Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adenosine Receptor A2a, but Not A1 in the rVLM Participates Along With Opioids in Acupuncture-Mediated Inhibition of Excitatory Cardiovascular Reflexes

Electroacupuncture (EA) can be used to lower high blood pressure (BP) in clinical practice. However, precise mechanisms underlying its effects on elevated BP remain unclear. Our previous studies have shown that EA at the P5-6 acupoints, overlying the median nerve, attenuates elevated BP induced by gastric distension (GD) through influence on rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM). Although adenosine is released during neuronal activation in the rVLM, its role in acupuncture-cardiovascular regulation is unknown. The purinergic system is involved in cardiovascular pressor and depressor responses, including via selective activation of A1 and A2a rVLM receptors, respectively. The action of A2a receptor stimulation in the central nervous system may be further regulated through an endogenous opioid mechanism. However, it is uncertain whether this putative action occurs in the rVLM. We hypothesized that adenosine in the rVLM contributes to EA modulation of sympathoexcitatory reflexes through an A2a but not an A1 adenosine receptor-opioid mechanism. EA or sham-EA was applied at the P5-6 acupoints in Sprague-Dawley male rats subjected to repeated GD under anesthesia. We found that EA (n = 6) but not sham-EA (n = 5) at P5-6 significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated GD-induced elevations in BP. EA modulation of sympathoexcitatory cardiovascular reflexes was reversed significantly after rVLM microinjection (50 nl) of 8-SPT (10 mM; non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist; n = 7) or SCH 58261 (1 mM; A2a receptor antagonist; n = 8; both P < 0.05), but not by DPCPX (3 mM; A1 receptor antagonist; n = 6) or the vehicle (5% dimethylsulfoxide; n = 6). Moreover, microinjection of an A2a receptor agonist, CGS-21680 (0.4 mM; n = 8) into the rVLM attenuated GD-induced pressor responses without EA, which mimicked EA’s inhibitory effects (P < 0.05). After blockade of opioid receptors with naloxone (1 mM) in the rVLM, SCH 58261’s reversal of EA’s effect on GD-induced pressor responses was blunted, and CGS-21680-mediated inhibitory effect on pressor responses was not observed. Furthermore, neurons labeled with adenosine A2a receptors were anatomically co-localized with neurons stained with enkephalin in the rVLM. These data suggest that the involvement of rVLM adenosine A2a receptors in EA modulation of GD-induced pressor reflexes is, at least in part, dependent on the presence of endogenous opioids.
Impaired Fine Motor Function of the Asymptomatic Hand in Unilateral Parkinson’s Disease

The early detection of Parkinson’s disease (PD) still remains a challenge to date. Although studies have previously reported subtle motor function abnormalities in early PD patients, it is unclear whether such clinical signs can be better detected while patients are concurrently performing a cognitive task, and whether they can be useful in predicting patients’ clinical conversion state. Seventy-two right-handed participants (40 drug-naive patients with idiopathic unilateral PD and 32 age-matched healthy controls) were enrolled in this study. All participants were asked to perform the Purdue Pegboard test (PPT) either alone (single-task condition) or during a concurrent mental subtraction-by-3 task (dual-task condition). A 4-year telephone follow-up was later conducted to determine whether PD patients converted to bilateral signs. We found that PD patients showed a significant reduction in dexterity on the PPT compared to the controls in both single- and dual-task conditions. Yet patients’ performance in the dual-task condition revealed a greater interference effect when patients performed the task with their right hand than with their left hand. PPT also revealed reasonable discriminative ability for prediagnosing PD. However, dual-tasking did not have added value in differentiating early patients and controls. At follow-up, the baseline PPT performance of the asymptomatic hands was positively correlated with time to convert from unilaterally to bilaterally affected states (r = 0.62, P = 0.031). Together, these findings suggest that PPT can serve as a useful auxiliary tool in evaluating early PD, and shed light on the neuroplasticity mechanism of fine motor deficit at this very early stage.
Heparanase-Dependent Remodeling of Initial Lymphatic Glycocalyx Regulates Tissue-Fluid Drainage During Acute Inflammation in vivo

