Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polycystic ovary syndrome and the single nucleotide polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase: a pilot observational study

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), insulin resistance and overall mortality due to diabetes and coronary artery disease are higher in South Asians than in Caucasians. Aims: We compared the prevalence of the C677T and A1298C single nucleotide polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene in South Asian and Caucasian women, its association with folate and homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism, and its relevance to future atherogenic events. Methods and results: 71 women were recruited for the study: South Asian PCOS (21) plus controls (9) and Caucasian PCOS (25) plus controls (16). Anthropometric and laboratory parameters were compared. South Asian PCOS women were significantly hyperandrogenic and exhibited a greater degree of insulin resistance. Caucasian PCOS women had higher plasma Hcy concentrations with a 1.9 times higher frequency of the T allele than the South Asian PCOS group. In the presence of this variant allele, plasma Hcy levels appear to be higher in both PCOS groups. The South Asians had a 1.8 times higher frequency of the C allele than the Caucasians; however, the overall frequency was comparable in the two PCOS groups. The frequency of homozygosity, i.e. TT677 and CC1298, was 7.2% and 4.9% in the Caucasians and 0% and 16.6% in the South Asian recruits, respectively. Dietary inadequacies in the South Asian women can influence their plasma folate and B12 concentrations resulting in hyperhomocysteinemia which, in combination with dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance, can lead to long-term atherogenic consequences. Conclusions: Current data suggests that the mechanisms of atherothrombosis have separate pathways in the two ethnic groups. Larger studies exploring the current theme need to be carried out in the PCOS groups to obtain adequate insight.
Brain natriuretic peptide increases acutely and much more prominently than atrial natriuretic peptide during coronary angioplasty

Kyriakides et al. report an increase of the natriuretic peptides A" and BNP in the systemic circulation during PTCA. While this is an interesting observation, its mechanism is not clear. In addition to the authors' speculations, an acute volume load due to radiocontrast administration should be included/discussed as a plausible explanation for the observed increase in the secretion of natriuretic peptides. We have shown a natriuresis during coronary angiography with and without PTCA that was associated with an increase in plasma A" and particularly with the urinary excretion of the renal natriuretic peptide urodilatin. Because of the hypertonicity of most radiocontrast agents, the physiologically relevant intravascular volume load exceeds the volume of the administered compound. Therefore it would be pertinent for the interpretation of the reported findings to know (a) the volume and (b) the osmolality of the radiocontrast agents employed by Kyriakides et al.
A lysine in the ATP‐binding site of P130gag‐fps is essential for protein‐tyrosine kinase activity.

The P130gag‐fps transforming protein of Fujinami sarcoma virus (FSV) possesses tyrosine‐specific protein kinase activity and autophosphorylates at Tyr‐1073. Within the kinase domain of P130gag‐fps is a putative ATP‐binding site containing a lysine (Lys‐950) homologous to lysine residues in cAMP‐dependent protein kinase and p60v‐src which bind the ATP analogue p‐fluorosulfonylbenzoyl‐5′ adenosine. FSV mutants in which the codon for Lys‐950 has been changed to codons for arginine or glycine encode metabolically stable but enzymatically defective proteins which are unable to effect neoplastic transformation. Kinase‐defective P130gag‐fps containing arginine at residue 950 was normally phosphorylated at serine residues in vivo suggesting that this amino acid substitution has a minimal effect on protein folding and processing. The inability of arginine to substitute for lysine at residue 950 suggests that the side chain of Lys‐950 is essential for P130gag‐fps catalytic activity, probably by virtue of a specific interaction with ATP at the phosphotransfer active site. Tyr‐1073 of the Arg‐950 P130gag‐fps mutant protein was not significantly autophosphorylated either in vitro or in vivo, but could be phosphorylated in trans by enzymatically active P140gag‐fps. These data indicate that Tyr‐1073 can be modified by intermolecular autophosphorylation.
ISOLATION OF BOVINE PARAINFLUENZA-3 VIRUS IN CHICK EMBRYOS

