Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resistance exercise increases AMPK activity and reduces 4E‐BP1 phosphorylation and protein synthesis in human skeletal muscle

Resistance exercise is a potent stimulator of muscle protein synthesis and muscle cell growth, with the increase in protein synthesis being detected within 2–3 h post‐exercise and remaining elevated for up to 48 h. However, during exercise, muscle protein synthesis is inhibited. An increase in AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity has recently been shown to decrease mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling to key regulators of translation initiation. We hypothesized that the cellular mechanism for the inhibition of muscle protein synthesis during an acute bout of resistance exercise in humans would be associated with an activation of AMPK and an inhibition of downstream components of the mTOR pathway (4E‐BP1 and S6K1). We studied 11 subjects (seven men, four women) before, during, and for 2 h following a bout of resistance exercise. Muscle biopsy specimens were collected at each time point from the vastus lateralis. We utilized immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting methods to measure muscle AMPKα2 activity, and mTOR‐associated upstream and downstream signalling proteins, and stable isotope techniques to measure muscle fractional protein synthetic rate (FSR). AMPKα2 activity (pmol min−1 (mg protein)−1) at baseline was 1.7 ± 0.3, increased immediately post‐exercise (3.0 ± 0.6), and remained elevated at 1 h post‐exercise (P < 0.05). Muscle FSR decreased during exercise and was significantly increased at 1 and 2 h post‐exercise (P < 0.05). Phosphorylation of 4E‐BP1 at Thr37/46 was significantly reduced immediately post‐exercise (P < 0.05). We conclude that AMPK activation and a reduced phosphorylation of 4E‐BP1 may contribute to the inhibition of muscle protein synthesis during resistance exercise. However, by 1–2 h post‐exercise, muscle protein synthesis increased in association with an activation of protein kinase B, mTOR, S6K1 and eEF2.
Age-associated alteration of blood thiol-group-related antioxidants in smokers.

Total blood glutathione and nonglutathione free sulfhydryl compounds, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase in erythrocytes and plasma and also lipid peroxides in plasma were investigated in 48 male smokers and 42 male nonsmokers. We found that the level of total blood glutathione was significantly increased in young smokers (age <40) but no such change was noted in aging smokers (age>/=40). The activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase in plasma were significantly decreased in young smokers and the plasma levels of these two enzymes and nonglutathione free sulfhydryl compounds were more drastically decreased in aging smokers. The average concentration of plasma lipid peroxides of the aging smokers (2.76+/-0.46 nmol/ml) was significantly higher than that of the aging nonsmokers (2.32+/-0. 41nmol/ml, P=0.049). On the other hand, the level of total blood glutathione was negatively correlated with the level of plasma lipid peroxides (r=-0.305, P=0.002) and was positively correlated with the smoking index (r=0.307, P=0.019) of all the study subjects under age control. These results indicate that the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase declined to a great extent under smoking-mediated oxidative stress in the blood of both young and aging smokers. Moreover, the compensatory generation of total blood glutathione may effectively prevent plasma lipids from peroxidation in young smokers, although the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase in plasma were decreased. By contrast, total blood glutathione was inadequate for such protection in the aging smokers. We suggest that supplementation of thiol-group-related agents may be considered for the prevention or alleviation of oxidative stress in aging smokers, whose capability and capacity for the disposal of smoking-mediated free radicals and reactive oxygen species are compromised.
Bone morphogenetic protein-7 delays podocyte injury due to high glucose.