The glycocalyx is a dense layer of carbohydrate chains involved in numerous and fundamental biological processes, such as cellular and tissue homeostasis, inflammation and disease development. Composed of membrane-bound glycoproteins, sulfated proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycan side-chains, this structure is particularly essential for blood vascular barrier functions and leukocyte diapedesis. Interestingly, whilst the glycocalyx of blood vascular endothelium has been extensively studied, little is known about the composition and function of this glycan layer present on tissue-associated lymphatic vessels (LVs). Here, we applied confocal microscopy to characterize the composition of endothelial glycocalyx of initial lymphatic capillaries in murine cremaster muscles during homeostatic and inflamed conditions using an anti-heparan sulfate (HS) antibody and a panel of lectins recognizing different glycan moieties of the glycocalyx. Our data show the presence of HS, α-D-galactosyl moieties, α2,3-linked sialic acids and, to a lesser extent, N-Acetylglucosamine moieties. A similar expression profile was also observed for LVs of mouse and human skins. Interestingly, inflammation of mouse cremaster tissues or ear skin as induced by TNF-stimulation induced a rapid (within 16 h) remodeling of the LV glycocalyx, as observed by reduced expression of HS and galactosyl moieties, whilst levels of α2,3-linked sialic acids remains unchanged. Furthermore, whilst this response was associated with neutrophil recruitment from the blood circulation and their migration into tissue-associated LVs, specific neutrophil depletion did not impact LV glycocalyx remodeling. Mechanistically, treatment with a non-anticoagulant heparanase inhibitor suppressed LV HS degradation without impacting neutrophil migration into LVs. Interestingly however, inhibition of glycocalyx degradation reduced the capacity of initial LVs to drain interstitial fluid during acute inflammation. Collectively, our data suggest that rapid remodeling of endothelial glycocalyx of tissue-associated LVs supports drainage of fluid and macromolecules but has no role in regulating neutrophil trafficking out of inflamed tissues via initial LVs.
Regulation of NMDA Receptor Plasticity in the BNST Following Adolescent Alcohol Exposure

Persistent alterations in synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission are thought to underlie the heightened risk of adolescent-onset drinkers to develop alcohol use disorders in adulthood. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a compelling region to study the consequences of early alcohol, as it is innervated by cortical structures which undergo continued maturation during adolescence and is critically involved in stress and negative affect-associated relapse. In adult mice, chronic ethanol induces long-term changes in GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors (NMDARs) of the BNST. It remains unclear, however, whether the adolescent BNST is susceptible to such persistent alcohol-induced modifications and, if so, whether they are preserved into adulthood. We therefore examined the short- and long-term consequences of adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure (AIE) on NMDAR transmission and plasticity in the BNST of male and female mice. Whole-cell voltage clamp recordings revealed greater glutamatergic tone in the BNST of AIE-treated males and females relative to air-controls. This change, which corresponded to an increase in presynaptic glutamate release, resulted in altered postsynaptic NMDAR metaplasticity and enhanced GluN2B transmission in males but not females. Only AIE-treated males displayed upregulated GluN2B expression (determined by western blot analysis). While these changes did not persist into adulthood under basal conditions, exposing adult males (but not females) to acute restraint stress reinstated AIE-induced alterations in NMDAR metaplasticity and GluN2B function. These data demonstrate that adolescent alcohol exposure specifically modifies NMDARs in the male BNST, that the plastic changes to NMDARs are long-lasting, and that they can be engaged by stress.
Accuracy of the Multisensory Wristwatch Polar Vantage's Estimation of Energy Expenditure in Various Activities: Instrument Validation Study

