Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hepatic Overexpression of Hormone-sensitive Lipase and Adipose Triglyceride Lipase Promotes Fatty Acid Oxidation, Stimulates Direct Release of Free Fatty Acids, and Ameliorates Steatosis*

Hepatic steatosis is often associated with insulin resistance and obesity and can lead to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. In this study, we have demonstrated that hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), two enzymes critical for lipolysis in adipose tissues, also contribute to lipolysis in the liver and can mobilize hepatic triglycerides in vivo and in vitro. Adenoviral overexpression of HSL and/or ATGL reduced liver triglycerides by 40–60% in both ob/ob mice and mice with high fat diet-induced obesity. However, these enzymes did not affect fasting plasma triglyceride and free fatty acid levels or triglyceride and apolipoprotein B secretion rates. Plasma 3-β-hydroxybutyrate levels were increased 3–5 days after infection in both HSL- and ATGL-overexpressing male mice, suggesting an increase in β-oxidation. Expression of genes involved in fatty acid transport and synthesis, lipid storage, and mitochondrial bioenergetics was unchanged. Mechanistic studies in oleate-supplemented McA-RH7777 cells with adenoviral overexpression of HSL or ATGL showed that reduced cellular triglycerides could be attributed to increases in β-oxidation as well as direct release of free fatty acids into the medium. In summary, hepatic overexpression of HSL or ATGL can promote fatty acid oxidation, stimulate direct release of free fatty acid, and ameliorate hepatic steatosis. This study suggests a direct functional role for both HSL and ATGL in hepatic lipid homeostasis and identifies these enzymes as potential therapeutic targets for ameliorating hepatic steatosis associated with insulin resistance and obesity.
Evaluation of the alkaline wash/lysis procedure for the molecular diagnosis of a positive bacterial blood culture in clinical routine practice

Blood culture is commonly used to detect microorganisms in patients with a suspected blood infection. This study evaluated the alkaline wash/lysis procedure to extract DNA of microorganisms in a clinical blood culture. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S rDNA (ribosomal DNA) gene and the fungal ITS (internal transcribed spacer) gene was used as a reliable indicator for the presence of microorganism DNA in the extracts. A total of 535BacT/ALERT positive blood culture bottles were evaluated. Multiplex PCR showed positive results in 530 DNA extracts, but 5 DNA extracts gave negative results. We conclude that the alkaline wash/lysis procedure in combination with the multiplex PCR is a simple and sensitive method, which can be used in a standard diagnostic laboratory to detect microorganisms in blood culture material. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:139–144, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interaction of Mycoplasma pneumoniae with erythrocyte glycolipids of I and i antigen types

The role of sialoglycolipids (gangliosides) as receptors for the human pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae was investigated by using purified gangliosides of known carbohydrate structures as inhibitors of the binding of 51Cr-labeled erythrocytes to sheet cultures of M. pneumoniae. We found that sialoglycolipids with long carbohydrate backbones of the poly-N-acetyllactosamine type were more potent inhibitors of M. pneumoniae binding than those with short carbohydrate chains. This is in accord with earlier inhibition data for glycoproteins and oligosaccharides. Thus, the inhibitory activity of a fraction of bovine erythrocyte gangliosides containing long backbone structures of I antigen type was approximately 200 times greater than that of the short chain gangliosides GM3 and GT1b. The binding of M. pneumoniae to erythrocytes of I and i antigen types was found to be comparable, indicating that M. pneumoniae in its adhesive specificity may not distinguish between the branched carbohydrate backbones of I type and the linear structures of i type. Thus, the production of autoantibodies to the backbone structures of I type rather than i type after infection with this agent may simply reflect a greater abundance of branched carbohydrate receptors of I type on the surface of host cells with which the mycoplasma forms immunogenic complexes.
[Clinical study on risk factor associated with gut flora change in patients with rectal cancer during perioperative period].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the different treatment on gut flora in patients with rectal cancer in the perioperative period. METHODS A total of 64 patients with rectal cancer were prospectively enrolled from July 2010 to June 2011 at the Qingdao University Medical College Affiliated Hospital, and randomized into 8 groups receiving different treatments in perioperative period. Factorial design was used to study three factors including preoperative bowel preparation, antibiotics use, and postoperative fasting. Patients were randomized into 8 groups with 8 patients in each group using the random digit table. Preoperative and postoperative stool specimens were collected and diluted, which were transferred to selective medium. Bacteria counts were calculated after 48 hours of culture under constant temperature. The changes in gut flora between the different groups were compared. RESULTS Compared to the preoperative parameters, total bacteria, Bifidobacterium, Peptostreptococcus, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, Enterococcus decreased significantly(P<0.05), while the E.coli count increased significantly. The bacillus/coccus ratio was significantly imbalanced. Preoperative bowel preparation, oral antibiotics, and postoperative fasting were all predominant factors associated with gut flora(all P<0.05). Compared with the antibiotic restriction group, Bacteroides, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Peptostreptococcus, and total bacteria count were reduced significantly, and the bacillus/coccus ratio increased in the non-antibiotics restriction group(P<0.05). In the bowel preparation group, Bacteroides, Peptostreptococcus, total bacteria count, and the bacillus/coccus ratio decreased(P<0.05). In the postoperative fasting group, Bacteroides, Enterococcus, total bacteria, and bacillus/coccus ratio decreased(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Antibiotics, bowel preparation, and postoperative fasting can affect the number and ratio of gut flora in patients with rectal cancer in the perioperative period, leading to dysbacteriosis.
A Secret Sharing-Based Key Management in Hierarchical Wireless Sensor Network

