Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipoic acid: A multifunctional antioxidant

Lipoic acid (LA) has gained attention in the late 1940’s as a growth factor for micro-organisms. In 1951 Reed and co-workers [1] isolated 30 mg of this factor form 100 kg of liver and later on the molecular structure of LA (chemical name: 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid) was elucidated. The compound has a chiral center at the C3 carbon atom (Fig. 1). Naturally occurring LA has the R configuration. LA is present in most pro– and eukaryotic cells. In our diet it can be found in several products such as meat, liver and heart. LA is considered not to be a vitamin because of possible biosynthesis in man. The physiological function of LA as a component in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is now textbook knowledge. In the enzyme complexes LA is linked by an amide bound to the γ-amino group of a lysine residue of the protein, giving the so-called lipoyl group. In this way the dithiolane ring is attached to the enzyme by a relatively long and flexible chain, which makes it possible for this group to react with the catalytic center of other enzymes in the enzyme complexes.
The type I IFN signature as a biomarker of preclinical rheumatoid arthritis

Objectives To validate the presence and demonstrate the clinical value of the type I interferon (IFN)-signature during arthritis development. Method In 115 seropositive arthralgia patients who were followed for the development of arthritis (Amsterdam Reade cohort), and 25 presymptomatic individuals who developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) later, and 45 population-based controls (Northern Sweden cohort), the expression levels of 7 type I IFN response genes were determined with multiplex qPCR and an IFN-score was calculated. The diagnostic performance of the IFN-score was evaluated using Cox regression and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC)-curve analysis. Results In 44 of the 115 at-risk individuals (38%) from the Amsterdam Reade cohort, arthritis developed after a median period of 8 months (IQR 5–13). Stratification of these individuals based on the IFN-score revealed that 15 out of 25 IFNhigh individuals converted to arthritis, compared with 29 out of 90 IFNlow individuals (p=0.011). In the Northern Sweden cohort, the level of the IFN-score was also significantly increased in presymptomatic individuals who developed RA compared with population-based controls (p=0.002). Cox regression analysis of the Amsterdam Reade cohort showed that the hazard ratio (HR) for development of arthritis was 2.38 (p=0.008) for IFNhigh at-risk individuals after correction for anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF). The ROC-curve area under the curve (AUC) for the IFN-score combined with ACPA and RF in the prediction of arthritis was 78.5% (p=0.0001, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.87). Conclusions The results demonstrated clinical utility for the IFN-signature as a biomarker in the prediction of arthritis development.
Lactation and appetite-regulating hormones: increased maternal plasma peptide YY concentrations 3–6 months postpartum

Abstract Breast-feeding is associated with maternal hormonal and metabolic changes ensuring adequate milk production. In this study, we investigate the impact of breast-feeding on the profile of changes in maternal appetite-regulating hormones 3–6 months postpartum. Study participants were age- and BMI-matched lactating mothers (n 10), non-lactating mothers (n 9) and women without any history of pregnancy or breast-feeding in the previous 12 months (control group, n 10). During study sessions, young mothers breast-fed or bottle-fed their babies, and maternal blood samples were collected at five time points during 90 min: before, during and after feeding the babies. Outcome parameters were plasma concentrations of ghrelin, peptide YY (PYY), leptin, adiponectin, prolactin, cortisol, insulin, glucose and lipid values. At baseline, circulating PYY concentrations were significantly increased in lactating mothers (100·3 (se 6·7) pg/ml) v. non-lactating mothers (73·6 (se 4·9) pg/ml, P=0·008) and v. the control group (70·2 (se 9) pg/ml, P=0·021). We found no differences in ghrelin, leptin and adiponectin values. Baseline prolactin concentrations were over 4-fold higher in lactating mothers (P<0·001). Lactating women had reduced TAG levels and LDL-cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio, but increased waist circumference, when compared with non-lactating women. Breast-feeding sessions further elevated circulating prolactin (P<0·001), but induced no acute effects on appetite-regulating hormones. In summary, one single breast-feeding session did not acutely modulate circulating appetite-regulating hormones, but increased baseline PYY concentrations are associated with prolonged lactation. PYY might play a role in the coordination of energy balance during lactation, increasing fat mobilisation from maternal depots and ensuring adequate milk production for the demands of the growing infant.
Bed Planting - A New Crop Establishment Method for Wheat in Rice- Wheat Cropping System

