Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The uptake of amino acids during the terminl bacteraemia in guinea pigs infected with Bacillus antbracis.

SUMMARY: As part of an attempt to study the metabolism of Bacillus anthracis in vivo and its connexion with virulence, the utilization of amino acids by this pathogen was examined whilst it was growing in the blood of guinea pigs during the terminal phases of anthrax. Under these conditions, B. anthracis used relatively large quantities of glutamine, threonine, tryptophan and glycine, whereas histidine, lysine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, methionine and alanine did not appear to be taken up in appreciable quantities.
Effect of Moderate Acute Exercise on Expression of mRNA Involved in the Calcineurin Signaling Pathway in Human Skeletal Muscle

Calcineurin, a calcium‐regulated protein phosphatase, activates gene expression specific to slow muscle fibers by dephosphorylating a family of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), which cooperates with myocyte enhancer factor‐2 (MEF2) and AP‐1. However, it remains unknown how acute exercise influences this signaling pathway and leads to the development of slow muscle fibers. In the present study, we investigated the effect of moderate acute exercise on mRNA expression of genes in the calcineurin signaling pathway in human skeletal muscle. Five healthy volunteers underwent 1 h bicycle ergometer at 50%VO 2 max, and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were collected before and after exercise. Four hours after exercise, alterations in mRNA expression of NFAT 1 S‐ S3 were observed with a wide variety among subjects, while c‐fos mRNA was significantly induced in all subjects. By contrast, the expression of calcineurin, MEF2, and myocyte‐enriched calcineurin‐interacting protein 1 (MCIP1) remained unchanged. These results suggest that even moderate acute exercise may change mRNA expression of genes in the calcineurin‐signaling pathway. IUBMB Life, 55: 409‐413, 2003
Lessons from linomide

The clinical1 and MRI2 analyses from the phase III study of linomide (roquinimex) in this issue of Neurology demonstrate that large clinical trials have value beyond the obvious goal of establishing clinical efficacy. Preclinical observations showed that linomide had immunomodulatory effects, suggesting it might be beneficial for MS. It prevented or ameliorated experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. In phase I and II clinical trials, linomide appeared safe and reduced MS activity detected by MRI. When the phase III trial of linomide was initiated in 1996, hopes were high that it would become one of the first treatments to slow progression of MS. Instead, linomide had unexpected, unacceptable toxicity (myocardial infarction), prompting the abrupt discontinuation of linomide studies before efficacy could be assessed. Were large numbers of patients inappropriately exposed to an inadequately tested agent? No. Previous trials in over 700 patients treated with linomide showed that up to 2% experienced pleuritis or pericarditis. These occurred predominantly in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, however, suggesting that many of these events were related to the underlying disease rather than the linomide treatment itself. Myocardial infarctions had not occurred in previous animal studies or clinical trials up to 6 months long. The potential risks of linomide treatment appeared to be acceptable for a …
Validation of the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale for adolescents

Abstract Background: The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self Report Scale (ASRS) is a widely used diagnostic tool for assessment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in clinical psychiatry in Sweden. The ASRS consists of 18 questions, the first six of which can be used as a short screening version (ASRS-S). There is a version for adolescents—ASRS-Adolescent (ASRS-A)—and the corresponding screening version (ASRS-A-S), which has not been validated to date. Aim: The aim was to validate the ASRS-A and the ASRS-A-S for use in adolescent clinical populations. Methods: Adolescent psychiatric outpatients (n = 134, mean age 15 years, 40% boys) reported on the ASRS-A, and were interviewed with the Kiddie Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS), a semi-structured interview, together with a parent. Results: Internal consistency was 0.79 for the ASRS-A-S and 0.92 for the ASRS-A (Cronbach's alpha). Internal consistency values were 0.79 and 0.87 for the inattention subscale, and 0.68 and 0.89 for the hyperactivity subscale, respectively. Concurrent validity values, measured with Spearman's correlation coefficient, between the total K-SADS ADHD symptom severity score and the sum of ASRS-A-S and ASRS-A total scores were 0.51 and 0.60, respectively. Psychometric properties of the ASRS-A-S and the ASRS-A were: sensitivity 74% and 79%; negative predictive value 81% and 84%; specificity 59% and 60%; and positive predictive value 49% and 51%, respectively. Both versions showed better properties for girls than for boys. Conclusion: Both the ASRS-A-S and the ASRS-A showed promising psychometric properties for use in adolescent clinical populations.
Radix-4 Reciprocal Square-Root and Its Combination with Division and Square Root