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are subject to various attacks because of the vulnerable environment, limited recourse, and open communication channel. To protect WSNs, in this paper, we present a Secret sharing-based key management (SSKM). SSKM utilizes the advantages of hierarchical architecture and adopts two-level key management and authentication mechanism, which can efficiently protect the allover network communication security and survivability. Different from previous works, the SSKM distributes keys based on secret sharing mechanism by the clustered architecture, which not only localizes the key things but also keeps scalability. The SSKM provides various session keys, the network key for base station (BS) and cluster heads (CHs); the cluster key between the cluster head and member nodes. The SSKM dynamically generates different keys based on different polynomials from BS in different periods which can protect the network from the compromised nodes and reduce the high probability of the common keys. The security analysis shows that the SSKM can prevent several attacks effectively and reduce the energy consumption.
Are U.S. Industries Becoming More Concentrated?

There has been a systematic decline in the number of publicly-traded firms over the last two decades. Half of the U.S. industries lost over 50% of their publicly traded peers. The decline has increased industry concentration, as the void left by public firms has not been filled by an increase in the number of private businesses or by greater presence of foreign firms. Firms in industries with the largest decline in the number of firms have generated higher profit margins and abnormal stock returns, and enjoyed better investment opportunities through M&A deals. Overall, our findings suggest that the nature of US product markets has undergone a structural shift that has potentially weakened competition.
Clostridium difficile Infection in travelers--a neglected pathogen?

BACKGROUND Until recently, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has been mostly diagnosed in hospitalized elderly patients treated with antibacterial agents. The epidemiology of C difficile is changing as the ribotype 027 strain is spreading worldwide, and more infections are diagnosed in patients residing in the community. Although only few data about the epidemiology of CDI in developing countries are available, a number of reports seem to indicate that the incidence of CDI may be high in some such countries. Transmission of CDI may be more common in hospitals that lack the resources for efficient infection control programs. Theoretically, travelers to low-income countries may be exposed to C difficile both in the community and within hospitals. METHODS Data for this article were identified by searches of PubMed and MEDLINE, and references from relevant articles using the search terms "clostridium" and "travel. " Abstracts were included when related to previously published work. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS A total of 48 cases of travelers with CDI were located. CDI among travelers was more commonly acquired in low- and medium-income countries, although 20% of all reported cases occurred in travelers returning from high-income countries. All travelers with CDI for whom a detailed history was available acquired the infection in the community. CDI in travelers occurred in relatively young patients and was frequently associated with the empiric use of antibacterial agents, notably fluoroquinolones. A sizable minority of travelers with CDI had no exposure to antibacterial agents at all. The incidence of travel-related CDI is unknown, but may be higher than previously suspected. A prospective study among travelers with unexplained acute or chronic diarrhea is warranted.
Methylparaben‐induced decrease in collagen production and viability of cultured human dermal fibroblasts

Parabens owing to their many advantageous properties are widely applied in cosmetics, food products and pharmaceuticals. However, recent research results have shown that they possess the ability to accumulate in the human body and exert many adverse effects. In this study, the impact of methylparaben (MP) as the most frequently used preservative in cosmetics, on human dermal fibroblasts and collagen production was evaluated. In cells treated with 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05% MP a dose‐dependent decrease in collagen biosynthesis was revealed, which was positively correlated with the activity of prolidase responsible for the recovery of proline. Consequently, the concentration of total collagen secreted into the medium was markedly diminished. A similar reduction in expression of the major skin collagen type I at both the protein and mRNA level as well as collagen type III and VI at the mRNA level was also detected. The decrease in the collagen level may result not only from the reduced synthesis but also increased degradation owing to MP‐induced activation of pro‐MMP‐2 (72 kDa). The increase in activity of MMP‐2 (66 kDa) was accompanied by a reduction in the inhibitory activity of TIMP‐2. In addition, an inhibitory effect of MP on cell survival and proliferation was revealed in this study. The increased expression and nuclear translocation of caspase‐3 as well as increased Bax and decreased Bcl‐2 expression may suggest MP‐induced cell apoptosis. In summary, we have provided new data on the adverse effects of methylparaben on human dermal fibroblasts and the main structural protein of the skin. Further studies on the mechanisms responsible for its action are in progress. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prevalence and risks of asymptomatic bacteriuria among HIV-positive pregnant women