BACKGROUND The molecular pathogenesis of diabetic glomerulosclerosis remains unknown, but recent studies suggest that podocyte damage may play a role. Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) is physiologically expressed in podocytes and tubular epithelial cells. Our previous studies show that BMP-7 reverses glomerular and tubulointerstitial damage in diabetic rats, but there is little known about possible effects of BMP-7 on podocytes. We postulate that high glucose may injure the podocyte by altering structural proteins such as synaptopodin and podocin. This study investigates the effect of high glucose on mouse podocytes, expression of synaptopodin and podocin under normal and high glucose and the treatment effect of BMP-7 on these molecules. Human diabetic glomeruli are studied in parallel. METHODS Conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes were exposed to media containing normal (NG) or high (HG) glucose for 2 weeks. Synaptopodin, podocin and BMP-7 gene transcription and protein were assayed with real-time PCR, Western blot or immunohistochemistry, respectively. Synaptopodin and podocin mRNA and protein was evaluated using podocytes incubated in HG for 1 week, in the presence of low (10 ng/ml) and high (300 ng/ml) dose recombinant BMP-7 (rhBMP-7). Human diabetic glomeruli were excised from renal biopsies by laser capture micro-dissection (LCM) and endogenous BMP7 and synaptopodin and podocin were determined by RT-PCR and/or immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Culture of podocytes in HG decreases synaptopodin, podocin and BMP-7 transcription and protein synthesis compared to NG. Treatment with rhBMP-7 restores synaptopodin and podocin mRNA and protein. Decreased BMP-7 and synaptopodin is also observed in human diabetic glomeruli both at the transcription and protein level. CONCLUSIONS BMP-7 may confer resistance to hyperglycaemic injury via synaptopodin and podocin suggesting novel BMP7 therapies for diabetic glomerulosclerosis.
Population pharmacodynamic analysis of octreotide in acromegalic patients

Octreotide is an octapeptide analog of somatostatin used to normalize growth hormone levels in acromegaly. This article presents a population analysis of the relationship between octreotide and growth hormone concentrations in 94 patients with acromegaly, including 10 patients responding incompletely to subcutaneous treatment (poor responders).
A novel mouse model of conditional IRAK-M deficiency in myeloid cells: application in lung Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection

Myeloid cells such as macrophages are critical to innate defense against infection. IL-1 receptor-associated kinase M (IRAK-M) is a negative regulator of TLR signaling during bacterial infection, but the role of myeloid cell IRAK-M in bacterial infection is unclear. Our goal was to generate a novel conditional knockout mouse model to define the role of myeloid cell IRAK-M during bacterial infection. Myeloid cell-specific IRAK-M knockout mice were generated by crossing IRAK-M floxed mice with LysM–Cre knock-in mice. The resulting LysM–Cre+/IRAK-Mfl/wt and control (LysM–Cre–/IRAK-Mfl/wt) mice were intranasally infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). IRAK-M deletion, inflammation, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and PA load were measured in leukocytes, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lungs. PA killing assay with BAL fluid was performed to determine mechanisms of IRAK-M-mediated host defense. IRAK-M mRNA and protein levels in alveolar and lung macrophages were significantly reduced in LysM–Cre+/IRAK-Mfl/wt mice compared with control mice. Following PA infection, LysM–Cre+/IRAK-Mfl/wt mice have enhanced lung neutrophilic inflammation, including MPO activity, but reduced PA load. The increased lung MPO activity in LysM–Cre+/IRAK-Mfl/wt mouse BAL fluid reduced PA load. Generation of IRAK-M conditional knockout mice will enable investigators to determine precisely the function of IRAK-M in myeloid cells and other types of cells during infection and inflammation.
Proteins of viral and cellular origin bind to the Aleutian disease virus (ADV) DNA 3'-terminal hairpin: presentation of a scheme for encapsidation of ADV DNA