In this work, we present a reciprocal square root algorithm by digit recurrence and selection by a staircase function and the radix-4 implementation. As in similar algorithms for division and square root, the results are obtained correctly rounded in a straightforward manner (in contrast to existing methods to compute the reciprocal square root). Although, apparently, a single selection function can only be used for j /spl ges/ 2 (the selection constants are different for j = 0, j = 1, and j /spl ges/ 2), we show that it is possible to use a single selection function for all iterations. We perform a rough comparison with existing methods and we conclude that our implementation is a low hardware complexity solution with moderate latency, especially for exactly rounded results. We also extend the unit to support division and square root with the same selection function and with slight modifications in the initialization of the reciprocal square root unit.
Comparative analysis of risk mitigation for goitrogens acting through the NIS mechanism across nations of the EU

This paper applies a methodology of probabilistic risk assessment to the task of identifying cumulative and aggregate risks from goitrogens in water and food. The methodology develops a Risk Ratio (RR) metric for exposed populations in the EU, France and Germany, producing inter-subject probability density functions (PDFs) for both total Average Daily Rate of Intake (expressed in PEC or Perchlorate Equivalent Concentration) for the three goitrogens considered, and for the value of RR. A Contribution to Variance calculation is performed to determine how these percentages of the population with RR>1 are influenced by the separate numerical values of six variables that influence exposure and risk:  Perchlorate concentration in water  Perchlorate concentration in food  Nitrate concentration in water  Nitrate concentration in food  Thiocyanate concentration in water  Thiocyanate concentration in food The percentages of individuals with an RR value above 1 ranges between 8% and 36% for the TDI value used here, depending on the age group and nation. The age groups with the highest RR values in the EU, France and Germany are Toddlers and Young Children, where RR values are above 1 for 32% to 40% for the ‘completely correlated’ case, and 23% to 28% for the ‘completely uncorrelated’ case. Exposure to nitrate in food is by far the largest contributor to the percentage of individuals with an RR value above 1. The percentage of individuals for whom the RR is greater than 1 purely due to perchlorate in water plus food is 0.3% or less for both the ‘completely correlated’ and ‘completely uncorrelated’ cases, in all three national groups and all age groups, and for most age groups is less than 0.2%. These percentages are 0.02% or less for water alone. If perchlorate is to be regulated in water and/or food, effective allocation of risk management resources for goitrogen effects induced by the NIS mechanism would be best focused on identifying the pockets of the exposed population and/or sensitive subpopulations in which perchlorate intakes through water and/or food are the cause of individuals having RR values exceeding 1 (when all three compounds together are considered). In addition, the analysis demonstrates the central importance in epidemiological studies of controlling for confounding exposures by compounds that influence the NIS mechanism (for studies that examine this effect) or additionally that affect TSH, T3, T4 etc in serum (when perchlorate exposures are considered and TSH, T3, T4 etc are the studied effects).
Comparison of genotypic resistance profiles and virological response between patients starting nevirapine and efavirenz in EuroSIDA

