Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduction of brain edema and expression of aquaporins with acute ethanol treatment after traumatic brain injury.

OBJECT Previous studies have demonstrated that traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes brain edema by allowing excessive water passage through aquaporin (AQP) proteins. To establish the potential neuroprotective properties of ethanol as a post-TBI therapy, in the present study the authors determined the effect of ethanol on brain edema, AQP expression, and functional outcomes in a post-TBI setting. METHODS Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 425 and 475 g received a closed head TBI in which Maramarou's impact-acceleration method was used. Animals were given a subsequent intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 g/kg or 1.5 g/kg ethanol at 60 minutes post-TBI and were killed 24 hours after TBI. Brains were subsequently examined for edema along with AQP mRNA and protein expression. Additional animals treated with either 0.5 g/kg or 1.5 g/kg ethanol at 60 minutes post-TBI were designated for cognitive and motor testing for 3 weeks. RESULTS Ethanol administration post-TBI led to significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of brain edema as measured by brain water content. This downregulation in brain edema was associated with significantly (p < 0.05) reduced levels of AQP mRNA and protein expression as compared with TBI without treatment. These findings concur with cognitive studies in which ethanol-treated animals exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) faster radial maze completion times. Motor behavioral testing additionally demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) beneficial effects of ethanol, with treated animals displaying improved motor coordination when compared with untreated animals. CONCLUSIONS The present findings suggest that acute ethanol administration after a TBI decreases AQP expression, which may lead to reduced cerebral edema. Ethanol-treated animals additionally showed improved cognitive and motor outcomes compared with untreated animals.
Folding of noncoding RNAs during transcription facilitated by pausing-induced nonnative structures

RNA folding in the cell occurs during transcription. Expedient RNA folding must avoid the formation of undesirable structures as the nascent RNA emerges from the RNA polymerase. We show that efficient folding during transcription of three conserved noncoding RNAs from Escherichia coli, RNase P RNA, signal-recognition particle RNA, and tmRNA is facilitated by their cognate polymerase pausing at specific locations. These pause sites are located between the upstream and downstream portions of all of the native long-range helices in these noncoding RNAs. In the paused complexes, the nascent RNAs form labile structures that sequester these upstream portions in a manner to possibly guide folding. Both the pause sites and the secondary structure of the nonnative portions of the paused complexes are phylogenetically conserved among γ-proteobacteria. We propose that specific pausing-induced structural formation is a general strategy to facilitate the folding of long-range helices. This polymerase-based mechanism may result in portions of noncoding RNA sequences being evolutionarily conserved for efficient folding during transcription.
The relationship between proximal and distal colonic adenomas: is screening sigmoidoscopy enough in the presence of a changing epidemiology?

Background and study aims Because the relationship between distal and proximal colonic findings remains uncertain, controversy exists over whether proctosigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is more suitable for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. We aim to describe the distribution and characteristics of polyps removed in colonoscopy screening. Patients and methods A prospective registry of a colonoscopy-based CRC screening program was developed on asymptomatic individuals over 50 years. All polyps were removed and characterized. Polyp size and histology were noted. Adenomas were considered advanced if they measured greater than 10 mm or were tubulovillous, villous, or malignant. The prevalence of advanced proximal polyps was determined and patients were categorized according to their family history of CRC. Results A total of 696 individuals (418 women), aged 57.7±10.3 years, were examined; 45.8% presented a colonic lesion, being adenomatous polyps in 32.7% individuals. Among these, 24.7% were advanced adenomas. Three patients (0.6%) presented invasive CRC. There were no significant differences with respect to sex and family history of CRC between patients with or without adenomas. Adenomas were more prevalent in individuals aged at least 65, irrespective of location (P<0.001). In 65.1% of individuals with adenomatous polyps in the right colon, there were no synchronous adenomas in the left colon (P<0.001). More adenomas were also present in the right colon of patients with no family history of CRC (P<0.001). Conclusion Most patients with adenomatous polyps in the right colon showed no synchronic adenomas on theleft side. Lesions on the right side would have gone undetected if the individuals undergoing CRC screening had been explored with proctosigmoidoscopy.
[Socio-cultural determinants of the lateness of the first prenatal consultation in a health district in Senegal].

