Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anabolic effect of high doses of human parathyroid hormone (1–38) in mature intact female rats

Adult female retired breeder Wistar rats were treated with placebo or with synthetic human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) fragment (1–38) by subcutaneous injection at doses ranging from 50 to 1000 μg/kg, 5 days per week, for 2–8 weeks. One group of rats received hPTH‐(1–38), 400 μg/kg, 5 days per week for 4 weeks, followed by 4 weeks placebo. The effects on bone mass and structure were evaluated by histomorphometric analysis of cross sections of femoral metaphyses. The effects on bone formation were evaluated by measuring uptake of [H]tetracycline into femora and by qualitative evaluation of histologic sections after labeling with calcein and tetracycline. All doses of hPTH‐(1–38) were anabolic. Lamellar bone formation was stimulated on all surfaces, and cancellous bone mass was increased as a result of trabecular thickening. Small quantities of woven bone were also formed in marrow cavities after treatment with 400 or 1000 μg/kg. Treatment with 1000 μg/kg had an effect on measured parameters similar to that with 400 μg/kg, and there was no evidence for a diminution of the anabolic effect at high doses. Animals treated with hPTH‐(1–38) for 4 weeks followed by 4 weeks placebo tended to have less bone than those that received hPTH‐(1–38) for 8 weeks but had significantly more bone than placebo‐treated rats. In conclusion, daily injection of hPTH‐(1–38) for 2–8 weeks at doses ranging from 50 to 1000 μg/kg had an anabolic effect on both cortical and trabecular bone in the femur of mature female intact rats. After withdrawal of treatment, the bone formation rate fell below levels in untreated animals, but bone mass remained higher.
Adolescents with Skin Disease Have Specific Quality of Life Issues

Background: Adolescence is a period of life with its own unique characteristics. Objectives: To provide an in-depth understanding of the impact of skin disease on different aspects of adolescents’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of dermatology patients between 12 and 19 years of age, attending the dermatology outpatient clinic of a secondary referral centre. Participants were invited to talk in detail about all the ways their lives had been affected by their skin disease. Interviews were transcribed verbatim. Results: Thirty-two adolescents (males = 10, females = 22) with a mean age of 15.7 years (range = 12–18 years) participated in the interviews. Twenty-eight HRQoL themes adversely affected by skin diseases were identified from the interviews which were grouped under 6 main HRQoL domains – psychological impact (91% of patients), physical impact (81%), social impact (81%), impact on lifestyle (63%), need for support (41%) and education and employment (34%). The number of HRQoL themes affected in each individual varied between 1 and 23 (mean = 8.1). Conclusions: The results of this study revealed the extent and nature of the impact of skin diseases on adolescents’ HRQoL. A number of issues identified were specific to adolescents, highlighting the need for specific HRQoL assessment.
Radiologic outcome and its relationship to functional disability in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine the radiologic outcome in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and the relationship of radiologically detected joint damage to functional disability using multivariate analyses. METHODS Selection criteria included a diagnosis of JRA made by 1977 American College of Rheumatology criteria, onset of arthritis > or = 5 years prior to study, current age > or = 8 years, a minimum grade 3 reading ability, and the availability of radiographs. Disability was measured by the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) and Steinbrocker classifications. Radiographs taken within 2 years after onset (early) and the most recent radiographs (late) were examined by a single pediatric radiologist blinded to patients' identities, diagnoses, and outcomes. Multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS On late radiographs the frequencies of joint space narrowing were 38, 14, 43, and 79%, respectively, among patients with systemic, pauciarticular, rheumatoid factor (RF) negative polyarticular, and RF positive polyarticular onset; erosions occurred in 63, 25, 39, and 75%, respectively. Early erosions were most frequent in patients with RF+ polyarticular onset, while both joint space narrowing and erosions occurred early in systemic onset. Radiologic signs of joint damage were most frequent at hips and wrists, while knees and ankles were relatively spared. Based on patients who had radiographs performed within one year of clinical study, 17.7% of the variation in CHAQ score was explained by joint space narrowing, 32.4% by pain, and 5% by a severe rating on physician's global estimate of disease activity. The odds of a Steinbrocker class > I were increased by joint space narrowing, pain, systemic onset, and active joint count. CONCLUSION Differences in the frequencies and patterns of joint damage occur both among JRA onset subtypes and among individual joints. Radiographic damage, especially joint space narrowing, correlates with functional disability. However, pain is the major contributor to variation in CHAQ scores.
A New Hb Evanston Allele [α14(A12)Trp → Arg] Found Solely, and in the Presence of Common α‐Thalassemia Deletions, in Three Independent Asian Cases