Background Sport watches and fitness trackers provide a feasible way of obtaining energy expenditure (EE) estimations in daily life as well as during exercise. However, today’s popular wrist-worn technologies show only poor-to-moderate EE accuracy. Recently, the invention of optical heart rate measurement and the further development of accelerometers in wrist units have opened up the possibility of measuring EE. Objective This study aimed to validate the new multisensory wristwatch Polar Vantage and its EE estimation in healthy individuals during low-to-high-intensity activities against indirect calorimetry. Methods Overall, 30 volunteers (15 females; mean age 29.5 [SD 5.1] years; mean height 1.7 [SD 0.8] m; mean weight 67.5 [SD 8.7] kg; mean maximal oxygen uptake 53.4 [SD 6.8] mL/min·kg) performed 7 activities—ranging in intensity from sitting to playing floorball—in a semistructured indoor environment for 10 min each, with 2-min breaks in between. These activities were performed while wearing the Polar Vantage M wristwatch and the MetaMax 3B spirometer. Results After EE estimation, a mean (SD) of 69.1 (42.7) kcal and 71.4 (37.8) kcal per 10-min activity were reported for the MetaMax 3B and the Polar Vantage, respectively, with a strong correlation of r=0.892 (P<.001). The systematic bias was 2.3 kcal (3.3%), with 37.8 kcal limits of agreement. The lowest mean absolute percentage errors were reported during the sitting and reading activities (9.1%), and the highest error rates during household chores (31.4%). On average, 59.5% of the mean EE values obtained by the Polar Vantage were within ±20% of accuracy when compared with the MetaMax 3B. The activity intensity quantified by perceived exertion (odds ratio [OR] 2.028; P<.001) and wrist circumference (OR −1.533; P=.03) predicted 29% of the error rates within the Polar Vantage. Conclusions The Polar Vantage has a statistically moderate-to-good accuracy in EE estimation that is activity dependent. During sitting and reading activities, the EE estimation is very good, whereas during nonsteady activities that require wrist and arm movement, the EE accuracy is only moderate. However, compared with other available wrist-worn EE monitors, the Polar Vantage can be recommended, as it performs among the best.
Resident perceptions of opportunity for communication and contribution to care planning in residential aged care.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Irrespective of age, communication is a tool of expression and a key daily activity meeting the human need for social interaction and connection. The introduction of consumer-directed care (CDC) emphasises the importance of communication to provide consumers with the opportunity to exercise choice over the care they receive. As consumer-directed care progresses, it is hypothesised that the feasibility of shared decision-making and care planning in residential aged care will be largely determined by the communication opportunities afforded to the residents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore resident perceptions of the opportunities they have to communicate, including the opportunity to express their care preferences and contribute opinions about their care. DESIGN A qualitative inductive design was adopted. METHODS An individual interview format was used to gather the perspectives of 102 residents. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis to generate themes illustrating patterns in participant views. FINDINGS Overall, residents desired increased involvement in their care planning and increased opportunity for more meaningful communication and social opportunities. Residents described the negative impact of the communication difficulties they face on their communication and the need for support and activities to be tailored to residents' individual communication needs. CONCLUSIONS To facilitate resident participation in CDC and meet resident desire for increased social communication, further investment in resources to support resident-staff communication and accommodate residents' individual communication needs is required. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE By highlighting communication as a stand-alone activity and a priority of residents, the findings of this study raise the profile of communication and demonstrate the need for explicit allocation of care time and specialist services to support resident-staff communication and social communication in residential aged care. Such support must be tailored to meet residents' individual communication needs and be coupled with increased staff training in providing communication support. Without facilitating resident communication and increasing the opportunity to communicate, shared decision-making and care planning in residential aged care consistent with person-centred and consumer-directed models of care will be limited.
National population-based estimates for major birth defects, 2010-2014.

BACKGROUND Using the National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) annual data report, U.S. national prevalence estimates for major birth defects are developed based on birth cohort 2010-2014. METHODS Data from 39 U.S. population-based birth defects surveillance programs (16 active case-finding, 10 passive case-finding with case confirmation, and 13 passive without case confirmation) were used to calculate pooled prevalence estimates for major defects by case-finding approach. Fourteen active case-finding programs including at least live birth and stillbirth pregnancy outcomes monitoring approximately one million births annually were used to develop national prevalence estimates, adjusted for maternal race/ethnicity (for all conditions examined) and maternal age (trisomies and gastroschisis). These calculations used a similar methodology to the previous estimates to examine changes over time. RESULTS The adjusted national birth prevalence estimates per 10,000 live births ranged from 0.62 for interrupted aortic arch to 16.87 for clubfoot, and 19.93 for the 12 critical congenital heart defects combined. While the birth prevalence of most birth defects studied remained relatively stable over 15 years, an increasing prevalence was observed for gastroschisis and Down syndrome. Additionally, the prevalence for atrioventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, omphalocele, and trisomy 18 increased in this period compared to the previous periods. Active case-finding programs generally had higher prevalence rates for most defects examined, most notably for anencephaly, anophthalmia/microphthalmia, trisomy 13, and trisomy 18. CONCLUSION National estimates of birth defects prevalence provide data for monitoring trends and understanding the impact of these conditions. Increasing prevalence rates observed for selected conditions warrant further examination.
Do minimum wage laws affect those who are not covered? Evidence from agricultural and non-agricultural workers

Some employers are not obligated to pay at least minimum wages to all employees. U.S. farm employers comprise one of these groups. Employees of large farms and H-2A workers (lawfully admitted, nonimmigrant workers performing temporary or seasonal agricultural work) are protected by minimum wage legislation, while some migrant workers (often those paid piece rates) are exempt. U.S. agriculture also is characterized by a large percentage of unauthorized workers who may or may not earn above minimum wage. Following insights from dual labor market theory and from theories of the signaling capacity of the minimum wage, we compare labor market outcomes in the agricultural sector (where minimum wage coverage is limited) to low wage/skill non-agricultural sectors (where minimum wage coverage is more complete) nationally using data from the Current Population Survey. We then extend our analysis to a detailed state-level case study of agricultural workers in California using a representative survey of employed farm workers. Results suggest wage increases for covered workers that exceed those for uncovered workers, but insignificant differences in hours worked. This is the first study to our knowledge to examine the impacts of minimum wage coverage on agricultural workers relative to other workers for the U.S.
Global review of beach debris monitoring and future recommendations.

