Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gut microbiota and probiotics: Focus on diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT The characterization of gut microbiota has become an important area of research in several clinical conditions, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Changes in the composition and/or metabolic activity of the gut microbiota can contribute to human health. Thus, this review discusses the effects of probiotics and gut microbiota on metabolic control in these individuals. Relevant studies were obtained from electronic databases such as PubMed/Medline and ISI Web of Science. The main probiotics used in these studies belonged to the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. The authors found seven randomized placebo-controlled clinical trials and 13 experimental studies directly related to the effect of probiotics on metabolic control in the context of T2DM. The hypothesis that gut microbiota plays a role in the development of diabetes indicates an important beginning, and the potential of probiotics to prevent and reduce the severity of T2DM is better observed in animal studies. In clinical trials, the use of probiotics in glycemic control presented conflicting results, and only few studies have attempted to evaluate factors that justify metabolic changes, such as markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and incretins. Thus, further research is needed to assess the effects of probiotics in the metabolism of diabetic individuals, as well as the main mechanisms involved in this complex relationship.
Encoding and reactivation patterns predictive of successful memory performance are topographically organized along the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus

An ongoing debate in human memory research is whether the encoding and the retrieval of memory engage the same part of the hippocampus and the same cells, or whether encoding preferentially involves the anterior part of the hippocampus and retrieval its posterior part. Here, we used a human to rat translational behavioral approach combined to high‐resolution molecular imaging to address this issue. We showed that successful memory performance is predicted by encoding and reactivation patterns only in the dorsal part of the rat hippocampus (posterior part in humans), but not in the ventral part (anterior part in humans). Our findings support the view that the encoding and the retrieval processes per se are not segregated along the longitudinal axis of the hippocampus, but that activity predictive of successful memory is and concerns specifically the dorsal part of the hippocampus. In addition, we found evidence that these processes are likely to be mediated by the activation/reactivation of the same cells at this level. Given the translational character of the task, our results suggest that both the encoding and the retrieval processes take place in the same cells of the posterior part of the human hippocampus. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Clinical Management of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia: The Role of Left Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation.

BACKGROUND Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a genetic disorder causing life-threatening arrhythmias whenever sympathetic activity increases. β-Βlockers are the mainstay of therapy; when they fail, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are used but often cause multiple shocks. Preliminary results with flecainide appear encouraging. We proposed left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) as useful additional therapy, but evidence remains anecdotal. METHODS AND RESULTS We report 63 patients with CPVT who underwent LCSD as secondary (n=54) or primary (n=9) prevention. The median post-LCSD follow-up was 37 months. The 9 asymptomatic patients remained free of major cardiac events. Of the 54 patients with prior major cardiac events either on (n=38) or off (n=16) optimal medical therapy, 13 (24%) had at least 1 recurrence: 0 patients had an aborted cardiac arrest, 2 patients had syncope only, 10 patients had ≥1 appropriate ICD discharges, and 1 patient died suddenly. The 1- and 2-year cumulative event-free survival rates were 87% and 81%. The percentage of patients with major cardiac events despite optimal medical therapy (n=38) was reduced from 100% to 32% (P<0.001) after LCSD, and among 29 patients with a presurgical ICD, the rate of shocks dropped by 93% from 3.6 to 0.6 shocks per person per year (P<0.001). Patients with an incomplete LCSD (n=7) were more likely to experience major cardiac events after LCSD (71% versus 17%; P<0.01) than those with a complete LCSD. CONCLUSIONS LCSD is an effective antifibrillatory intervention for patients with CPVT. Whenever syncope occurs despite optimal medical therapy, LCSD could be considered the next step rather than an ICD and could complement ICDs in patients with recurrent shocks.
Acylated/unacylated ghrelin ratio in cord blood: correlation with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and pediatric lifespan comparison.

CONTEXT Ghrelin is a peptide with multiple functions that circulates in acylated (AG) and unacylated (UAG) forms. However, the role of ghrelin in neonates (NN) remains to be clarified. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine ghrelin concentrations of the two forms in NN to clarify their biological roles. As such, ghrelin levels at birth were compared with those in later life. SETTING AND DESIGN Tertiary Care Center. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated AG, UAG, AG/UAG ratio, and insulin levels in venous cord blood from NN and in fasted normal weight (NW) and obese (OB) children, both prepubertal and pubertal. SUBJECTS We studied 82 NN, 82 NW, and 58 OB children. RESULTS AG levels were lower in NN than in NW and OB children (P<0.0001), more specifically the prepubertal NW and OB children (P<0.0001). UAG levels were higher in NN than in NW and OB children (P<0.0001). Therefore, the AG/UAG ratio was lower in NN than in NW and OB children (P<0.0001). NN showed insulin levels similar to NW and lower than OB children (P<0.0001). At birth UAG was positively correlated with AG (Pearson: 0.425; P<0.0001) and negatively with insulin (-0.253; P<0.02). In NW and OB, UAG and AG were positively correlated to each other and negatively correlated with insulin and body mass index (-0.566; P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS NN compared with children, showed higher UAG and lower AG levels. The AG/UAG ratio showed a very different profile in NN, being lower than in NW and OB children, thus suggesting a different metabolic function for the two forms in NN. Further studies are needed to clarify the exact role of the different ghrelin forms in NN.
Cost Functions and Determinants of Unit Cost Effects in Horizontal Airline M&As