Myxovirus parainfluenza-3 (SF-4 bovine strain) was first isolated in tissue cultures of embryonic bovine kidney (EBK) cells (Reisinger, Heddleston, and Manthei, J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 135:147, 1959). This agent is antigenically and biologically related to the human HA-1 strain isolated previously by Chanock et al. in monkey kidney cells (Abinanti and Huebner, Virology 8:391, 1959; Abinanti et al., Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 106:466,1961). At present, both viruses are isolated and propagated in tissue cultures, and tissue-culture products are employed for most research purposes. This investigation indicates that bovine parainfluenza-3 virus can be isolated and produced in 14-day-old embryonated hen's eggs, and that the developing chick embryo is highly susceptible to parainfluenza-3 virus infection. Isolation of parainfluenza-3 virus in chick embryos was compared with isolation in tissue cultures. EBK tissue cultures, maintained in Earle's balanced salts (BSS) with 5.0% calf serum and 0.5% lactalbumin hydrolysate (Nutritional Biochemicals Corp., Cleveland, Ohio), were inoculated with 0.2 ml of nasal-swab material (nasal swabs suspended in 4.0 ml of BSS) from 14 calves with signs of shipping fever. After incubation at 36 C for 6 days, fluids from cultures not showing cytopathic effects were subcultured in fresh cells, and the remaining monolayers were examined for noncytopathic virus by the adsorption-hemagglutination (hemadsorption) test of Vogel and Sholokov (Science 126:358, 1957). Infectious fluids from positive cultures were retained for parainfluenza-3 virus identification. Embryonated hen's eggs (14 days old) were inoculated by the amniotic route with 0.1 ml of nasalswab material. After 4 days at 36 C, the amniotic fluids were harvested and tested for virus by inoculation of EBK cells. Parainfluenza-3 virus was identified by serum-neutralization tests in tissue cultures with immune rabbit serum prepared against the original SF-4 bovine virus isolate. Parainfluenza-3 virus was isolated from six nasal-swab suspensions in both EBK cells and 14-day-old chick embryos. Five embryonated eggs and an equal number of tissue cultures were inoculated with each suspension and, in all cases, eggs were infected more frequently than were corresponding tissue cultures inoculated with larger doses of the same material. The isolation of parainfluenza-3 virus from two samples was complicated in tissue cultures by the presence of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus which also produces cytopathic effects in EBK cells. IBR virus did not interfere with the isolation of parainfluenza-3 virus in embryonated eggs and was not demonstrated in amniotic fluids 4 days after virus inoculation. Noncytopathic virus, demonstrable by hemadsorption, was not isolated. When three nasal-swab samples containing parainfluenza-3 virus were diluted 1:2 and 1:20 in BSS, virus was isolated from the lower concen-
Increased LAK activity against HIV‐infected cell lines in HIV‐1+ individuals

The role of natural killer (NK) cells and their inducible counterparts, lymphokine‐activated killer (LAK) cells in AIDS with regard to HIV‐1 viral immunosurveillance and the control of secondary opportunistic disease has yet to be established. In this study, we have demonstrated that LAK cells derived from all HIV‐1+ groups showed striking increases in their capacity to lyse HIV‐1‐infected U‐937 cells relative to their uninfected U‐937 counterparts. Surprisingly, similarly derived LAK cells from healthy seronegative controls showed no differences in their lysis of HIV‐1‐infected versus uninfected U‐937 cells. The differential ability of LAK effectors from seropositive donors to lyse HIV‐1‐infected targets was demonstrable using a number of U‐937 subclones and their HIV‐1‐infected counterparts. Again, no differences in LAK cell‐mediated lysis of HIV‐1‐infected and uninfected U‐937 subclones were observed in seronegative individuals. Our findings that HIV‐1+ individuals show selective expansion of non‐MHC restricted. HIV‐1‐directed cytotoxic LAK cells indicate that natural immunity may indeed play a role in HIV‐1 viral immunosurveillance.
Coexistence of larvae of tuna species and other fish in the surface mixed layer in the NW Mediterranean

