Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in Lower Extremity Landing Mechanics Caused by Neuromuscular Fatigue

Background Neuromuscular fatigue has been suggested as an extrinsic factor in the mechanism of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury in both genders. Purpose To determine and describe the lower extremity kinematic and kinetic differences caused by neuromuscular fatigue during drop landings and compare changes between age- and skill-matched male and female athletes. Methods Inverse dynamic solutions estimated lower extremity flexion-extension and varus-valgus kinematics and kinetics for 14 female and 16 male athletes performing a single-legged 50-cm drop landing. Subjects performed landings prefatigue and postfatigue with fatigue induced via a parallel squat exercise (60% of 1 repetition maximum) until failure. A mixed-model, repeated-measures analysis of variance (fatigue * gender) was performed on select kinematic and kinetic variables. Results Neuromuscular fatigue caused men and women to land with more hip flexion (main effect fatigue, P = .012; main effect gender, P = .001). Men exhibited greater peak knee flexion angles postfatigue; women did not alter knee flexion (fatigue * gender, P =.028). Men exhibited larger peak knee varus angles irrespective of fatigue (main effect gender, P = .039; main effect fatigue, P = .127; fatigue * gender, P = .153); women demonstrated larger peak valgus angles overall (main effects gender, P = .009). There were no changes with fatigue (main effect fatigue, P = .127) or a different response due to fatigue with gender (fatigue * gender, P = .091). Women exhibited greater knee anterior shear force postfatigue (fatigue * gender, P = .010). Men and women exhibited lower knee extension moments (main effect fatigue, P = .000; main effect gender, P = .927; fatigue * gender, P = .309) and abduction moments (main effect fatigue, P = .014; main effect gender, P = .670; fatigue * gender, P = .191). Conclusion Neuromuscular fatigue caused significant alterations in women that may be indicative of the noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury mechanisms. Clinical Relevance Current noncontact anterior cruciate ligament prevention programs should incorporate a fatigue component to help minimize the deleterious effects of neuromuscular fatigue on landing mechanics.
Genetic structure and relationships in the snail species complex Littorina arcana Hannaford Ellis, L. compressa Jeffreys and L. saxatilis (Olivi) in the British Isles using SSCPs of cytochrome-b fragments

Snails of the Littorina saxatilis species complex are ubiquitous and important members of hard shore intertidal communities in the North Atlantic. The complex includes L. arcana, L. compressa and L. saxatilis. We investigated species and population structure among these species from six locations in Ireland and Britain using a nonradioactive single strand conformational polymorphism analysis of a 375 base pair fragment of the cytochrome-b gene. Variability was high with 38 haplotypes found in 591 individuals. The most common haplotype in L. arcana and L. compressa was absent from L. saxatilis and the most common haplotype in L. saxatilis was found in low numbers in L. arcana and L. compressa. Haplotypes restricted to L. arcana and L. compressa formed a cluster separate from L. saxatilis haplotypes in maximum parsimony and multidimensional scaling analyses. In analyses examining populations, L. arcana and L. compressa formed a group separate from L. saxatilis. Both the populations in the L. arcana/L. compressa group and in L. saxatilis show similar geographical structuring in that the North England populations were separated from a cluster of Cornwall (South-west England) and Irish populations. We suggested that Pleistocene sea level changes accounted for these congruent genetic patterns. We concluded that L. arcana and L. compressa are more closely related to each other than either is to L. saxatilis and offer this as a resolution to a previous trichotomy.
Utility of DNA barcodes in identification and delimitation of beetle species, with insights into COI protein structure across the animal kingdom

Species are the fundamental units of biological diversity, but their identification and delimitation is often difficult. The difficulties are pronounced in diverse taxa such as insects. DNA barcodes, short standardized segments of the genome, have recently become a popular tool for identifying specimens to species, and are increasingly used as one of the sources of information for species delimitation. In this thesis, I studied the utility of DNA barcodes in species identification and delimitation in beetles (Coleoptera). Beetles are one of the most diverse animal groups, with nearly 400 000 known species. The Nordic beetle fauna is among the most thoroughly studied on the planet, providing excellent conditions for these studies. I also approached barcode sequences from a new angle, exploring amino acid variation and its connections to life history in a sample of the entire animal kingdom. I also studied variation and evolution at the amino acid level in large-scale samples of beetles and moths & butterflies (Lepidoptera). DNA barcodes proved to be a feasible tool for identifying species of Nordic beetles: depending on the criteria for successful identification, 95-98% of specimens could be identified to the species level based on DNA barcodes. Regardless of the delimitation method used, approximately 90% of the currently accepted species were perfectly recovered based on barcode data, and simple rules for forming consensus between delimitations improved the fit between species and barcode clusters even further. Several species that were split into two or more sequence clusters apparently include species new to science that have been previously overlooked. This conclusion is supported by preliminary morphological analysis. The study on amino acid variation revealed both a general pattern of structural conservation throughout the animal kingdom, and some interesting amino acid substitutions with potential to affect enzymatic function. Amino acid variation was more extensive in Coleoptera than in Lepidoptera, potentially due to differences in selection pressure and patterns of molecular evolution in the barcode region between the two orders.
Activation-Induced CD154 Expression Abrogates Tolerance Induced by Apoptotic Cells1

