Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced labelling on alcoholic drinks: reviewing the evidence to guide alcohol policy.

BACKGROUND Consumer and public health organizations have called for better labelling on alcoholic drinks. However, there is a lack of consensus about the best elements to include. This review summarizes alcohol labelling policy worldwide and examines available evidence to support enhanced labelling. METHODS A literature review was carried out in June-July 2012 on Scopus using the key word 'alcohol' combined with 'allergens', 'labels', 'nutrition information', 'ingredients', 'consumer information' and/or 'warning'. Articles discussing advertising and promotion of alcohol were excluded. A search through Google and the System for Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE) identified additional sources on alcohol labelling policies, mainly from governmental and organizational websites. RESULTS Five elements were identified as potentially useful to consumers: (i) a list of ingredients, (ii) nutritional information, (iii) serving size and servings per container, (iv) a definition of 'moderate' intake and (v) a health warning. Alcohol labelling policy with regard to these aspects is quite rudimentary in most countries, with few requiring a list of ingredients or health warnings, and none requiring basic nutritional information. Only one country (Australia) requires serving size and servings per container to be displayed. Our study suggests that there are both potential advantages and disadvantages to providing consumers with more information about alcohol products. CONCLUSIONS Current evidence seems to support prompt inclusion of a list of ingredients, nutritional information (usually only kcal) and health warnings on labels. Standard drink and serving size is useful only when combined with other health education efforts. A definition of 'moderate intake' and recommended drinking guidelines are best suited to other contexts.
Effect of Thioridazine Dosage on the Debrisoquine Hydroxylation Phenotype in Psychiatric Patients With Different CYP2D6 Genotypes

Sixteen hospitalized white European Spanish psychiatric patients treated with thioridazine alone were studied with respect to CYP2D6 genotype, debrisoquine metabolic ratio (MR), and the plasma levels of thioridazine and its metabolites mesoridazine and sulforidazine. After decreasing the dose of thioridazine the debrisoquine MR and thioridazine plasma levels were redetermined. At the initial determination (regular clinical doses, 20–300 mg/day), 14 of 16 patients (88%) were classified as poor metabolizers of debrisoquine (PMs). However, after complete withdrawal of thioridazine in 10 patients, all 10 became extensive metabolizers except two who were genotypically PMs (*4/*4). The inhibition of debrisoquine metabolism was genotype dependent. All patients with wt/wt genotype treated with a dose 150 mg/d were phenotypically PMs, all patients with wt/*4 genotype treated with a dose of 50 mg/d or greater were PMs. The debrisoquine MR from all dose changes correlated with the dose (p < 0.001) and plasma level (p < 0.001) of thioridazine. The CYP2D6 hydroxylation capacity was inhibited by thioridazine as determined by the debrisoquine MR. This inhibition was reversible by thioridazine withdrawal, and thus seems to be dose dependent and related to CYP2D6 genotype. One must consider the effects of thioridazine dosage on CYP2D6, because it may influence the metabolism of concomitant drugs or produce clinically important adverse effects such as cardiotoxicity. An awareness of this problem and cautious dosage adjustment of other drugs metabolized by the same enzyme are recommended during treatment with thioridazine.
The BTB-kelch Protein KLHL6 Is Involved in B-Lymphocyte Antigen Receptor Signaling and Germinal Center Formation

