Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Veterans with Multiple Sclerosis

Khurana SR, Bamer AM, Turner AP, Wadhwani RV, Bowen JD, Leipertz SL, Haselkorn JK: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in veterans with multiple sclerosis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2009;88:83–91. Objectives:To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity in veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) and to compare the prevalence in this group with gender-specific published rates for the general population of veterans receiving outpatient care at VA medical facilities. Design:Cross-sectional cohort study linking electronic medical record information to mailed survey from 1999 to 2004. A total of 4703 veterans with MS enrolled in VA who returned questionnaires as part of two cross-sectional studies. Main outcome measures included body mass index, demographic information, Veteran RAND 36-item Health Survey, frequency of physical exercise, and other health conditions. Results:Overall, 28% of female and 42.8% of male veterans with MS were overweight. Another 25% of women and 21.2% of male veterans met the criteria for obesity. Compared with a historical cohort of veterans enrolled in the VA, veterans with MS had a slightly higher adjusted prevalence of overweight than did veterans in general (42.3% vs. 39.6%, respectively) but a lower adjusted prevalence of obesity (20.1% vs. 33.1%). In adjusted logistic regression, age, smoking, and lower levels of pain were associated with a lower likelihood of overweight or obesity. Being male, married, employed and having arthritis and diabetes were associated with a greater likelihood of overweight or obesity. Conclusions:Overweight and obesity are a problem for more than 60% of veterans with MS in the VA. Screening for overweight and obesity should be done routinely. Interventions to prevent and manage excessive weight in individuals with MS should be developed and evaluated.
Coronary Bypass Surgery in Patients on Thyroxin Replacement Therapy

The outcome of coronary bypass surgery was analyzed in 25 patients who were on thyroxin replacement therapy for chronic thyroid disorders at the time of operation. It was hypothesized that if such patients were given only their routine dose of thyroxin on the day of surgery, hemodynamic and cardiorespiratory recovery may be poor. All the patients on thyroxin replacement therapy were given their routine dose of thyroxin orally or via a nasogastric tube in the perioperative period. No supplemental dose was used. Based on preoperative levels of thyroid stimulating hormone, 68% of these patients were biochemically hypothyroid prior to surgery. Analysis of a large number of variables showed no difference in outcome against a control group who had no previous thyroid problems. We conclude that routine thyroxin administration is all that is required for a satisfactory outcome in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery while on thyroxin replacement therapy.
Examining Reading Development and Reading Disability in Diverse Languages and Cultures: Potential Contributions from Functional Neuroimaging

Neuroimaging studies suggest that across different languages, skilled reading is supported by similar, largely left hemisphere (LH), organized networks. In addition, studies of reading disability (RD) also suggest a common neurobiological signature for this syndrome across varied orthographies (disruption of LH posterior regions that support fluent reading). Thus, at the neurobiological level of analysis, reading and its disorders appear to be more similar than dissimilar across languages and cultures. There is, however, a paucity of neurobiological research on reading development (and RD) in populations of children at high risk for reading difficulties that might be due, in large part, to environmental factors, such as English Language Learners and Native American children. Using the existing research on RD as a starting point, we consider in this paper how developmental neuroimaging might be applied to: 1) help to discriminate RD readers whose deficits are of a congenital origin from those whose deficits are primarily environmental, and 2) provide potentially sensitive neurobiological outcome measures to help evaluate the efficacy of different approaches to the teaching of reading.
[Expressions and roles of TGFβ/Smad signal pathway in peritoneum of endometriosis].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and Smad pathway expressed in adhesion peritoneums in patients with endometriosis (EM). METHODS From Dec. 2009 to Mar. 2010, 11 patients with EM [including 3 patients treated by gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) treatment] underwent laparoscopy surgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. In the mean time, 9 patients with benign ovarian tumor without EM and peritoneum adhesion were chosen as control. Peritoneum from lateral peritoneal cavity, adjacent from lesion and grossly normal was obtained during surgery. Microstructure of peritoneums was observed by HE staining and Masson staining. The expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β3, Smad 3 and Smad 7 in peritoneums were measured by immunohistochemistry staining and real-time PCR. The effect of GnRH-a on expressions of these markers were also analyzed. RESULTS (1) Microstructures of peritoneum: enlargement of nucleus of peritoneal mesothelial cells, thickening of connective tissue, distributive disorder of fiber, increasing numbers of fibroblast and inflammatory cells in EM were significantly different from those in control group. (2) The expression of TGF-β1 and 3 in peritoneum were 0.170 ± 0.020 and 0.110 ± 0.010 in EM group, which were significantly higher than 0.070 ± 0.010 and 0.050 ± 0.020 in control group. TGF-β1 was downregulated to 0.130 ± 0.030 and TGF-β3 was upregulated to 0.490 ± 0.090 by GnRH-a. (3) The expression of Smad 3 and 7 were 0.140 ± 0.020 and 0.110 ± 0.020 in peritoneum in EM group, which were significantly higher than 0.024 ± 0.004 and 0.014 ± 0.007 in control group. GnRH-a could upregualted the expression of smad 7 (0.040 ± 0.020), however, but no significant effect was observed on regulating Smad3 expression. CONCLUSIONS The changes of microstructure and the alteration of TGF-β/Smad expression in peritoneum of endometriosis were observed. GnRH-a could regulate the expression of TGF-β and Smad.
Canine parvovirus strains identified from clinically ill dogs in the United Kingdom

