Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applied nutritional investigation Effects of thickened beverages fortified with inulin on beverage acceptance, gastrointestinal function, and bone resorption in institutionalized adults

Objectives: We wanted to develop thickened beverages that contain soluble fiber (inulin) with acceptable consistency, taste, and texture and to determine the effects of these beverages on bone resorption markers (to determine calcium retention), bowel frequency, and indicators of gastroin- testinal function in institutionalized adults bound to wheelchairs. Methods: A double-blind, 3-wk, cross-over study testing 13-g/d inulin-fortified versus isocaloric standard modified starch-thickened beverages was conducted in institutionalized adults who were bound to wheelchairs and had dysphagia or did not have dysphagia. Beverage acceptability, as assessed by discriminative and descriptive sensory testing, bowel frequency, fecal output, and laxative use, were determined by direct testing or by nursing charts. Bone resorption was measured by using the urinary excretion of fasting calcium and of cross-linked N-telopeptides of collagen. Results: Sensory panelists were unable to detect a difference between beverages thickened with modified starch and those fortified with inulin. Few differences were found between the control and inulin-fortified beverages for sensory descriptors. No significant difference was found in frequency of bowel movements between treatments; however, weighted bowel movement frequency increased by 13% with inulin (P 0.01), whereas enema and laxative administration decreased by 13% (P 0.05). Bone resorption, as an indicator of calcium retention, remained unchanged. Conclusions: Inulin was incorporated into thickened beverages, with no decrease in acceptability; when consumed, perceived stool output increased in residents of long-term care facilities. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Anti‐NANP antibody and treatment efficacy in patients with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria attacks

African patients originating from the hypoendemic, urban area of Greater Dakar (Senegal, West Africa) who presented with an acute Plasmodium falciparum infection were studied using an in‐vivo chloroquine sensitivity assay for 28 days. Forty‐seven patients with acute malaria infections were treated with 25 mg/body weight of chloroquine. Adequate responses to treatment were observed in 24 patients (51%), whereas 23 (49%) were resistant. On the day of admission, these two groups of patients were comparable with respect to age, level of parasitemia and delay before initiation of treatment, but not with respect to gametocyte prevalence which was higher in patients resistant to therapy (48%) than in those who responded to treatment (17%). In order to evaluate whether the therapeutic response was associated with any given specific immune response, antibody activities against different stages of the parasite cycle were evaluated: anti‐NANP repeats (i.e. antisporozoite stage antigen), anti‐Pfs 45 kDa (i.e. antigametocyte stage antigen), and anti‐MSP3 (i.e. antimerozoite stage antigen) antibodies were measured by ELISA at day 0 (i.e. on the day of admission and before initiation of treatment), day 7 and day 28. No significant differences between treatment‐sensitive and treatment‐resistant infections were observed for antibody prevalences and optical densities, except at day 0, when the prevalence of antibodies against NANP repeats was 2.4 times more frequent in the group of patients with a propitious response to treatment: 62.5% of the patients with an infection sensitive to chloroquine had anti‐NANP antibodies, whereas only 26.1% of the patients resistant to chloroquine treatment had such a humoral response. These observations are discussed in relation to (1) the finding that gametocyte prevalence was markedly increased at a time when resistance to antimalarial treatment was observed; (2) the possibility that the efficacy of the therapeutic response could be the result of the combined effects of treatment and the individual immune status of the patients at the time of drug cure; and (3) the presence of detectable anti‐NANP activity as potential indicator of the level of premunition acquired in an area of low and seasonal malaria transmission.
Apical sorting of a voltage- and Ca2+-activated K+ channel alpha -subunit in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells is independent of N-glycosylation.