Objective:To compare virological outcome and genotypic resistance profiles in HIV-1-infected patients starting non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-containing regimens. Methods:NNRTI-naive patients were included who started treatment with nevirapine (NVP) or efavirenz (EFV) with genotypic resistance test results available at time of initiation (baseline). Virological failure was defined as two consecutive values > 500 copies/ml after starting the regimen. Cox models were used to investigate time to virological failure (the first of two values). Results:A total of 759 patients were included (13% antiretroviral-naive): 389 initiated NVP and 370 initiated EFV. Baseline IAS-USA NNRTI resistance mutations were detected in 3%. Using the Rega algorithm (version 7.1) to interpret resistance, 460 (64%) patients had resistance (full or intermediate) to at least one drug they were starting (69% NVP, 60% EFV, P = 0.011); 287 (74%) NVP and 168 (45%) EFV patients experienced virological failure after treatment initiation, P < 0.001. After adjustment for previous antiretroviral use, previous AIDS, year started NNRTI, CD4 cell count (baseline, nadir), viral load (baseline, maximum), and baseline drug resistance (measured by Rega), the relative hazards (EFV versus NVP) of virological failure was 0.50, 95% confidence interval: 0.39–0.65, P < 0.001. At time of virological failure, comparable levels of NNRTI resistance were detected. The K103N mutation emerged more in patients failing EFV and Y181C in patients failing NVP. Conclusions:NVP may be associated with an inferior virological outcome compared to EFV in NNRTI-naive patients with extensive resistance to other drug classes. The profile of NNRTI resistance mutations when virologically failing an NNRTI-containing regimen appears to depend on the NNRTI the patients fail.
Assessment of methods for collecting fallout brake pad wear debris for environmental analysis

Three methods for collecting or generating fallout brake pad wear debris for environmental analysis were assessed: collection from wheels or hubs of automobiles (natural), generation from an inexpensive sanding process (sanded), and collection of fallout debris from dynamometer tests using the Los Angeles City Traffic protocol (LACT). Brake wear debris was collected from four automobiles with semimetalic brake pads and analyzed for physicochemical properties. For automobiles where all three types of debris were collected, bulk copper mass fractions ranged from 22–23% in sanded particles and 24–27% in LACTparticles, but were reduced to 1–6% in natural debris. The smaller copper mass fraction in natural debris was attributed to contamination with road dust, which was found to comprise 37–97% of the natural particles. The ratio of surface to bulk copper mass fraction was up to five times larger for natural than LACT debris, suggesting that copper may leach into stormwater faster and to a greater extent for natural particles. While the LACT method appears best for collecting only fallout particles, significant differences in copper distributions in the natural and LACT debris suggests that metal distribution in LACT debris may not be representative of fallout particles generated under actual driving conditions, where airborne road dust may play a role. Although dynamometer tests have been the preferred method for generating debris for assessment of metal dissolution from brake particles, data from this study indicate that such samples may result in biased estimates of metal leaching.
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF CRUDE PROTEIN AND DRIED YEAST (SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE ) ON PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL LAYING HENS