The decision to generate a productive immune response or tolerance often depends on the context in which T cells first see Ag. Using a classical system of tolerance induction, we examined the immunological consequence of Ag encountered in the presence of naive or activated apoptotic cells. Naive apoptotic cells induced tolerance when injected i.v. ; however, previously activated apoptotic cells induced immunity. Further analysis revealed a key role for CD154, as tolerance resulted after i.v. injection of either naive or activated apoptotic CD154−/− T cells, while coinjection of an agonistic anti-CD40 mAb with naive apoptotic T cells induced robust immunity. Dendritic cells fed activated apoptotic T cells in vitro produced IL-12p40 in a CD154-dependent manner, and the use of IL-12p40−/− mice or mAb-mediated neutralization of IL-12 revealed a link between CD154, IL-12, and the ability of activated apoptotic T cells to induce immunity rather than tolerance. Collectively, these results show that CD154 expression on apoptotic T cells can determine the outcome of an immune response to Ag recognized within the context of the apoptotic cells and suggest that the balance between naive and activated apoptotic T cells may dictate whether a productive immune response is encouraged.
PEER VICTIMIZATION AND DEPRESSION: ROLE OF PEERS AND PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the relationships between physical and emotional peer victimization, parental and peer support and depressive symptoms. The moderating role of parental and peer support and gender differences in such moderation were the focus of the study in examining the association between peer victimization forms and depressive symptoms. Two hundred and sixty one youths (ages 10-14) completed self report measures of parental and peer support and depressive symptoms and were interviewed about their victimization experiences. Physical victimization rates were higher for boys whereas girls reported higher emotional victimization experiences and higher peer support than boys did. Correlations indicated that the experience of physical and emotional victimization by peer is linked to depressive symptoms. For boys, but not for girls, a significant moderation effect indicated that physical victimization was significantly related to depressive symptoms among youths with low peer support whereas physical victimization was not related to depressive symptoms among youths with high peer support. There were significant main effects of parental and peer support for both genders suggesting the importance of such support against depressive symptoms. The study’s findings contribute to the literature regarding peer victimization’s effects on mental health by illustrating the beneficial effect of parent and peer support during adolescence.
The role of strigolactones in host specificity of Orobanche and Phelipanche seed germination

Abstract Strigolactones are apocarotenoids regulating shoot branching. They are also known to be exuded by plant roots at very low concentrations, stimulating hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and germination of root parasitic weed seeds. We show that strigolactones play a major role in host specificity of Orobanche and Phelipanche (the broomrapes) seed germination. This observation confirms that host-derived germination stimulants are an important component determining the host specificity of these parasitic plants. Weedy broomrape species were less specialized in germination requirements than the non-weedy species except for O. cumana and O. foetida var. broteri. Similar results were obtained with the root exudates. Some species, such as P. aegyptiaca and O. minor, showed a broad spectrum of host specificity in terms of seed germination, which was stimulated by exudates from the majority of species tested, whereas others, such as O. cumana, O. hederae and O. densiflora, were highly specific. Some species, such as O. minor, P. aegyptiaca and P. nana, were responsive to the three strigolactones studied, whereas others were induced by only one of them, or did not respond to them at all. The synthetic strigolactone analogue GR24, generally used as a standard for germination tests, was not effective on some Orobanche and Phelipanche species. Seeds of some species that did not respond to GR24 were induced to germinate in the presence of fabacyl acetate or strigol, confirming the role of strigolactones in host specificity.
Itraconazole: an update on pharmacology and clinical use for treatment of invasive and allergic fungal infections