To analyze the potential trophic interactions among tuna larvae and other fish species, we studied the larval fish assemblages inhabiting the surface mixed layer around the Balearic Islands using data from two surveys carried out in summer 2006 and 2008. Despite the high diversity, Thunnus alalunga, Auxis rochei, Cyclothone pygmaea and Ceratoscopelus maderensis clearly dominated the catch in both years. The spatial distribution of several larval fish assemblages, in which tuna larvae were among the dominant species, was related to the presence of fronts and mixed Atlantic waters (AW). Different developmental stages of tuna were found in similar hydrographical scenarios. Smaller tuna larvae and plausible piscivorous tuna were found in the areas with mixed AW. Later in the season, potential piscivorous tuna were found together with small larvae from other non-tuna species that had been spawned later and transported by the fresh AW flow to offshore stations. That the different life stages of tuna co-occur with mesopelagic species in the mixed layer reveals the interesting possibility of ecological interactions between the different larvae.
Mandatory Naptimes in Child Care and Children's Nighttime Sleep

Objectives: To examine the relationship between mandatory naptimes in child care and children's nighttime sleep duration, both concurrently and 12 months later once in school. Methods: A sample of 168 children (50–72 months; 55% males) attending licensed child care centers were observed across their morning and throughout their scheduled naptime. Mandatory naptime was determined as the period in which children were not permitted any alternative activity except lying on their bed. Teachers reported each child's napping in child care. Nighttime and total sleep duration was reported by parents at 2 time points, in child care and in the second semester of their first school year. General linear models were used to examine group differences in sleep duration between children experiencing 0 to 60 minutes and >60 minutes of mandatory naptime, adjusting for key confounders. Path analysis was conducted to test a mediation model in which mandatory naptime is associated with nighttime sleep duration through increased napping in child care. Results: Children who experienced >60 minutes of mandatory naptime in child care had significantly less nighttime sleep than those with 0 to 60 minutes of mandatory naptime. This difference persisted at 12-month follow-up, once children were in school. Napping in child care mediated the relationship between mandatory naptime and duration of nighttime sleep. Conclusions: Exposure to mandatory naptimes of >60 minutes in child care is associated with decreased duration of nighttime sleep that endures beyond child care attendance. Given the large number of children who attend child care, sleep practices within these settings present an important focus for child health.
Chimeric influenza virus induces neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic T cells against human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Expression vectors based on DNA or plus-stranded RNA viruses are being developed as vaccine carriers directed against various pathogens. Less is known about the use of negative-stranded RNA viruses, whose genomes have been refractory to direct genetic manipulation. Using a recently described reverse genetics method, we investigated whether influenza virus is able to present antigenic structures from other infectious agents. We engineered a chimeric influenza virus which expresses a 12-amino-acid peptide derived from the V3 loop of gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) MN. This peptide was inserted into the loop of antigenic site B of the influenza A/WSN/33 virus hemagglutinin (HA). The resulting chimeric virus was recognized by specific anti-V3 peptide antibodies and a human anti-gp120 monoclonal antibody in both hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization assays. Mice immunized with the chimeric influenza virus produced anti-HIV antibodies which were able to bind to synthetic V3 peptide, to precipitate gp120, and to neutralize MN virus in human T-cell culture system. In addition, the chimeric virus was also capable of inducing cytotoxic T cells which specifically recognize the HIV sequence. These results suggest that influenza virus can be used as an expression vector for inducing both B- and T-cell-mediated immunity against other infectious agents.
Comparative Anatomy and Evolution of the Cardiac Innervation in New World Monkeys (Platyrrhini, E. Geoffroy, 1812)