The voltage- and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (K(V,Ca)) channel is expressed in a variety of polarized epithelial cells seemingly displaying a tissue-dependent apical-to-basolateral regionalization, as revealed by electrophysiology. Using domain-specific biotinylation and immunofluorescence we show that the human channel K(V,Ca) alpha-subunit (human Slowpoke channel, hSlo) is predominantly found in the apical plasma membrane domain of permanently transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Both the wild-type and a mutant hSlo protein lacking its only potential N-glycosylation site were efficiently transported to the cell surface and concentrated in the apical domain even when they were overexpressed to levels 200- to 300-fold higher than the density of intrinsic Slo channels. Furthermore, tunicamycin treatment did not prevent apical segregation of hSlo, indicating that endogenous glycosylated proteins (e.g., K(V,Ca) beta-subunits) were not required. hSlo seems to display properties for lipid-raft targeting, as judged by its buoyant distribution in sucrose gradients after extraction with either detergent or sodium carbonate. The evidence indicates that the hSlo protein possesses intrinsic information for transport to the apical cell surface through a mechanism that may involve association with lipid rafts and that is independent of glycosylation of the channel itself or an associated protein. Thus, this particular polytopic model protein shows that glycosylation-independent apical pathways exist for endogenous membrane proteins in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells.
Assessment of red blood cell transfusion and transfusion duration on cerebral and mesenteric oxygenation using near‐infrared spectroscopy in preterm infants with symptomatic anemia

The aim of red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is to improve tissue oxygenation and relieve anemia‐related symptoms in preterm infants. We sought to assess regional cerebral (rSO2C) and mesenteric (rSO2M) tissue oxygenation using a near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) method and vital signs (heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, mean arterial blood pressure) in symptomatic preterm infants with anemia who received RBC transfusions.
Floating Choices: A Generational Perspective on Intentions of Rural–Urban Migrants in China

Using data from a 2005 survey of rural–urban migrants in Shenzhen, we investigate the intentions of two groups of migrants. We use the birth years from 1970 to 1980 as a reasonable range of dividing lines to separate the two groups. For each year we divide the sample into those born before that year and those born in or after that year. These are referred to as the old generation and the new generation, respectively. Three possible development trajectories are considered: settling in cities, returning home to seek a nonagricultural job, and returning home to farm. We find that members of the new generation have stronger desires to do nonfarm work, and that returning to seek a nonagricultural job has become the most important planned trajectory for this generation. Sharp differences exist between the two generations in the reasons that underlie their intentions. For the old generation, conditions such as age, family responsibility, and type of job are important determinants of intentions, while other conditions such as initial migration motives, social capital, and socioeconomic conditions of origin areas are important for the intentions of the new generation. Thus the new generation is more likely to view migration as a form of investment with the accumulation of human capital and social capital. Those migrants from the old generation who have higher education levels also intend to seek a nonfarm job. However, because of the combined effects of life cycle and the market transition in China, these intentions are not as strong as those of the new generation. We discuss economic and policy implications of our findings.
Production of a recombinant human T‐cell leukemia virus type‐I trans‐activator (tax1) antigen and its utilization for generation of monoclonal antibodies against various epitopes on the tax1 antigen

A 42‐kDa recombinant protein, PX141, consisting of the trans‐activator protein encoded by human T‐cell leukemia virus (HTLV‐I) (tax, antigen) and the amino‐terminal fusion peptide of 12 amino acid residues of the a‐peptide encoded by the plasmid pUC19 was produced. In order to investigate the immunogenicity of the tax, antigen, mice were immunized with the purified PX141 and 4 anti‐tax, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) designated TAXY‐I, TAXY‐6, TAXY‐7 and TAXY‐8 were generated, and their reactivity was characterized along with another anti‐tax, MAb, Lt‐4. Immunoblot assays showed that all the MAbs reacted with the PX141, the native tax, antigen expressed in various HTLV‐I‐infected cell lines and the gp68 of MT‐2 cells expressing the tax, amino acids 94–353. Immunoblot assays using recombinant, truncated tax, antigens, XD59 (expressing amino acids 180–338) and XD128 (expressing amino acids 1–47 and 286–353) showed that: (I) TAXY‐I and Lt‐4 did not react with either antigen; (2) TAXY‐6 and TAXY‐8 reacted with only XD128; and (3) TAXY‐7 reacted with both. In addition, TAXY‐I, but not the other MAbs, reacted with a putative tax antigen of an STLV‐I‐infected cell line, designated RfM26‐I. Competitive binding assays showed that TAXY‐6 and TAXY‐8 did not compete against each other. Sera from HTLV‐I‐infected humans interfered with the binding of all of these anti‐tax, MAbs. These results indicate that the tax1 antigen and the PX141 express at least 5 distinct epitopes recognized by human and mouse antibodies.
Perianesthetic dental injuries: frequency, outcomes, and risk factors.

