Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Leptin and the Obesity Receptor (OB-R) in the Small Intestine and Colon: A Colocalization Study

Leptin is a hormone that plays an important role in overall body energy homeostasis, and the obesity receptor, OB-R, is widely distributed in the organism. In the intestine, a multitude of leptin actions have been reported, but it is currently unclear to what extent the hormone affects the intestinal epithelial cells by an endocrine or exocrine signaling pathway. To elucidate this, the localization of endogenous porcine leptin and OB-R in enterocytes and colonocytes was studied. By immunofluorescence microscopy, both leptin and OB-R were mainly observed in the basolateral membrane of enterocytes and colonocytes but also in the apical microvillar membrane of the cells. By electron microscopy, coclustering of hormone and receptor in the plasma membrane and localization in endosomes was frequently detected at the basolateral surface of the epithelial cells, indicative of leptin signaling activity. In contrast, coclustering occurred less frequently at the apical cell surface, and subapical endosomal localization was hardly detectable. We conclude that leptin action in intestinal epithelial cells takes place at the basolateral plasma membrane, indicating that the hormone uses an endocrine pathway both in the jejunum and colon. In contrast, the data obtained did not provide evidence for an exocrine, lumenal action of the hormone in the intestine.
Morphological and functional study of dwarf neurons in the rat striatum

Combination of morphological and electrophysiological techniques provided data, suggesting existence in the young rat striatum of a peculiar class of neurons, the neurogliaform or dwarf neurons. Striatal neurons (n = 92), intracellularly recorded from rat brain slices, were filled (one in each slice) with the intracellular marker biocytin, to compare physiological and morphological properties in the same cell. Moreover, some neurons (n = 7) were filled with biocytin plus the fluorescent calcium indicator fura‐2, identifying cells during electrophysiological recording.
Near-field scattering methods applied to radio-propagation modeling in urban outdoor environments

In this paper a time-efficient method for the calculation of the scattered field from rectangular plates (walls) in the near and Fresnel zone is presented. The method, which we call 'Near to Far Field Transformation Method', is based on the analytical method of Physical Optics (PO) and uses the technique of segmentation of the scattering surface into an appropriate number of small rectangles (cells). By such a division of the large scatterer, an observation point which is originally located in the near or Fresnel zone of the scatterer, is now transferred/relocated to the far zone of the smaller cells. As a result, the PO far-field approximations, which use the easy-to-compute sine (sin(x)/x) function, can be invoked in order to calculate the electromagnetic field at the receiver due to the induced PO currents at each cell. The total scattered field at the receiver's position is calculated by complex vector addition of all signal components received.
Correlation of aberrations with visual symptoms using wavefront analysis in eyes after laser in situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE To evaluate the information assessed with the Alcon LADARWave wavefront measurement device and correlate it with visual symptoms in eyes previously treated with laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), and to analyze the influence of scotopic pupil size on visual symptoms. METHODS One hundred and five eyes of 58 patients who underwent LASIK were evaluated. Wavefront measurements were assessed using the Alcon LADARWave device. Visual symptoms were correlated to higher order aberrations in three different pupil sizes (5 mm, 7 mm, and scotopic pupil size). Generalized estimating equations were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS In eyes after LASIK, visual symptoms analysis showed positive correlation of double vision with total coma and with horizontal coma for the 5-mm and 7-mm pupil sizes, negative correlation between starburst and total coma for the 7-mm pupil size, positive correlation of double vision with horizontal coma, and glare and starburst with spherical aberration and with total aberrations. Scotopic pupil size had a positive association with starburst and negative association with double vision. CONCLUSION The LADARWave wavefront measurement device is a valuable diagnostic tool in measuring ocular aberrations in eyes after LASIK. A strong correlation between visual symptoms and ocular aberrations, such as monocular diplopia with coma, and starburst and glare with spherical aberration, suggest this device is valuable in diagnosing symptomatic LASIK-induced aberrations. Horizontal coma was correlated with double vision, while vertical coma was not, demonstrating a greater sensitivity with horizontally oriented multifocality.
Transplantation Risks and the Real World: What Does ‘High Risk’ Really Mean?