This paper analyses the unit cost effects of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) using linear, quadratic, and translog cost functions. In addition to a basic unit cost model we specify separate models for distress, profit, relative size, and cost difference, among the merging firms. We use a sample of 19 horizontal M&As in the international airline industry and data spanning from 1980 to 2012. Our models show that M&As do not affect unit costs in a significant way, unless the relative size difference of the merging firms is large, in which case we detect an increase in unit costs.
Effect of Germanium Preamorphization Implant on Performance and Gate-Induced Drain Leakage in SiGe Channel pFET

Silicon-germanium (SiGe) channel pMOSFET is considered as a replacement for silicon channel device for 32-nm node and beyond, because of its lower threshold voltage and higher channel mobility. Lower SiGe bandgap makes gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) important for low leakage, high threshold voltage device designs. In this letter, the effect of prehalo/LDD Ge preamorphization implant (PAI) on GIDL and performance is investigated using experimental data and simulations. Results suggest that GIDL reduction of ~40% is achieved without Ge PAI and the total OFF-state leakage (IOFF) is reduced by ~50% with a slight reduction in drive current (ION) and similar short-channel effects as compared with the case with PAI for same process conditions, which is not reported yet. The reduction in GIDL, and hence the improvement in ION/IOFF ratio is because of elimination of end-of-range defects at the source/drain sidewall junction regions. It is also shown that a slight reduction in ION in the absence of Ge PAI is because of a small increase in the extrinsic series resistance.
PRICE STABILIZATION AND IPO UNDERPRICING: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY IN THE INDONESIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

We attempt to investigate IPO underpricing and stabilization activities. We find IPO underpricing of around 25% in the Indonesia market. Return distribution for the first 30-trading days shows a positive skew, the distribution becomes closer to normality as the period lengthens. We then develop and test five algorithms to detect IPO intervention. An important goal of this paper is to develop an algorithm that will be able to detect IPO intervention using public data. We find that the number of closing prices that are equal to the offer prices and the skewness of the IPO return in the first 30-trading days are the ‘best’ stabilization measures. Having found “the best measures”, then we investigate under what conditions IPO intervention is more intensive. We find that underwriters tend to stabilize more on more expensive IPOs.
Effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on North African children’s heart rate and oxy-haemoglobin saturation at rest and during sub-maximal exercise

Summary Aim: To examine the effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) on the heart rate (HR) and oxyhaemoglobin saturation levels (oxy-sat) of boys at rest and during a six-minute walking test (6MWT). Methods: Eighteen boys (age: 11.9 ± 0.8 years, height: 153.00 ± 8.93 cm, body mass: 55.4 ± 18.2 kg), who fasted the entire month of Ramadan in 2012 for the first time in their lives, were included. The experimental protocol comprised four testing phases: two weeks before Ramadan (pre-R), the end of the second week of Ramadan (R-2), the end of the fourth week of Ramadan (R-4), and 10 to 12 days after the end of Ramadan (post-R). During each phase, participants performed the 6MWT at approximately 15:00. HR (expressed as percentage of maximal predicted HR) and oxy-sat (%) were determined at rest and in each minute of the 6MWT. Results: R-4 HR values were lower than those of (1) pre-R (in the second minute), (2) R-2 (in the first and second minutes), and (3) post-R (in the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth minutes). R-2 oxy-sat values were higher than those of pre-R (in the third minute) and those of post-R (in the fifth minute). Post-R oxy-sat values were lower than those of pre-R and R-4 in the fifth minute. These oxy-sat changes were not clinically significant since the difference was less than five points. Conclusion: In non-athletic children, their first RIF influenced their heart rate data but had a minimal effect on oxy-sat values.
Smoking, breastfeeding, physical inactivity, contact with animals, and size of the family influence the risk of inflammatory bowel disease: A Slovak case–control study