An experiment was conducted at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur during Rabi season 2001-02 and 2002-03 to determine the effects of bed width, plant row number bed -1 and seed rate on the agro-economic productivity of wheat under bed planting in rice-wheat cropping system. Bed planting in 70, 80 and 90 cm wide beds with two and three plant rows bed -1 along with conventional method and 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg ha -1 seed rates were tested. Seventy-centimeter wide beds increased grain yield of wheat up to 21% over conventional method. It increased the number of panicles m -2 , number of grains panicle -1 and 1000-grain weight of wheat. Sterility percentage was lower in bed than conventional method. Weed infestation was less in bed planting. It saved 41-48 % irrigation water. The cost of cultivation was lower and gross return, gross margin and benefit-cost ratio were higher in bed planting than conventional method. Key words: Bed planting, wheat, crop establishment. DOI: 10.3329/jard.v7i1. 4418 J Agric Rural Dev 7 (1&2), 23-31, June 2009
An Evaluation of the Use of Smartphones to Communicate Between Clinicians: A Mixed-Methods Study

Background Communication between clinicians is critical to providing quality patient care but is often hampered by limitations of current systems. Smartphones such as BlackBerrys may improve communication, but studies of these technologies have been limited to date. Objective Our objectives were to describe how smartphones were adopted for clinical communication within general internal medical wards and determine their impact on team effectiveness and communication. Methods This was a mixed-methods study that gathered data from the frequency of smartphone calls and email messages, clinicians' interviews, and ethnographic observations of clinical communication interactions. Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data was undertaken to develop common themes that encompass comprehensive and representative insights across different methods. Results Findings from our study indicated that over a 24-hour period, nurses sent on average 22.3 emails to the physicians mostly through the “team smartphone,” the designated primary point of contact for a specific medical team. Physicians carrying the team smartphone received on average 21.9 emails and 6.4 telephone calls while sending out 6.9 emails and initiating 8.3 telephone calls over the 24-hour period. Our analyses identified both positive and negative outcomes associated with the use of smartphones for clinical communication. There was a perceived improvement in efficiency over the use of pagers for clinical communication for physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. In particular, residents found that the use of smartphones helped to increase their mobility and multitasking abilities. Negative outcomes included frequent interruptions and discordance between what doctors and nurses considered urgent. Nurses perceived a worsening of the interprofessional relationships due to overreliance on messaging by text with a resulting decrease in verbal communication. Unprofessional behaviors were observed in the use of smartphones by residents. Conclusions Routine adoption of smartphones by residents appeared to improve efficiency over the use of pagers for physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals. This was balanced by negative communication issues of increased interruptions, a gap in perceived urgency, weakened interprofessional relationships, and unprofessional behavior. Further communication interventions are required that balance efficiency and interruptions while maintaining or even improving interprofessional relationships and professionalism.
Experimental infection of calves and adult cattle with Escherichia coli O157:H7

Preweaned calves and adult cattle were inoculated with 10(10) CFU of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain 3081, a calf isolate which produces Shiga-like toxin, to define the magnitude and duration of fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 for each age group. Fecal samples of eight of eight, eight of eight, three of eight, and two of eight calves were positive at 2, 7, 14, and 20 weeks, respectively. In contrast, nine of nine, two of nine, and one of nine steers were positive at 2, 7, and 14 weeks, respectively. The magnitude of shedding (CFU per gram) by individual animals at any one time postinoculation varied widely within each age group but was greater for calves as a group. The differences in shedding patterns between adults and calves were statistically significant. After inoculation, 25 of 29 animals remained healthy and 4 of 17 calves had transient diarrhea. Histologic sections of the brain, kidney, jejunum, ileum, cecum, and colon taken at necropsy from nine calves either 3, 14, or 18 days postinoculation or three adults either 2, 3, or 4 days postinoculation were normal. E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from the alimentary tracts of all of the animals necropsied, and there was no evidence of spread to the liver, spleen, or kidneys. Four calves that had ceased shedding were reinfected when inoculated again with the same strain. E. coli O157:H7 was recovered from none of five and two of five adults inoculated with 10(4) and 10(7) CFU, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A chronic ulcerative colitis model in rats.