The morphology of the autonomic cardiac nervous system (ACNS) was examined in 24 sides of 12 New World monkeys (Platyrrhini) of all four families to document the morphology systematically and to study the evolutionary changes of the ACNS in this primate lineage. We report the following: (1) Although several trivial intra‐ and inter‐specific variations are present, a family‐dependent morphology of the ACNS does not exist in New World monkeys. (2) The sympathetic ganglia in New World monkeys consist of the superior cervical, the middle cervical, and the cervicothoracic which is composed of the inferior cervical and first and second thoracic, and the thoracic ganglia starting with the third thoracic. The general cardiac nervous system is the sympathetic middle and inferior cardiac nerves and all parasympathetic vagal cardiac branches. (3) The morphology of the ACNS in the New World monkeys is almost consistent regardless of the number of vertebrae, the cardiac position and deviation (axis), and the great arterial branching pattern of the aortic arch, and it is very similar to that in the Old World monkeys, with only one difference: the superior cervical ganglion in the New World monkeys tends to be relatively smaller, higher, and provides a narrower contribution to the spinal nerves than in the Old World monkeys. The ACNS morphology exhibits significant evolutionary changes within the primate lineage from New and Old World monkeys to humans. The comparative morphology within the lineage is concordant with the phylogeny, suggesting that the primate ACNS preserves its evolutionary history in close alignment with phylogeny. Anat Rec, 292:670–691, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Abdominal Trauma , Blunt

Interventions in Observation Unit after transfer of patient: • NPO (unless Trauma Team orders differently) initially, advance per physician. • Repeat HgB q 4-6 hours (if pertinent to patients management) • Examination by Observation Unit ECP before, or upon, patient arrival. • Serial abdominal examinations (e.g., q 4 hours)immediate reevaluation by Emergency Physician and/or Trauma Team if the patient develops: Vomiting Increasing abdominal pain Peritoneal signs/increased tenderness on examination. • Routine monitoring of vital signsimmediate reevaluation by Observation Unit ECP (and/or Trauma Team) if vitals become unstable or if there is a worsening trend.
T1R3 homomeric sweet taste receptor regulates adipogenesis through Gαs-mediated microtubules disassembly and Rho activation in 3T3-L1 cells

We previously reported that 3T3-L1 cells express a functional sweet taste receptor possibly as a T1R3 homomer that is coupled to Gs and negatively regulates adipogenesis by a Gαs-mediated but cAMP-independent mechanism. Here, we show that stimulation of this receptor with sucralose or saccharin induced disassembly of the microtubules in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, which was attenuated by overexpression of the dominant-negative mutant of Gαs (Gαs-G226A). In contrast, overexpression of the constitutively active mutant of Gαs (Gαs-Q227L) as well as treatment with cholera toxin or isoproterenol but not with forskolin caused disassembly of the microtubules. Sweetener-induced microtubule disassembly was accompanied by activation of RhoA and Rho-associated kinase (ROCK). This was attenuated with by knockdown of GEF-H1, a microtubule-localized guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Rho GTPase. Furthermore, overexpression of the dominant-negative mutant of RhoA (RhoA-T19N) blocked sweetener-induced dephosphorylation of Akt and repression of PPARγ and C/EBPα in the early phase of adipogenic differentiation. These results suggest that the T1R3 homomeric sweet taste receptor negatively regulates adipogenesis through Gαs-mediated microtubule disassembly and consequent activation of the Rho/ROCK pathway.
A Radial Basis Function Algorithm with Automatic Model Order Determination

We present a new radial basis function (RBF) algorithm for constructing nonlinear models from data that may be sparsely scattered in high dimensions. We propose a simplified method for identifying function locations that is based on an approximation to the autocorrelation function. Local regions are now defined based on zero crossings of the modified autocorrelation contribution. The resulting local spatiotemporal data appear to capture increased structure as evidenced by the reduced number of basis functions required to achieve algorithm convergence and the fact that the resulting approximations have significantly improved accuracy. We prove a zero crossing lemma and convergence of the algorithm in the norm for continuous functions over a compact domain. Further, we show that several hypotheses tests can be used to detect this convergence. The model parameters and the number of basis functions are determined automatically from the given data. The only user parameter is the confidence level of the hypothe.
Evaluation of air-soil temperature relationships simulated by land surface models during winter across the permafrost region

