollarization as a particular form of financial frictions in EMEs. In this vein, we account for the fact that emerging markets traditionally have had difficulties in borrowing in domestic currency on international capital markets and thus allow for valuation effects in our analysis. We estimate our model using Bayesian techniques for a number of EMEs and thereby control for potential heterogeneity across countries. Contrary to previous studies in this strand of the literature, we include a (vector-)autoregressive measurement error component to capture off-model dynamics. Regarding business cycles in emerging markets, our main findings are that (i) even though we incorporate financial frictions in the framework, trend shocks are the main determinant of macroeconomic fluctuations, (ii) accounting for liability dollarization ameliorates the model fit, and (iii) valuation effects on average stabilize changes in the net foreign asset position.
Hepatocellular carcinoma in Nigerian children

Summary Childhood primary hepatocellular carcinoma is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all abdominal malignancies in children ≤ 14 years of age. A review of the records of the Cancer Registry, Ibadan, Nigeria covering the period 1960–1995 was scrutinised and 19 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were registered, accounting for 0.49% of all abdominal malignancies over the period of review. The mean (SD) age at presentation was 10.4 (3.0) years and the duration of illness before presentation was short. All the children presented late with abdominal distension and hepatomegaly as the major clinical features. Weight loss was evident in 80% of cases, splenomegaly occurred in 50% and jaundice was present in a third of them. The prognosis was poor; all the cases died within 2 weeks of presentation in hospital. There was evidence to suggest an association between hepatitis B virus infection and HCC in all the liver tissue stained by Shikata-Orcein. This review shows that HCC, though uncommon, is important enough to be considered a possible cause of unexplained hepatomegaly in Nigerian children and that hepatitis B virus is an important aetiological factor. Though the number of cases under review is small, universal early vaccination against hepatitis B virus is necessary in Nigerian children in order to reduce the burden of chronic hepatitis B disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Thriving in School

The present study uses an ecological systems perspective to examine how parental involvement in school-related activities in sixth grade influences early adolescents’ school bonding and academic achievement in eighth grade. Results of multilevel models of multiple data sources (i.e., adolescents, parents, and principals) suggested that parents’ involvement in school, as reported by the adolescent in sixth grade, was a significant predictor of school bonding and academic grades in eighth grade. Furthermore, parent reports of guidance, support, and involvement in school and non-school activities were unrelated to their adolescents’ grades and school bonding. Finally, schools’ efforts to engage parents did not consistently predict an association between parental involvement and adolescent outcomes.
Promoting in-depth reading experience and acceptance: design and assessment of Tablet reading interfaces

This study employs an interface design on a Tablet to facilitate in-depth reading for learners and allow them to apply better strategies and skills when reading; thereby cultivating their positive attitude towards reading and improving their willingness to use Tablets. Using human-centred design, we first investigated the Tablet functions within learner wants and needs based on their reading experiences, analysed each function and its correlation to reading satisfaction, and obtained a basis for evaluation. We next employed the 10 functions demonstrating the highest importance to complete a prototyping design. Finally, based on the technology acceptance model, we employed experimental methods to verify the prototype using the post-test-only control group design. The results of the study indicate that for perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, reading and using attitudes, and behaviour intentions, the average scores for the improved Tablet were significantly higher (p<0.05) than those for the original version.
Pulse Pressure Variation Is Comparable With Central Venous Pressure to Guide Fluid Resuscitation in Experimental Hemorrhagic Shock With Endotoxemia