This experiment was carried out at Siwa Oasis Experimental Station, to study the effect of different levels of crude protein (CP) and dried yeast (SDY) containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae on performance of local laying hens. A total number of 90 Matrouh laying hens of 32 weeks of age were randomly divided into six experimental groups, 15 hens each. Each group was sub-divided into five replicates, (three hens each). A (3 X 2) factorial experimental design with three levels of CP (16, 14 and 12 %) and two levels of SDY (0.00 and 250 mg /kg diet) was tested for 12 weeks. Hens fed on 16% CP showed the highest (P 0.05) influenced by CP levels. However, hens fed diets containing 14% CP showed higher value of shell weight (12.62%) compared with other groups. Hens fed SDY (250 mg/kg diet) showed the highest value of egg shell thickness (0.5002 µm) compared with control group. However, interaction between dietary CP levels and SDY supplementation had no significant effect on egg quality parameters. The exception only, hens fed diet containing 16% CP with dietary yeast (250mg/kg diet) showed the highest value of shell thickness (0.5411µm) compared with other groups. The best value for (E.E) and (R.E.E) recorded hens feed diet 16% CP (0.89 and 100.00%) respectively, followed by 14% CP (0.86 and 96.63) respectively. Dietary SDY
Impairment of vasodilator function in basilar arteries from aged rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Aging is associated with a reduction in cerebral perfusion. Impaired vasodilatation in large brain arteries could be implicated. This study sought age-related changes in vasodilator responses to norepinephrine in rat basilar artery and investigated which aspects of norepinephrine's action are responsible. To study the effect of aging per se, we used the rat, an animal with resistance to development of age-related pathologies. METHODS Vascular responses were studied in basilar arteries from young (3 to 4 months old) and old (20 to 22 months old) normotensive Sprague-Dawley rats with wire myography. Endothelial structure was assessed with confocal microscopy. RESULTS There was no age-related difference in blood pressure and in KCl or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) contractions. Relaxation to bradykinin or its absence predicted an intact or denuded endothelium, confirmed by confocal microscopy. Norepinephrine produced concentration-dependent relaxation that was significantly smaller in old rats, with or without endothelium. This response was significantly smaller in endothelium-denuded vessels, or after preincubation with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or propranolol, but not with rauwolscine. CONCLUSIONS In old and young rats the vasodilator action of norepinephrine in basilar artery is dependent on beta-adrenoceptors and nitric oxide. The impaired vasodilatation to norepinephrine found in the basilar artery from old rats might be caused by (1) a reduction in nitric oxide production and/or release or (2) beta-adrenoceptor alteration at the endothelium and/or the vascular smooth muscle. This impairment of vasodilator function can be ascribed to the aging process per se and not to other age-related alterations, such as hypertension.
Pharmacological interventions and concepts of fast-track perioperative medical care for enhanced recovery programs

Background: Improving perioperative efficiency and tightly maintaining the patient's homeostasis in order to improve rehabilitation and well-being are key factors in the increasing popularity of fast-track recovery programs. Although the pharmacological contribution should not be overestimated, the use of up-to-date pharmacological agents with predictable duration of action and minimal side effects is mandatory to allow for a fast and gentle recovery process. Methods: A literature review of about 160 peer-reviewed publications provides the basis for this review of pharmacological interventions for optimizing recovery following anesthesia. Results: The choice of anesthetic technique and pharmacological agents should be tailored to the needs of the patient as well as the type of procedure being performed as fast-track surgery. The universally applicable goals valid for every class of intervention are that they should be easy to use, have minimal side effects, maintain homeostasis, allow for a predictable on- and offset, and give minimal impairment of recovery and function. Conclusions: The pivotal role played by the anesthesiologist in facilitating the recovery process following surgical procedures has assumed increased importance in the concept of enhanced recovery programs. Although the interdisciplinary approach common to all parties involved (surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, physiotherapists) is the true enabler of fast-track surgery, the choice of anesthetic drugs and concomitant medication can all influence the ability to fast-track patients after surgery and should therefore considered mandatory in fast-track programs.
Do Multidimensional Pain Inventory Scale score changes indicate risk of receiving sick leave benefits 1 year after a pain rehabilitation programme??

Purpose. To study whether scale score changes in the Multidimensional Pain Inventory ((MPI)) can predict which persons disabled by pain will receive sick leave benefits 1 year after completing a pain rehabilitation programme. Method. An observational study of MPI data derived from 1468 patients, 388 men and 1080 women, who had participated in multidisciplinary cognitive-behavioural oriented pain rehabilitation programmes in Sweden, collected from the Swedish Quality Register for Pain Rehabilitation, before, at the end and 1 year after the programme. Results. Most MPI scale scores showed improvements after completing a pain rehabilitation programme and this improvement was sustained after 1 year. Moreover, we found that a decrease in MPI scales scores for Pain severity and Interference immediately after the pain rehabilitation programme decreased the risk of being on full-time sick leave 1 year later [[OR 0.85, ((95%% CI 0.73–0.99)) and OR 0.73, ((95%% CI 0.61–0.87)), respectively]]. The Interference scale, which may be considered to include ICF components of both activities and participation, might represent the core of suffering among persons disabled with pain. Conclusions. A rehabilitation intervention directed to combating the consequences of pain in activities and participation rather than against pain per se might lead to improved working capacity.
Effects of child abuse and neglect: does social capital really matter?