Background The aetiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is not known but is likely to involve a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental risk factors. Smoking has been associated consistently with a higher risk of Crohn’s disease (CD), while appendectomy and smoking appear to diminish the risk of ulcerative colitis (UC). The roles of other environmental factors are unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of CD and UC with several environmental risk factors. Methods This case–control study included 338 patients (190 CD, 148 UC) and 355 controls. All subjects completed a detailed questionnaire regarding breastfeeding duration, history of helminthic infections, allergic diseases, appendectomy, household size, housing type, contact with specific domestic animals, physical activity, and smoking. Associations between risk factors and CD and UC were investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results On multivariate analysis, CD associated with smoking at diagnosis (odds ratio, OR, 3.7, 95% CI 2.2–6.2; p < 0.001), being breastfed for <6 months (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.7–4.4; p < 0.001), and less than two childhood sporting activities weekly (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5–5.0; p < 0.001) and inversely associated with frequent contact with cats in childhood (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4–0.9; p < 0.03). UC associated with less than two sporting weekly activities in childhood (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.5, p = 0.02), fewer household members in childhood (OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.7–0.98, p = 0.03), and being breastfed for <6 months (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.02–2.8, p = 0.04). A composite environmental risk index for CD revealed that 47 and 14% of the controls and patients with CD had no risk factors, respectively, and that 14 and 38% of the controls and patients with CD had at least two risk factors, respectively. Conclusion CD and UC associated with infrequent childhood sports activities and short breastfeeding. Furthermore, CD associated with smoking and infrequent contact with animals in childhood. UC associated with a smaller family size in childhood.
High levels of tumor-associated neutrophils are associated with improved overall survival in patients with stage II colorectal cancer

Conflicting reports regarding whether high tumor-associated neutrophils (TAN) are associated with outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) exist. Previous investigators have counted TAN using non-neutrophil-specific immunohistochemistry (IHC) stains. We examined whether TAN levels as determined by multi-field manual counting would predict prognosis. IRB approval was obtained and two pathologists, blinded to stage/outcome, counted TAN in 20 high power fields (HPF) per specimen. TAN score was defined as the mean of these counts. High TAN was defined as at or greater than the median score for that stage. Demographics, tumor characteristics, and overall survival (OS) were obtained from the records and examined for association with TAN score. IHC for arginase expression was performed in a subset of samples. 221 patients were included. Stage II patients with high TAN scores had an OS of 232 months as compared to those with low TAN (OS = 85 months, p = 0.03). The survival benefit persisted in multivariable analysis (HR 0.48, CI 0.25–0.91, p = 0.026) controlling for age and sex. Women had increased survival as compared to men, and there were no significant prognostic associations with TAN count in stage III/IV patients, although there were only 12 stage IV patients. Arginase staining did not provide additional information. Stage II colorectal cancer patients with high TAN live nearly 3 times longer than those with low TAN. Women with stage II disease and high TAN counts appear to be driving the survival benefit seen in the stage II patients and have increased overall survival in all stages.
Bundling and Nonlinear Pricing in Telecommunications

I develop a multiproduct nonlinear pricing model where a firm sells both discrete and continuous goods/services to consumers with multidimensional heterogeneity. I derive the optimal selling mechanism and provide primitive conditions under which different bundling strategies arise. Exploiting the optimality conditions of both the firm and the consumer, I show that the model structure is nonparametrically identified and propose a three-step semiparametric estimation procedure. An application to China Telecom data shows that mixed bundling is beneficial to both the firm and the consumer relative to component pricing.
Lack of association between the promoter polymorphisms at positions –238 and –308 of the tumour necrosis factor alpha gene and acne vulgaris in Polish patients

© 2008 The Authors JEADV 2009, 23, 317–368 Journal compilation © 2008 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology References 1 Jensen P, Hansen S, Moller B. Skin cancer in kidney and heart transplant recipients and different long-term immunosuppressive therapy regimens. J Am Acad Dermatol 2000 February; 42 (2 Part 1): 307. 2 Kauffman HM, Cherikh WS, McBride MA, Cheng Y, Hanto DW. Posttransplant de novo malignancies in renal transplant recipients: the past and present. Transplant Int 2006 August; 19 (8): 607–620. 3 Maloney FJ, Comber H, O’Lorcain P, O’Kelly P, Conlon PJ, Murphy GM. A population based study of skin cancers in renal transplant recipients. Br J Dermatol 2006; 154 (3): 498–504.
Postoperative bedrest improves the alignment of thoracolumbar burst fractures treated with the AO spinal fixator.