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pulse pressure variation (PPV) has been proposed as a promising resuscitation goal, but its ability to predict fluid responsiveness has been questioned in various conditions. The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of PPV in predicting fluid responsiveness in experimental hemorrhagic shock with endotoxemia, while comparing it with goals determined by a conventional set of guidelines. Methods: Twenty-seven pigs were submitted to acute hemorrhagic shock with intravenous infusion of endotoxin and randomized to three groups: (i) control; (ii) conventional treatment with crystalloids to achieve and maintain central venous pressure (CVP) 12 to 15 mmHg, mean arterial pressure of 65 mmHg or greater, and SvO2 (mixed venous oxygen saturation) of 65% or greater; (iii) treatment to achieve and maintain PPV of 13% or less. Parametric data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey test and differences in crystalloid volumes by t test. Predictive values of variables regarding fluid responsiveness were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves and multiple logistic regression. Results: Both treatments produced satisfactory hemodynamic recovery, without statistical differences in fluid administration (P = 0.066), but conventional treatment induced higher CVP (P = 0.001). Areas under receiver operating characteristic curves were larger for CVP (0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.68–0.86) and PPV (0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.65–0.83), and these variables were further selected by multiple logistic regression as independent predictors of responsiveness. Optimal PPV cutoff was 15%, with false-positive results involving mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 27 mmHg or greater. Conclusions: Acute resuscitation guided by PPV was comparable with the strategy guided by CVP, mean arterial pressure, and SvO2. Central venous pressure and PPV were individually limited but independently predictive of fluid responsiveness.
Malnutrition risk in hospitalized children: use of 3 screening tools in a large European population.

BACKGROUND Several malnutrition screening tools have been advocated for use in pediatric inpatients. OBJECTIVE We evaluated how 3 popular pediatric nutrition screening tools [i.e., the Pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Score (PYMS), the Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Pediatrics (STAMP), and the Screening Tool for Risk of Impaired Nutritional Status and Growth (STRONGKIDS)] compared with and were related to anthropometric measures, body composition, and clinical variables in patients who were admitted to tertiary hospitals across Europe. DESIGN The 3 screening tools were applied in 2567 inpatients at 14 hospitals across 12 European countries. The classification of patients into different nutritional risk groups was compared between tools and related to anthropometric measures and clinical variables [e.g., length of hospital stay (LOS) and infection rates]. RESULTS A similar rate of completion of the screening tools for each tool was achieved (PYMS: 86%; STAMP: 84%; and STRONGKIDS: 81%). Risk classification differed markedly by tool, with an overall agreement of 41% between tools. Children categorized as high risk (PYMS: 25%; STAMP: 23%; and STRONGKIDS: 10%) had a longer LOS than that of children at low risk (1.4, 1.4, and 1.8 d longer, respectively; P < 0.001). In high-risk patients identified with the PYMS, 22% of them had low (<-2) body mass index (BMI) SD-scores (SDSs), and 8% of them had low height-for-age SDSs. For the STAMP, the percentages were 19% and 14%, respectively, and for the STRONGKIDS, the percentages were 23% and 19%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The identification and classification of malnutrition risk varied across the pediatric tools used. A considerable portion of children with subnormal anthropometric measures were not identified with all of the tools. The data obtained do not allow recommending the use of any of these screening tools for clinical practice. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01132742.
The influence of game duration and playing position on intensity of exercise during match-play in elite water polo players

Abstract In this study, we assessed exercise intensity in 20 water polo games of different duration. The hypothesis that right wing players perform at a higher intensity than back and forward central players was also tested. Thirty water polo players, equally split between three field positions, participated in the study. Initially, their performance-related physiological capabilities were evaluated. Subsequently, during water polo games of short (4×7-min periods) or long duration (4×9-min periods), heart rate was monitored continuously and blood lactate concentration was measured at the end of each period. Activity patterns were also recorded using a video camera. Mean heart rate over the entire game was 156 ± 18 beats · min−1. Overall exercise intensity fluctuated around a value corresponding to the lactate threshold (4.03 ± 0.96 mmol · l−1, 86 ± 5% of peak heart rate) and decreased (P < 0.003) with game time (4.22 ± 1.8 and 3.47 ± 1.9 mmol · l−1 in the second and fourth quarter, respectively). During the last 6 min, heart rate was higher (P < 0.001) in games of short duration (156 ± 3 beats · min−1) than in games of long duration (152 ± 8 beats · min−1). Video analysis showed that the percentage of time spent in low-intensity activities (i.e. “out of game”) was lower (23 vs. 26%), whereas that in high-intensity activities (i.e. “sprinting crawl”) was higher (21 vs. 19%), in games of short compared with long duration. No difference was observed among players of various field positions in any of the variables examined. Thus during match-play, games of long duration produced significantly lower heart rate responses than games of short duration, and the physiological response exhibited by the players was not affected by field position. The water polo authorities should consider these results before changing game duration and coaches should prepare their athletes accordingly.
Tunisie : vingt ans après ; De quoi Ben Ali est-il le nom ?