DESPITE widespread vaccination, disease associated with canine parvovirus (cpv) infection is still regularly reported from veterinary practices across the uk. The original parvovirus strain identified in 1978, cpv type 2 (cpv-2), seems to be extinct, and since the 1980s three new strains of
Gender differences in cerebral ascorbate levels and ascorbate loss in ischemia

ASCORBATE and glutathione (GSH) are the primary water-soluble antioxidants in the CNS. Oxidative stress, sometimes indicated by loss of these antioxidants, has been linked to several clinical and experimental conditions, including cerebral ischemia. These conditions are also gender-linked, with greater incidence or severity in males than females. To test whether there are gender differences in oxidant/antioxidant regulation, we determined basal levels of ascorbate and GSH in rat brain and their loss after 1 h decapitation ischemia. We found that ascorbate levels in male rat brain were 7–10% higher than in females, depending on region, whereas GSH levels were gender-independent. Significant ascorbate loss (up to 12%) occurred in males during ischemia, with a regional pattern of cerebellum hippocampus>prefrontal cortex. Loss of ascorbate in females was not significant in any region. By contrast, loss of GSH was significant in both males and females. Greater loss of GSH than ascorbate was in agreement with previous studies and was consistent with loss from enzymatic degradation, as well as oxidation. The significant gender difference in ascorbate loss, as a marker of oxidative stress, supports the hypothesis that inherent differences in oxidant/ antioxidant regulation contribute to gender differences in response to ischemia and other pathological conditions.
Effects of Erythropoietin in Murine-Induced Pluripotent Cell-Derived Panneural Progenitor Cells

Induced cell fate changes by reprogramming of somatic cells offers an efficient strategy to generate autologous pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from any adult cell type. The potential of iPS cells to differentiate into various cell types is well established, however the efficiency to produce functional neurons from iPS cells remains modest. Here, we generated panneural progenitor cells (pNPCs) from mouse iPS cells and investigated the effect of the neurotrophic growth factor erythropoietin (EPO) on their survival, proliferation and neurodifferentiation. Under neural differentiation conditions, iPS-derived pNPCs gave rise to microtubule-associated protein-2 positive neuronlike cells (34% to 43%) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor positive oligodendrocytelike cells (21% to 25%) while less than 1% of the cells expressed the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. Neuronlike cells generated action potentials and developed active presynaptic terminals. The pNPCs expressed EPO receptor (EPOR) mRNA and displayed functional EPOR signaling. In proliferating cultures, EPO (0.1–3 U/mL) slightly improved pNPC survival but reduced cell proliferation and neurosphere formation in a concentration-dependent manner. In differentiating cultures EPO facilitated neurodifferentiation as assessed by the increased number of γ-III-tubulin positive neurons. Our results show that EPO inhibits iPS pNPC self-renewal and promotes neurogenesis.
The development of rabbit eggs after culture in vitro for 1-4 days.