OBJECTIVE to evaluate the socio-cultural determinants of the delay in having the first pre-natal exam (CPN) in order to make recommendations which aim to reduce maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in the Richard-Toll health district in Senegal. METHOD the study was cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical, and was conducted on the entire population of pregnant women who came in for a CPN between March 1st and April 30th, 2003. A questionnaire which was developed on the basis of studied variables steered the interview process which was carried out upon completion of each pregnant woman's CPN in 15 different health facilities. Data were recorded and analysed using Epi Info 6.04d software. RESULTS The sample population studied included 351 pregnant women. The cultural environment over the unexpected nature of the pregnancy, the discretion surrounding the pregnancy, the ignorance of the risks, and the refusal to be examined by male health workers all have a statistically significant influence on the tardiness of the first CPN. Similarly, the late CPN has a statistically strong link with three distinctive elements of the pregnant woman's social profile: namely, illiteracy, at risk age (< 18 or > 34 years old), and total number of deliveries (> 3 births). Illiteracy has a statistically significant link with the refusal to be examined by a male health worker, ignorance of the risks, unexpected pregnancies, and trying to hide one's pregnancy, which has an additional link with the age at risk. DISCUSSION the social profile of the pregnant women studied is quite similar to that of greater population from which they come. The early CPN allows the care provider to forecast the delivery date with greater presicion and to estimate the delivery conditions more accurately at the time of the fourth CPN at which time the risk for potential complications which may necessitate a Ceasarean section is thoroughly assessed (DRS). Thus, the delay of the first CPN constitutes a limiting factor in the correct monitoring and surveillance of the pregnancy. The various social and cultural factors are intricately intertwined, and this interaction supports the need for multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary actions which are generally necessary for the resolution of public health problems. Three recommendations are proposed which aim to improve the frequency of the early CPN. CONCLUSION the influence of socio-cultural factors on the CPN requires that the CPN be fully integrated into a more advanced strategy and that a behaviour change within the community be influenced and take place through health education.
In vivo magnetic resonance imaging tracking of SPIO‐labeled human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC‐MSCs) can be efficiently labeled by superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles, which produces low signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in vitro. This study was to evaluate the feasibility of in vivo tracking for hUC‐MSCs labeled by SPIO with noninvasive MRI. SPIO was added to cultures at concentrations equivalent to 0, 7, 14, 28, and 56 µg Fe/ml (diluted with DMEM/F12) and incubated for 16 h. Prussian Blue staining was used to determinate the labeling efficiency. Rats were randomly divided into three groups, control group, hUC‐MSCs group, and SPIO‐labeled hUC‐MSCs group. All groups were subjected to spinal cord injury (SCI) by weight drop device. Rats were examined for neurological function. In vivo MRI was used to track SPIO‐labeled hUC‐MSCs transplanted in rats spinal cord. Survival and migration of hUC‐MSCs were also explored using immunofluorescence. Significant improvements in locomotion were observed in the hUC‐MSCs groups. There was statistical significance compared with control group. In vivo MRI 1 and 3 weeks after injection showed a large reduction in signal intensity in the region transplanted with SPIO‐labeled hUC‐MSCs. The images from unlabeled hUC‐MSCs showed a smaller reduction in signal intensity. Transplanted hUC‐MSCs engrafted within the injured rats spinal cord and survived for at least 8 weeks. In conclusion, hUC‐MSCs can survive and migrate in the host spinal cord after transplantation, which promote functional recovery after SCI. Noninvasive imaging of transplanted SPIO‐labeled hUC‐MSCs is feasible. J. Cell. Biochem. 113: 1005–1012, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
THE RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF REGULATING EXERCISE INTENSITY BY RATINGS OF PERCEIVED EXERTION IN STEP DANCE SESSIONS

The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of regulating exercise intensity by ratings of perceived exertion in step dance sessions. Ten male college-aged students voluntarily participated in 2 step dance sessions for 45 minutes at 70–80% of their heart rate (HR) reserves with a 1-week interval between sessions. The step dance sessions included the same choreography with 10 minutes of warm-up, 25 minutes of the main part, 5 minutes of calisthenics for legs and abdomen, and 5 minutes of cool-down. In each session, subjects' ratings of perceived exertion (RPEs) were determined by Borg's 6–20 scale together with HR and lactic acid (LA) levels with 10-minute intervals. Values for RPE, HR, and LA increased nonlinearly in both sessions, and their trends were explained by polynomial equations to the second degree. The RPE values increased throughout each session, whereas HR and LA showed a decrease in the last time interval, which indicated that RPE did not maintain exercise intensity at proper range. Reliability coefficients for RPE scores in the first and last session ranged from 0.602 to 0.684. These findings suggest that RPE was a reliable but not a valid method for regulating exercise intensity in step dance sessions.
Sharpening and formation: two distinct neuronal mechanisms of repetition priming