ABSTRACT BTB-kelch proteins can elicit diverse biological functions but very little is known about the physiological role of these proteins in vivo. Kelch-like protein 6 (KLHL6) is a BTB-kelch protein with a lymphoid tissue-restricted expression pattern. In the B-lymphocyte lineage, KLHL6 is expressed throughout ontogeny, and KLHL6 expression is strongly upregulated in germinal center (GC) B cells. To analyze the role of KLHL6 in vivo, we have generated mouse mutants of KLHL6. Development of pro- and pre-B cells was normal but numbers of subsequent stages, transitional 1 and 2, and mature B cells were reduced in KLHL6-deficient mice. The antigen-dependent GC reaction was blunted (smaller GCs, reduced B-cell expansion, and reduced memory antibody response) in the absence of KLHL6. Comparison of mutants with global loss of KLHL6 to mutants lacking KLHL6 specifically in B cells demonstrated a B-cell-intrinsic requirement for KLHL6 expression. Finally, B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) cross-linking was less sensitive in KLHL6-deficient B cells compared to wild-type B cells as measured by proliferation, Ca2+ response, and activation of phospholipase Cγ2. Our results strongly point to a role for KLHL6 in BCR signal transduction and formation of the full germinal center response.
Multidimensional impact on families of children with steroid‐sensitive nephrotic syndrome

Children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) have prolonged disease course with relapses requiring frequent visits and prolonged steroid therapy with their long‐term concerns. All these factors affect the child and their families in many domains of functioning. The objective of this study was to assess multidimensional impact on families of children with nephrotic syndrome using (PedsQL) Family Impact Module (FIM).
Gerbillus nanus (Rodentia: Muridae): a new reservoir host of Leishmania major

Abstract Gerbillus nanus Blanford, 1875 known as Baluchistan gerbil, is a granivorous solitary naked-footed species. No evidence of its natural infection with the protozoan parasite, Leishmania, has so far been provided. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a major public health problem in many parts of the world, including Iran. The annual nationwide incidence of human CL due to Leishmania major (CLM) in endemic rural areas was above 18 000 cases in 2008. The detection of L. major in rodents is of fundamental importance for incriminating them as potential reservoirs of CLM infection. Between April 2007 and April 2008, following detection of 245 clinical cases in Jask region of south-east Iran, wild rodents were captured and checked by the microscopic slide smears for leishmanial infections. Overall, 106 gerbilline rodents were captured from which 17 were identified as Gerbillus nanus. Females of Meriones hurrianae, Tatera indica and G. nanus were found to be naturally infected with L. major. The presence of these parasites in G. nanus has never been reported before. All the amastigote-infected rodents came from the eastern plain of this region, except one T. indica from the western plain which was found to be smear-positive or kinetoplast DNA-positive by PCR. The highest (11·8%) prevalence of infection among rodents confirmed by PCR to be infected with L. major was attributed to Baluchistan gerbil, G. nanus, which is thus incriminated as a potential reservoir host of L. major in Iran.
The Effects of News Stories on the Stigma of Mental Illness

Abstract The media are often identified as partially responsible for increasing the stigma of mental illness through their negatively focused representations. For many years, training programs have educated journalists on how to report on mental illness to reduce stigma. This purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of reading a positive, neutral or a negative journalism article that discusses mental illness. Consenting adult participants were randomly assigned to read one of three published articles about recovery from mental illness, a dysfunctional public mental health system, or dental hygiene. The participants completed measures immediately before and after the intervention; the measures administered evaluated stigmatizing and affirming attitudes toward people with mental illness. Public stigma was assessed using the nine-item Attribution Questionnaire and the Stigma Through Knowledge Test (STKT). The STKT is a measure of mental illness stigma less susceptible to the impact of social desirability. Affirming attitudes represent public perceptions about recovery, empowerment, and self-determination, indicated as important to accepting and including people with psychiatric disabilities into society. Significant differences were observed between the articles on recovery and dysfunctional public mental health system, as well as the control condition, on the measures of stigma and affirming attitudes. The recovery article reduced stigma and increased affirming attitudes, whereas the dysfunctional public mental health system article increased stigma and decreased affirming attitudes. Not all journalistic stories have positive effects on attitudes about mental illness.
Concise Review: Maturation Phases of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell‐Derived Cardiomyocytes

Human pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hPS‐CM) may offer a number of advantages over previous cardiac models, however, questions of their immaturity complicate their adoption as a new in vitro model. hPS‐CM differ from adult cardiomyocytes with respect to structure, proliferation, metabolism and electrophysiology, better approximating fetal cardiomyocytes. Time in culture appears to significantly impact phenotype, leading to what can be referred to as early and late hPS‐CM. This work surveys the phenotype of hPS‐CM, including structure, bioenergetics, sensitivity to damage, gene expression, and electrophysiology, including action potential, ion channels, and intracellular calcium stores, while contrasting fetal and adult CM with hPS‐CM at early and late time points after onset of differentiation. STEM CELLS 2013;31:829–837
Population-specific toxicity of six insecticides to the trematode Echinoparyphium sp.