Hb Evanston [α14(A12)Trp → Arg] is considered to be a rare α chain mutant, and was originally observed in two Black families in 1982, inducing a mild Hb H disease phenotype in a homozygous state for the − α3. 7 deletion ( − αEvanston/ − α). The mutant, evidently linked with one of the two − α3. 7 thalassemia (thal) alleles, was considered to be unstable and rapidly proteolyzed. We describe Hb Evanston in three new independent Asian cases, all induced by a TGG → CGG transition. In all cases the mutation is linked to the α1‐globin gene, either on a wild type allele or in linkage with the common − α3. 7 and − α4. 2 deletion alleles. The β/α ratio was balanced in the presence of the mutation only, and accordingly unbalanced in co‐inheritance with the deletion defects. Although a second independent mutation event on a − α3. 7 or a − α4. 2 deletion allele could not be excluded, we conclude that at least one independent Hb Evanston mutation has occurred on a wild type allele in the Asian populations. Unstable Hb tetramers tend to degrade and disappear during purification. Both Hb Evanston tetramers, formed in combination with normal β and δ chains, remain perfectly stable after extensive purification and concentration steps, suggesting an early posttranslational thalassemic effect, probably at the dimer/tetramer affinity level.
Influenza A and sendai viruses induce differential chemokine gene expression and transcription factor activation in human macrophages.

Chemokines regulate leukocyte traffic and extravasation into the site of inflammation. Here we show that influenza A- or Sendai virus-infected human macrophages produce MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, RANTES, MCP-1, MCP-3, MIP-3alpha, IP-10, and IL-8, whereas no upregulation of MIP-3beta, eotaxin, or MDC production was detected. Influenza A virus was a better inducer of MCP-1 and MCP-3 production than Sendai virus, whereas MIP-1alpha, MIP-1beta, RANTES, MIP-3alpha, and IL-8 were induced preferentially by Sendai virus. Infection in the presence of protein synthesis inhibitor indicated that ongoing protein synthesis was required for influenza A virus-induced expression of MCP-1, MCP-3, and IP-10 genes, whereas Sendai virus-induced chemokine mRNA expression took place in the absence of de novo protein synthesis. Neutralization of virus-induced IFN-alpha/beta resulted in downregulation of virus-induced IP-10, MCP-1, and MCP-3 mRNA expression. IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma were found to directly enhance MCP-1, MCP-3, and IP-10 mRNA expression. Both influenza A and Sendai viruses similarly activated transcription factor NF-kappaB. In contrast to NF-kappaB, IRFs and STATs, the other transcription factors involved in the regulation of chemokine gene expression, were differentially activated by these viruses. Influenza A virus more efficiently activated ISGF3 complex formation and Stat1 DNA-binding compared to Sendai virus, which in turn was a more potent activator of IRF-1. Our results show that during viral infections macrophages predominantly produce monocyte and Th1 cell attracting chemokines. Furthermore, virus-induced IFN-alpha/beta enhanced chemokine gene expression in macrophages emphasizing the role of IFN-alpha/beta in the development of Th1 immune responses.
EVOLUTION OF MOLECULAR AND ATOMIC GAS PHASES IN THE MILKY WAY