BACKGROUND A loss of reduction due to inadequate support of the anterior column when using short-segment instrumentation to treat burst fracture and novel methods for support of the anterior column through a posterior approach to augment posterior instrumentation have been reported in the literature. We hypothesized that if anterior column support is an important adjunct to posterior short-segment instrumentation, then avoidance of axial load until sufficient anterior column healing occurs, allowing load-sharing with the implant, would improve spinal alignment at follow-up. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study in which consecutive patients who had instrumentation and fusion with the AO spinal fixator were immediately ambulated after surgery or had 4 weeks of bedrest. We measured kyphosis and wedge angles preoperatively, immediately postoperatively and at the time of final follow-up. We used radiologic measures to assess instrumentation and bone failure. RESULTS We found significant differences in the mean loss of wedge and kyphosis angle correction between patients immediately ambulated and those who had 4 weeks of bedrest (0.71 masculine v. - 4.73 masculine for wedge and 1.81 masculine v. - 6.55 masculine for kyphosis, respectively). There was significant correlation between instrumentation and bone failure in both the immediate ambulation and bedrest groups. CONCLUSION Bedrest improves the maintenance of intraoperative sagittal alignment correction, which is in agreement with the theory that inadequate support of the anterior spinal column is the mechanism for loss of reduction when using short-segment instrumentation to treat burst fractures. Therefore, addressing the anterior column directly through anterior surgery or by employing novel techniques in posterior surgery is recommended if one of the goals of treatment is to maintain the sagittal correction achieved at the time of surgery. Trying to achieve this goal by addressing posterior implant design or bone quality alone will not be successful because instrumentation and bone failure occur together.
Cigarette smoking stimulates cysteinyl leukotriene production in man

Chronic cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. An increased production of cysteinyl leukotrienes has been shown in asthma and in cardiac ischaemia. The effect of cigarette smoking on cysteinyl leukotriene biosynthesis is, however, not known. Urinary leukotriene E4 (LTE4)was measured in 30 habitual smokers and in 30 non‐smokers. In a further 12 non‐smokers urinary LTE4 excretion was assessed before and after smoking six cigarettes. In addition, the effect of transdermal nicotine on urinary LTE4 excretion was studied in seven non‐smokers. There was a close correlation (r = 0.92, P < 0.0001) between urinary excretion of LTE4 and the number of cigarettes smoked daily by habitual smokers. Smoking six cigarettes within 12 h resulted in a significant (P = 0.0047), twofold increase in the mean individual LTE4 excretion in non‐smokers. Transdermal nicotine had no effect on LTE4 excretion in non‐smokers. In conclusion, cigarette smoke causes a dose‐related increase in cysteinyl leukotriene production in habitual smokers. Some of the adverse effects of smoking may be related to an enhanced leukotriene synthesis.
Occurrence of putative virulence genes on Arcobacter butzleri isolated from three different environmental sites throughout the dairy chain

This comparative study investigated the occurrence of cadF, cj1349, ciaB, pldA, tlyA, hecA, hecB, mviN, irgA and IroE genes in 212 Arcobacter butzleri isolated from three different environmental sites linked to the dairy chain (farms, industrial and artisanal dairy plants) located in three Italian regions (Lombardy, Emilia‐Romagna and Calabria).
Postural sway based geriatric fall risk assessment using kinect

In this paper, we present a fall risk assessment analysis for geriatric population using Kinect, based on study of postural sway variation with progression of age. Fall risk is closely associated with static postural stability. Static postural control is commonly evaluated by analyzing sway of Centre of Pressure (CoP), measured using a force platform. We have estimated the sway of Centre of Mass (CoM) using Motion tracking device Kinect instead of CoP to assess the postural stability of a selected geriatric population. We have computed and studied the sway variation on a group of 45 geriatric people, distributed in three age group: Group1: 65–69 years, Group 2: 70–74 years and Group 3: 75–79 years to understand how sway parameter varies with age and in turn effects balance and fall probability. CoM sway variation has been correlated with Johns Hopkins Fall Assessment scale for each person under study to validate the relation between sway and fall probability. The proposed method and study can be used as a simple screening tool to assess stability problem for geriatric care.
Tongue strength and endurance: Comparison in active and non-active young and older adults

Abstract Purpose: Tongue strength and endurance are important for swallowing and upper airway patency. Physical activity positively affects targeted and non-targeted skeletal muscles; however, little is known about the indirect effect of physical activity on tongue muscles. This study sought to determine if tongue muscle performance differs between highly active and non-active individuals and if such an effect varies with age. Method: Forty-eight healthy adults were divided into two age groups (24 young, 20.96 ± 3.22 years; 24 older, 65 ± 3.72 years) and further divided into highly active and non-active based on The General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire. Tongue strength (TS) and tongue endurance (TE) were obtained using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument. Result: A significant main effect of activity level on TS and TE was found. Although the main effect of age on TS and TE and age × activity level interactions were not significant, the effect of activity level on TS and TE was more pronounced in older adults than younger adults. Conclusion: Findings suggest physical activity may affect TS and TE, particularly in older adults. Future research is warranted to understand the underlying mechanisms contributing to these group differences. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.