Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical activity as a treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review.

AIM To review the effectiveness of exercise as a therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and potential benefits in treating insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. METHODS Medline (EBSCOhost) and PubMed were searched for English-language randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies in human adults aged ≥ 18 which investigated the various effects of exercise alone, a combination of exercise and diet, or exercise and diet coupled with behavioral modification on NAFLD from 2010 to Feburary 2015. RESULTS Eighteen of 2298 available studies were chosen for critical review, which included 6925 patients. Nine (50%) studies were randomized controlled trials. Five (27.8%) studies utilized biopsy to examine the effects of physical activity on hepatic histology. The most commonly employed imaging modality to determine change in hepatic steatosis was hydrogen-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Only two studies examined the effects of low impact physical activity for patients with significant mobility limitations and one compared the efficacy of aerobic and resistance exercise. No studies examined the exact duration of exercise required for hepatic and metabolic improvement in NAFLD. CONCLUSION While exercise improved hepatic steatosis and underlying metabolic abnormalities in NAFLD, more studies are needed to define the most beneficial form and duration of exercise treatment.
Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of permethrin in mice: Micronuclei analysis in peripheral blood erythrocytes

Pyrethroids such as permethrin are synthetic compounds widely used in the agriculture of many countries to combat plagues and in domestic products, such as acaricides. Not so long ago these chemicals were characterized as non‐toxic for non‐target organisms; however, recent studies have showed that these compounds could present toxic potential for many organisms. In this sense, this study presents genotoxic and mutagenic potential of permethrin administered intraperitoneally in mice under artificial conditions by the use of micronucleus assay in the peripheral blood of these animals. The mice were divided into five groups: group I = negative control (distilled water), group II = positive control (cyclophosphamide), group III = 30% of permethrin LD50 (96 mg/kg), group IV = 50% of permethrin LD50 (160 mg/kg), and group V = 80% of permethrin LD50 (256 mg/kg). The peripheral blood was collected 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment. Results showed that all the tested permethrin dosages presented genotoxic and mutagenic effects 24 h after treatment, which would contradict the classification of this chemical product as moderately toxic, i.e., unable to cause damages to the cell DNA. Microsc. Res. Tech. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Prevalence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Bacteria in Intensive Care Units of Sanandaj General Hospitals (Kurdistan, Iran)

This study focused on analyzing the spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes among Gram-negative bacteria at intensive care units (ICUs). Between January 2007 and January 2008, 301 consecutive clinical isolates of Gram-negative type were isolated. Of these, 66 strains were collected from patients in ICUs in two major hospitals in Sanandaj (Kurdistan, Iran). The isolates were identified, tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, and analyzed for the presence of ESBL using the double-disk synergy test. Isolates with a positive ESBL phenotype were subjected to PCR for SHV, TEM, OXA and CTX-M β-lactamase gene families. Sixty-six Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from clinical samples of 66 ICU patients. These isolates included 16 Escherichia coli, 28 Enterobacter spp. , 5 Pseudomonas spp. , 10 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 3 Serratia marcescens and 1 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Twenty-three (34.85%) of these isolates were ESBL producing. The ESBL genes detected were SHV, TEM, OXA-1, OXA-2 and CTX-M. The results show the presence of ESBL genes among Gram-negative bacteria in the ICU setting of Sanandaj’s hospitals. There is a need to institute a strict hospital infection control policy and regular surveillance of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents.
Concurrent Validity of GPS for Deriving Mechanical Properties of Sprint Acceleration.