INTRODUCTIONIn recent years,there have been many reports aboutanimal model to investigate drugs for inflammatorybowel diseases (IBD). The experimental animalmodel often used is acetic acid-induced damage ofcolonic muscosa.In the present study,this animalmodel was investigated by administering variousconcentrations of TNBS.
Diffusion-weighted imaging and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale in the acute phase of posterior-circulation stroke.

BACKGROUND Occlusive disease of the posterior circulation represents a heterogeneous group of strokes that differ in etiology, clinical presentation, and prognosis. Computed tomography provides suboptimal visualization of posterior-circulation infarcts. Anatomic definition of traditional magnetic resonance imaging sequences has been used for clinicoradiologic correlation in patients with posterior-circulation disease. These studies focused on the subacute rather than the acute phase of ischemia. Lesion volumes on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion imaging were found to have a good correlation with 24-hour National Institutes of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score in ischemia of the anterior circulation. Correlation between NIHSS score and lesion volume in posterior-circulation infarcts is unknown. OBJECTIVES To investigate whether DWI is useful for clinicoradiologic correlation of posterior-circulation ischemia within 24 hours after symptom onset and whether NIHSS score correlates with lesion volumes in patients with posterior-circulation stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a database analysis of 631 patients with stroke from June 26, 1996, to July 30, 1999, 115 patients (18%) had symptoms of posterior-circulation ischemia by imaging and clinical criteria. Among these 115, we included all patients (n = 40) who underwent DWI within 24 hours from symptom onset (mean, 9.7 +/- 7.1 hours). All 40 patients also underwent magnetic resonance angiography and T2-weighted imaging. Seventy-five did not meet inclusion criteria: in 45, magnetic resonance imaging was performed more than 24 hours after symptom onset; 12 did not have DWI; in 11 patients, symptoms resolved within 24 hours; 6 had hemorrhages; and 1 had a border zone infarct. RESULTS An acute lesion on DWI corresponding to the patient's symptoms was detected in all 40 patients, 16 (40%) of whom had detectable acute lesions on T2-weighted images. The lesions on DWI were larger in 11 of the 16 patients with positive T2-weighted images. Acute lesion volume did not correlate with NIHSS score (n = 40; rho = 0.30; P =.06, Spearman rank) also when DWI lesion volumes were divided by cause and territory. CONCLUSIONS Diffusion-weighted imaging is more effective than T2-weighted imaging in patients with acute posterior-circulation strokes. The DWI lesion volume did not significantly correlate with NIHSS score, suggesting that NIHSS is more weighted toward anterior-circulation stroke symptoms.
The Host Defense Peptide Beta-Defensin 1 Confers Protection against Bordetella pertussis in Newborn Piglets

ABSTRACT Innate immunity plays an important role in protection against respiratory infections in humans and animals. Host defense peptides such as beta-defensins represent major components of innate immunity. We recently developed a novel porcine model of pertussis, an important respiratory disease of young children and infants worldwide. Here, we investigated the role of porcine beta-defensin 1 (pBD-1), a porcine defensin homologue of human beta-defensin 2, in conferring protection against respiratory infection with Bordetella pertussis. In this model, newborn piglets were fully susceptible to infection and developed severe bronchopneumonia. In contrast, piglets older than 4 weeks of age were protected against infection with B. pertussis. Protection was associated with the expression of pBD-1 in the upper respiratory tract. In fact, pBD-1 expression was developmentally regulated, and the absence of pBD-1 was thought to contribute to the increased susceptibility of newborn piglets to infection with B. pertussis. Bronchoalveolar lavage specimens collected from older animals as well as chemically synthesized pBD-1 displayed strong antimicrobial activity against B. pertussis in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo treatment of newborn piglets with only 500 μg pBD-1 at the time of challenge conferred protection against infection with B. pertussis. Interestingly, pBD-1 displayed no bactericidal activity in vitro against Bordetella bronchiseptica, a closely related natural pathogen of pigs. Our results demonstrate that host defense peptides play an important role in protection against pertussis and are essential in modulating innate immune responses against respiratory infections.
Efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of posterior cervical spine fractures.