Candidates for, and recipients of, transplants face numerous risks that receive varying degrees of attention from the media and transplant professionals. Characterizations such as ‘high risk donor’ are not necessarily accurate or informative unless they are discussed in context with the other risks patients face before and after transplantation. Moreover, such labels do not provide accurate information for informed consent discussions or decision making. Recent cases of donor‐transmitted diseases from donors labeled as being at ‘high risk’ have engendered concern, new policy proposals and attempts to employ additional testing of donors. The publicity and policy reactions to these cases do not necessarily better inform transplant candidates and recipients about these risks. Using comparative risk analysis, we compare the various risks associated with waiting on the list, accepting donors with various risk characteristics, posttransplant survival and everyday risks we all face in modern life to provide some quantitative perspective on what ‘high risk’ really means for transplant patients. In our analysis, donor‐transmitted disease risks are orders of magnitude less than other transplantation risks and similar to many everyday occupational and recreational risks people readily and willingly accept. These comparisons can be helpful for informing patients and guiding future policy development.
Changes in uterine secretion of prostaglandin F2 alpha in response to oxytocin during the estrous cycle, early pregnancy, and estrogen-induced pseudopregnancy in swine.

Thirty-one sows were used in an experiment designed to determine whether the ability of the porcine uterus to release prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha in response to oxytocin was suppressed in pregnancy and pseudopregnancy. Sows were assigned to one of three treatment groups: nonbred (nonpregnant) controls (n = 8), pseudopregnant (5 mg estradiol benzoate, i.m., daily on Days 11-15 postestrus; n = 8), or bred (bred once daily throughout the estrous period; n = 15). Jugular venous blood samples were collected daily for quantification of progesterone. Pregnancy was determined by uterine examination at slaughter 51-72 days postmating. On the basis of progesterone and embryo recovery, bred sows were classified into three subgroups: confirmed pregnant (n = 4), suspected pregnant based on delayed luteal regression (n = 5), or bred/not pregnant (n = 6). All sows received an injection of oxytocin (30 IU, i.v.) on Days 12, 15, and 18 postestrus. Jugular venous blood samples were collected from 60 min prior to through 120 min after injection of oxytocin for quantification of 13, 14-dihydro-15-keto-PGF2 alpha (PGFM). Magnitude of response above baseline and area under the PGFM response curve (AUC) were calculated for each sow on each day and compared among treatment groups by analysis of variance. Responses in pregnant and suspected-pregnant sows were not different on any day examined; therefore the two groups were combined (n = 9) and considered pregnant for all subsequent analyses. Responses in the nonpregnant and bred/not pregnant sows were pooled and compared to the responses in the pregnant and pseudopregnant sows. Magnitudes of response were similar between these pooled groups on Day 12 (p > 0.5), but were less in pregnant and pseudopregnant sows on Days 15 and 18 (p < 0.01). When nonpregnant and bred/not pregnant sows were compared to each other, the magnitudes of the response were similar on Days 12, 15, and 18 (p > 0.3 on each day). In contrast, when pregnant and pseudopregnant sows were compared, pseudopregnant sows had a lower magnitude of response that was consistent across all 3 days (p < 0.02). Similar relationships were apparent for the AUC. These results demonstrate that uterine secretory responsiveness to oxytocin is suppressed during early pregnancy and that this effect may be mediated through estrogen secreted by conceptuses.
Two variable active site residues modulate response regulator phosphoryl group stability