Vingt ans apres la deposition de Bourguiba, la Tunisie temoigne de profondes transformations. Il serait illusoire d’en imputer l’origine a un acte inaugural, comme si un big-bang tunisien s’etait produit en novembre 1987. « Les annees Ben Ali » ou « la Tunisie de Ben Ali » recouvrent des processus dont les sequences et le rythme ne doivent rien aux anniversaires politiques. Neanmoins il n’est pas inconvenant, pour les besoins d’une mise en perspective, de prendre pour point de repere le « cou.
Synergistic Effect of Polymer and Small Molecules for High‐Performance Ternary Organic Solar Cells

A ternary blend system with two donors and one acceptor provides an effective route to improve the performance of organic solar cells. A synergistic effect of polymer and small molecules is observed in ternary solar cells, and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the ternary system (8.40%) is higher than those of binary systems based on small molecules (7.48%) or polymers (6.85%).
Periodontal tissue engineering and regeneration: Consensus Report of the Sixth European Workshop on Periodontology.

AIM To review the scientific preclinical background and clinical studies of current methods of periodontal regeneration in the treatment of infrabony defects and soft tissue deficiencies. METHOD Five commissioned review papers including two systematic reviews were scrutinized by a group of experts in order to derive consensus conclusions, clinical relevance/implications and to propose future research requirements. RESULTS The following five papers were assessed: 1. Biological mediators and periodontal regeneration: a review of enamel matrix proteins at the cellular and molecular levels. 2. Regeneration of periodontal tissues: combination of barrier membranes and grafting materials - Biological foundation and preclinical evidence. 3. Clinical outcomes with bioactive agents alone or in combination with grafting or GTR 4. Treatment of gingival recession with coronally advanced flap procedures. A systematic review. 5. Soft tissue management at implant sites.
Overdiagnosis of asthma in the community.

BACKGROUND Overdiagnosis of asthma may be an emerging problem after years of attention to the rising prevalence and reported underdiagnosis of the disease. OBJECTIVES A sample of adult asthmatics from the community was investigated to determine whether they met the current diagnostic criteria for asthma. METHODS Ninety participants were studied from a self-referred sample of physician-labelled, adult asthmatics from the community. The setting was a tertiary care, university-affiliated teaching hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Three diagnostic criteria from the Canadian Thoracic Society Asthma Guidelines were used to demonstrate the presence of asthma: first, positive symptom history, and either, second, reversible airflow obstruction demonstrable on spirometry or documented peak expiratory flow rate diurnal variability, or, third, bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine. RESULTS At the time of the study, 41% of a sample of physician-labelled asthmatics showed no evidence of reversible airflow obstruction and had a negative methacholine challenge. By backward logistical regression analysis, a higher mean number of medications used (P<0.01), a lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (P<0.05) and using inhaled steroids (P<0.05) were predictive of meeting the diagnostic criteria for asthma. Sixty-two per cent of subjects who did not meet the criteria for asthma were currently taking medications for "asthma". Only 52.2% of the subjects reported ever having undergone pulmonary function testing. CONCLUSIONS Overdiagnosis of asthma is a potential problem, which may result in unnecessary or inappropriate medication use, increased health care costs and mislabelling of patients. The authors recommend greater use of objective diagnostic tests such as spirometry, peak flow diaries and bronchial provocation to establish a clinical diagnosis of asthma.