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective study using two independent, blinded musculoskeletal radiologists to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging in detecting posterior element fractures of the cervical spine. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of magnetic resonance imaging, using computed tomographic scanning as the gold standard, in the diagnosis of posterior element cervical spine fractures. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Few investigators have evaluated the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging in the determination of cervical spine fractures. METHODS From January 1994 through June 1996, 75 cervical spine fractures in 32 patients were confirmed by computed tomography. Two musculoskeletal radiologists who were blinded to the clinical history and presence or absence of cervical injury among the study population, independently evaluated each cervical magnetic resonance image recording the presence or absence of soft tissue or bony injury. RESULTS The overall sensitivity and specificity rates for the diagnosis of a posterior element fracture by magnetic resonance imaging was 11.5% and 97.0%, respectively. The positive predictive value for this group was 83%, and the negative predictive value was 46%. In reference to anterior fractures, the sensitivity was 36.7% and the specificity 98%. Positive and negative predictive values were 91.2% and 64%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Magnetic resonance imaging was not effective in recognizing bony injury to the cervical spine and in particular was not as sensitive or as specific as computed tomography in identifying cervical spinal fractures. Computed tomography remains the study of choice for the detection and precise classification of bony injuries to the cervical region, especially when plain radiographs are difficult to evaluate. Magnetic resonance imaging, although not as effective as computed tomography in defining specific bony disorders, remains the gold standard in the evaluation of spinal cord injury, occult vascular injury, and intervertebral disc disruption (hyperextension injury), including herniation and other soft tissue disorders (hematoma, ligament tear).
Online Posture Correction for Humanoid Walking Robots (Online Haltungskorrektur für humanoide Laufroboter)

Summary An online posture modification method termed Jacobi Compensation is proposed which is suitable to modify precalculated step trajectories for a humanoid robot in certain task coordinate directions. This method can account for modeling errors in trajectory precalculation by shifting e. g. the center of mass or certain parts of the humanoid mechanism to increase walking equilibrium and performance. A theoretical analysis of stability properties is given.
On the Behaviour of the (1, λ)-ES for Conically Constrained Linear Problems

We study the behaviour of a -ES that handles constraints by resampling infeasible candidate solutions for linear optimization problems with a conically constrained feasible region. The analysis generalizes prior work in that no particular orientation of the cone relative to the gradient of the objective function is assumed. Expressions that describe the strategy's single-step behaviour are derived. Assuming that the mutation strength is adapted in a scale-invariant manner, a simple zeroth-order model is used to determine the speed of convergence of the strategy. We then derive expressions that approximately characterize the average step size and convergence rate attained when using cumulative step size adaptation and compare the values with optimal ones.
Novel Epicuticular Leaf Flavonoids from Kalmia and Gaidtheria (Ericaceae)

Abstract Leaves of a number of Ericaceous plants have a thin epicuticular layer that consists mostly of triterpenes. In Kalmia angustifolia, K. latifolia and K. polifolia as well as in Gaultheria procumbens and G. shallon this material also contains trace amounts of flavonoid aglycones. In Kalmia they are the 3-OMe-derivatives of four C-methyl flavones reported previously as the typical leaf-wax flavonoids of Eucalyptus. The new compounds, 5-OH-3,7,4′-triOMe-6,8-diCH3-flavone (kalmiatin), 5-OH-3,7,4′-triOMe-6-CH3-flavone (8-desmethyl-kalmiatin), 5,4′-diOH-3,7-diOMe-6,8-diCH3-flavone (latifolin) and 5,4′-diOH-3,7-diOMe-6-CH3-flavone (8-desmethyl-latifolin) are novel natural products. They could not be detected in eight species of Eucalyptus. A screening of 15 species of Ericaceae revealed that 8-desmethyl-sideroxylin and 8-desmethyl-latifolin are present also in the epicuticular layer on leaves of Gaultheria procumbens, while on G. shallon and on Andromeda polifolia traces of galangin-3-methyl ether were found. In the other species checked no external flavonoid aglycones could be detected.
The secreted autotransporter toxin, Sat, functions as a virulence factor in Afa/Dr diffusely adhering Escherichia coli by promoting lesions in tight junction of polarized epithelial cells