A realistic simulation of snow cover and its thermal properties are important for accurate modelling of permafrost. We analyse simulated relationships between air and near-surface (20 cm) soil temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere permafrost region during winter, with a particular focus on snow insulation effects in nine land surface models, and compare them with observations from 268 Russian stations. There are large cross-model differences in the simulated differences between near-surface soil and air temperatures (ΔT; 3 to 14 °C), in the sensitivity of soil-to-air temperature (0.13 to 0.96 °C °C−1), and in the relationship between ΔT and snow depth. The observed relationship between ΔT and snow depth can be used as a metric to evaluate the effects of each model's representation of snow insulation, hence guide improvements to the model's conceptual structure and process parameterisations. Models with better performance apply multilayer snow schemes and consider complex snow processes. Some models show poor performance in representing snow insulation due to underestimation of snow depth and/or overestimation of snow conductivity. Generally, models identified as most acceptable with respect to snow insulation simulate reasonable areas of near-surface permafrost (13.19 to 15.77 million km2). However, there is not a simple relationship between the sophistication of the snow insulation in the acceptable models and the simulated area of Northern Hemisphere near-surface permafrost, because several other factors, such as soil depth used in the models, the treatment of soil organic matter content, hydrology and vegetation cover, also affect the simulated permafrost distribution.
Receptor‐mediated endocytosis by the asialoglycoprotein receptor: effect of ethanol administration on endosomal distribution of receptor and ligand

Abstract: Using the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP‐R) and a representative ligand, asialoorosomucoid (ASOR), we have previously shown ethanol‐induced impairment of endosomal acidification, receptor recycling and ligand binding, internalization, and degradation. In the current study, we further investigated ethanol‐induced alterations in receptor/ligand trafficking by labeling endosomes in vivo with either Texas‐Red‐ASOR or 125I‐ASOR, and then assessing the receptor/ligand content of endosomes. We assessed two fractions after both 5 and 25 min of labeling: ‘early endosomes’ (EEs; endosomes from the cell periphery) and ‘late endosomes’ (LEs; endosomes farther into the cell interior). At both time points, significantly more ligand was found in EE fractions isolated from chow‐ and pair‐fed controls (3:1, EE to LE, respectively). However, endosomes isolated from ethanol‐fed animals showed a shift over time toward a more equal ligand distribution between endosome fractions (P≤0.05). Analysis of the ASGP‐R content revealed a distribution pattern between the endosome fractions similar to that observed for ligand distribution. Impairment of receptor–ligand dissociation was assessed in endosome fractions by determining bound/free ligand ratios. Analysis showed that most of the ligand present in both endosome fractions was free (56–99%), although more was bound to receptor in EE vs LE of both control and ethanol animals (P≤0.05). At 5 min, more ligand remained bound in endosomes from ethanol‐fed animals compared with control endosomes (P≤0.05), and the same pattern was observed at the latter time point. These results suggest that delayed dissociation may cause the receptor–ligand complexes to travel farther into the cell interior, which may impair proper trafficking of the ligand to lysosomes and alter the receptor recycling.
Personality Assessment Inventory among patients with psychogenic seizures and those with epilepsy

The Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) is a widely used self‐report questionnaire designed to detect and quantify dimensions of adult psychopathology. Previous studies that examined the ability of the PAI to differentiate between patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and those with epilepsy (EPIL) have yielded inconsistent results. We compared the full PAI profiles of 62 patients with PNES, 55 with EPIL, and 45 normal control (NC) participants to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the PAI. We also sought to highlight psychopathologic symptoms that may inform psychological treatment of patients with PNES or epilepsy. PNES and EPIL patients reported more somatic concerns and symptoms of anxiety and depression than did NC persons. PNES patients reported more unusual somatic symptoms, as well as greater physical symptoms of anxiety and depression than did patients with EPIL. Classification accuracy of the “NES Indicator” was not much better than chance, whereas the Conversion subscale alone had reasonable sensitivity (74%) and specificity (67%). Overall, the PAI demonstrated only moderate classification accuracy in an epilepsy monitoring unit sample. However, the inventory appears to identify specific psychopathological symptoms that may be targets of psychological/psychiatric intervention.