Rabbit eggs recovered from the fallopian tube during the early stages of cleavage develop readily in culture up to the late morula stage (Lewis & Gregory, 1929; Pincus, 1930; Adams, 1956; Purshottam & Pincus, 1961; Onuma, Maurer & Foote, 1968). The transition from morula to blastocyst, which normally occurs 70-76 h post coitum (p.c.) coincident with entry into the uterus, may also take place in vitro, especially if culture begins at the late morula stage. However, growth of the blastocyst is generally limited, owing to failure of ex­ pansion of the zona pellucida which may rupture (Lewis & Gregory, 1929; Pincus & Werthessen, 1938). Under certain conditions, prolonged blastocyst growth even to the preimplantation stage 'with typical expansion and little or no herniation' has been observed, though very few eggs were involved (Pincus & Werthessen, 1938). So far comparatively few attempts have been made to determine either the viability or the developmental capacity of eggs after culture. Among existing reports are those of Chang (1948), Adams (1956), Howarth, Ulberg & Alliston (1963) and Onuma et al (1968) on the rabbit, and of McLaren & Biggers (1958), Biggers, Moore & Whittingham (1965), Gates (1965) and Whitten & Biggers (1968) on the mouse. The present work was undertaken in order to evaluate the developmental capacity of rabbit morulae following 1-4 days culture. It has been briefly referred to on a previous occasion (Adams, 1965).
Differences in Adipocytokines and Fatty Acid Composition between Two Adipocyte Fractions of Small and Large Cells in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Objective: This study was conducted to compare the differences in adipocytokines and fatty acid composition between two fraction sizes of small and large cells from subcutaneous and visceral fat of mice receiving a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Body weight, blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and adipocyte diameter distribution were examined. Total adipocyte fractions could be separated into the small-cell fraction (SCF) and the large-cell fraction (LCF). Adipocytokine expression, fatty acid composition and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) expression were compared between SCF and LCF. Results: In HFD mice, body weight, glucose and cholesterol levels were significantly higher than in NCD mice. The adipocyte diameter of HFD mice continuously increased throughout the feeding period regardless of the fat depot. The expression of adipocytokine genes such as angiotensinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, adipsin, leptin, TNF-α and adiponectin was higher in LCF than SCF. The ratio of stearic acid to the total fatty acid content was lower in SCF than LCF, whereas oleic acid composition was higher in LCF. SCD expression was higher in LCF than SCF. Conclusion: Our results indicate that large adipocytes strongly express adipocytokine genes and show high oleic acid composition via SCD upregulation. Based on these findings, the differences in fatty acid composition between adipocyte sizes may be related to adipocytokine expression.
Extracellular DNA Plays a Key Role in Deep-Sea Ecosystem Functioning

The ecological role and biogeochemical relevance of extracellular DNA in the oceanic sediments are unknown. Our global estimates indicate that up to 0.45 gigatons of extracellular DNA are present in the top 10 centimeters of deep-sea sediments, representing the largest reservoir of DNA in the world oceans. We demonstrate that extracellular DNA accounts for about one fifth of the total organic phosphorus regeneration and provides almost half of the prokaryotic demand for organic phosphorus. It therefore plays a key role in deep-sea ecosystem functioning on a global scale.
AWARD NUMBER: W81XWH-06-1-0432 TITLE: A New In Vitro Model of Breast Cancer Metastasis to Bone

