Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Tale of Two Cells: Endocannabinoid-Signaling Regulates Functions of Neurons and Sperm1

Abstract Sea urchin and human sperm contain receptors for neurotransmitters and psychoactive drugs, including cannabinoid receptors (CNRs). Anandamide, arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA), is a lipid-signal molecule that is an endogenous agonist for CNRs. AEA is enyzmatically released from membrane phospholipids when neurons are stimulated. Retrograde AEA signals from depolarized postsynaptic neurons inhibit neurotransmitter release at synapses in mammalian brain. Analogous processes regulate sperm functions during fertilization in sea urchins. AEA and (−)Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol [(−)Δ9THC], the major psychoactive constituent of marijuana, inhibit fertilization by blocking acrosomal exocytosis/acrosome reactions (AR) stimulated by egg jelly. The acrosome is a Golgi-derived secretory granule in sperm analogous to synaptic vesicles in neurons. AEA and (−)Δ9THC do not block ionophore-induced AR, suggesting that they inhibit AR by modulating signal transduction event(s) before opening of ion channels. Unfertilized sea urchin eggs have enzymes required to release AEA from membrane phospholipids. These results indicate that sea urchin eggs may release AEA after activation by the fertilizing sperm. Released AEA may then react with CNRs in nearby sperm to block AR, thereby helping to prevent polyspermy. AEA is present in human seminal plasma, midcycle oviductal fluid, and follicular fluid. Sperm are sequentially exposed to these fluids as they move from the vagina to the site of fertilization in the oviduct. R-methanandamide (AM-356), a metabolically stable AEA analog, and (−)Δ9THC modulate capacitation and fertilizing potential of human sperm in vitro. These findings suggest that AEA signaling directly affects sperm functions required for fertilization and provide additional evidence for common signaling processes in neurons and sperm.
Comparative citation rankings of authors in monographic and journal literature: a study of sociology

A recurrent criticism of commercial citation indexes is their failure to cover citations found in monographic literature. There exists the possibility that citation‐based surveys of scholarly communication and influence which ignore references in monographs may produce partial results. The study examined the scholarly literature of sociology. Tens of thousands of references from monographs and leading academic journals were analysed. The relative rankings of authors who were highly cited in the monographic literature did not change in the journal literature of the same period. There is, however, only a small overlap between the most highly cited authors based on the journal sample and those based on the monograph sample. The lack of correlation suggests that there may be two distinct populations of highly cited authors.
Measles immunization strategies for an epidemiologically heterogeneous population: the Israeli case study

Although the vaccine against measles has been routinely applied over a quarter of a century, measles is still an active disease in Israel. The January 1991 outbreak caused high morbidity in infant and adolescent populations and high mortality, especially among nomad Bedouins in the southern region of the country. The Bedouins form a small fraction of the total Israeli population (ca. 2 %), but it is thought that they may experience significantly higher rates of transmission than the majority group. In this work we use deterministic compartmental mathematical models to define the optimal immunization strategy for a population consisting of a majority group characterized by low transmission rates and a minority group characterized by high transmission rates; this study allows both for transmission differences between the two groups, and for possible differences in the average cost (or difficulty) in reaching individuals for vaccination. Our analysis shows that the optimal vaccination policy for such a population involves different strategies for the two groups: a smaller fraction is to be vaccinated in the minority group if transmission in this group is not much larger than in the majority group, whereas, if the difference in transmission is very large, a higher proportion is to be vaccinated in the minority group. The advantage of this non-uniform vaccination policy is that it involves vaccination of a smaller fraction of the total population (and costs less, if there are differential costs between the groups), as compared with the proportion vaccinated under the conventional uniform vaccination policy. The implications of our results for vaccination policies for other minority groups, or for other infectious diseases which are characterized by epidemiological heterogeneity, are as yet to be examined.
Association between the Specific UGT1A1 Promoter Sequence Variant (c-3279T>G) and Unconjugated Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia.