SUMMARY The ubiquitous use of pesticides has increased concerns over their direct and indirect effects on disease dynamics. While studies examining the effects of pesticides on host–parasite interactions have largely focused on how pesticides influence the host, few studies have considered the effects of pesticides on parasites. We investigated the toxicity of six common insecticides at six environmentally-relevant concentrations to cercariae of the trematode Echinoparyphium from two populations. All six insecticides reduced the survival of cercariae (overall difference between mortality in control vs pesticide exposure = 86·2 ± 8·7%) but not in a predictable dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that Echinoparyphium are sensitive to a broad range of insecticides commonly used in the USA. The lack of a clear dose-dependent response in Echinoparyphium highlights the potential limitations of toxicity assays in predicting pesticide toxicity to parasites. Finally, population-level variation in cercarial susceptibility to pesticides underscores the importance of accounting for population variation as overlooking this variation can limit our ability to predict toxicity in nature. Collectively, this work demonstrates that consideration of pesticide toxicity to parasites is important to understanding how pesticides ultimately shape disease dynamics in nature.
Azoospermic HIV-1 infected patients wishing to have children: proposed strategy to reduce HIV-1 transmission risk during sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: Case Report.

BACKGROUND To date, assisted reproductive technology (ART) with sperm washing is offered to serodiscordant couples with an human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infected male partner in order to have a child while reducing the risk of transmission to the woman. However, ART programmes are not possible if the man is azoospermic. We report here the first birth following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using frozen epididymal spermatozoa obtained after surgical sperm retrieval in a HIV-1 infected man with obstructive azoospermia. METHODS; Sperm obtained by micro-epididymal sperm aspiration was frozen after density gradient preparation and tested for HIV-RNA and DNA. ICSI with frozen sperm was performed. RESULTS A twin pregnancy was obtained following ICSI. Two healthy girls were born. Maternal HIV-1 RNA and HIV-1 serology were negative during pregnancy and at delivery. CONCLUSIONS This case report demonstrates that ART is possible in azoospermic HIV-1 infected men. On the basis of current knowledge, we propose a strategy to reduce HIV-1 transmission risk during sperm retrieval and ICSI in couples where the man is HIV-1 infected and azoospermic.
Effect of cholesterol liposomes on calcium mobilization in muscle cells from the rabbit sphincter of Oddi.