Introduction: Fungal infections are a major source of global morbidity and mortality. Itraconazole is a triazole antifungal agent that is widely used for the prevention and treatment of fungal infection. While newer antifungal agents are now available, itraconazole is an orally bioavailable agent with broad-spectrum antifungal activity. Itraconazole remains a useful drug for the management of allergic and invasive mycoses worldwide. Areas covered: This article provides a summary of the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and clinical uses of itraconazole. Additionally, the authors summarise the safety and recently described toxicodynamics and discuss the value of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) with itraconazole. The following search criteria were constructed in order to identify relevant literature using PubMed and Ovid-MEDLINE: itraconazole, triazole, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, toxicodynamics and TDM. Relevant abstracts and articles identified from reviewing secondary citations were additionally retrieved and included if relevant. Expert opinion: Itraconazole remains an important agent in the prevention and treatment of fungal infection. Itraconazole has a broad-spectrum of activity and is available in both an intravenous and oral form making long-term use in chronic mycoses practical. Itraconazole is widely used for the treatment of endemic fungal infections. Pharmacokinetic variability and clinically important drug interactions make TDM of itraconazole an important consideration.
Conventional clinicopathologic prognostic factors in surgically resected nonsmall cell lung carcinoma

A number of prognostic factors have been reported for resected nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. None of them, however, has been reported to have greater prognostic impact than the pathologic TNM staging system. The authors evaluated 18 conventional clinicopathologic prognostic factors in each pathologic stage.
Lung Function Impairment Evidenced by Sequential Specific Airway Resistance in Childhood Persistent Asthma: A Longitudinal Study

Background. Specific airway resistance (sRaw) is virtually independent of lung growth, height, and gender, thus facilitating longitudinal follow-up. Objective. To assess whether a specific phenotype of asthmatic children with a decline in lung function can be evidenced using sRaw. Methods. The authors hypothesized that sequential sRaw measurements over a long period would detect subtle trends. Clinical and functional data of children with persistent asthma under inhaled corticosteroids, evaluated at least three times per year for at least 4 years, were retrieved from a database. Results. One hundred fourteen children (30 girls) were followed for (median [interquartile range]) 6.9 years [5.6–7.9]. Data from 1699 measurements of sRaw (median 14/child) allowed the calculation of individual slopes of sRaw plotted against time demonstrating stable values in the group as a whole between 4 and 18 years. A positive correlation between individual slopes and the degree of intraindividual variation of sRaw was observed (R2 = .16; p < .0001). Children with more than one positive skin test showed larger intrasubject variation of sRaw (p = .011). In 19/114 children (17%), a significant increase in sRaw of 12.3% per year (median) was observed. As compared to children without, those with a significant increase in sRaw were boys (p < .0001), had a lower initial (p = .008) and a higher final resistance (p = .025) but did not differ in terms of inhaled corticosteroid dose. Conclusion. This retrospective study identifies a specific phenotype of asthmatic children that develops an impairment of lung function, confirming the results of a post hoc analysis of the Childhood Asthma Management Program study.
In vivo assessment of the kinematics in normal and anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees.

The in vivo measurement of dynamic knee kinematics is important for understanding the effects of joint injuries and diseases and for evaluating the outcome of surgical procedures. Researchers have used in vitro approaches (involving cadavers), noninvasive approaches (involving studies done at gait laboratories), and in vivo approaches (involving roentgen stereophotogrammetry and fluoroscopy) to assess human knee motion. To ensure that the loads that are encountered during typical movements are accurately incorporated, treatments that are aimed at improving knee function should be evaluated with use of data that are obtained with dynamic measurement methods. This requires that the six-degrees-of-freedom pose (position and orientation) of objects be measured during dynamic activities. The purpose of the current study was to accurately determine the three-dimensional kinematic patterns of normal and anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees during in vivo weight-bearing activities with use of a novel intensity-based two-dimensional to three-dimensional image registration method, similar to that previously utilized to analyze the kinematics of total knee arthroplasty1. ### Model Creation Ten healthy normal volunteers with an average age of thirty-seven years (range, twenty-two to forty-four years) and an average body mass of 76 kg participated in the study. These volunteers exhibited no lower extremity abnormalities on T2-weighted fast-spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging and had no clinically measurable knee ligament instability on either the pivot-shift test or the Lachman test. In addition, five patients with a recent isolated anterior cruciate ligament tear (that is, a tear that had occurred within the previous four to six weeks), who had an average age of thirty-nine years (range, twenty-five to forty-seven years) and an average body mass of 65 kg, were also included in the study so that the kinematics of anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees could be compared with those of normal knees. The five patients with an anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee were …
Temporal relationships between de novo protein synthesis, calpain and caspase 3‐like protease activation, and DNA fragmentation during apoptosis in septo‐hippocampal cultures