s/Presentations Shuman, L.A. , R. Dhurjati, X. Lui, C.V. Gay, E.A. Vogler, and Andrea M. Mastro. 2006. “A New In Vitro Model of Breast Cancer Metastasis to Bone. ” 97th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, Proceedings. 47: Dhurjati R. , L.A. Shuman, C.V. Gay, Andrea M. Mastro, and E.A. Vogler. 2006. “Indefinite-Term Culture of Bone Cells in a Compartmentalized Bioreactor. ” Pennsylvania State University Regenerate World Congress on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, April 25 27, 2006 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dhurjati R. , L.A. Shuman, C.V. Gay, Andrea M. Mastro, and E.A. Vogler. 2006. “Compartmentalized Bioreactor for Long-term Culture of Bone Cells. ” Pennsylvania State University Annual Meeting and Exposition of the Society for Biomaterials, April 26 29, 2006 in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. Andrea M. Mastro, L. S. Shuman, R. Dhurjati, X. Lui, C. V. Gay and E. A. Vogler. “A New In Vitro Model of Breast Cancer Metastasis in Bone. ” The 11th Congress of the Metastasis Research Society, September 3-6, 2006 in Tokushima, Japan. Abstract PD6-8 p 119. Ravi Dhurjati, L. A. Shuman, V. Krishnan, Andrea M. Mastro, C. V. Gay and E. A. Vogler. “Compartmentalized Bioreactor: In Vitro Model for Osteobiology and Osteopathology. ” 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, September 15-19, 2006 in Philadelphia, PA. Vol. 21, Suppl 1, ps 349 #MO87. Dhurjati R. ; Shuman L.A. ; Krishnan V. , Gay C.V. , A.M. Mastro and Vogler E.A. Compartmentalized Bioreactor: In Vitro Model for Osteogenesis and Breast Cancer Metastasis to Bone. Orthopedic Research Society Meeting, February 2007.
Low power microwave exposures at 968MHz increase the growth rate of Breanomyces bruxellensis yeast cells

In this study we investigated the effects of applied electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on Breanomyces bruxellensis WLP644 yeast cells under aerobic conditions. Yeast cells were continuously exposed for 7 hours to microwave radiation at the frequency of 968MHz and powers 0.0dBm and 17.0dBm using the custom made Transverse Electro-Magnetic (TEM) cell. Yeast culture growth was monitored using the spectrophotometry method. The changes in the growth rate induced by microwave exposures were compared to the control (non-radiated) yeast samples. The findings reveal that microwaves at 968MHz and powers 0.0dBm and 17.0dBm increase the rate of growth in studied Breanomyces bruxellensis yeast cells.
This robot stinks! Differences between perceived mistreatment of robot and computer partners

Robots (and computers) are increasingly being used in scenarios where they interact socially with people. How people react to these agents is telling about the perceived animacy of such agents. Mistreatment of robots (or computers) by co-workers might provoke such telling reactions. The purpose of this study was to discover if people perceived mistreatment directed towards a robot any differently than toward a computer. This will provide some understanding of how people perceive robots in collaborative social settings. We conducted a between-subjects study with 80 participants. Participants worked cooperatively with either a robot or a computer which acted as the "recorder" for the group. A confederate either acted aggressively or neutrally towards the "recorder. " We hypothesized that people would not socially accept mistreatment towards an agent that they felt was intelligent and similar to themselves; that participants would perceive the robot as more similar in appearance and emotional capability to themselves than a computer; and would observe more mistreatment. The final results supported our hypothesis; the participants observed mistreatment in the robot, but not the computer. Participants felt significantly more sympathetic towards the robot and also believed that it was much more emotionally capable.
The Social Rewards of Engagement: Appealing to Social Motivations to Stimulate Political Interest at High and Low Levels of External Efficacy

Political interest is a crucial precursor to political engagement, but little is known about how to stimulate greater interest. The article explores the role social motives have in generating interest. A laboratory experiment is used in which it is possible to manipulate beliefs about the social rewards of political engagement as well as external efficacy beliefs. Across two types of measures for political interest (self-reports and revealed preferences), connecting political engagement with social rewards led to substantial increases in political interest. Moreover, these effects were particularly strong among individuals with low levels of external efficacy. Ultimately, the data provide clear evidence that political interest can be positively stimulated with social rewards mobilisation techniques and that it is rooted in beliefs about the potential motives pursuable through politics. The paper concludes with a discussion of the broader implications of these results for studies of political participation and mobilisation efforts.
Ouantitatlon of Serum ALP lsoenzyme Activity and Urinary Phosphoethanolamine and Phosphoserine in Adult Members of the H