BACKGROUND Dental injury is well-recognized as a potential complication of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. However, the frequency, outcomes, and risk factors for this problem have not been documented in a well-defined patient population. METHODS The authors analyzed the dental injuries of 598,904 consecutive cases performed on patients who required anesthetic services from 1987 through 1997. Dental injuries were defined as perianesthetic events (those occurring within 7 days) that required dental interventions to repair, stabilize, or extract involved dentition or support structures. A 1:3 case-control study of 16 patient and procedural characteristics was performed for cases that occurred during the first 5 yr of the study. Conditional logistic regression was used for data analysis. RESULTS There were 132 cases (1:4,537 patients) of dental injury. One half of these injuries occurred during laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. The upper incisors were the most commonly involved teeth, and most injuries were crown fractures and partial dislocations and dislodgements. Multivariate risk factors for dental injury in the case control study included general anesthesia with tracheal intubation (odds ratio [OR] = 89), preexisting poor dentition (OR = 50), and increased difficulty of laryngoscopy and intubation (OR = 11). CONCLUSIONS Based on these data from a large surgical population at a single training institution, approximately 1:4,500 patients who receive anesthesia services sustain a dental injury that requires repair or extraction. Patients most at risk for perianesthetic dental injury include those with preexisting poor dentition who have one or more risk factors for difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation.
A phase-III prevention trial of low-dose tamoxifen in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy users: the HOT study.

BACKGROUND Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) relieves menopausal symptoms and may decrease mortality in recently postmenopausal women, but increases breast cancer risk. Low-dose tamoxifen has shown retained activity in phase-II studies. METHODS We conducted a phase-III trial in 1884 recently postmenopausal women on HRT who were randomly assigned to either tamoxifen, 5 mg/day, or placebo for 5 years. The primary end point was breast cancer incidence. RESULTS After 6.2 ± 1.9 years mean follow-up, there were 24 breast cancers on placebo and 19 on tamoxifen (risk ratio, RR, 0.80; 95% CI 0.44-1.46). Tamoxifen showed favorable trends in luminal-A tumors (RR, 0.32; 95% CI 0.12-0.86), in HRT users <5 years (RR, 0.35; 95% CI 0.15-0.82) and in women completing at least 12 months of treatment (RR, 0.49; 95% CI 0.23-1.02). Serious adverse events did not differ between placebo and tamoxifen, including, respectively, coronary heart syndrome (6 versus 4), cerebrovascular events (2 versus 5), VTE (2 versus 5) and uterine cancers (3 versus 1). Vasomotor symptoms were 50% more frequent on tamoxifen. CONCLUSIONS The addition of low-dose tamoxifen to HRT did not significantly reduce breast cancer risk and increased climacteric symptoms in recently postmenopausal women. However, we noted beneficial trends in some subgroups which may deserve a larger study.
Reviewing treatments and outcomes in the evolving landscape of ulcerative colitis

ABSTRACT Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease extending proximally from the rectum to varying lengths of the colon that is characterized by alternating cycles of relapse and remission. Therapeutic goals for patients with active UC include induction and maintenance of remission and improvement in quality of life, as well as mucosal healing, a clinical outcome recently recognized in treatment guidance as being equally important. Mucosal healing is associated with favorable long-term patient outcomes related to remission, surgery, hospitalization, and quality of life. Given the increasing number of newer therapies available, it is important to properly position the use of each agent within the landscape of established UC therapies, evolving therapeutic goals, and established guidelines. Extent of disease is important to consider when selecting a treatment, as is an understanding of the short- and long-term outcomes (e.g. corticosteroid-free remission, mucosal healing) associated with each treatment. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an overview of newer therapies for the treatment of UC and how they may best fit in the evolving landscape of UC.
Identification of previously “undetectable” abnormalities of the bony labyrinth with computed tomography measurement