Many signal transduction networks control their output by switching regulatory elements on or off. To synchronize biological response with environmental stimulus, switching kinetics must be faster than changes in input. Two‐component regulatory systems (used for signal transduction by bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes) switch via phosphorylation or dephosphorylation of the receiver domain in response regulator proteins. Although receiver domains share conserved active site residues and similar three‐dimensional structures, rates of self‐catalysed dephosphorylation span a ≥ 40 000‐fold range in response regulators that control diverse biological processes. For example, autodephosphorylation of the chemotaxis response regulator CheY is 640‐fold faster than Spo0F, which controls sporulation. Here we demonstrate that substitutions at two variable active site positions decreased CheY autodephosphorylation up to 40‐fold and increased the Spo0F rate up to 110‐fold. Particular amino acids had qualitatively similar effects in different response regulators. However, mutant proteins matched to other response regulators at the two key variable positions did not always exhibit similar autodephosphorylation kinetics. Therefore, unknown factors also influence absolute rates. Understanding the effects that particular active site amino acid compositions have on autodephosphorylation rate may allow manipulation of phosphoryl group stability for useful purposes, as well as prediction of signal transduction kinetics from amino acid sequence.
Mast Cells in Smooth Muscle Tumors of the Uterus

SummaryMast cells (MCs) have been reported in the myometrium and uterine smooth muscle tumors. We examined the number of MCs in various uterine smooth muscle tumors (including leiomyosarcomas) and assessed whether this feature might be of value in their pathologic diagnosis. The number of MCs in 95 uterine smooth muscle tumors, including 55 ordinary leiomyomas, 17 cellular leiomyomas, 8 bizarre leiomyomas, and 15 leiomyosarcomas, was counted using toluidine blue and immunohistochemical staining. The number of MCs that stained for tryptase was lowest in leiomyosarcoma and next lowest in ordinary leiomyoma; the number in each of these two groups was significantly lower than in the myometrium (p < 0.001). In cellular and bizarre leiomyomas, the number of MCs was significantly higher than in ordinary leiomyoma (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) and leiomyosarcoma (p < 0.001 and p < 0.005, respectively). Statistical analysis revealed that counting the number of MCs and using a cut-off value of 16 MCs per high-power-field is useful for the differential diagnosis of leiomyosarcomas from cellular leiomyoma and bizarre leiomyoma, yielding 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity. The number of MCs was significantly lower in leiomyosarcomas at TNM stages III and IV than in those at stages I and II (p < 0.05), but there was no significant correlation between the number of MCs and patient survival. These results suggest that the number of MCs might be useful as part of a multivariate approach to the differential diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma from bizarre or cellular leiomyoma.
Toward Improved Rehabilitation Services for Ethnically Diverse Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury is an important public health problem in the United States, especially for individuals from racial and ethnic minorities. The first part of this article provides a synthesis of findings and discussions of cultural issues in the rehabilitation, medical, and psychological scientific literature highlighting the needs and challenges of our diverse population of minority traumatic brain injury survivors in the United States. The second part offers practical recommendations for rehabilitation professionals who desire to improve the healthcare and health outcomes of these individuals. Through an examination of research, guidelines, and resources, we justify the importance of cultural sensitivity in everyday provider interactions with minority clients and their families.
A comparative analysis of frog early development

The current understanding of Xenopus laevis development provides a comparative background for the analysis of frog developmental modes. Our analysis of development in various frogs reveals that the mode of gastrulation is associated with developmental rate and is unrelated to egg size. In the gastrula of the rapidly developing embryos of the foam-nesting frogs Engystomops coloradorum and Engystomops randi, archenteron and notochord elongation overlapped with involution at the blastopore lip, as in X. laevis embryos. In embryos of dendrobatid frogs and in the frog without tadpoles Eleutherodactylus coqui, which develop somewhat more slowly than X. laevis, involution and archenteron elongation concomitantly occurred during gastrulation; whereas elongation of the notochord and, therefore, dorsal convergence and extension, occurred in the postgastrula. In contrast, in the slow developing embryos of the marsupial frog Gastrotheca riobambae, only involution occurred during gastrulation. The processes of archenteron and notochord elongation and convergence and extension were postgastrulation events. We produced an Ab against the homeodomain protein Lim1 from X. laevis as a tool for the comparative analysis of development. By the expression of Lim1, we were able to identify the dorsal side of the G. riobambae early gastrula, which otherwise was difficult to detect. Moreover, the Lim1 expression in the dorsal lip of the blastopore and notochord differed among the studied frogs, indicating variation in the timing of developmental events. The variation encountered gives evidence of the modular character of frog gastrulation.
(3H)‐Dihydrotestosterone in catecholamine neurons of rat brain stem: Combined localization by autoradiography and formaldehyde‐induced fluorescence