The repetition of an object stimulus results in faster and better recognition of this object (repetition priming). This phenomenon is neuronally associated with a reduced firing rate of neurons (repetition suppression). It has been interpreted as a sharpening mechanism within the cell assembly representing the object. In the case of an unfamiliar stimulus for which no object representation exists, the repetition of the stimulus results in an increase in the firing rate (repetition enhancement). It has been hypothesized that this increase reflects the formation of a cortical object representation. We aimed to investigate cortical object representations as well as repetition suppression and enhancement by means of the steady‐state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) in the healthy human brain. To that end, we used a repetition paradigm with familiar and unfamiliar objects, each presented with 12‐Hz flicker, producing an oscillatory brain response at the same frequency (i.e. an SSVEP). Results showed significantly smaller SSVEP amplitudes for repeated familiar objects compared to their first presentation (repetition suppression). For unfamiliar objects, SSVEP amplitudes increased with stimulus repetition (repetition enhancement). Source reconstruction revealed inferior temporal regions as generators for the repetition suppression effect, probably reflecting a sharpening mechanism within the cortical representations of the constituting features of an object. In contrast, repetition enhancement was localised in the superior parietal lobe, possibly reflecting the formation of a structural object representation. Thus, the mechanisms underlying repetition priming (i.e. sharpening and formation) depend on the semantic content of the incoming information.
Increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, decreased tissue factor pathway inhibitor, and unchanged thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor levels in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Little is known about hemostatic features of patients with PHPT. To our knowledge, plasma tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) levels in these patints have not been investigated. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the markers of endogenous coagulation/fibrinolysis, including TFPI and TAFI, and to investigate the relationships between serum calcium and PTH and these hemostatic parameters in patients with PHPT. DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-four patients with PHPT and 20 age-, sex-, and-weight-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), TFPI, and TAFI were measured. The relationships between serum calcium, phosphorus, and PTH and these hemostatic parameters were examinated. RESULTS Compared with the control subjects, t-PA, PAI-1, and PAI-1/t-PA ratios were significantly increased in patients with PHPT (P<0.0001), whereas TFPI levels were significantly decreased (P<0.0001). Plasma TAFI Ag levels did not significantly change in patients with PHPT compared with the controls. In patients with PHPT, serum phosphorus was negatively correlated with plasma PAI-1 Ag levels and PAI-1/t-PA ratio (r: -0.453, P<0.05; r: -0.580, P<0.01 respectively). There was a positive correlation between Cl/P ratio and plasma PAI-1 levels and PAI-1/t-PA ratio (r: 0.434, P<0.05; r: 0.528, P<0.05 respectively). iPTH was positively correlated with plasma PAI-1/t-PA ratio (r: 0.429, P<0.05). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we found some important differences in the hemostatic parameters between the patients with PHPT and healthy controls. Increased PAI-1, PAI-1/t-PA ratios and decreased TFPI levels in these patients represent a potential hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic state, which might augment the risk for atherosclerotic and atherothrombotic complications. This condition may contribute to the excess mortality due to cardiovascular disease seen in patients with PHPT.
Errors with Small Volume Elastic Seepage Meter Bags

The use of small volume elastic collection bags (condoms) has become popular in seepage meter studies in recent years, despite minimal field or laboratory validation of their use and, specifically, the impact of their elasticity on seepage measurements. A laboratory study was initiated after field results using small elastic collection bags produced seepage data that did not correlate with hydrometric data. The laboratory data demonstrate that condoms undergo significant mechanical relaxation during seepage measurement times typically observed in field settings. Unlike conventional nonelastic collection bags, which mechanically relax over several minutes, the condoms suffered from a slow mechanical relaxation or equilibration. Over nine hours, condoms gained 43 mL of water, ‐50% of maximum workable volume (between mechanical relaxation effect and elastic limit), under stagnant flow conditions. This long‐term equilibration invalidates simple subtraction of equilibration volumes from collection volumes as a correction technique. Previously published studies using flexible small‐volume elastic measurement bags (condoms) have not reported a mechanical relaxation effect. Overall, because the condom's small workable volume and inherent variability, we would not recommend any small‐volume elastic measurement bags for quantitative seepage measurements.
Leverage and reinsurance effects on loss reserves in the United Kingdom’s property–casualty insurance industry

We examine the relation between loss reserving errors, leverage and reinsurance in the UK’s property–casualty insurance industry. We find that financially weak insurers under-estimate reserves to reduce leverage, and so pre-empt costly regulatory scrutiny. However, at very high leverage, insurers over-reserve, suggesting a non-linear relation between leverage and reserving policy. We also investigate whether monitoring by reinsurers reduces reserving errors, and find that highly reinsured insurers are less likely to make loss reserve errors. However, the use of proportional reinsurance does not affect loss reserve accuracy.
Effect of lifestyle changes and atorvastatin administration on dyslipidemia in hemodialysis patients: a prospective study.

