Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproduction Alters Hydration State but Does Not Impact the Positive Effects of Dehydration on Innate Immune Function in Children’s Pythons (Antaresia childreni)

Resource availability can impact immune function, with the majority of studies of such influences focusing on the allocation of energy investment into immune versus other physiological functions. When energy is a limited resource, performance trade-offs can result, compromising immunity. Dehydration is also considered a physiological challenge resulting from the limitation of a vital resource, yet previous research has found a positive relationship between dehydration and innate immune performance. However, these studies did not examine the effects of dehydration on immunity when there was another concurrent, substantial physiological challenge. Thus, we examined the impact of reproduction and water deprivation, individually and in combination, on immune performance in Children’s pythons (Antaresia childreni). We collected blood samples from free-ranging A. childreni to evaluate osmolality and innate immune function (lysis, agglutination, bacterial growth inhibition) during the austral dry season, when water availability is limited and this species is typically reproducing. To examine how reproduction and water imbalance, both separately and combined, impact immune function, we used a laboratory-based 2 × 2 experiment. Our results demonstrate that A. childreni experience significant dehydration during the dry season and that, overall, osmolality, regardless of the underlying cause (seasonal rainfall, water deprivation, or reproduction), is positively correlated with increased innate immune performance.
The evaluation of nurses and nursing activities through the perceptions of inpatients.

AIM To examine the relationship of inpatients' perceptions and satisfaction statements with nurses and the nursing activities presented and to determine nursing activities that were implemented mostly from the view of inpatients. BACKGROUND Nursing care is one of the fundamental components of health care, and studies have shown that it has a considerable influence on how patients experience hospitalization. However, nursing care is usually listed as one category in surveys. In fact, nursing care is an integrated combination of specific nursing activities, and to improve nursing practice we need to clarify how each nursing activity affects the perceptions of patients. METHODS This descriptive study uses cross-sectional survey design. The sample consists of 454 inpatients from a large-scale teaching hospital in Ankara, Turkey. A questionnaire survey including demographics and perceptions of the patients, along with a list of the activities that nurses were required to carry out, were administered to the patients. FINDINGS Age, gender and marital status were the variables influencing patients' perceptions. Technical nursing activities were recognized more by patients than activities related to care. All nursing activities were relevant to patient satisfaction statements. Most of the patients were satisfied with the nursing care despite the task-oriented environment. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study show that nurses tend to do technical activities. All nursing activities were related to patient satisfaction statements. Nurses should be aware of the effect of each activity they are required to carry out on patients and the importance of good communication with patients.
Discs-large homolog 1 regulates smooth muscle orientation in the mouse ureter

Discs-large homolog 1 (DLGH1) is a mouse ortholog of the Drosophila discs-large (DLG) tumor suppressor protein, a founding member of the PDZ and MAGUK protein families. DLG proteins play important roles in regulating cell proliferation, epithelial cell polarity, and synapse formation and function. Here, we generated a null allele of Dlgh1 and studied its role in urogenital development. Dlgh1−/− mice developed severe urinary tract abnormalities, including congenital hydronephrosis, which is the leading cause of renal failure in infants and children. DLGH1 is expressed in the developing ureter; in its absence, the stromal cells that normally lie between the urothelial and smooth muscle layers were missing. Moreover, in ureteric smooth muscle, the circular smooth muscle cells were misaligned in a longitudinal orientation. These abnormalities in the ureter led to severely impaired ureteric peristalsis. Similar smooth muscle defects are observed frequently in patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction, a common form of hydronephrosis. Our results suggest that (i) besides its well documented role in regulating epithelial polarity, Dlgh1 also regulates smooth muscle orientation, and (ii) human DLG1 mutations may contribute to hereditary forms of hydronephrosis.
NOR Dispersion, Telomeric Sequence Detection in Centromeric Regions and Meiotic Multivalent Configurations in Species of the Aplastodiscus albofrenatus Group (Anura, Hylidae)