AIM To analyze the influence of cholesterol liposome on the Ca2+ mobilization of cultured muscle cells in the rabbit sphincter of Oddi's. METHODS New Zealand rabbit was sacrificed and the sphincter of Oddi (SO) segment was obtained aseptically. The SO segment was cut into pieces and cultured in DMEM solution. Then the smooth muscle cells were subcultured, and the 4th-7th passage cells were used for further investigation. The intracellular Ca2+ increase was measured under confocal microscope after the addition of 20 mmol x L(-1) KCl, 10(-7) mol x L(-1) acetylcholine and 10(-7) mol x L(-1) cholecystokinin, and different antagonists were added to analyze the Ca2+ mobilization pathway. After the cells were incubated with 1g x L(-1) cholesterol liposome (CL)(molar ratio was -2:1), the intracellular Ca2+ increase was measured again to determine the effect of CL on cellular Ca(2+) mobilization. RESULTS The resting cellular calcium concentration of cultured SO cell was 108+/-21 nmol x L(-1). The intracellular Ca2+ increases induced by 20 mmol x L(-1) KCl, 10(-7) mol x L(-1) ACh and 10(-7) mol x L(-1) CCK were 183+/-56% 161+/-52% and 130+/-43%, respectively. When the extracellular Ca2+ was eliminated by 2 mmol x L(-1) EGTA and 5 micromol x L(-1) verapamil, the intracellular Ca2+ increases induced by KCl, ACh and CCK were 20+/-14%,82+/-21% and 104+/-23%, respectively. After the preincubation with heparin, the Ca2+ increases were 62+/-23% and 23+/-19% induced by ACh and CCK, as for preincubation with procaine they were 72+/-28% and 85+/-37% induced by ACh and CCK, respectively. Pretreatment with CL for 18 h, the resting cellular Ca2+ concentration elevated to 152+/-26 nmol x L(-1), however, the cellular Ca2+ increase percentages in response to these agonists were 67+/-32%,56+/-33% and 34+/-15%. CONCLUSION KCl elicit the SO cellular Ca2+ increase depends on influx of extracellular Ca2+, ACh evoked the SO cellular Ca2+ increase is through the mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ pool and influx of extracellular Ca2+ as well, CCK excites the SO cells mainly through mobilization of intracellular IP3-sensitive Ca2+ store. After the incorporation with cholesterol liposome, KCl,ACh and CCK induced cellular Ca2+ increase percentages decreased.
“When Music Speaks”: Auditory Cortex Morphology as a Neuroanatomical Marker of Language Aptitude and Musicality

Recent research has shown that the morphology of certain brain regions may indeed correlate with a number of cognitive skills such as musicality or language ability. The main aim of the present study was to explore the extent to which foreign language aptitude, in particular phonetic coding ability, is influenced by the morphology of Heschl’s gyrus (HG; auditory cortex), working memory capacity, and musical ability. In this study, the auditory cortices of German-speaking individuals (N = 30; 13 males/17 females; aged 20–40 years) with high and low scores in a number of language aptitude tests were compared. The subjects’ language aptitude was measured by three different tests, namely a Hindi speech imitation task (phonetic coding ability), an English pronunciation assessment, and the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT). Furthermore, working memory capacity and musical ability were assessed to reveal their relationship with foreign language aptitude. On the behavioral level, significant correlations were found between phonetic coding ability, English pronunciation skills, musical experience, and language aptitude as measured by the MLAT. Parts of all three tests measuring language aptitude correlated positively and significantly with each other, supporting their validity for measuring components of language aptitude. Remarkably, the number of instruments played by subjects showed significant correlations with all language aptitude measures and musicality, whereas, the number of foreign languages did not show any correlations. With regard to the neuroanatomy of auditory cortex, adults with very high scores in the Hindi testing and the musicality test (AMMA) demonstrated a clear predominance of complete posterior HG duplications in the right hemisphere. This may reignite the discussion of the importance of the right hemisphere for language processing, especially when linked or common resources are involved, such as the inter-dependency between phonetic and musical aptitude.
Total workload as related to psychological well-being and symptoms in full-time employed female and male white-collar workers