We have observed the binding of viral and cellular proteins to the Aleutian disease virus (ADV) 3' terminus of replicative-form DNA. Gel retardation assays showed specific band shifts produced by whole-cell extracts from either ADV-infected or uninfected cells, as well as band reduction produced by ADV capsids. In all cases, binding was confined to the turnaround, T-shaped terminal form; no binding to the extended conformation of replicative-form DNA was detected. This indicates the importance of the T-shaped secondary structure in protein recognition. We have previously reported the binding of a 3'-terminal ADV DNA restriction fragment to the ADV capsid protein VP1 (K. Willwand and O.-R. Kaaden, Virology 166:52-57, 1988). Here we show that the region between nucleotides 14 and 102 on the ADV genome is required for binding. It is suggested that the VP1-DNA interaction mediates the binding of ADV DNA to empty viral capsids and that this is followed by displacement synthesis and packaging of ADV progeny DNA. A scheme for the possible mechanism of this process is presented.
Nutritional Support in Pulmonary Disease Topic 38 Module 38 . 2 Issues Related to Obesity in COPD

 Create insight in the epidemiology of obesity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Understand the impact of obesity on lung function, symptoms and exercise capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Learn about the obesity paradox in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Receiving insight in the importance of nutritional counselling for both obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Acquire the latest insights in the role of fat mass in the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;  Learn about management of obesity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Linear relation between structure and function.

The main limitation of the study by Danesh-Meyer et al. was neither discussed nor mentioned. The time axis was not taken into account. The functional change after an acute event such as anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AION) is immediate, but there is a delay before the anatomic changes take place. In this study, most of the patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) or arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) were tested a short period after the acute event, as described by the authors. In a similar study by Hood et al., the patients were tested at least 5 months after the AION event, with a median of 2.95 years. The reason was to allow sufficient time to minimize the effects of optic disc swelling and to allow the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons to degenerate. The results of the study in Hood et al. are obviously contrary to those presented by Danesh-Meyer et al. The relationship between a structure (optical coherence tomography [OCT]– determined retinal nerve fiber layer thickness) and function (standard automated perimetry [SAP]– determined sensitivity loss) is the same in patients with AION as in those with open angle glaucoma (OAG). It is not adequate to use visual field perimetry results as a criterion for comparison in the population examined by Danish Meyer et al., as visual acuity and visual fields improve up to 6 months from the onset of NAION. The only conclusion that can be made from the results of Danish-Meyer et al. is that a few months after the acute event of NAION/AAION the optic disc and RNFL look different than they do in OAG. Aharon Wegner Alexander Erben
Diet composition and prey selection of the introduced grouper species peacock hind (Cephalopholis argus) in Hawaii

The introduced grouper species peacock hind (Cephalopholis argus), was the dominant large-body piscivore on the Main Hawaiian Island (MHI) reefs assessed by underwater visual surveys in this study. However, published data on C. argus feeding ecology are scarce, and the role of this species in Hawaiian reef ecosystems is presently not well understood. Here we provide the first comprehensive assessment of the diet composition, prey electivity (dietary importance of prey taxa compared to their availability on reefs), and size selectivity (prey sizes in the diet compared to sizes on reefs) of this important predator in the MHI. Diet consisted 97.7% of fishes and was characterized by a wide taxonomic breadth. Surprisingly, feeding was not opportunistic, as indicated by a strongly divergent electivity for different prey fishes. In addition, whereas some families of large-body species were represented in the diet exclusively by recruit-size individuals (e.g., Aulostomidae), several families of smaller-body species were also represented by juveniles or adults (e.g., Chaetodontidae). Both the strength and mechanisms of the effects of C. argus predation are therefore likely to differ among prey families. This study provides the basis for a quantitative estimate of prey consumption by C. argus, which would further increase understanding of impacts of this species on native fishes in Hawaii.
Leadership in organisations for innovation and intrapreneurship