We analyze radial and azimuthal variations of the phase balance between the molecular and atomic interstellar medium (ISM) in the Milky Way (MW) using archival CO(J = 1-0) and HI 21 cm data. In particular, the azimuthal variations—between the spiral arm and interarm regions—are analyzed without any explicit definition of the spiral arm locations. We show that the molecular gas mass fraction, i.e., , varies predominantly in the radial direction: starting from at the center, remaining to and decreasing to ∼10%–20% at when averaged over the whole disk thickness (from ∼100% to ≳60%, then to ∼50% in the midplane). Azimuthal, arm-interarm variations are secondary: only in the globally molecule-dominated inner MW, but becoming larger, ∼40%–50%, in the atom-dominated outskirts. This suggests that in the inner MW the gas remains highly molecular ( ) as it moves from an interarm region into a spiral arm and back into the next interarm region. Stellar feedback does not dissociate molecules much, and the coagulation and fragmentation of molecular clouds dominate the evolution of the ISM at these radii. The trend differs in the outskirts where the gas phase is globally atomic ( ). The HI and H2 phases cycle through spiral arm passage there. These different regimes of ISM evolution are also seen in external galaxies (e.g., the LMC, M33, and M51). We explain the radial gradient of using a simple flow continuity model. The effects of spiral arms on this analysis are illustrated in the .
reportUnusual insidious spinal accessory nerve palsy : a case report

Introduction: Isolated spinal accessory nerve dysfunction has a major detrimental impact on the functional performance of the shoulder girdle, and is a well-documented complication of surgical procedures in the posterior triangle of the neck. To the best of our knowledge, the natural course and the most effective way of handling spontaneous spinal accessory nerve palsy has been described in only a few instances in the literature. Case presentation: We report the case of a 36-year-old Caucasian, Greek man with spontaneous unilateral trapezius palsy with an insidious course. To the best of our knowledge, few such cases have been documented in the literature. The unusual clinical presentation and functional performance mismatch with the imaging findings were also observed. Our patient showed a deterioration that was different from the usual course of this pathology, with an early onset of irreversible trapezius muscle dysfunction two months after the first clinical signs started to manifest. A surgical reconstruction was proposed as the most efficient treatment, but our patient declined this. Although he failed to recover fully after conservative treatment for eight months, he regained moderate function and is currently virtually
The RRM protein NonA from Drosophila forms a complex with the RRM proteins Hrb87F and S5 and the Zn finger protein PEP on hnRNA.

The RRM protein NonA, an ubiquitous nuclear protein present in puffs on polytene chromosomes, has been immunopurified as a RNA-protein complex from Drosophila Kc cells. Three other proteins present in the complex have been identified: X4/PEP (protein on ecdysone puffs), a 100-kDa zinc finger RNA-binding protein; the 70-kDa S5 protein, an as yet uncharacterized RNA-binding protein; and P11/Hrb87F, a 38-kDa RRM protein homologous to hnRNP protein A1 from mammals. Monoclonal antibodies against any of the protein components coprecipitate all four proteins although at different ratios. NonA does not coprecipitate with the hrp40 hnRNP proteins and immunolocalizes in a pattern distinct of major hnRNP proteins. Like NonA, X4/PEP, S5, and P11/Hrb87F are present on active sites on polytene chromosomes. The precipitated NonA complex is enriched for certain protein encoding RNAs, notably, histone H3 and H4 RNA.
Expression of DNA Methyltransferase Genes in Four‐Cell Bovine Embryos Cultured in the Presence of Oviductal Fluid

The possible epigenomic effect of oviductal fluid on expression of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) genes was examined in early bovine embryos (4‐cell stage). Real‐time quantitative PCR was performed to determine the relative expression of DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b transcripts in embryos cultured in vitro in the presence or absence of oviductal fluid. Expression of DNMT1 significantly increased when cultured with oviductal fluid, whereas DNMT3a and DNMT3b transcripts were unaffected by the addition of oviductal fluid. These results may help reveal the role of oviductal factors in the regulation of DNMT expression.
The More I Can Choose, The More I Am Disappointed: The “Illusion of Control” in Children’s Decision-Making