PURPOSE To test the concurrent validity of data from 2 different global positioning system (GPS) units for obtaining mechanical properties during sprint acceleration using a field method recently validated by Samozino et al. METHODS Thirty-two athletes performed maximal straight-line sprints, and their running speed was simultaneously measured by GPS units (sampling rate: 20 or 5 Hz) and either a radar or laser device (devices taken as references). Lower-limb mechanical properties of sprint acceleration (theoretical maximal force, theoretical maximal speed, maximal power) were derived from a modeling of the speed-time curves using an exponential function in both measurements. Comparisons of mechanical properties from 20- and 5-Hz GPS units with those from reference devices were performed for 80 and 62 trials, respectively. RESULTS The percentage bias showed a wide range of overestimation or underestimation for both systems (-7.9% to 9.7% and -5.1% to 2.9% for 20- and 5-Hz GPS), while the ranges of its 90% confidence limits for 20-Hz GPS were markedly smaller than those for 5-Hz GPS. These results were supported by the correlation analyses. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the concurrent validity for all variables derived from 20-Hz GPS measurements was better than that obtained from the 5-Hz GPS units. However, in the current state of GPS devices' accuracy for speed-time measurements over a maximal sprint acceleration, it is recommended that radar, laser devices, and timing gates remain the reference methods for implementing the computations of Samozino et al.
Cytoplasmic DNA variation and biogeography of Larix Mill. in Northeast Asia

Range‐wide variation in 54 populations of Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii) and related taxa in Northeast Asia was assessed with four mitochondrial PCR‐RFLP and five chloroplast SSR markers. Eleven mitotypes and 115 chlorotypes were detected. The highest diversity was observed in the southern Russian Far East where hybrids of L. gmelinii, L. olgensis and L. kamtschatica are distributed. In contrast, only two mitotypes occurred in L. cajanderi and L. gmelinii. The Japanese larch (L. kaempferi) was found to be closely related to populations of L. kamtschatica inhabiting the Kuril Islands and South Sakhalin, populations from the northern part of Sakhalin being more closely related to continental species. In general, both mitochondrial (GST = 0.786; NST = 0.823) and chloroplast (GST = 0.144; RST = 0.432) markers showed a strong phylogeographical structure and evidence of isolation‐by‐distance. Yet both markers did not allow a clear delineation of species borders. In particular, and contrary to expectations, cpDNA was not significantly better than mtDNA at delineating species borders. This lack of concordance between morphological species and molecular markers could reflect extensive ancestral haplotype sharing and past and ongoing introgression. Finally the distribution of mtDNA and cpDNA variation suggests the presence of several refugia during Pleistocene glacial intervals. In particular, mtDNA and cpDNA reveal weak but visible differentiation between L. gmelinii and L. cajanderi, suggesting independent glacial histories of these species.
Does Globalization Affect Economic Growth? The Role of Financial Development and Capital Use in Pakistan

Purpose: This paper explores the relationship between globalization and economic growth by incorporating financial development, capital use and labor in production function. The study period is 1972-2013 in case of Pakistan. Methodology: We use instability tests newly suggested by Kejriwal and Perron (2008, 2010) as well as the cointegration tests proposed in Arai and Kurozumi (2007) and extended by Kejriwal (2008). Findings: We find that cointegration is present among the series and there is some evidence of instability in cointegrating relationships. Financial development increases economic growth. Capital use adds in economic growth. Labor stimulates economic growth. Globalization (economic, social and political) spurs economic growth. The causality test indicates that globalization Granger causes economic growth. Furthermore, the results of KejriwalPerron tests suggest two breaks at 1976 and 2006 and three regimes. Recommendations: Policy recommendations have been provided.
Validation study of portable device for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea according to the new AASM scoring criteria: Watch-PAT 100

Abstract Conclusion: Watch-PAT may provide an accurate and clinically effective portable monitoring method for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Objective: This study was designed to assess the accuracy and clinical efficacy of a wrist-worn portable device (Watch-PAT 100) to diagnose OSA. Methods: Twenty-seven participants with suspected OSA underwent full polysomnography (PSG). Finally, 25 subjects successfully underwent portable monitoring using Watch-PAT after full PSG. The study population consisted of 21 males and 4 females, mean age 40.9 ± 11.2 years (range 21–59). Mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.2 ± 2.6 kg/m2 (range 21.2–32.3). All PSG were manually scored according to the new scoring manual of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (2007) and the Watch-PAT data were analyzed by the automatic algorithm. Results: There was a high correlation of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (r = 0.94, p < 0.001) and lowest oxygen saturation (LSAT) (r = 0.90, p < 0.001) between the PSG and the Watch-PAT. A good agreement was also found between PSG AHI, PSG LSAT and PAT AHI, PAT LSAT, respectively. There was a significantly high concordance of the severity of AHI (Kendall tau-b = 0.897, p < 0.001) between the PSG and the Watch-PAT.
Human-leukocyte antigen class II genes in early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder

Abstract Objective: The exact aetiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is unknown, although there is evidence to suggest a gene–environment interaction model. Several lines of evidence support a possible role of the immune system in this model. Methods: The present study explores the allele variability in HLA genes of class II (HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1) in a sample of 144 early-onset OCD compared with reference samples of general population in the same geographical area. Results: None of the 39 alleles identified (allele frequency >1%) showed significant differences between OCD and reference populations. Pooling the different alleles that comprised HLA-DR4 (including DRB1*04:01, DRB1*04:04 and DRB1*04:05 alleles) we observed a significantly higher frequency (X21 = 5.53, P = 0.018; OR = 1.64, 95% CI 1.08–2.48) of these alleles in the early-onset OCD sample (10.8%) than in the reference population (6.8%). Conclusions: Taking into account the role of HLA class II genes in the central nervous system, the results presented here support a role of the immune system in the pathophysiological model of OCD.
UCHL1 deficiency exacerbates human islet amyloid polypeptide toxicity in β-cells

The islet in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by a deficit in β-cells and increased β-cell apoptosis attributable at least in part to intracellular toxic oligomers of IAPP (islet amyloid polypeptide). β-cells of individuals with T2DM are also characterized by accumulation of polyubiquitinated proteins and deficiency in the deubiquitinating enzyme UCHL1 (ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esterase L1 [ubiquitin thiolesterase]), accounting for a dysfunctional ubiquitin/proteasome system. In the present study, we used mouse genetics to elucidate in vivo whether a partial deficit in UCHL1 enhances the vulnerability of β-cells to human-IAPP (hIAPP) toxicity, and thus accelerates diabetes onset. We further investigated whether a genetically induced deficit in UCHL1 function in β-cells exacerbates hIAPP-induced alteration of the autophagy pathway in vivo. We report that a deficit in UCHL1 accelerated the onset of diabetes in hIAPP transgenic mice, due to a decrease in β-cell mass caused by increased β-cell apoptosis. We report that UCHL1 dysfunction aggravated the hIAPP-induced defect in the autophagy/lysosomal pathway, illustrated by the marked accumulation of autophagosomes and cytoplasmic inclusions positive for SQSTM1/p62 and polyubiquitinated proteins with lysine 63-specific ubiquitin chains. Collectively, this study shows that defective UCHL1 function may be an early contributor to vulnerability of pancreatic β-cells for protein misfolding and proteotoxicity, hallmark defects in islets of T2DM. Also, given that deficiency in UCHL1 exacerbated the defective autophagy/lysosomal degradation characteristic of hIAPP proteotoxicity, we demonstrate a previously unrecognized role of UCHL1 in the function of the autophagy/lysosomal pathway in β-cells.
Fucoidan Extracted From Cladosiphon Okamuranus Tokida Induces Apoptosis of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-Infected T-Cell Lines and Primary Adult T-Cell Leukemia Cells

Abstract: Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is caused by human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and remains incurable. The highest endemic area of HTLV-1 carriers in Japan is located in Okinawa, and novel treatments are urgently needed in this area. We extracted fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, from the brown seaweed Cladosiphon okamuranus Tokida cultivated in Okinawa, Japan and examined its tumor-suppression activity against ATL. Fucoidan significantly inhibited the growth of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of ATL patients and HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines but not that of normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Fucoidan induced apoptosis of HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines mediated through downregulation of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2 and survivin and G1 phase accumulation through the downregulation of cyclin D2, c-myc, and hyperphosphorylated form of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor protein. Further analysis showed that fucoidan inactivated NF-κB and activator protein-1 and inhibited NF-κB-inducible chemokine, C-C chemokine ligand 5 (regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted) production, and homotypic cell-cell adhesion of HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines. In vivo use of fucoidan resulted in partial inhibition of growth of tumors of an HTLV-1-infected T-cell line transplanted subcutaneously in severe combined immune deficient mice. Our results indicate that fucoidan is a potentially useful therapeutic agent for patients with ATL.
Renal medullary interstitial infusion of diltiazem alters sodium and water excretion in rats.