In the present study, we examined the chromosome number and morphology, heterochromatin pattern, and location of the nucleolar organizer region (NOR) and telomeric sequences in Aplastodiscus albofrenatus, A. arildae, A. ehrhardti and A. eugenioi in order to cytogenetically characterize the Aplastodiscus albofrenatus group. The 4 species analyzed in this study had diploid numbers of 2n = 22 and very similar chromosome morphology. These species could be differentiated based on the distribution and amount of heterochromatin and the location of the nucleolar organizer region (NOR). Six of the 8 A. albofrenatus individuals had an NOR polymorphism previously unknown in anurans since only one of the homologs of pairs 1 and 7 was stained. In the other 2 specimens, the NOR occurred on both homologs of pair 7. In A. ehrhardti, pairs 6 and 10 were stained by the AgNOR technique, but only pair 6 was confirmed by in situ hybridization. The NOR was located on pair 10 in A. arildae and on pair 7 in A. eugenioi. In A. albofrenatus and A. arildae, multivalent rings involving NOR-containing chromosomes were observed during prophase I of meiosis. The telomeric probe identified the telomeres in all species and also centromeric regions in the chromosomes of A. albofrenatus and A. arildae, which were coincident with centromeric heterochromatin. The conserved chromosomal morphology seen mainly in the first 7 pairs among species of the A. albofrenatus group suggests that all of these species probably originated from a common ancestral karyotype and that chromosomal rearrangements resulted in karyotype differentiation, with changes in NOR location, as well as telomeric and heterochromatin dispersal.
Electrophysiologic characterization of the antipsychotic drug sertindole in a rabbit heart model of torsade de pointes: low torsadogenic potential despite QT prolongation.

There is growing concern that antipsychotic drugs that prolong the QT interval almost always increase the risk for patients to develop life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTs) of the torsade de pointes type. We therefore sought to compare the electrophysiologic effects of the psychotropic agent sertindole, which prolongs cardiac repolarization by inhibiting the rapid component of the delayed rectifier potassium current (I(Kr)) but has a low torsadogenic potential to the antiarrhythmic agent dl-sotalol. In 18 Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts, sotalol (10 microM, n = 8) and sertindole (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 microM; n = 10) led to significant and comparable QT prolongation. In the presence of sotalol, torsade de pointes reproducibly occurred in atrioventricular node-blocked hearts after lowering the potassium concentration to 1.5 mM. High doses of sertindole (1.5 microM) only caused monomorphic VT (n = 4) and nonsustained polymorphic VT (n = 2) in the presence of QRS prolongation. Multiple simultaneous epi- and endocardial monophasic action potentials and a volume-conducted ECG demonstrated widening of the T/U wave, early afterdepolarizations, and increased dispersion of repolarization in the presence of dl-sotalol. In contrast to sotalol, QT and monophasic action potential prolongation were cycle length-independent in the presence of sertindole. Sertindole had no significant effect on transmural or interventricular dispersion of repolarization. Early afterdepolarizations did not occur. Despite comparable QT prolongation, sertindole did not display the proarrhythmic profile typical of other blockers of I(Kr) such as dl-sotalol. It is likely that a different mode of interaction between sertindole and the channel and/or additional pharmacological effects of sertindole, e.g., its ability to inhibit I(Na) and/or its ability to block alpha(1)-receptors, play a role.
THE EFFECT OF FETAL HEAD COMPRESSION AND FETAL ACIDAEMIA DURING LABOUR ON HUMAN FETAL CEREBRAL FUNCTION AS MEASURED BY THE FETAL ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM

We investigated the effect of head compression and acidaemia during labour in 25 African primigravidae. Evidence that head compression had occurred during labour was confirmed by both clinical and radiological means at the end of a trial of labour. No significant difference could be demonstrated in the quantity of fetal electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormality that occurred in the groups with marked head compression as compared to the groups without marked head compression. Deterioration in the fetal EEG to a flat record known as electro‐cerebral silence (ECS) was associated with the development of acidaemia. As fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerations appeared the percentage of ECS in the fetal EEG record increased significantly (P <0.05), and likewise, as fetal acidaemia developed a highly significant increase in ECS in the fetal EEG was demonstrated (P <0 001). We concluded that in the management of trial of labour there was no significant deleterious change in the fetal EEG as a result of head compression, unless fetal acidaemia supervened. However, in the majority of these cases a significant increase in ECS to more than 20 per cent occurred in association with only moderate acidaemia (pH 7.25 to 7.30).
Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri promotes TNF‐induced apoptosis in human myeloid leukemia‐derived cells by modulation of NF‐κB and MAPK signalling