In this thesis, I argue that the characteristics of a leadership’s approach to welcoming new ideas can affect the participation of potential inventors. The objectives of the research are to develop a process of identifying the leadership characteristics that impact on how people participate their ideas to become innovation in the organisations. The aims of the research are to be able to use the identification to help leaders and organisations develop the characteristics that benefit a given situation, and in this case to benefit innovation and intrapreneurship. The research explores what are the more or less successful characteristics of leadership in terms of the expectations and experiences for when an idea is raised within the organisation. Leadership characteristics that affect the innovation process are explored using a mixed methodology formed of the analysis of leader’s job descriptions and interviews with both leaders and innovators. The research centres on the development and application of a diagnostic methodology to assess leadership, based upon the eight characteristics of the ‘Full Range of Leadership’ originally developed by Bass and Avoilo (1990). The basis of this methodology is extended to identify the gaps between actual and expected characteristics. Although the method is a modification of that originated by Bass and Avolio (1990), the results derived from this research can be correlated to the substantial body of other research that used the same underlying methodology, including for example research that addresses issues of leadership in terms of nationality, gender and hierarchical levels in an organisation. The outcomes of the research include the way in which the Full Range of Leadership model has been developed and used. This is applied to the needs of leading and managing an organisation’s existing products and services, at the same time as managing the need of developing new products and services for when the old products and services become obsolete. In addition to considering how leaders welcome participation in ideas and innovation, the contribution this research makes to professional practice includes how the method can be reused and applied to identify the existence of, or need for, different blends of leadership characteristics, for the variety of situations a leader may encounter.
Changes in interleukin-1 production of peritoneal macrophages during estrous cycle in golden hamsters.

The present study demonstrated the change in interleukin-1 (IL-1) production of peritoneal macrophages during the estrous cycle in golden hamsters and discussed its possible roles in ovarian function. Macrophages were collected from the peritoneal cavity at 0900 h on various days of the estrous cycle and incubated for 6 h in the presence of ovine pituitary LH (500 ng/ml). The IL-1 concentration in the media was measured by bioassay with the A375S2 human melanoma cell line. The number of macrophages significantly (P < 0.01) increased on estrus and proestrus compared with diestrus 1 or diestrus 2. LH-induced production of IL-1 was also greater (P < 0.01) on proestrus (292 +/- 36 pg/10(6) cells/ ml) and estrus (222 +/- 30 pg/10(6) cells/ml) than on diestrus 1 (34 +/- 15 pg/10(6) cells/ml) or diestrus 2 (117 +/- 16 pg/10(6) cells/ml). To clarify the factor inducing the changes in peritoneal macrophages, hamsters were ovariectomized on diestrus 1, and 3 weeks later the animals were treated with s.c. injections of progesterone (200 micrograms/day), testosterone (100 micrograms/day), estradiol (10 micrograms/day) or sesame oil for three days. The hamsters were killed 24 h after the last injection, and the number and IL-1 producing capacity of macrophages were determined. The number of macrophages and their response to LH to produce IL-1 were increased significantly (P < 0.01) by estradiol treatment but not by progesterone or testosterone treatment. It was concluded that the peritoneal macrophages became more sensitive to LH to produce IL-1 on proestrus and estrus in cyclic hamsters, and that these changes in macrophages, probably induced by estradiol, would play important roles in ovarian function.
A Non-cooperative Power Control Game Considering Utilization and Fairness in Cognitive Radio Network

Power control is one of the key technologies in radio resource management, and efficient power control scheme can decrease the interference to other users and save the power consumption. In cognitive radio network, the interference caused by unlicensed user to licensed user is strictly limited. In order to maximize the network utility, a game theoretic approach is proposed. In this paper, a new power control algorithm with a certain type of price coefficient is proposed based on game theory, and it takes the interference to the licensed users into account. Meanwhile, the algorithm also gives attention to both system capacity and fairness index. We can show the existence and uniqueness of the Nash equilibrium of the proposed algorithm further. In addition, its better performance can be indicated by the numeral results.
Newer antipsychotics: comparative review of drug interactions