We investigated the association between c-3279T>G and unconjugated neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In all, 141 neonates were recruited; 63 had hyperbilirubinemia necessitating treatment, and 78 with bilirubin < 7 mg/dl served as the control group. The frequency of occurrence of c-3279T > G allele was significantly higher in the hyperbilirubinemic (49.2%) than in the control group (25.6%). The homozygous (p = 0.001, OR = 17.7 and CI = 3.9-79.3) rather than the heterozygous state (p = 0.3, OR = 0.7 and CI = 0.3-1.6) was associated with hyperbilirubinemia. Among the hyperbilirubinemic group, comparison between the three genotypes, homozygous mutation, heterozygous mutation and the normal allele, revealed that the former was associated with significantly higher mean peak total serum bilirubin [mean ± standard deviation (SD): 33.7 ± 8.2, 26.9 ± 2.8 and 21± 2.7, respectively, p-value = 0.0001], higher bilirubin/albumin ratio (p = 0.000) and a longer duration of hospital stay (p = 0.001). Homozygous c-3279T > G mutation represents an important risk factor for the development of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.
Cyclosporin A associated nephrotoxicity in the first 100 days after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: three distinct syndromes

Summary. Thirty‐six patients received allogeneic (34) or syngeneic (two) bone marrow transplants as treatment for severe aplastic anaemia or acute leukaemia. Nineteen of the allogeneic recipients received methotrexate (MTX) and 15 received cyclosporin A (CyA) as the predominant immunosuppressive agent to minimize graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) post transplant. In the first 100 d post transplant renal dysfunction was much less frequent in the MTX recipients than in the CyA recipients who exhibited three distinct syndromes of nephrotoxicity: most commonly, CyA recipients developed asymptomatic azotaemia, proteinuria, urinary casts, impaired urinary concentrating ability and hypertension. Secondly, two CyA recipients developed acute reversible renal failure precipitated by systemic bacterial infection which required dialysis and in which the kidney was the sole target organ; thirdly, two recipients of HLA‐genotypically non‐identical grafts developed a rapidly progressive fatal syndrome with multiple organ involvement including lung, brain and kidney which clinically and histologically resembled thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
Emerging and potential therapies for osteoporosis

Osteoporotic fractures are an important public health problem, contributing substantially to morbidity and mortality in an ageing world population and consuming considerable health resources. Currently available pharmaco-l-ogical therapies for prevention of fragility fractures are limited in scope, efficacy and acceptability to patients. Considerable efforts are being made to develop new, more effective treatments for osteoporosis and to refine/optimise existing therapies. These novel treatments include an expanding array of drugs that primarily inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption; oestrogenic compounds, bisphosphonates, inhibitors of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand signalling, cathepsin K inhibitors, c-src kinase inhibitors, integrin inhibitors and chloride channel inhibitors. The advent of intermittent para-thyroid hormone (PTH) therapy has provided proof-of-principle that osteo-blast-targeted (anabolic) agents can effectively prevent osteoporotic fractures, and is likely to be followed by the introduction of other therapies based upon PTH, such as orally active PTH analogues, antagonists of the calcium sensing receptor, PTH-related peptide analogues, and/or agents that induce osteoblast anabolism via pathways involving key, recently identified, molecular targets (wnt low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-5 signalling, sclerostin and matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein).
Acceptance for Human Papilloma virus vaccines, experience at tertiary care centre of northern india: a hospital-based survey