INTRODUCTION Atherogenic dyslipidemia accelerates the development of cardiovascular complications and contributes to mortality of hemodialysis (HD) patients. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of lifestyle changes followed by treatment with atorvastatin in dyslipidemic HD patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Dyslipidemic HD patients (n = 49) were enrolled into the prospective study. Forty-two patients completed a 21-week lifestyle intervention. In 34 patients, who continued to be dyslipidemic, atorvastatin was used for 14 weeks. After 4 weeks, the initial dose of atorvastatin of 10 mg/d was increased to 20 mg/d in dyslipidemic patients. RESULTS The most pronounced effects of lifestyle changes were shown at 14 weeks and included significant differences in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, salusin α, malondialdehyde-oxidized LDL, fructosamine, and monocyte CD36 expression. Immunoglobulin G anti-oxLDL showed the highest values at 21 weeks. Seven patients (16.7%) were nondyslipidemic at 21 weeks. In patients who continued to be dyslipidemic, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels significantly decreased, salusin α levels and CD36 expression increased, and dyslipidemia resolved in 59.4% of the patients following atorvastatin treatment. CONCLUSIONS Lifestyle changes have selective efficacy in the treatment of dyslipidemia in HD patients, while atorvastatin (up to 20 mg/d) may be effective in about 60% of nonresponders to lifestyle changes. Lipid-lowering interventions affect plasma salusin α and monocyte CD36 expression.
Craving Shift in Chronic Alcoholics

In order to investigate changes in the consumption of substances that stimulate the reward system, 222 recently detoxified alcoholics were asked about their consumptional habits before as compared to after detoxification (mixed prospective and retrospective design). Seventy-eight point two percent reported an increase in consumption of coffee, cigarettes, chocolate and other sweets, while 34.9% managed to reduce at least one of these substances. The increase was significant for coffee, chocolate and other sweets. The desire for consumption of these substances was correlated with the maximum ever experienced desire for alcohol (0.232 for coffee, 0.213 for cigarettes, 0.193 for chocolate and 0.176 for other sweets), and the actual consumption of coffee, cigarettes and sweets was correlated with the actual desire for alcohol (0.172, 0.157 and 0.245, respectively). The results lend some support to the hypothesis that psychotropic substances might serve as a kind of self-regulation against craving in this group. A possible link to biochemical theories is discussed.
Novel Technological and Management Options for Accelerating Transformational Changes in Rice and Livestock Systems

Agricultural producers grapple with low farm yields and declining ecosystem services within their landscapes. In several instances, agricultural production systems may be considered largely unsustainable in socioeconomic and ecological (resource conservation and use and impact on nature) terms. Novel technological and management options that can serve as vehicles to promote the provision of multiple benefits, including the improvement of smallholder livelihoods, are needed. We call for a paradigm shift to allow designing and implementing agricultural systems that are not only efficient (serving as a means to promote development based on the concept of creating more goods and services while using fewer resources and creating less waste) but can also be considered synergistic (symbiotic relationship between socio-ecological systems) by simultaneously contributing to major objectives of economic, ecological, and social (equity) improvement of agro-ecosystems. These transformations require strategic approaches that are supported by participatory system-level research, experimentation, and innovation. Using data from several studies, we here provide evidence for technological and management options that could be optimized, promoted, and adopted to enable agricultural systems to be efficient, effective, and, indeed, sustainable. Specifically, we present results from a study conducted in Colombia, which demonstrated that, in rice systems, improved water management practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) reduce methane emissions (~70%). We also show how women can play a key role in AWD adoption. For livestock systems, we present in vitro evidence showing that the use of alternative feed options such as cassava leaves contributes to livestock feed supplementation and could represent a cost-effective approach for reducing enteric methane emissions (22% to 55%). We argue that to design and benefit from sustainable agricultural systems, there is a need for better targeting of interventions that are co-designed, co-evaluated, and co-promoted, with farmers as allies of transformational change (as done in the climate-smart villages), not as recipients of external knowledge. Moreover, for inclusive sustainability that harnesses existing knowledge and influences decision-making processes across scales, there is a need for constant, efficient, effective, and real trans-disciplinary communication and collaboration.
A Normative Study of the Boston Naming Test in 3- to 14-Year-Old Korean Children

We administered the 60-item Korean version of the Boston Naming Test (K-BNT) to 2560 normally developing Korean children aged between 3 and 14 years. The children were stratified into 24 groups between the ages of 3 years, 0 months (3;0) and 14 years, 11 months (14;11) with 6-month intervals between each group. Statistical analysis did not reveal gender differences, but there were significant age differences among the groups (F = 615.340, p = .000). The lowest score (M = 14.17, SD = 4.28) was observed in the 3;0 ∼ 3;5 age-group and the highest (M = 50.64, SD = 3.70) in the 14;6 ∼ 14;11. Simple linear regression analysis revealed an R2 value of . 800, indicating that the age variable explains 80% of the score variance (F = 10228.343, p = .000). Some of the 24 age groups were clustered due to lack of difference of the test scores between the neighboring groups, reducing the number of age groups to 13. This large cross-sectional study provided clinically useful norms of the BNT on Korean children and confirmed an importance of the age parameter in a neuropsychological testing.