Abstract: Background: Decision making is a complex psychological process driven by emotions. Among the most unpleasant ones are the situations when the obtained outcome is not the one expected. This emotional experience is influenced by sense of agency, i.e. the feeling that we voluntarily control our actions and, through them, events in the world. Negative counterfactual emotions as disappointment have been marginally analyzed in children’s decision-making, and the study of children’s sense of agency could help to understand them. Objective: To evaluate during childhood the valence of disappointment in decision making in relation to the possibility of choosing or not. Method: 107 children (age range 7-10 years) rated their emotions before and after discovering the outcome, in two experimental conditions: choice condition, where the child could decide which of the two remaining tickets to choose in order to win some candies, and no choice condition, where the child could not decide as only one ticket was left. Results: The self-attribution of a positive emotional state was significantly higher in the choice condition than in the no choice condition, so the possibility to pick up the ticket made children happier in general, by promoting an “illusion of control”, which is absent in the no choice condition. Then, after discovering the bad outcome, the emotions collapse, settling at substantially similar values. Conclusion: Children have experienced a sense of agency for their choice, thus leading to an illusion of control for the decision process and to the so-called “wishful thinking”.
Assessment of Microbial and Radioactive Contaminations in Korean Cold Duck Meats and Electron-Beam Application for Quality Improvement

Animal-origin food products pose serious threat to public food safety due to high microbial loads. The microbial and radioactive contaminations in commercial cold duck meat products were evaluated. Ten different lots of commercial samples (C1-C10) were classified based on type and smoking process. All samples were highly contaminated (< 4-7 Log CFU/g) with total aerobic bacteria (TAB), yeasts and molds (Y&M), and 7 samples (C1-C7) were positive for coliforms. Furthermore, three samples were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes (C4-C6) and one with Salmonella typhimurium (C6). No radionuclides (131I, 137Cs, and 134Cs) were detected in any sample. The results of DEFT (direct epifluorescent filter technique)/APC (aerobic plate count), employed to screen pre-pasteurization treatments of products, indicated that smoked samples were positive showing DEFT/APC ratios higher than 4. Notably, the samples showed a serious threat to microbial safety, thus were irradiated with electron-beam (e-beam). The D10 values for S. typhimurium and L. monocytogenes were 0.65 and 0.42 kGy, respectively. E-beam application at 3 and 7 kGy resulted in reduction of initial TAB, Y&M, and coliform populations by 3 and 6 log cycles, respectively. Thus, e-beam was proven to be a good decontamination approach to improve the hygiene of cold duck meat.
STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF ORGANIC FOOD IN RELATION TO HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND PRICING

OF THESIS STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF ORGANIC FOOD IN RELATION TO HE1ALTH, ENVIRONMENT AND PRICING The organic industry is full of opinions and perceptions, which influence consumer purchasing decisions. A convenience sample of 69 college students between the ages of 19-23 registered in a basic food preparation class participated in this study. A sensory analysis of organic and conventional fruits, vegetables, meat and poultry, eggs and dairy measuring categorical taste differences between the two types of food. Student perceptions of organic foods in relation to health, environment and pricing and the likelihood of purchase were also studied. The influence of Diet and Well-being on organic purchases predominantly mattered somewhat to students, while price mattered completely. Overall, it can be concluded from this study, that there is no significant difference in taste between organic and conventional foods and that student perceptions match those examined in previous studies, but perceptions are not as heightened as the typical consumer exhibits.
Caution is recommended prior to sildenafil use in vascular anomalies

Since publication of a single case report of lymphatic malformation improvement during sildenafil therapy for pulmonary hypertension, sildenafil use has propagated across multiple vascular anomalies diagnoses. Vascular anomalies are rare conditions, often with poor long‐term outcomes from available therapies, making these patients vulnerable to novel therapy use. We have retrospectively reviewed 14 children with vascular anomalies treated with sildenafil. None of these patients reported improvement of disease while on treatment and some reported side effects including infections and bleeding. Pending more convincing prospective data, we recommend caution prior to sildenafil use for vascular anomalies. Pediatr Blood Cancer © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Involvement Practices in Persuasive Service Encounters: the Case of Home Security Advice