The molecular mechanisms of pro‐apoptotic effects of human‐derived Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 were investigated in this study. L. reuteri secretes factors that potentiate apoptosis in myeloid leukemia‐derived cells induced by tumour necrosis factor (TNF), as indicated by intracellular esterase activity, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end‐labelling assays and poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase cleavage. L. reuteri downregulated nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB)‐dependent gene products that mediate cell proliferation (Cox‐2, cyclin D1) and cell survival (Bcl‐2, Bcl‐xL). L. reuteri suppressed TNF‐induced NF‐κB activation, including NF‐κB‐dependent reporter gene expression in a dose‐and time‐dependent manner. L. reuteri stabilized degradation of IκBα and inhibited nuclear translocation of p65 (RelA). Although phosphorylation of IκBα was not affected, subsequent polyubiquitination necessary for regulated IκBα degradation was abrogated by L. reuteri. In addition, L. reuteri promoted apoptosis by enhancing mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities including c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase and p38 MAPK. In contrast, L. reuteri suppressed extracellular signal‐regulated kinases 1/2 in TNF‐activated myeloid cells. L. reuteri may regulate cell proliferation by promoting apoptosis of activated immune cells via inhibition of IκBα ubiquitination and enhancing pro‐apoptotic MAPK signalling. An improved understanding of L. reuteri‐mediated effects on apoptotic signalling pathways may facilitate development of future probiotics‐based regimens for prevention of colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
Promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies support a late step in DNA double‐strand break repair by homologous recombination

The PML protein and PML nuclear bodies (PML‐NB) are implicated in multiple cellular functions relevant to tumor suppression, including DNA damage response. In most cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia, the PML and retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) genes are translocated, resulting in expression of oncogenic PML‐RARα fusion proteins. PML‐NB fail to form normally, and promyelocytes remain in an undifferentiated, abnormally proliferative state. We examined the involvement of PML protein and PML‐NB in homologous recombinational repair (HRR) of chromosomal DNA double‐strand breaks. Transient overexpression of wild‐type PML protein isoforms produced hugely enlarged or aggregated PML‐NB and reduced HRR by ∼2‐fold, suggesting that HRR depends to some extent upon normal PML‐NB structure. Knockdown of PML by RNA interference sharply attenuated formation of PML‐NB and reduced HRR by up to 20‐fold. However, PML‐knockdown cells showed apparently normal induction of H2AX phosphorylation and RAD51 foci after DNA damage by ionizing radiation. These findings indicate that early steps in HRR, including recognition of DNA double‐strand breaks, initial processing of ends, and assembly of single‐stranded DNA/RAD51 nucleoprotein filaments, do not depend upon PML‐NB. The HRR deficit in PML‐depleted cells thus reflects inhibition of later steps in the repair pathway. Expression of PML‐RARα fusion proteins disrupted PML‐NB structure and reduced HRR by up to 10‐fold, raising the possibility that defective HRR and resulting genomic instability may figure in the pathogenesis, progression and relapse of acute promyelocytic leukemia. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 1787–1799, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Men with Early Degrees of Knee Osteoarthritis Present Functional and Morphological Impairments of the Quadriceps Femoris Muscle