The new atypical antipsychotics are subject to drug–drug interactions with other psychotropic agents or with medications used in the treatment of concomitant somatic illnesses – usually at the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic level. While novel antipsychotics are unlikely to interfere with the elimination of other drugs, coadministration of inhibitors or inducers of the cytochrome P450 isoenzymes responsible for their metabolism may modify plasma antipsychotic concentrations, leading to potentially (clinically) significant effects. Newer antipsychotics have binding affinity at a variety of neurotransmitter receptors and might therefore be involved in pharmacodynamic interactions when given in combination with agents acting on the same systems. Differences in the interaction potential among the current novel antipsychotics may be predicted based on their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. Avoidance of unnecessary polytherapy, knowledge of the interaction profiles of individual agents and careful individualization of dosage based on close evaluation of clinical response and possibly plasma drug concentrations are essential to prevent and minimize potentially adverse drug interactions in patients receiving newer antipsychotics.
Expressed sequence tag analysis of zebrafish eye tissues for NEIBank.

PURPOSE To characterize gene expression patterns in various tissues of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) eye and identify zebrafish orthologs of human genes by expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis for NEIBank. METHODS mRNA was extracted from adult zebrafish eye tissues, including lenses, anterior segments (minus lens), retinas, posterior segments lacking retinas, and whole eyes. Five different cDNA libraries were constructed in the pCMVSport6 vector. Approximately 4,000 clones from each library were sequenced and analyzed using various bioinformatics programs. RESULTS The analysis yielded approximately 2,500 different gene clusters for each library. Combining data from the five libraries produced 10,392 unique gene clusters. GenBank accession numbers were identified for 37.6% (3,906) of the total gene clusters in the combined libraries and approximately 50% were linked to Unigene clusters in the current database. Several new crystallin genes, including two gammaN-crystallins, and a second major intrinsic protein (MIP) were identified in the lens library. In addition, a zebrafish homolog of cochlin (COCH), a gene that may play a role in the pathogenesis of human glaucoma, was identified in the anterior segment library. Surprisingly, no clear ortholog of the major retinal transcription factor Nrl was identified. CONCLUSIONS The zebrafish eye tissue cDNA libraries are a useful resource for comparative gene expression analysis. These libraries will complement the cDNA libraries made for the Zebrafish Gene Collection (ZGC) and provide an additional source for gene identification and characterization in the vertebrate eye.
HTLV‐I seroprevalence in patients with malignancy

Since many malignancies often occur in patients with smoldering type adult T‐cell leukemia (ATL) (5 of 18 cases in this report), the relationship between HTLV‐I (human T‐cell leukemia virus type I) infection, which is closely associated with ATL, with other malignancies in an HTLV‐I endemic area was examined. Among the 394 patients with malignancies and who had not had blood cell transfusions, 61 (15.5%) tested positive for HTLV‐I antibody. The prevalence was significantly higher in males older than age 40 years and females of all ages compared to age‐and sex‐matched healthy individuals. The overall seroprevalence (26.1%) in 291 patients with malignancies and who had had blood cell transfusions was higher than that of those who had not had blood transfusions. There was no significant correlation between the site of malignancy and antibody prevalence. These results suggest the possibility that development of malignancy may contribute to expression of latent HTLV‐I infection and that HTLV‐I infection may contribute to the risk of other malignancies.
Captive Audience? Strategies for Acquiring Food in Two Detroit Neighborhoods

Research has shown elevated rates of diet-related health problems in Detroit, Michigan compared to state and national averages. Using 47 in-depth interviews of African American residents in two Detroit neighborhoods, I examine the interplay between agency and social structure in food acquisition. Participants discussed numerous difficulties obtaining food, including availability, cost, quality, and accessibility. Residents employed many strategies to address these issues, including carefully examining food before purchase, sharing transportation to leave the neighborhood, and using multiple sources. However, the potential to pursue food acquisition strategies varied, in part, according to community contextual factors, including resident concerns about safety, the availability of food banks, and resources in surrounding areas. Nutritional knowledge among participants was sophisticated, suggesting that health education efforts, as opposed to addressing lack of access to high-quality food, might be misguided. I found that accounting for both agency and structural context aids in understanding diet-related behaviors.