Background: In patients with congenital sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), a computed tomography (CT) scan of the temporal bone identifies inner ear malformations in approximately 25%, whereas the inner ear is grossly normal to visual inspection in the remaining 75% of the patients. In the latter group, the hearing loss is often attributed to radiologically undetectable abnormalities of the membranous labyrinth. However, subtle bony malformations may be missed because visual inspection alone is insensitive for detection. Objective: To test the hypothesis that there are subtle bony abnormalities of the inner ear in patients with SNHL who are radiologically deemed to have normal otic bone, using standardized measurements of the inner ear. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: Measurements of the cochlea, vestibule, and semicircular canals (SCCs) were made on axial and coronal temporal bone CT scans on 15 patients with normal hearing and 15 patients with congenital SNHL and grossly normal temporal bone CT scans. Student's t‐test was performed to compare the measurements of the two groups. Results: All studies from the SNHL group were deemed normal by visual inspection and standardized measurements (±2 SD from normal). Surprisingly, there were significant differences in the measurements of the cochlea and of the SCCs between patients with and without SHNL (P < .05). Conclusions: As a group, patients with SNHL and a “normal CT scan” have significant differences in the dimensions of the inner ear. This suggests that these patients have disturbed morphogenesis of both membranous and bony labyrinth. This novel observation has important implications for understanding the etiology of SNHL.
Prolonged exposure of microglia to lipopolysaccharide modifies the intracellular signaling pathways and selectively promotes prostaglandin E2 synthesis

During inflammatory or degenerative processes microglial cells are likely to be exposed to activating agents that persist in brain parenchyma for prolonged periods. As our knowledge on microglial activation is largely based on in vitro studies in which microglial cultures are activated by a single administration of pro‐inflammatory stimuli, we investigated the effects of repeated endotoxin (LPS) challenges on microglial functional state. Primary rat microglial cultures were subjected to one, two or three consecutive LPS‐stimulation and the production of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 15‐deoxy‐Δ12,14‐PGJ2 (15d‐PGJ2) measured. The ability of microglial cells to produce NO, TNF‐α and 15d‐PGJ2 upon the first LPS challenge rapidly declined after the second and the third stimulations, whereas PGE2 synthesis remained constantly elevated. Accordingly, the expression of inducible NO synthase decreased whereas cyclooxygenase‐2 and microsomal PGE synthase remained up‐regulated. The signaling pathways evoked by single or multiple LPS‐stimulation were also profoundly different, when considering the activation of the transcription factors nuclear factor‐kappa B and CREB, and of the p38 MAPK. Our observations suggest that prolonged exposure to LPS, and likely other activating agents, induces in microglia a functional state clearly distinct from that triggered by acute stimulation. The progressive down‐regulation of pro‐inflammatory molecules and the sustained release of PGE2 could have important implications for the resolution of brain inflammation.
Pepper Heat Shock Protein 70a Interacts with the Type III Effector AvrBsT and Triggers Plant Cell Death and Immunity1[OPEN]