Most research on the combined effects of paid and unpaid workload has related these factors to stress, depression, and physical symptoms. Thus, comparative knowledge concerning positive aspects of human functioning, such as health and well-being and how they relate to total workload of employed women and men, is limited. Our aim in this study was to investigate how total workload including paid and unpaid work is related to psychological well-being and symptoms in full-time employed women and men. We obtained data on workload, general symptoms, and the Ryff scales covering self-acceptance, environmental mastery, positive relations, personal growth, purpose in life, and autonomy from questionnaires mailed to a stratified sample of highly educated white-collar workers aged between 32 and 58 years. Data from women (n =430) and men (n = 400) living in partner relationships with at least one child showed that increasing hours of unpaid work was associated with decreasing levels of self-acceptance and environmental mastery in women, whereas paid work was associated with increasing levels of personal growth and decreasing levels of purpose in life. For men, paid work was associated with increasing levels of personal growth and more symptoms. We discuss factors underlying the gender-specific relationships between paid and unpaid work, psychological well-being, and symptoms.
Effects of nitrous oxide on IOP and pupillary diameter in dogs anesthetized with varying concentrations of desflurane.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of nitrous oxide on IOP and pupillary diameter (PD) of dogs anesthetized with varying desflurane concentrations. ANIMALS STUDIED Twenty adult Mongrel dogs were used. METHODS They were anesthetized with propofol (10 mg/kg, IV) and maintained with varying concentrations of desflurane (1.6, 1.4, and 1.2 MAC) diluted in 100% oxygen (G1) or in 70% nitrous oxide and 30% oxygen (G2) (30 mL/kg/min). IOP was measured by applanation tonometry and horizontal PD was taken with a caliper adjacent to the cornea. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and end-tidal CO(2) (etCO2) were also measured. All parameters were measured at T0, T30, T45, and T60 time points. One-way repeated measures anova and the t-test were used to assess statistical differences (P < 0.05). RESULTS T30, T45, and T60 IOP measures were within normal limits for both groups and IOP did not differ between groups at any time. There was a significant decrease in PD in G1 between T0 and T30, T45 and T60, and also between T30 and T60. PD did not differ between groups. All vital parameters were within normal limits throughout anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS Administration of nitrous oxide with desflurane results in maintenance of normal IOP and prevents a decrease in horizontal PD during anesthesia. Therefore, this may be a suitable protocol in dogs undergoing intraocular surgeries that require mydriasis and maintenance of normal IOP.
Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis: changes and advances over the past two decades.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Few studies have compared two or more cohorts of cirrhotic patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) several decades apart. Our aim was to compare epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and prognostic characteristics of UGIB (whatever the source) in two cohorts of cirrhotic patients admitted to the emergency room of the same general hospital 2 decades apart. METHODS One-hundred cases of UGIB in cirrhotic patients consecutively admitted between 1984 and 1990 (cohort A) were compared with 100 similar cases admitted between 2004 and 2009 (cohort B). RESULTS The sex ratio (M/F: 2/1), mean age (approximately 55Y) and the proportion of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (approximately 80%) did not change. Mean Child-Pugh score and the proportion of patients in Child-Pugh stage C increased from 7.6 and 19% in cohort A to 8.8 and 35% in cohort B (p < 0.001). Therapeutic intervention was performed during initial endoscopy in 13 cases from cohort A and 50 from cohort B (p < 0.001), respectively. The number of transfused patients (85 in cohort A, 58 in cohort B) and the number of red blood cell units administered on the first day (median: 4 in cohort A, 2 in cohort B) were significantly decreased in cohort B (p < 0.001). The rate of rebleeding (45 in cohort A, 11 in cohort B), the need for rescue surgery (8 in cohort A, 0 in cohort B) and the in-hospital mortality (24 in cohort A, 9 in cohort B) significantly decreased in the more recent cohort (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that several characteristics of cirrhotic patients admitted with UGIB have changed over the past 2 decades. Above all, outcome has improved despite an increase in the severity of cirrhosis.
A SCANNING AND TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE STUDY OF ANTIGEN-BINDING SITES ON ROSETTE-FORMING CELLS

The ultrastructure of binding sites in rosette-forming cells of mice after immunization with sheep red cells was studied by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the red cells were bound to the lymphocyte surface in circumscribed, immunoglobulin-containing areas, consistent with a spotlike or patchy distribution of antigen-binding immunoglobulin receptors. In these contact areas the cell membranes formed a gap of 80 Å (range 75–90 Å) which exhibited electron-opaque bridges at high magnification. These results are discussed in the light of the recent recognition of the formation of immunoglobulin spots on the lymphocyte surface after antigen contact. Morphological details suggest that the same mechanism is operating in rosette formation, possibly including the movement of the contact areas on the lymphocyte membrane.