The objective of the study was to determine whether the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) and subsequent complications are higher in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative pregnant women. A prospective controlled study of asymptomatic pregnant women was carried out. One hundred and twenty-fve consecutive HIV-positive women and 247 HIV-negative controls were screened for asymptomatic bacteriuria. Treatment of positive cultures was by means of antibiotics as per protocol. Nine percent (n=11) of HIV-positive patients and 7.9% (n=19) of HIV-negative patients had positive urine cultures (p=0.68). Microorganisms were similar in both groups. The incidence of preterm labour was 6.7% in the HIV-positive cohort, versus 11.3% in HIV-negative control patients (p=0.17). The rate of prelabour rupture of membranes was signifcantly increased in HIV-positive patients compared to HIV-negative controls (17 HIV-positive versus 13 HIV-negative patients, 14.17% and 5.42%, respectively; RR 2.615, 95% CI, 1.314-5.204). CD4.
Distribution of cisternal blood in patients with acute hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage

The distribution of cisternal blood in relation to the development of acute hydrocephalus was studied in 246 consecutive patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who were admitted within 72 hours. Patients with evidence on the initial computed tomograph (CT) of subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by other than a ruptured aneurysm and patients with a negative angiography were excluded. Acute hydrocephalus (defined as a bicaudate index, measured on the initial CT or on a repeat CT within 1 week after subarachnoid hemorrhage, exceeding the 95th percentile for age) was found on the initial CT in 50 (20%) of the 246 patients and on a repeat CT in 9 other patients. Ventricular blood was found significantly more often in patients with acute hydrocephalus than in those in whom acute hydrocephalus did not develop (28 of 59 {47%} versus 58 of 187 {31%}; χ2 = 4.634, p = 0.031). When the analysis was restricted to the 86 patients with ventricular blood, no significant differences were found in the total amount of cisternal blood and in the distribution of cisternal blood between patients with and without hydrocephalus. In contrast, among the 160 patients with ventricular blood, hydrocephalus was associated with a slightly higher total amount of cisternal blood (Wilcoxon's rank sum test, p = 0.023), and significantly more patients with acute hydrocephalus had a higher score in both ambient cisterns than patients without acute hydrocephalus (20 of 31 {65%} versus 41 of 129 {32%}; χ2 = 10.007, p = 0.002). We conclude that the risk of acute hydrocephalus developing in patients without ventricular blood following rupured aneurysm is significantly increased in those with a high cisternal score for blood in both ambient cisterns.
Structural Arrangement of the Intracellular Ca 2 Binding Domains of the Cardiac Na / Ca 2 Exchanger ( NCX 1 . 1 ) EFFECTS

Background: There are conflicting models for how intracellular Ca2 allosterically regulates Na /Ca2 exchange. Results: The model of reorientation of the two Ca2 binding domains upon Ca2 binding in the NCX1.4 isoform is not supported by data for NCX1.1. Conclusion: There is motivation to further evaluate the mechanism(s) of Ca2 activation of NCX1.1. Significance: Control of Ca2 efflux in cardiomyocytes is vital for cardiac physiology.
Robust skin detector based on AdaBoost and statistical luminance features

Skin detection is one of the most important targets of image processing and computer vision. One big concern about skin detection algorithms is their simplicity while keeping a good accuracy in discriminating skin and non-skin pixels. This paper presents a novel and robust skin detector. In this study, statistical information of each pixel and its neighbours were taken into account in order to deal with this concern. In proposed method, a cascaded classifier using AdaBoost algorithm was trained. Its errors were found and corrected. Finally, two edge detectors were used to make the algorithm more accurate. Also, some small tricks were used to make the whole process faster. The performances of proposed skin detector were evaluated using SFA skin database. Eventually, the method was compared with some popular and newly established skin detectors. The experimental results show that the proposed scheme outperforms other skin detection methods due to high precision and good recall.
Pubertal development in the male pig: effects of treatment with a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist on plasma luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone.