OBJECTIVE To explore whether social capital and social support moderate the relationship between child maltreatment and emotional and behavioral outcomes such as depression-anxiety and aggression in 6-year-old children. DESIGN Data from Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect were used. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires at the child's birth and at the age of 6 years. SETTING General community. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred fifteen maternal caregivers of children at high risk for child abuse and neglect were included in this study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Depression-anxiety and aggression were measured through the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS Among 5 potential effect modifiers (3 social capital constructs and 2 measures of social support), only 1 (instrumental support) significantly modified the relationship between maltreatment and child aggression. CONCLUSIONS Social capital did not modify the relationship between child maltreatment and either aggression or depression-anxiety. This might be related to the fact that many previous studies looked at social capital ecologically, whereas this study uses individuals as the unit of analysis. The results of this study might also indicate that previous studies of social capital and health outcomes might actually be using social capital as a proxy for social support.
An instrument for measuring pharmacist and physician attitudes towards collaboration: Preliminary psychometric data

This study was designed to develop an instrument for measuring attitudes toward pharmacist-physician collaborative relationships for administration to practicing pharmacists and physicians, as well as to students in pharmacy and medical schools. Based on a review of literature, a preliminary version of an instrument was developed (30 items), and through a pilot study of face validity and content validity with 12 pharmacists and 10 physicians, 18 items were chosen for quantitative analyses. We asked 88 respondents (61 pharmacists, 27 physicians) to judge the relevance, clarity, and representativeness of each item to the concept of pharmacist-physician collaborative relationships. Sixteen items with a relevancy endorsement greater than 85% and significant item-total score correlations were retained. The following underlying constructs emerged from factor analysis: “collaboration and team work,” “accountability,” “overlapping responsibility,” and “authority”. These factors supported the multidimensionality and construct validity of the instrument. No gender difference was observed; however, pharmacists scored higher than physicians on the total score of the instrument. The Cronbach's coefficient alpha was . 81 for pharmacists, . 92 for physicians, and . 87 for the combined sample. Encouraged by these preliminary findings, we plan to undertake further research to examine the instrument's psychometric properties including criterion-related and predictive validities with larger and more representative samples of pharmacists, physicians, and students in pharmacy and medical schools.
Down‐regulation of lncRNA‐NEAT1 alleviated the non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease via mTOR/S6K1 signaling pathway

Without effective medical interventions for complete reverse of NAFLD, it needs to urgently explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to offer a novel therapeutic strategy for people suffering from NAFLD. Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats were used to establish the NAFLD animal model. Lipofectamine 2000 was used to silence or over‐express NEAT1. The expression of NEAT1 and the mRNA levels of ACC and FAS were determined by qRT‐PCR. Western blot assays were performed to detect the expression of ACC and FAS at protein levels and the related protein levels of mTOR/S6K1 signaling pathway. The levels of liver triglyceride (TG), serum total cholesterol (TC), ALT, and AST were assessed by an automatic biochemistry analyzer. The levels of liver TG and serum cholesterol were obviously up‐regulated in NAFLD rat model. The level of NEAT1 expression and the mRNA levels of ACC and FAS were obviously enhanced in NAFLD model both in vivo and in vitro. Knockdown of NEAT1 could also reduce the elevation of ACC and FAS induced by FFA in liver cells. Moreover, inhibition of mTOR/S6K1 pathway presented with the same effect with knockdown of NEAT1 on the expression of ACC and FAS mRNA levels. The injection of si‐NEAT1 lentivirus was performed to treat NAFLD of rats and the obvious efficacy for NAFLD rats was achieved. In a word, the down‐regulated level of NEAT1 could remit the non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease through mTOR/S6K1 signaling pathway in rats.