Background: Acceptance of HPV vaccine is varying widely worldwide in range of 10-70%. For increasing the acceptability for HPV vaccine, finding the obstacles and catering them diligently is required. The aim of the study was to find out acceptability rate for HPV vaccine in northern India and various obstacles and facilitators affecting acceptance of HPV vaccine.Methods: A questionnaire based descriptive study was done in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of King George Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India from June 2016 to June 2017. Questionnaire was filled by doctor after taking face to face interview of individuals. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee of the KGMU, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. (1689/Ethics/R cell/17) acceptability rate and various facilitators and obstacles for HPV vaccine were studied. For continuous variables mean with standard deviation was used. For categorical variables frequencies and percentages were used. IBM SPSS statistics applied.Results: A total of 302 cases were face to face interviewed, amongst which, 70 cases (23%) showed acceptability and 232 did not accept the vaccine. The most common obstacles were lack of knowledge and high monetary cost being the cause of nonacceptance in 48.3% and 33.6% of cases respectively.Conclusions: Higher level of awareness and knowledge about HPV vaccine and inclusion in government immunization programmed may increase acceptability.
The long-term prognosis of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality for metabolically healthy obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Metabolically healthy obese phenotype (MHO) refers to obese individuals with absence of metabolic abnormalities such as dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and hypertension. Many studies reported the long-term prognosis of MHO on diseases and mortality with inconsistent results. Methods We performed a meta-analysis to assess the risks of cardiovascular (CV) events and all-cause mortality for MHO individuals. Original prospective observational studies were searched in Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane library up to 30 September 2015. In this meta-analysis, the relative risk (RR) calculated on the basis of the incident number of disease events and deaths in participants and the corresponding multivariable-adjusted HR were both extracted to calculate pooled risk estimates. A random-effects model was used if there was heterogeneity among studies; otherwise, the fixed-effects model was used. Results 22 prospective studies, involving 584 799 participants, were archived in the analyses. With metabolically healthy normal weight as the reference, the MHO phenotype was associated with a higher risk of CV events (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.27 to 1.77; HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.38 to 1.84). However, MHO individuals were not associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality (RR 1.18, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.66; HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.25). Conclusions The meta-analysis confirms a positive association between a metabolically healthy obese phenotype and the risk of CV events. However, higher risk for all-cause mortality is not evident in metabolically healthy obese individuals.
Anti‐MuSK‐positive myasthenia gravis: neuromuscular transmission failure in facial and limb muscles

The presence of antibodies against muscle‐specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) appears to define a subgroup of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) characterized by weakness predominant in bulbar, facial and neck muscles compared with anti‐acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody‐positive MG. To investigate the patterns and severity of neuromuscular transmission failure in different muscles in MuSK‐positive MG, we performed single fiber electromyography (SFEMG) in the facial (frontalis) and limb (extensor digitorum communis, EDC) muscles in three anti‐Musk‐positive patients, and compared results with those of 11 anti‐AChR‐positive patients. Only one of the three MuSK‐positive patients had abnormal jitter in EDC, but all the three showed clearly increased jitter in the frontalis. By contrast, the AChR‐positive patients showed similarly abnormal jitter for the two muscles. These results suggest that when the diagnosis of anti‐MuSK‐positive MG is suspected, SFEMG should be performed in most prominently affected muscles.
Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Solitary Pulmonary Mass After Radical Treatment for Primary Cancers: Pulmonary Metastasis or Second Primary Lung Cancer?

We identified clinical characteristics of 30 pulmonary metastasis (PM) patients and 29 second primary lung cancer (SPLC) patients with feature of solitary pulmonary mass (SPM) after radical treatment of prior cancers. 6.7% and 44.8% patients presented with centrally located SPM and the median event-free durations were 33 and 72 months in PM and SPLC groups, respectively. PM was more likely to be found in prior cancers with stage III. In conclusion, the location of SPM, the event-free duration and the prior tumor staging were important features for differentiating SPLC from PM among patients with SPM after prior cancers.
Effects of zinc ion concentration on growth, fat content and reproduction in oMT1a-oGH transgenic mice.