The role of renal papillary blood flow in regulation of fluid and electrolyte excretion was examined. The effects of an acute infusion of diltiazem (5 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1) into the renal medullary interstitium on papillary blood flow and sodium and water excretion were studied. Changes of renal blood flow were measured using an electromagnetic flow probe. Cortical and papillary blood flows were measured using laser-Doppler flowmetry. Renal and cortical blood flows were unchanged during medullary interstitial infusion of diltiazem, but papillary blood flow increased 26% (P < 0.05) and remained elevated for 1 h after diltiazem infusion was discontinued. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of the infused kidney increased by 21% from a control of 1.0 +/- 0.1 ml.min-1 x g-1 during infusion of diltiazem (P < 0.05), but it returned to control after diltiazem infusion was stopped. Urine flow and sodium excretion increased by 70% (P < 0.05), and fractional sodium excretion rose from 1.5 +/- 0.2 to 2.4 +/- 0.3% of the filtered load during the hour after diltiazem infusion. Renal blood flow, cortical and papillary blood flow, GFR, urine flow, and sodium excretion in the 0.9% sodium chloride vehicle-infused kidney were not significantly altered during the experiment. Intravenous infusion of the same dose of diltiazem (5 micrograms.kg-1 x min-1) increased GFR by 22%, but had no effect on urine flow and sodium excretion. These results indicate that renal medullary interstitial infusion of diltiazem selectively increased renal papillary blood flow, which was associated with an increase of sodium and water excretion.
Epidemiological survey of rheumatic heart disease among school children in the Shimla Hills of northern India: prevalence and risk factors.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and study the relationship of this disease to factors such as age, sex, housing, and socioeconomic status in Shimla town and the adjoining rural area. DESIGN: A cross sectional survey, carried out by a specially trained examiner in cardiology. SETTING: The study involved high risk school children (5-16 years of age) from Shimla town and the adjoining rural area of Kasumpti-Suni Block in the period 1992-93. SUBJECTS: A total of 15,080 children on the school register (8120 boys and 6960 girls) were examined generally and specifically for evidence of RHD. MAIN RESULTS: Of the 15,080 children screened, the prevalence of rheumatic fever (RF)/RHD was 2.98 per thousand with no significant difference between the age groups of 5-10 and 11-16 years or in either sex (p > 0.05). The prevalence was significantly greater in rural schools (4.8/1000) than in urban schools (1.98/1000) (p < 0.05). There was overcrowding and poor housing in most cases. There were fewer cases of RHD with severe valvular lesions in the younger age group than in the older children. The mitral valve was the valve most commonly affected by RF/RHD. CONCLUSIONS: RHD continues to be a serious health problem. Regular surveys are needed to identify cases early and to ensure secondary prophylaxis with penicillin is given thereby preventing recurrence of RF and progression of the severity of the valvular lesion. Echocardiography is necessary to identify cases of RF/RHD. Strategies for preventing RHD should involve primary prevention to avert the first attack of carditis and strengthening of secondary prophylaxis through improved education and motivation of patients, parents, and physicians.
Do Institutions Mitigate the Risk of Natural Resource Conflicts?

The resource curse, as manifested by an increased likelihood of conflict over rents, can be mitigated by institutions. Lei and Michaels find that discoveries of “giant” oil fields increase the likelihood of violent conflict, but they find no evidence that democratic institutions mitigate this risk. We test whether institutions mitigate the resource curse by reducing the risk of natural resource conflicts. Our results indicate that high quality economic institutions reduce the likelihood of territorial (separatist) conflicts following natural resource rent windfalls. Highly autocratic and highly democratic institutions also reduce the likelihood of territorial conflict after natural resource rent windfalls. (JEL Q34, O13, P48, D74)
Teaching consultation skills: a survey of general practice trainers.

