Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulatory Aspects of the Vacuolar CAT2 Arginine Transporter of S. lycopersicum: Role of Osmotic Pressure and Cations

Many proteins are localized at the vacuolar membrane, but most of them are still poorly described, due to the inaccessibility of this membrane from the extracellular environment. This work focused on the characterization of the CAT2 transporter from S. lycopersicum (SlCAT2) that was previously overexpressed in E. coli and reconstituted in proteoliposomes for transport assay as [3H]Arg uptake. The orientation of the reconstituted transporter has been attempted and current data support the hypothesis that the protein is inserted in the liposome in the same orientation as in the vacuole. SlCAT2 activity was dependent on the pH, with an optimum at pH 7.5. SlCAT2 transport activity was stimulated by the increase of internal osmolality from 0 to 175 mOsmol while the activity was inhibited by the increase of external osmolality. K+, Na+, and Mg2+ present on the external side of proteoliposomes at physiological concentrations, inhibited the transport activity; differently, the cations had no effect when included in the internal proteoliposome compartment. This data highlighted an asymmetric regulation of SlCAT2. Cholesteryl hemisuccinate, included in the proteoliposomal membrane, stimulated the SlCAT2 transport activity. The homology model of the protein was built using, as a template, the 3D structure of the amino acid transporter GkApcT. Putative substrate binding residues and cholesterol binding domains were proposed. Altogether, the described results open new perspectives for studying the response of SlCAT2 and, in general, of plant vacuolar transporters to metabolic and environmental changes.
Interaction between bevacizumab and murine VEGF-A: a reassessment.

PURPOSE Bevacizumab is a humanized anti-human VEGF-A monoclonal antibody (mAb) approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for cancer therapy and used off label to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Earlier studies characterized bevacizumab as species specific and lacking the ability to neutralize murine (m) VEGF-A. However, a recent study reported that bevacizumab is a potent inhibitor of hemangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in murine models. The authors sought to reassess the interaction between bevacizumab and mVEGF-A. METHODS The authors performed Western blot analysis, plasmon resonance by BIAcore, and endothelial cell proliferation assays to characterize the interaction between bevacizumab and mVEGF-A. They also tested whether bevacizumab had any effects in two in vivo murine models, laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and melanoma growth. RESULTS Western blot detected a very weak interaction, but BIAcore detected no measurable interaction between mVEGF and bevacizumab. Bevacizumab failed to inhibit mVEGF-stimulated endothelial cell proliferation. In addition, bevacizumab was indistinguishable from the control antibody in the CNV and tumor models, whereas a cross-reactive anti-VEGF-A mAb had dramatic inhibitory effects. CONCLUSIONS Bevacizumab has an extremely weak interaction with mVEGF-A, which fails to result in immunoneutralization as assessed by several bioassays.
Physiological complexity of gait is decreased in individuals with chronic stroke

Abstract Complexity represents the adaptability of the biological system, therefore the assessment of complexity during tasks such as walking may be particularly useful when attempting to better understand the recovery processes after stroke. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the complexity of lower extremity gait kinematics in persons with chronic hemiparesis due to stroke is different from that of individuals without disability during a gait task. The group of participants with chronic stroke exhibited reduced gait complexity across all body segments compared to those without disability. The decreased complexity of gait after stroke may represent diminished adaptability in the neuromotor system and may have significant implications when it comes to negotiating diverse environmental constraints and the ability to relearn pre-stroke gait patterns.
Prosocial behavior in aging: which factors can explain age-related differences in social-economic decision making?

ABSTRACTObjectives:Older adults tend to exhibit more prosocial behavior than younger adults. However, little research has focused on understanding the factors that may explain such differences in the social decision-making process. The first aim was to examine if, and to what degree, the content of social information about a recipient has an impact on young vs. older adults' prosocial behavior. The second aim was to understand if empathic concern, Theory of Mind, and reasoning explain the (expected) age differences in prosociality. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING The study was conducted in northern Italy in a laboratory setting. PARTICIPANTS Forty-eight younger adults (M age = 23.29; SD = 2.20) and 48 older adults (M age = 70.19; SD = 5.13). MEASUREMENTS Prosocial behavior was measured using the Dictator Game in which participants split a sum of money with recipients presented with four levels of description: no information, physical description, positive psychological description, and negative psychological description. In addition, participants performed tasks on emphatic concern, Theory of Mind, and reasoning. RESULTS Results showed that older adults are more prosocial than younger adults in the Dictator Game. This finding was evident when the recipient was described with positive psychological and physical features. This pattern of results was statistically explained by the reduction in reasoning ability. CONCLUSION These findings suggest a relationship between age-related reduction in reasoning ability and older adults' prosocial behavior. The theoretical and practical implication of the empirical findings are discussed.
Relationship between Perceived Indoor Temperature and Self-Reported Risk for Frailty among Community-Dwelling Older People