Attachment of the sheep metallothionein la promoter to the sheep growth hormone gene (oMT1a-oGH) has resulted in a closely regulated transgene in mice that can respond to elevated levels of zinc ions provided in the drinking water. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of zinc ion concentration on postweaning growth, fat content, organ size, and female reproduction. At weaning (3 weeks of age), hemizygous oMT1a-oGH mice were assigned randomly to receive 0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, or 50 mM ZnSO4 in distilled drinking water for 5 weeks. Males were killed at 8 weeks and selected organs and fat pads were weighed. Females received tap water from 8 to 10 weeks and then were mated to unrelated non-transgenic fertile males to obtain ovulation rate and embryo survival. Mortality rate was increased (P < 0.05) at 37.5 mM (15.2%) and 50 mM (33.3%) ZnSO4 compared with lower levels. Postweaning growth was highest at 12.5 mM ZnSO4 followed by 25 and 37.5 mM, respectively. At 50 mM ZnSO4, 8 week-old males were 20% smaller than males not receiving a supplement while females did not differ from females not receiving a supplement. Epididymal (EFP) and subcutaneous (SFP) fat pad weights of males decreased linearly (P < 0.01) with increased dosage of ZnSO4, while on a percentage of body weight basis, EFP and SFP decreased quadratically (P < 0.01). Males receiving 12.5 mM ZnSO4 had their EFP and SFP as a percentage of body weight reduced (P< 0.01) to 54.1% and 65.9% of controls (0 mM), respectively. As a percentage of body weight, liver spleen and kidney weights increased with doses of 12.5, 25 and 37.5 mM ZnSO4 compared with no supplemental zinc, while testis weight as a percentage of body weight was reduced (P < 0.05); percentage heart weight was only reduced at 12.5 mM (P < 0.05). No significant differences in female fertility were associated with ZnSO4 treatment. Females receiving ZnSO4 supplement had higher ovulation rates than those that received no supplement, but there were no differences (P > 0.05) in ovulation rates among the zinc levels. A decrease (P < 0.05) in pre- and post-implantation embryo survival was detected at 37.5 mM ZnSO4. These results indicate that zinc dosage affects phenotypic expression of the oMT1a-regulated oGH transgenic mice, and the dose responses are trait-dependent.
Exchange rate appreciation and export competitiveness. The case of Singapore

Policy prescriptions have generally assumed that exchange rate depreciation would stimulate exports and curtail imports, while exchange rate appreciation would be detrimental to exports and encourage imports. This prediction has, however, often neglected to consider the existence of the import content of exports, as well as the dynamic effects of productivity improvements. Our paper seeks to show empirically, the significance of these two factors in affecting the competitiveness of Singapore's exports. Specifically, the paper shows that in the presence of high import content, exports are not adversely affected by currency appreciation because the lower import prices due to appreciation reduce the cost of export production. In the case of Singapore, this cushioning effect outweighs that of the effect of productivity gains on export competitiveness. The service exports, however, with a very low import content tend to suffer from currency appreciation.
Effect of random roundness error on the stability of a hydrodynamic journal bearing system part I: Theoretical study

From a manufacturing viewpoint, the profile of a journal out-of-roundness is random. In order to be closer to the engineering practice, the study presents a dynamic modelling, analysis and calculating method for the hydrodynamic journal bearing system considering random roundness error. The random character of manufacturing errors is presented by Monte Carlo method in the analysis to establish the relationship between the level of journal roundness error and the system stability characteristics. The results of theoretical analysis show that the effect on the stability of the hydrodynamic journal bearing system is minimal when the grade of journal roundness error P is below 9; when P > 9, the journal out-of-roundness promotes the system stability. However, the increase in the random roundness error will generate high-frequency vibrations and aggravate the system vibration. Besides, the journal random out-of-roundness has a minimal effect on the system stability when the eccentricity is between 0.5 and 0.6 or the Sommerfeld number is between 0.05 and 0.1, which suggests that the system should be operated within this region to minimise the effect of journal out-of-roundness.
Transfection of mouse eggs and embryos using DNA combined to cationic liposomes