We used heat inactivation, L-phenylalanine inhibition, and electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel and cellulose acetate membranes-with and without use of specific antisera against the liver-bone, intestinal, and placental isoenzymes-to distinguish and quantitate the different alkaline phosphatase lsoenzymes in sera from 23 adult members of a kindred affected by the adult form of hypophosphatasia. Nine subjects had values for total activity more than two standard deviations below the mean values for ageand sex-matched normal persons. Bone isoenzyme was diminished in all nine, whereas liver isoenzyme was subnormal in only four. Phosphoethanolamine and phosphoserine in the urine of eight hypophosphatasemic individuals correlated inversely with both total and liver alkaline phosphatase activity in their serum, but not with the activity of the bone isoenzyme. Total activity in the serum of adult kindred members correlated best with the circulating liver isoenzyme activity. The findings suggest that altered hepatic metabolism is responsible for the Increased urinary excretion of phosphoethanolamine, and perhaps phosphoserine, in hypophosphatasia.
Morning sickness and thyroid function

It has also been suggested that the cervix is a target organ for prolactin, and that certain carcinomas of the cervix may retain their ability to react to this hormone. In this way hormone therapy could be effective in the same way as it is in cancers arising in other hormone target organs, such as breast and endometrium. Hyperprolactinaemia has been reported in patients with cervical cancer (Kucera et al. 1983). The prolactin level was not measured in any of our patients.
RNA-Seq Transcriptome Profiling of Equine Inner Cell Mass and Trophectoderm1

ABSTRACT Formation of the inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) marks the first differentiation event in mammalian development. These two cell types have completely divergent fates for the remainder of the developmental process. The molecular mechanisms that regulate ICM and TE formation are poorly characterized in horses. The objective of this study was to establish the transcriptome profiles of ICM and TE cells from horse blastocysts using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). A total of 12 270 genes were found to be expressed in either lineage. Global analysis of the transcriptome profiles by unsupervised clustering indicated that ICM and TE samples presented different gene expression patterns. Statistical analysis indicated that 1662 genes were differentially expressed (adjusted P < 0.05 and fold change > 2) between ICM and TE. Genes known to be specific to the ICM and TE were expressed primarily in their respective tissue. Transcript abundance for genes related to biological processes important for horse blastocyst formation and function is presented and discussed. Collectively, our data and analysis serve as a valuable resource for gene discovery and unraveling the fundamental mechanisms of early horse development.
Screening for antibacterial activity in 72 species of wood‐colonizing fungi by the Vibrio fisheri bioluminescence method

Resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics leads scientists to discover new antibacterial drugs. Ninety samples of wood‐colonizing fungi were cultivated on agar plates, and their extracts tested for antibacterial activity using the Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence test. Two fungi species, Serpula lacrymans and Nectria vilior, were found to be a potential new source of thermostable antibiotics. Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence test was found to be a useful method for antibacterial activity screening from the samples of natural origin. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Evaluation of the Sydney “Quit. For Life” anti‐smoking campaign : Part 1. Achievement of intermediate goals

The “Quit. For Life” campaign was a media‐based programme that was aimed at reducing the prevalence of smoking in Sydney. The programme committee set four intermediate goals which it felt had to be met for such a change in prevalence to occur. From households selected at random in Sydney and Melbourne, 5713 people were interviewed to assess whether the campaign attained these goals. The television commercials that were designed for the campaign, their frequency and the timing of their screening produced a higher recall of the commercial's message and the use of campaign back‐up services than were specified originally in the goals. During the campaign there was a progressive increase in the number of smokers in Sydney who reported that they were likely to quit; this was significantly different from Melbourne data by the end of the campaign and thus fulfilled another campaign goal. However, shortly after the campaign ended, the proportion of smokers who intended to quit smoking was the same in the two cities. A cohort study of 949 people from the baseline study showed that, during the 12‐month period of follow‐up, 66% of Sydney smokers tried to stop or to reduce their smoking. In the control city, Melbourne, 60% of smokers reported making such attempts. Of the original smokers, 23% in Sydney and 9% in Melbourne quit during the follow‐up period — a statistically significant difference. As well, 10% of the original ex‐smokers in Sydney and 11% in Melbourne relapsed, while 4% of non‐smokers in both cities began smoking by the end of the second survey.