This study investigated the relationship between perceived indoor temperature in winter and frailty among community-dwelling older people. This cross-sectional study included 342 people 65 years and older in Japan. Participants answered questions about demographics, frailty, housing, and perceived indoor temperature in winter. Participants were grouped based on perceived indoor temperature (Cold or Warm) and economic satisfaction (Unsatisfied or Satisfied). Differences in the frailty index between perceived indoor temperature groups and economic satisfaction groups were tested by using ANCOVA and MANCOVA. An interaction effect showed that people in the Cold Group and unsatisfied with their economic status had significantly higher frailty index scores (F(1, 336) = 5.95, p = 0.015). Furthermore, the frailty index subscale of fall risk was the specific indicator of frailty that accounted for this significant relationship. While previous research has shown the risks related to cold indoor temperature in homes, interestingly among those who reported cold homes, only those who were not satisfied with their economic situation reported being at increased risk for frailty. This highlights the potential importance of preventing fuel poverty to prevent frailty.
Self-reflection and critical thinking: the influence of professional qualifications on registered nurses

Background: Ensuring the delivery of quality care and patient safety requires that nurses improve their self-reflection and insight as well as their critical thinking. To understand the factors that influence self-reflection, insight, and critical thinking, more evidence-based research is needed. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether professional qualifications (i.e. age, years of job experience, and position on the clinical ladder) would affect self-reflection and critical thinking in the experienced registered nurses (RNs) group. Methods: This quantitative and correlational study included 597 RNs (297 novice nurses and 300 experienced nurses), recruited from one medical center hospital in central Taiwan, as participants. Data were collected on self-reflection and critical thinking, using the Chinese-version of the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale and the Taiwan Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory. A structural equation modeling approach was used to examine the relationships among variables. Findings: The results showed a non-significant mean difference in self-reflection with insight scores between the two groups. Experienced RNs had a significantly higher mean score for critical thinking. Further analysis of the data of experienced nurses revealed that self-reflection with insight significantly affected critical thinking (β = 0.24, t = 4.141, p < .001). Qualifications also affected self-reflection with insight (β = 0.11, t = 1.808, p > .05) and critical thinking (β = 0.18, t = 3.143, p < .001). The correlation between qualifications and self-reflection with insight, however, was non-significant. Discussion: Nurses who perceived that they had greater self-reflection and insight reported more critical thinking in clinical care practice. Nurses’ qualifications had more of an effect on critical thinking than on self-reflection and insight.
Noninvasive ablation of rabbit fetal and placental tissue targets in utero using magnetic resonance‐guided high‐intensity focused ultrasound

Magnetic resonance‐guided high‐intensity focused ultrasound (MRgHIFU) is a potential noninvasive therapy for fetal conditions. In utero MRgHIFU delivery and proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS) thermometry monitoring will control accuracy of HIFU ablation and confirm in situ tissue heating in a rabbit model.
Epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni infections in Sweden, November 2011–October 2012: is the severity of infection associated with C. jejuni sequence type?