Caspase 3‐like proteases are key executioners in mammalian apoptosis, and the calpain family of cysteine proteases has also been implicated as an effector of the apoptotic cascade. However, the influence of upstream events on calpain/caspase activation and the role of calpain/caspase activation on subsequent downstream events are poorly understood. This investigation examined the temporal profile of apoptosis‐related events after staurosporine‐induced apoptosis in mixed glial‐neuronal septo‐hippocampal cell cultures. Following 3 hr exposure to staurosporine (0.5 μM), calpain and caspase 3‐like proteases processed α‐spectrin to their signature proteolytic fragments prior to endonuclease‐mediated DNA fragmentation (not evident until 6 hr), indicating that endonuclease activation is downstream from calpain/caspase activation. Cycloheximide, a general protein synthesis inhibitor, completely prevented processing of α‐spectrin by calpains and caspase 3‐like proteases, DNA fragmentation and cell death, indicating that de novo protein synthesis is an upstream event necessary for activation of calpains and caspase 3‐like proteases. Calpain inhibitor II and the pan‐caspase inhibitor Z‐D‐DCB each inhibited their respective protease‐specific processing of α‐spectrin and attenuated endonuclease DNA fragmentation and cell death. Thus, activation of calpains and caspase 3‐like proteases is an early event in staurosporine‐induced apoptosis, and synthesis of, as yet, unknown protein(s) is necessary for their activation. J. Neurosci. Res. 52:505–520, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dietary Intake of ω-6 and ω-3 Fatty Acids and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in a Prospective Cohort of U.S. Men and Women

Background: ω-6 and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids intakes may play opposing roles in inflammation-driven colorectal carcinogenesis. We examined the relationship of these polyunsaturated fatty acids and the ratio of their intake with colorectal cancer risk in a large U.S. prospective cohort. Design: Participants in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort completed a detailed questionnaire on diet, medical history, and lifestyle in 1999. Between 1999 and 2005, 869 incident colorectal cancer cases (452 men and 417 women) were identified among 99,080 participants (43,108 men and 55,972 women). Multivariate-adjusted rate ratios were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The ratio of total ω-6 to total ω-3 intake was not associated with colorectal cancer risk in either sex. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, total ω-6 intake was inversely related to colorectal cancer risk in men [multivariate relative risk (95% confidence interval) for highest to lowest quartile, 0.81 (0.61-1.07); Ptrend = 0.07], and α-linolenic acid, the primary contributor to total ω-3 intake, was associated with increased risk in women for quartiles 2 through 4 versus the lowest quartile [relative risk (95% confidence interval), 1.50 (1.12-2.01), 1.40 (1.04-1.87), and 1.38 (1.02-1.85), respectively; Ptrend = 0.13]. In women, total ω-6 and marine ω-3 intake appeared to be associated with higher and lower risk, respectively, but associations were attenuated with adjustment for other risk factors. Conclusions: The ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 intake was not related to colorectal cancer risk in this cohort, which may be due to unexpected findings for the individual components. Differential associations by sex warrant further investigation. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2009;18(2):516–25)
Plasma concentrations and importance of high mobility group box protein in the prognosis of organ failure in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation

Summary High Mobility Group Box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear DNA-binding protein acting as a proinflammatory cytokine when released in the extracellular space from necrotic cells, activated macrophages and dendritic cells. HMGB1 acts on a specific receptor, RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation endproducts), and induces prolonged inflammation, organ failure, septicaemia and death. The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic value of plasma HMGB1 concentration and its role in the development of organ failure in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Plasma HMGB-1 levels were measured in patients with suspected DIC and their relationships with DIC, organ failure and clinical outcome were determined. The study took place at the intensive care facility, Mie University School of Medicine and comprised 201 patients with suspected DIC. Plasma HMGB1 was below the detection limit in normal subjects, but moderately elevated in patients with infectious diseases (4.54 ± 8.18 ng/ml, mean±SD), malignancies (2.15 ± 5.34 ng/ml), and traumas (6.47 ± 13.13 ng/ml). DIC was associated with significantly high plasma HMGB1 (14.05 ± 12.56 ng/ml) in these patients. The highest HMGBI levels were in patients with organ failure (8.29 ± 10.99 ng/ml) and non-survivors (16.58 ± 11.01 ng/ml). HMGB1 plasma levels correlated with the DIC score and sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA) score. In conclusion, our data suggest that HMGB-1 is a potentially suitable prognostic marker of OF or DIC.