Marine debris is distributed worldwide and constitutes an increasing threat to our environment. The exponential increase of plastic debris raises numerous concerns and has led to an intensification in plastic monitoring and research. However, global spatial and temporal patterns and knowledge gaps in debris distribution, both on land and at sea, are relatively poorly understood, mainly due to a lack of comprehensive datasets. Here we critically review the quality of the available information on beach plastic debris worldwide to highlight where the most urgent actions are required, and to promote the standardization of reporting metrics and sampling methods among researchers. From a total of 174 studies evaluated, 27.0% reported marine debris densities in metrics that were not comparable. Some studies failed to report basic parameters, such as the date of the sampling (9.8%) or the size of the collected debris (19.5%). Our findings show that current research regarding beach debris requires significant improvement and standardization and would benefit from the adoption of a common reporting framework to promote consensus within the scientific community.
Role of anabolic agents in colorectal carcinogenesis: Myths and realities

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the four leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Even though over the past few decades the global scientific community has made tremendous efforts to understand this entity, many questions remain to be raised on this issue and even more to be answered. Epidemiological findings have unveiled numerous environmental and genetic risk factors, each one contributing to a certain degree to the final account of new CRC cases. Moreover, different trends have been revealed regarding the age of onset of CRC between the two sexes. That, in addition to newly introduced therapeutic approaches for various diseases based on androgens, anti-androgens and anabolic hormones has raised some concerns regarding their possible carcinogenic effects or their synergistic potential with other substances/risk factors, predisposing the individual to CRC. Notably, despite the intense research on experimental settings and population studies, the conclusions regarding the majority of anabolic substances are ambiguous. Some of these indicate the carcinogenic properties of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and others, demonstrating their neutral nature or even their protective one, as in the case of vitamin D. Thus, the synergistic nature of anabolic substances with other CRC risk factors (such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and smoking) has emerged, suggesting a more holistic approach.
Presence of Exopeptidase Resistant and Susceptible Peptides in a Bacterial Protease Digest of Corn Gluten.

Corn gluten hydrolysate (CGH) was prepared by food-grade bacterial proteases; alcalase and neutral protease. Digestion of CGH with carboxypeptidase A and leucine aminopeptidase extensively changed elution patterns of peptides from reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), while digestion with pepsin and trypsin hardly affect elution patterns. Twenty-five major peptides in CGH were identified. After digestion with exopeptidases, only prolyl di-peptides and pyroglutamyl di- and tri-peptides remained, whereas the other 17 peptides completely disappeared. On the other hand, all 25 peptides remained after digestion with pepsin and trypsin. These facts suggest that majority of short chain peptides in food protein hydrolysates are degraded by exopeptidases during digestion and absorption processes. Thus, susceptibility to exopeptidases should be considered for prediction of bioactive peptide upon ingestion, which has not been considered in the most of previous studies on food-derived bioactive peptide.
Co-existence of maternal overweight and obesity with childhood undernutrition in rural and urban communities of Lagos State, Nigeria

Background: The coexistence of over-nutrition and under-nutrition is emerging as a public health problem in many low and middle income countries. This study aimed at determining prevalence of coexisting maternal overweight and obesity with childhood stunting (MOCS) and the associated socio-demographic factors in rural and urban communities of Lagos State, Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross sectional survey conducted using the multistage random sampling technique. A total of 300 mother-child pairs were studied, consisting of 150 each from rural and urban communities. Maternal overweight and obesity and undernutrition in children were determined using standard criteria. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among mothers was significantly higher in urban than rural areas (50.7% vs. 41.3%; p=0.022) while the prevalence of childhood stunting was significantly higher in rural than urban areas (43.3% 12.6%; p<0.001). Coexisting maternal overweight and obesity with childhood stunting was observed in 31 (10.3%) mother-child pair with a significantly higher prevalence in rural than urban areas (14.7% vs. 6.0%, p=0.014). In multivariate logistic regression, maternal short stature (OR 3.3, 95% CI=1.2-9.0, p=0.02) and living in rural area (OR 0.2, 95% CI=0.1-0.5, p=0.001) were the identified risk factors for coexisting maternal overweight and obesity with childhood stunting. Conclusion: The prevalence of coexisting MOCS is high especially in rural areas. Effort at reducing childhood malnutrition should focus on appropriate interventional measures aimed at improving maternal nutritional status. (www.actabiomedica.it)