The effects of a long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, [D-Trp6]-GnRH (GnRH-A) on developmental profiles of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T), and pituitary responsiveness to exogenous GnRH were studied in male Dutch Landrace x Large White crossbred pigs from 1 to 30 wk of age. Group 1 control animals (control; n = 12) were injected subcutaneously in the neck with vehicle at 1 and 16 wk of age. Group 2 animals (early treatment; n = 10) were injected with 600 micrograms [D-Trp6]-GnRH at 1 wk and with vehicle at 16 wk. Group 3 animals (late treatment; n = 8) were injected with vehicle and 3 mg GnRH-A at 1 and 16 wk, respectively. Group 4 animals (early plus late treatment; n = 9) were injected at both 1 and 16 wk with GnRH-A. Blood was collected by brachiocephalic puncture at weekly or biweekly intervals, and through brachiocephalic cannulae, to determine longitudinal profiles of LH, FSH and T, and plasma gonadotropin responses to intravenous injection of GnRH (0.1 microgram/kg), respectively. In control animals, LH and FSH declined over the first 5 wk of postnatal life and peaked again at 10-14 wk. Levels of both hormones were basal from 18 to 30 wk. Plasma T was high in the first week, declined progressively over the next few weeks and remained low until 24 wk when a transient increment was noted. The LH and FSH responses to acute GnRH stimulation were similar at 7 and 14 wk and declined significantly at 23 wk of age. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Community-Based Participatory Research (Cbpr) with Indigenous Communities: Producing Respectful and Reciprocal Research

The health disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada continue to grow despite an expanding body of research that attempts to address these inequalities, including increased attention from the field of health geography. Here, we draw upon a case study of our own community-based approach to health research with Anishinabe communities in northern Ontario as a means of advocating the growth of such participatory approaches. Using our own case as an example, we demonstrate how a collaborative approach to respectful and reciprocal research can be achieved, including some of the challenges we faced in adopting this approach.
Eficiência de campo em diferentes operações mecanizadas na cafeicultura

O cafe e uma cultura de destaque no Brasil, tanto que, nos ultimos anos, passou por grandes modificacoes, com a utilizacao intensa da mecanizacao, que se tornou uma alternativa viavel para grande parte dos produtores, possibilitando aumento da capacidade operacional e reducao dos custos de producao. Atualmente, em areas totalmente aptas a mecanizacao, todas as operacoes durante o ciclo da cultura sao realizadas, mecanicamente, por diferentes maquinas e implementos. Conduziu-se, o presente estudo, no municipio de Alfenas-MG, para determinar a capacidade de trabalho e a eficiencia de campo de maquinas utilizadas nas diferentes operacoes da lavoura cafeeira. Os dados de desempenho obtidos foram tratados estatisticamente pela correlacao de Pearson (p), o que permitiu determinar a influencia da velocidade operacional e comprimento medio das entrelinhas, nos parâmetros de desempenho. Com base nos resultados, os parâmetros de desempenho operacional, capacidade de campo efetiva e tempo demandado apresentaram alta correlacao com a velocidade operacional dos conjuntos mecanizados. As operacoes de preparo de covas, varricao e recolhimento apresentaram os menores resultados de eficiencia de campo, enquanto as demais operacoes avaliadas apresentaram valores acima de 70%, considerados aceitaveis.
Detection of crosslinks with the comet assay in relationship to genotoxicity and cytotoxicity

The alkaline comet assay is a sensitive test for the detection of a variety of DNA lesions. However, crosslinks are not readily detected under standard test conditions. Recently, modifications have been introduced measuring crosslinks by determining the reduction of induced DNA migration. We used the comet assay to comparatively investigate in V79 cells the effect of three different crosslinkers: formaldehyde (FA), which predominantly induces DNA–protein crosslinks, cisplatin (DDP), which mainly produces DNA–DNA‐intrastrand crosslinks, and mitomycin C (MMC), which mainly leads to DNA–DNA‐interstrand crosslinks. In the standard alkaline comet assay, only MMC induced a slight increase in DNA migration at high toxic concentrations. FA and DDP did not induce any DNA migration under the test conditions used. In the modified comet assay, all three crosslinkers led to a clear reduction of γ‐ray‐induced DNA migration. This reduction was seen in the case of FA parallel to the induction of cytotoxicity and SCE, while for MMC and DDP induction of cytotoxicity, SCE and HPRT gene mutations occurred at much lower concentrations than the effects in the comet assay. The DNA–DNA crosslinkers caused a reduction of induced DNA migration only at cytotoxic concentrations. Our results indicate that the modified comet assay protocol is a sensitive test for the detection of DNA–protein crosslinks. However, the results for MMC and DDP suggest that the modified protocol is not well suited for the evaluation of DNA–DNA crosslinkers. Furthermore, the relationship between crosslinking and genotoxicity seems to be very different for the three different types of crosslinking substances. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 33:167–172, 1999 © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Breast reconstruction in the morbidly obese patient: assessment of 30-day complications using the 2005 to 2010 national surgical quality improvement program data sets.

750 The obesity epidemic poses a significant challenge to health care providers across all areas of medicine. According to recent estimates, over 35 percent of the adult population in the United States is obese.1,2 Obesity and obesityrelated complications are estimated to add some $11 billion per year to the cost of health care in the United States.3,4 Obesity is a multisystem disease process that confers increased risk of medical comorbidities, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and frequently increases the risk of surgical morbidity.3