Afa/Dr diffusely adhering Escherichia coli (DAEC) strains are responsible for urinary tract and intestinal infections. Both in intestine and kidney, the epithelial cells forming epithelium are sealed by junctional domains. We provide evidence that the Secreted autotransporter toxin, Sat, belonging to the subfamily of serine protease autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae (SPATEs), acts as a virulence factor in Afa/Dr DAEC by promoting lesions in the tight junctions (TJs) of polarized epithelial Caco‐2/TC7 cells. Southern blot analysis reveals that the prototype strains of the subclass‐1 and subclass‐2 typical Afa/Dr DAEC strains, hybridize with a sat probe. Using the wild‐type IH11128 strain, the recombinant E. coli AAEC185 strain that expresses Sat, the recombinant E. coli that expresses both Dr adhesin and Sat, we report that Sat in monolayers of cultured enterocyte‐like Caco‐2/TC7 cells, induces rearrangements of the TJs‐associated proteins ZO‐1, ZO‐3 and occludin, and increases the formation of domes as the result of an increase in the paracellular permeability without affecting the transepithelial electrical resistance of the cell monolayers. Moreover, we observe that Sat‐induced disassembly of TJs‐associated proteins is dependent on the serine protease motif. Finally, an analysis of the prevalence of the sat gene in three collections of Afa/Dr DAEC strains collected from the stools of children with and without diarrhoea, and from the urine of patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) shows that: (i) the sat gene is highly prevalent in UTI‐associated Afa/Dr DAEC strains (88% positive), (ii) the sat gene is generally absent from Afa/Dr DAEC strains collected from the stools of children without diarrhoea (16% positive); whereas (iii) it is present in about half of the strains collected from the stools of children with diarrhoea (46% positive).
Sensitivity and specificity of a point-of-care matrix metalloproteinase 9 immunoassay for diagnosing inflammation related to dry eye.

OBJECTIVES To determine the clinical sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value of a rapid point-of-care diagnostic test to detect elevated matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels (InflammaDry). METHODS In a prospective, sequential, masked, multicenter clinical trial, InflammaDry was performed on 206 patients: 143 patients with clinical signs and symptoms of dysfunctional tear syndrome (dry eyes) and 63 healthy individuals serving as controls. Participants were assessed as healthy controls or for a clinical diagnosis of dry eye using the Ocular Surface Disease Index, Schirmer tear test, tear breakup time, and keratoconjunctival staining. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The sensitivity and specificity of InflammaDry were compared with clinical assessment. RESULTS InflammaDry showed sensitivity of 85% (in 121 of 143 patients), specificity of 94% (59 of 63), negative predictive value of 73% (59 of 81), and positive predictive value of 97% (121 of 125). CONCLUSION Compared with clinical assessment, InflammaDry is sensitive and specific in diagnosing dry eye. APPLICATION TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Dry eye is often underdiagnosed resulting from poor communication between the clinical assessment of dry eye severity between clinicians and patients. This often leads to a lack of effective treatment. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 is an inflammatory biomarker that has been shown to be elevated in the tears of patients with dry eyes. The ability to accurately detect elevated matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels may lead to earlier diagnosis, more appropriate treatment, and better management of ocular surface disease. Preoperative and perioperative management of inflammation related to dry eyes may reduce dry eyes that develop after laser in situ keratomileusis, improve wound healing, and reduce flap complications. Recognition of inflammation may allow for targeted perioperative therapeutic management of care for patients who undergo cataract and refractive surgery and improve outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01313351.