ObjectiveQuadriceps muscle weakness is common in knee osteoarthritis (OA). Reasons for weakness may include atrophy, reduction in the muscle fibers number, and changes in the muscle activation. It is uncertain when these muscular changes begin to appear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether men with early stages of knee OA already had functional and quadriceps muscle morphologic alterations. DesignForty men were divided into two groups: control group (healthy subjects) and OA group (subjects with knee OA). A biopsy of the vastus lateralis muscle was performed for morphometric analysis. Isokinetic evaluation of knee extensor torque, concentric and eccentric (90 and 180 degrees/sec), was performed simultaneously with vastus lateralis electromyographic activity evaluation. ResultsSignificant differences were found in knee extensor torque (P < 0.05) and in normalized root mean square (P < 0.01) during the eccentric contractions (both velocities), with higher values for the control group. No differences were found during concentric contractions. The OA group presented greater values of the minimum diameter of type 1 fibers and greater proportion and relative cross-sectional area of type 2b fibers (P < 0.05). ConclusionsMen with early stages of knee OA do not present alterations of concentric strength but had decreased eccentric strength and morphologic quadriceps muscle changes, indicating neuromuscular adaptations.
The Novel Two-Component Regulatory System BfiSR Regulates Biofilm Development by Controlling the Small RNA rsmZ through CafA

ABSTRACT The formation of biofilms by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a developmental process governed by a novel signal transduction system composed of three two-component regulatory systems (TCSs), BfiSR, BfmSR, and MifSR. Here, we show that BfiSR-dependent arrest of biofilm formation coincided with reduced expression of genes involved in virulence, posttranslational/transcriptional modification, and Rhl quorum sensing but increased expression of rhlAB and the small regulatory RNAs rsmYZ. Overexpression of rsmZ, but not rsmY, coincided with impaired biofilm development similar to inactivation of bfiS and retS. We furthermore show that BfiR binds to the 5′ untranslated region of cafA encoding RNase G. Lack of cafA expression coincided with impaired biofilm development and increased rsmYZ levels during biofilm growth compared to the wild type. Overexpression of cafA restored ΔbfiS biofilm formation to wild-type levels and reduced rsmZ abundance. Moreover, inactivation of bfiS resulted in reduced virulence, as revealed by two plant models of infection. This work describes the regulation of a committed biofilm developmental step following attachment by the novel TCS BfiSR through the suppression of sRNA rsmZ via the direct regulation of RNase G in a biofilm-specific manner, thus underscoring the importance of posttranscriptional mechanisms in controlling biofilm development and virulence.
Endotoxin exposure in sewage treatment workers: investigation of exposure variability and comparison of analytical techniques.

INTRODUCTION Objectives were to give an overview of endotoxin exposure and its determinants in sewage treatment workers, and to study exposure to culturable and non-culturable microorganisms and the applicability of the LAL assay in this work environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 43 Dutch sewage treatment plants 470 full-shift, 123 task-based personal and 54 stationary inhalable dust samples were collected. Endotoxin concentration was determined with the LAL-assay. Mixed effects models were used to investigate possible determinants of exposure. Simultaneous parallel filter samples, impinger samples and viable total bacteria and Gram-negative bacterial samples were taken to compare analytical techniques. Filter and impinger samples were analyzed with the LAL-assay, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS Endotoxin exposure levels were moderate to low (geometric mean personal exposure 27 EU/m(3), stationary 33 EU/m(3), task-based 64 EU/m(3)), yet differences between jobs and sources and some determinants of exposure were identified. Exposure varied more from day to day than between workers. Concentrations in filter samples were higher and more consistent than in impinger samples. Fungi and Gram-positive bacteria were found in higher levels than Gram-negative bacteria. The LAL assay and GC-MS showed comparable endotoxin levels. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Endotoxin exposure in Dutch sewage treatment workers was relatively low. Comparison of sampling and analytical techniques suggests that the LAL-assay did not result in much exposure misclassification. It thus seems justified to perform filter measurements in combination with the LAL-assay to measure endotoxin exposure in sewage treatment plants.
Longitudinal Study on Pneumococcal Carriage During the First Year of Life in Bangladesh