A combined formaldehyde‐induced fluorescence (FIF)‐autoradiography procedure was used to determine how and where the androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), is associated with catecholamine systems in the rat brain. With this dual localization method, (3H)‐DHT target sites can be visualized in relation to catecholamine perikarya and terminals. In the hindbrain, catecholamine neurons adjacent to the fourth ventricle (group A4), the nucleus (n.) olivaris superior (group A5), the n. parabrachialis medialis (group A7), and in the locus coeruleus (group A6) and subcoeruleal regions, as well as in the substantia grisea centralis, concentrate (3H)‐DHT in their nuclei. (3H)‐DHT target neurons appear to be innervated by numerous catecholamine terminals in the following hindbrain regions: n. motorius dorsalis nervi vagi, n. tractus solitarii, n. commissuralis, n. raphe pallidus, n. olivaris inferior, the ventrolateral portion of the substantia grisea centralis, n. cuneiformis, and the ventrolateral reticular formation in the caudal mesencephalon. In the forebrain, (3H)‐DHT concentrates in nuclei of catecholamine neurons located in the n. arcuatus and n. periventricularis (group A12). In addition, (3H)‐DHT target neurons appear to be innervated by numerous catecholamine terminals in the following forebrain regions: n. periventricularis rotundocellularis, n. paraventricularis, n. dorsomedialis, n. periventricularis, area retrochiasmatica, n. interstititalis striae terminalis (ventral portion), and n. amygdaloideus centralis.
The Effects of Fetal Blood Sampling on Ventricular Filling Patterns: Differences Between Normally Grown and Growth-Retarded Fetuses

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fetal blood sampling on atrioventricular blood flow velocity waveforms. Flow velocity waveforms were measured from mitral and tricuspid valve immediately before and after fetal blood sampling in 25 normally grown and 10 growth-retarded fetuses. This latter group was characterized by abnormal Doppler indices in umbilical artery and middle cerebral artery suggestive of uteroplacental insufficiency as the causative factor of the impaired growth. The flow velocity parameters studied were peak velocity during early and active ventricular filling, time velocity integral, and fetal heart rate. Different indices were then calculated as expressions of ventricular diastolic function and cardiac output. In normally grown fetuses, both peak velocity during early diastole and time velocity integral values significantly increased after fetal blood sampling from both atrioventricular valves, whereas no significant changes were evidenced in the other parameters considered. Gestational age at the time of the procedure was positively related to the amplitude of these changes. In growth-retarded fetuses, fetal blood sampling induced a significant decrease in time velocity integral value form tricuspid valve, suggestive of a fall in right ventricle output. The amplitude of the decrease was significantly related to the severity of acidosis in umbilical vein. In conclusion, the cardiac hemodynamic response to fetal blood sampling differs between normally grown and growth-retarded fetuses. This difference may explain the higher rate of complications occurring in the latter group of fetuses after blood sampling.
Socially Interactive and Passive Technologies Enhance Friendship Quality: An Investigation of the Mediating Roles of Online and Offline Self-Disclosure

Previous studies indicate that characteristics of social-based technologies (STs) stimulate the sharing of intimate information online, which in turn enhances the quality of friendships. In addition, intimate online self-disclosure has been positively associated with offline self-disclosure. One objective of the current study was to combine the literature and test a model which postulates that STs use stimulates online self-disclosure which facilitates offline self-disclosure and, thereby, enhances the quality of close friendships. A second objective of this study was to examine if the aforementioned model applies to two categories of STs, including socially interactive technologies (SITs; e.g., instant messaging) and socially passive technologies (SPTs; e.g., reading posts on social networking sites). An online survey was conducted with 212 young adults between 18 and 25 years of age. The proposed indirect positive effects of SITs and SPTs use on the quality of friendships were supported. The positive effect of SITs use on the quality of friendships was explained entirely by the young adults' disclosure of personal information when using SITs which facilitated intimate self-disclosure during face-to-face interactions. Although there was not a direct effect of SPTs use on the quality of friendships, SPTs use was positively related to SPTs self-disclosure, which had a positive effect on offline self-disclosure. The current study enhances our understanding regarding the positive effects associated with the use of STs among close friends and identifies the contribution of online self-disclosure for offline interactions.
The science of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers

Background: The use of injectable materials for soft‐tissue augmentation has been increasing in the United States, reflecting the introduction of new hyaluronic acid (HA)‐based dermal fillers. HA dermal fillers vary widely in their physical and chemical characteristics and many variables contribute to their overall performance. This article explains the basic science of HA and describes how the physical properties of HA dermal fillers may influence clinical outcomes. Hyaluronic acid: The chemical composition of disaccharide HA monomers, and how they form polymer chains and are crosslinked into gels for dermal fillers are described. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers: Key concepts and properties relevant to the production and performance of HA dermal fillers, such as the degree of crosslinking, gel hardness, gel consistency, viscosity, extrusion force, HA concentration, and extent of hydration are explained. New formulations of HA dermal fillers that have recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration differ from currently available HA fillers and may provide enhanced ease of extrusion and persistence over previous fillers. Conclusion: Knowledge of the chemical and physical blueprint of HA dermal fillers may help physicians in choosing the appropriate HA dermal filler for facial enhancements. This, together with appropriate injector training and injection experience, should lead to results that ultimately will benefit patients.
Mechanisms mediating the heart rate response to hypoxemia.

We studied the effect of phasic pulmonary afferent information on heart rate (HR) during a progressive reduction in oxygen saturation (SaO2). The Hering-Breuer reflex was evaluated with the use of the ratio of apnea duration after lung inflation to the preceding expiratory time (dT). Phasic afferent activity was stopped in anesthetized, paralyzed dogs by constant-flow ventilation (CFV), a technique that removes cyclic changes in lung volume. During normocapnic (PaCO2 = 36.4 +/- 1.1 mm Hg) spontaneous breathing, there was a wide variability in HR response, with a mean delta HR/delta SaO2 (+/- SE) of 0.62 +/- 0.27 beats/min/% (values greater than 0 indicate a tachycardiac response). There was a good correlation between delta HR/delta SaO2 and dT (r = .79). Mean delta HR/delta SaO2 for the combined normocapnic and hypercapnic studies during CFV was lower (-1.32 +/- 0.19 bpm/%) than that during spontaneous breathing (0.23 +/- 0.19, p less than .0001). We suggest that the HR response to hypoxemia is strongly related to the strength of the Hering-Breuer reflex, which may explain the large interdog variability in HR responses.
Intolerance to hydroxychloroquine marketed in Spain (Dolquine) in patients with autoimmune conditions

BASIS: A significant proportion of our patients has described to have problems from tolerance to Dolquine, a new presentation of hydroxychloroquine recently marketed in Spain, compared to Plaquenil. The objective was to know the tolerability and the adverse effects of this new presentation. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A cross-sectional multicenter study on 133 patients treated with Dolquine was conducted. RESULTS: Of the 133 patients (87% women; average age [AA]: 32.9 [15.4] years) who received Dolquine during an average period of 6.7 (1.4) months, 32 patients (24%) described to have more problems with this drug in comparison with other antimalarial. The adverse effects experienced were: bitter taste (62.4%), difficulty in swallowing the tablet (13.5%), dyspepsia (9.8%), nausea (7.5%), vomiting (1.5%), pruritus (1.5%), diarrhea (0.7%), and instability feeling (0.7%). The presence of gastrointestinal adverse effects was not related to the consumption of gastroerosive drugs, gastric protectors, or a high number of drugs. The attrition rate was 9.8%. Conclusions. Dolquine induces lower tolerance and more gastrointestinal adverse effects than Plaquenil, pointing out its bitter taste and the difficulty in swallowing it. Despite this higher intolerance there was not an increase in the attition rate from the antimalarial treatment in comparison to other series.