We have used plasmid DNA in combination with cationic liposomes to transfect mouse eggs and embryos. The plasmid was rhodamine labeled, which allowed a direct visualization of the DNA uptake by the cells. Immature eggs, collected from the ovaries, were easily transfected, but once the egg was ovulated the zona pellucida (ZP) acted as a barrier and prevented transfection. Permeabilization or removal of the ZP was therefore a requirement to allow transfection. Transfected eggs were capable of being fertilized in vitro giving raise to embryos that expressed the recombinant protein. Morulae and blastocysts were also transfected when the ZP was permeabilized, but the efficiency of transfection decreased and in some cases not all the blastomeres incorporated the plasmid. Pronuclear embryos were cultured and showed expression of the transgene from the 2‐cell stage. This indicates that liposome‐transfection of oocytes or pronuclear embryos could be a simple and suitable method to introduce foreign genes in embryos and perhaps could be also useful to generate transgenic animals. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 56:360–365, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Beta3 integrin--a promiscuous integrin involved in vascular pathology.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether beta3 integrin is present in blood vessels involved by atherosclerosis, Mönckeberg's medial calcinosis, vein graft atherosclerosis, transplant graft vascular disease and arterial restenosis. DESIGN Retrospective histological and immunohistochemistry examination of tissues obtained from autopsy and surgery. SETTING Tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS The patients had surgical excisions of limbs, grafts, veins and arteries for the treatment of ischemic heart disease and peripheral vascular disease. Other tissues were derived from autopsies of the same patient populations. MAIN RESULTS Beta3 integrin was found in the blood vessels involved in all of the vascular diseases examined. The location of the integrin varied among the diseases. Osteopontin, a bone sialoprotein involved in atherosclerosis and vascular repair, was also commonly detected. CONCLUSIONS Beta3 integrin expression noted in the present study confirms the presence of this integrin in arteries with restenosis and atherosclerosis, which expands its involvement to the processes of transplant graft vascular disease, peripheral vascular disease and vein graft disease. The integrin may influence cell migration and adhesion by its interaction with noncollagenous matrix proteins, including osteopontin.
Stature and Body Weight Estimation from Various Footprint Measurements Among Egyptian Population

Abstract: Analysis of footprints can reveal very important clues which can be used as a forensic evidence and help in the estimation of stature and body weight of an individual. In this work, bilateral footprints were obtained from 50 male Egyptian medical students ranging in age between 18 and 25. Nine measurements were taken on each footprint. The result revealed significant bilateral asymmetry (p < 0.001) except foot breadth at ball. The significant and positive highest correlation coefficients with stature were shown by toe‐5 length on right side (R = 0.58) and with body weight by foot breadth at ball on left side (R = −0.52). Regression equations presented smaller standard errors of estimate (3.52–4.69) in determination of stature than those in estimation of body weight (4.05–5.28). In conclusion, this study has provided equations that help to estimate stature and body weight from footprint measurements among Egyptians.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the cerebellum and brain stem in children with cerebral palsy.

PURPOSE The study aimed to examine the volumes of cerebellum and the brain stem in children with cerebral palsy (CP). MATERIAL AND METHODS The present study included 21 children with spastic diplegic CP (11 girls and 10 boys). Twenty-one patients with CP were age- and gender-matched with the control patients. All subjects were free from neurological or psychiatric disease, had normal intellectual development, and their brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were normal. MRI of forty-two patients were reviewed prospectively. RESULTS The CP group had significantly smaller mean of the cerebellar hemispheres and the brain stem than did the control group. The cerebellar volumes were positively correlated with age of children with CP and the control group. No significant correlations between gender and the volumes of cerebellar hemispheres and the brain stem in controls and in the CP group were found. No significant correlations between asphyxia and the volumes of cerebellar hemispheres and the brain stem in the CP group were noted. Positive correlation between the cerebellum volume and IQ scores in children with CP was found. Negative relationship between the cerebellar hemispheres volume and Gross Motor Function Classification System in patients with CP was found. No significant correlation between the brain stem volume and IQ scores in the CP group was detected. CONCLUSION Our data demonstrate that children with CP had smaller volumes of the cerebellum and the brain stem as compared to controls.