Advisors providing non-commercial service encounters are neither trained nor explicitly incentivized to persuade the advisee. However, a whole range of encounters may benefit from enhanced persuasiveness to prevent the advisee from taking counterproductive decisions. Persuasion literature from the field of social psychology points to the persuadee’s involvement as a central factor of persuasive effect. Never- theless, little is known on how persuader addresses persuadee’s involvement and how those efforts can be supported by means of modern technology, especially in the non-commercial service encounters. Based on a detailed analysis of experimental service encounters and supported by the in situ studies of real advisory sessions, this study identifies a set of involvement practices, i.e., conversational practices that advisors engage in when trying to improve the advisee’s involvement and illustrates how these practices can be afforded with modern multimedia technology. Thereby, the manuscript proposes to bridge the notions of involvement from the conversation studies and from the persuasion literature. By pointing to the influence of IT on persuasive behaviour in service encounters, it brings together the concept of persuasive technology and service support as a subfield of IS. The manuscript offers novel perspective for framing the conversations and the practices in service encounters.
The effects of progesterone on the patterns of testosterone and estradiol concentrations in the systemic plasma of the female rhesus monkey during the intermenstrual period.

The concentrations of estradiol, estrone, testosterone, and progesterone in the systemic plasma of 9 female rhesus monkeys during the intermenstrual period were measured by radioimmuno and competitive protein binding assays. A synchronous midcycle surge of estrogen and testosterone was followed by a sharp decline as progesterone rose. During the luteal phase of the cycle, testosterone dropped significantly (707 ± 89 pg/ml, mean ± SE) from the values of the follicular phase (836 ± 99 pg/ml, p < 0.01). 15 prevented the midcycle elevation of estradiol and testosterone whereas cholesterol administered in the same way and used as a control had no effect. In addition, progesterone reduced the basal levels of estradiol (39 ± 6.3 pg/ml, mean ± SE) from those in the luteal phase (71 ± 14.5 pg/ml, p < 0.05) and in the pretreatment follicular phase 71 ± 3.6 pg/ml, p < 0.01). When the amounts of estradiol in ovarian venous plasma were compared with those in the systemic circulation, the latter were highly correlated .
Rapid Progression to Simian AIDS Can Be Accompanied by Selection of CD4-Independent gp120 Variants with Impaired Ability To Bind CD4

ABSTRACT Aspartate 368 on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 forms multiple contacts with CD4; in mutagenesis studies, its replacement by asparagine and corresponding changes in simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmac (D385N) reduced binding with CD4. Nevertheless, simian immunodeficiency virus envelopes with D385N were prevalent in several studies. Extending these observations, we also found D385N to be dominant among env clones from two rhesus macaques that progressed rapidly to simian AIDS. These envelopes showed a CD4-independent phenotype as well as reduced affinity to CD4. Moreover, an adjacent change, G383R, which was frequently coselected with D385N, further decreased binding. An optical biosensor study demonstrated that the SIVmac239 gp120 bound to CD4 with kinetics similar to those of HIV-1. However, the gp120s with D385N and G383R showed a 40-fold reduction in affinity, with a drastic increase in dissociation rate, indicating an inherently unstable complex. This finding showed that rapid progression to simian AIDS may be accompanied by the selection of CD4-independent gp120 variants with impaired CD4 binding ability.
Cardiac Variables in Professional Basketball Players: Looking Closely at the Normal Big Athlete (NBA).

area of active investigation for 2 basic reasons. First, the study of EICR continues to refine our understandings of adaptive human biology and the role of the cardiovascular system in human performance. Second, EICR provides critical data for the effective clinical management of athletes and highly active individuals. Differentiating EICR from the diseases associated with the risk for adverse events during athletic participation is among the most challenging and important tasks for the sports cardiologist. At the most basic level, differentiating adaptive physiologic development from occult pathologic change requires a comprehensive understanding of
Recent progress in understanding the hormonal regulation of phosphodiesterases.

I. Introduction LAYER after layer of novel regulatory circuits have been added to the map charting the signal transduction pathways that transport information throughout the cell. New components of these pathways are found at a breathtaking pace, and new functions for old components are continuously uncovered. It is now recognized that the complexity of these pathways resembles the intricacy and integration of the pathways of intermediate metabolism. This is especially true for the cyclic nucleotide-dependent signal transduction and its components, including cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs). These are the enzymes that with cyclases control the intracellular concentration of cyclic nucleotides. With the development of new molecular tools, a wealth of new information has accumulated on the structure and function of these enzymes. Four years ago we reviewed the current knowledge on the mechanisms of hormonal regulation of PDEs (1). Here, we update this survey, reporting the most recent developments.