Background: The strong herd immunity effect and the serotype replacement associated with the use of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine have highlighted the importance of asymptomatic pneumococcal carriage. To describe the development of pneumoccoccal carriage in a developing country setting we carried out a longitudinal pneumococcal carriage study in Bangladesh. Methods: Ninety-nine children, born in Savar, Bangladesh between May 2000 and April 2001, were enrolled in the study with their families. Nasopharyngeal samples were collected at prescheduled 2–4 week intervals from the index children and from their family members. The nasopharyngeal swabs were cultured for pneumococcal growth and pneumococci were identified and serotyped by standard methods. Results: We collected 1459 samples (92% of those planned) from the 99 index children and 2865 samples from other family members. The data showed high point prevalences of pneumococcal carriage among newborns (40–50% from 8 weeks of age on), a rapid pneumococcal acquisition with age (50% of the children had been colonized by pneumococci at least once by the age of 8 weeks) and a wide range of different serogroups/types (SGT). SGT 6 and 19 accounted for 35% of the pneumococci isolated from children <1-year-old, followed by SGT 15, 23, and 10 for a total of 56%. The SGT distribution in children up to 9-year-old was similar to that among the <1 year olds, with SGT 6 and 19 predominating. Older children and adults differed from the younger children by not having clearly predominating SGTs. Conclusions: The features found in our study are typical of pneumococcal carriage in developing countries. We believe that results from longitudinal modeling of carriage based on these extensive data can have wide geographic application.
Minimum end-tidal sevoflurane concentration necessary to prevent movement during a constant rate infusion of morphine, or morphine plus dexmedetomidine in ponies.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of dexmedetomidine and morphine to those of morphine alone on the minimum end-tidal sevoflurane concentration necessary to prevent movement (MACNM ) in ponies. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized, crossover, 'blinded', experimental study. ANIMALS Five healthy adult gelding ponies were anaesthetized twice with a 3-week washout period. METHODS After induction of anaesthesia with sevoflurane in oxygen (via nasotracheal tube), the ponies were positioned on a surgical table (T0), and anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane (Fe'SEVO 2.5%) in 55% oxygen. Monitoring included pulse oximetry, electrocardiography and measurement of anaesthetic gases, arterial blood pressure and body temperature. The ponies were mechanically ventilated and randomly allocated to receive IV treatment M [morphine 0.15 mg kg⁻¹ (T10-T15) followed by a CRI (0.1 mg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹)] or treatment DM [dexmedetomidine 3.5 μg kg⁻¹ plus morphine 0.15 mg kg⁻¹ (T10-T15) followed by a CRI of dexmedetomidine 1.75 μg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹ and morphine 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ hour⁻¹]. At T60, a stepwise MACNM determination was initiated using constant current electrical stimuli at the skin of the lateral pastern region. Triplicate MACNM estimations were obtained and then averaged in each pony. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to detect differences in MAC between treatments (α = 0.05). RESULTS Sevoflurane-morphine MACNM values (median (range) and mean ± SD) were 2.56 (2.01-4.07) and 2.79 ± 0.73%. The addition of a continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine significantly reduced sevoflurane MACNM values to 0.89 (0.62-1.05) and 0.89 ± 0.22% (mean MACNM reduction 67 ± 11%). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Co-administration of dexmedetomidine and morphine CRIs significantly reduced the MACNM of sevoflurane compared with a CRI of morphine alone at the reported doses.
A coupled optoelectronic oscillator based on enhanced spatial hole burning effect

We propose and demonstrate a coupled optoelectronic oscillator (COEO) based on enhanced spatial hole burning (SHB) effect in an unpumped erbium-doped fiber (EDF). A novel structure is designed to form strong standing waves in the unpumped EDF, which enables large SHB effect to improve the side-mode suppression and ensure stable operation. A proof-of-concept experiment is carried out. A 10-GHz stable optical pulse train is successfully generated. The side-mode suppression ratio (SMSR) of the 10-GHz RF output is more than 72.5 dB and the phase noise is -123.6 dBc/Hz at 10-kHz offset, which is achieved without introducing any long fiber in the optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) loop, showing that the standing-wave forming structure significantly improves the performance of the COEO. The system is operated in the lab environment for 4 hours and no significant variation is observed.