BACKGROUND Consultation skills are vitally important in general practice (GP), and now form part of the summative assessment of GP registrars in the UK. GP trainers need to be skilled in teaching consultation skills, and also need the time and resources to ensure that their registrars are competent in consultation skills. AIMS To describe the teaching methods used by GP trainers in one deanery, the frequency of teaching of consultation skills, the problems encountered and the training that GP trainers have themselves received both in consultation skills and how to teach them. METHOD Postal questionnaire survey of all the 164 trainers in the Yorkshire Deanery. RESULTS Replies were received from 129 trainers (response rate 79%) of which 123 could be analysed. Of these trainers, 45 (37%) trainers taught consultation skills fewer than five times a year, 45 (37%) five to 10 times, and 14 (11%) more than 10 times a year. A total of 24 trainers reported problems with teaching consultation skills, most commonly lack of time, technical difficulties, and unreceptive registrars, and 97 (79%) trainers had had some postgraduate training in consultation skills with 112 (91%) reporting some form of teacher training. CONCLUSION There is considerable variation in the reported frequency of teaching consultation skills, the models used, and the preparation of trainers for teaching, despite a systematic approach to teacher training in the Yorkshire Deanery.
The integration of quantitative genetics, paleontology, and neontology reveals genetic underpinnings of primate dental evolution

Significance Experimental research on mice has yielded tremendous biological insight. However, the ∼140 million y of evolution that separate mice from humans pose a hurdle to direct application of this knowledge to humans. We report here that considerable progress for identifying genetically patterned skeletal phenotypes beyond the mouse model is possible through transdisciplinary approaches that include the anatomical sciences. Indeed, anatomy and paleontology offer unique opportunities through which to develop and test hypotheses about the underlying genetic mechanisms of the skeleton for taxa that are not well suited to experimental manipulation, such as ourselves. Developmental genetics research on mice provides a relatively sound understanding of the genes necessary and sufficient to make mammalian teeth. However, mouse dentitions are highly derived compared with human dentitions, complicating the application of these insights to human biology. We used quantitative genetic analyses of data from living nonhuman primates and extensive osteological and paleontological collections to refine our assessment of dental phenotypes so that they better represent how the underlying genetic mechanisms actually influence anatomical variation. We identify ratios that better characterize the output of two dental genetic patterning mechanisms for primate dentitions. These two newly defined phenotypes are heritable with no measurable pleiotropic effects. When we consider how these two phenotypes vary across neontological and paleontological datasets, we find that the major Middle Miocene taxonomic shift in primate diversity is characterized by a shift in these two genetic outputs. Our results build on the mouse model by combining quantitative genetics and paleontology, and thereby elucidate how genetic mechanisms likely underlie major events in primate evolution.
Internal Stress Distribution in Cervical Intervertebral Discs: The Influence of an Artificial Cervical Joint and Simulated Anterior Interbody Fusion

There is concern that cervical interbody fusion can result in accelerated degenerative changes occurring at adjacent spinal levels. The cervical spine clearly evolved to be mobile. It would seem to be desirable for spinal surgeons to have an alternative to fusion, and spinal arthroplasty is an appealing concept. The Bristol Disc is a mechanical device comprising two articulating components that result in motion with 6 df. It has been shown to have favorable kinematics when compared with intact and fused cadaveric spines. The current study attempts to record changes in the distribution of stresses within cervical intervertebral discs adjacent to the artificial disc or a simulated fusion. The technique used to measure intradiscal stress distributions is based on earlier work by McNally and Adams on lumbar intervertebral discs. The study generated stress profiles through cervical intervertebral discs statically loaded in four different postures in addition to recording changes in intradiscal pressure within both the nucleus and the annulus during flexion. Similar stress profiles were recorded from intact specimens and those with the artificial joint inserted. The artificial joint resulted in reduced stresses in the annulus compared with spines with a simulated fusion. The study demonstrates how different testing conditions can result in researchers being confronted with paradoxical data, and the simulation of muscle forces is recommended.