A pepper heat shock protein acts as a positive regulator of plant cell death and immunity signaling in response to heat stress and microbial pathogens. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) function as molecular chaperones and are essential for the maintenance and/or restoration of protein homeostasis. The genus Xanthomonas type III effector protein AvrBsT induces hypersensitive cell death in pepper (Capsicum annuum). Here, we report the identification of the pepper CaHSP70a as an AvrBsT-interacting protein. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation and coimmunoprecipitation assays confirm the specific interaction between CaHSP70a and AvrBsT in planta. The CaHSP70a peptide-binding domain is essential for its interaction with AvrBsT. Heat stress (37°C) and Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria (Xcv) infection distinctly induce CaHSP70a in pepper leaves. Cytoplasmic CaHSP70a proteins significantly accumulate in pepper leaves to induce the hypersensitive cell death response by Xcv (avrBsT) infection. Transient CaHSP70a overexpression induces hypersensitive cell death under heat stress, which is accompanied by strong induction of defense- and cell death-related genes. The CaHSP70a peptide-binding domain and ATPase-binding domain are required to trigger cell death under heat stress. Transient coexpression of CaHSP70a and avrBsT leads to cytoplasmic localization of the CaHSP70a-AvrBsT complex and significantly enhances avrBsT-triggered cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana. CaHSP70a silencing in pepper enhances Xcv growth but disrupts the reactive oxygen species burst and cell death response during Xcv infection. Expression of some defense marker genes is significantly reduced in CaHSP70a-silenced leaves, with lower levels of the defense hormones salicylic acid and jasmonic acid. Together, these results suggest that CaHSP70a interacts with the type III effector AvrBsT and is required for cell death and immunity in plants.
Nonmotor fluctuations in Parkinson disease

Objective: To evaluate frequency, severity, and correlation of nonmotor symptoms (NMS) with motor complications in fluctuating Parkinson disease (PD). Methods: The Multicenter NonMotor Fluctuations in PD cross-sectional study used clinical examination of 10 NMS (dysphagia, anxiety, depression, fatigue, excessive sweating, inner restlessness, pain, concentration/attention, dizziness, bladder urgency) quantified using a visual analogue scale (VAS) in motor-defined on (NMSOn) and off state (NMSOff) combined with motor assessments and self-ratings at home in 100 patients with advanced PD. Results: All NMS except dysphagia, excessive sweating, and bladder urgency fluctuated in conjunction to motor fluctuations with more frequent and severe symptoms in off compared to on state. The proportions of patients experiencing autonomic/sensory NMS in both motor states were similar to those with these NMS exclusively in off state (ratios 0.4–1.3), while for mental/psychic NMS the proportions with exclusive manifestation in off state were higher (ratios 1.8–3.1). Demographic and clinical characteristics correlated neither with NMS frequency patterns and severities nor with ΔNMSOn/Off severities (defined as the differences of VAS scores between on and off). Severities of NMSon, NMSOff, and ΔNMSOn/Off did not correlate with motor function. Presence of anxiety, depression, fatigue, and pain had negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measured by Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire–8 scoring independent of their occurrence with respect to motor state. Fluctuations of these NMS but not of fatigue deteriorated HRQOL. Conclusion: Patterns of NMS fluctuations are heterogeneous and complex, but psychic NMS fluctuate more frequently and severely. Demographic parameters and motor function do not correlate with NMS or nonmotor fluctuation severities in fluctuating PD.
Aims and harvest of moral case deliberation

Deliberative ways of dealing with ethical issues in health care are expanding. Moral case deliberation is an example, providing group-wise, structured reflection on dilemmas from practice. Although moral case deliberation is well described in literature, aims and results of moral case deliberation sessions are unknown. This research shows (a) why managers introduce moral case deliberation and (b) what moral case deliberation participants experience as moral case deliberation results. A responsive evaluation was conducted, explicating moral case deliberation experiences by analysing aims (N = 78) and harvest (N = 255). A naturalistic data collection included interviews with managers and evaluation questionnaires of moral case deliberation participants (nurses). From the analysis, moral case deliberation appeals for cooperation, team bonding, critical attitude towards routines and nurses’ empowerment. Differences are that managers aim to foster identity of the nursing profession, whereas nurses emphasize learning processes and understanding perspectives. We conclude that moral case deliberation influences team cooperation that cannot be controlled with traditional management tools, but requires time and dialogue. Exchanging aims and harvest between manager and team could result in co-creating (moral) practice in which improvements for daily cooperation result from bringing together perspectives of managers and team members.