Background Campylobacter jejuni is among the most frequent causes of bacterial gastroenteritis in Europe. Over 8,000 C. jejuni multilocus sequence typing sequence types (STs) have been described; ST-21 and ST-45 have been identified as the most frequent types in all human studies so far. In contrast to other STs, ST-22 has been associated with the Guillain–Barré syndrome and ST-677 was recently linked to severe systemic infections in Finland. We investigated risk factors associated with hospitalisation in individuals with C. jejuni infections acquired in Sweden. Methods A total of 1,075 individuals with domestically acquired C. jejuni infection diagnosed between November 2011 and October 2012 in Sweden were included in this retrospective cohort study. Typing data for the isolates as well as clinical data including hospitalisation dates and diagnosis codes for individuals with C. jejuni infection were obtained. Factors associated with hospitalisation and length of hospitalisation were investigated by multivariable analysis. Results A total of 289 individuals were hospitalised due to C. jejuni infection (26.8%); those with co-morbidities were over 14 times more likely to become hospitalised than those without (odds ratio [OR]: 14.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.84–30.26). Those with underlying co-morbidities were also hospitalised longer than those without (4.22 days vs. 2.86 days), although this was not statistically significant. C. jejuni ST-257 (OR: 2.38; CI: 1.08–5.23), but not ST-22 or ST-677, was significantly associated with hospitalisation. Conclusion ST-677 was not associated with increased hospitalisation or a longer hospital stay in our study whilst ST-257 was. However, individuals with C. jejuni infections were generally more frequently hospitalised than previously demonstrated; this requires further consideration including possible targeted interventions.
Change in lung clearance index with microbiological status in children with cystic fibrosis

The impact of infections caused by bacteria, especially Gram‐negative, on the progression of lung disease in cystic fibrosis is well established. Decline in pulmonary function commence already at early age. In this group of patients, the lung clearance index seems to be a better marker than FEV1 allowing non‐invasive monitoring of changes in small airways. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the microbiological status and LCI derived from multiple breath washout (MBW) technique as well as FEV1 and FVC in children suffering from cystic fibrosis. Over the 1‐year recruitment period, 136 CF patients aged 5‐18 with: Staphylococcus aureus (n‐27), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (first time (n‐27), intermittent (n‐9), and chronic (34) infection), Aspergillus fumigatus (n‐6) and without pathogenic flora (n‐33) were included in the study. Patients had performed a spirometry and MBW test during the visit at outpatient clinic. The study showed that the lung clearance index in patients infected with Aspergillus fumigatus was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in those with normal throat flora. There was also statistically significant differences in the lung clearance index obtained in subjects with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and those with first Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (P < 0.05). Furthermore, significant statistical differences (P < 0.05) were observed between the groups of patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection FEV1 > 70% and FEV1 < 70%. In conclusion, LCI was associated with microbiological status of CF patients. Chronic lung infections, especially Aspergillus fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were associated with increased LCI. Early eradication of pathological flora positively affects the maintenance of lower LCI.
High‐Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin I Improves Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Older Men: HIMS (The Health in Men Study)

Background The Framingham Risk Score estimates the 10‐year risk of cardiovascular events. However, it performs poorly in older adults. We evaluated the incremental benefit of adding high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs‐cTnI) to the Framingham Risk Score. Methods and Results The HIMS (Health in Men Study) is a cohort study of community‐dwelling men aged 70 to 89 years in Western Australia. Participants were identified from the electoral roll, with a subset undergoing plasma analysis. Hs‐cTnI (Abbott Architect i2000SR) was measured in 1151 men without prior cardiovascular disease. The Western Australia Data Linkage System was used to identify incident cardiovascular events. After 10 years of follow‐up, 252 men (22%) had a cardiovascular event (CVE+) and 899 did not (CVE–). The Framingham Risk Score placed 148 (59%) CVE+ and 415 (46%) CVE– in the high‐risk category. In CVE– men, adding hs‐cTnI affected the risk categories of 244 (27.2%) men, with 64.8% appropriately reclassified to a lower and 35.2% to a higher category, which decreased the number of high‐risk men in the CVE– to 39%. In CVE+ men, adding hs‐cTnI affected the risk categories of 61 (24.2%), with 50.8% appropriately reclassified to a higher and 49.2% to a lower category and 82.5% remaining above the 15% risk treatment threshold. The net reclassification index was 0.305 (P<0.001). Adding hs‐cTnI increased the C‐statistic modestly from 0.588 (95% CI, 0.552–0.624) to 0.624 (95% CI, 0.589–0.659) and improved model fit (likelihood ratio test, P<0.001). Conclusions Adding hs‐cTnI to the Framingham Risk Score provided incremental prognostic benefit in older men, especially aiding reclassification of individuals into a lower risk category.
Caring for young people with moderate to severe psoriasis: an interpretive description of parental perspectives

Abstract Introduction: Psoriasis often sets on during childhood or adolescence, when parents have great importance for the young people’s self-management, well-being, and quality of life. The aim of this study was to understand parents’ perspectives on young people’s daily life with psoriasis in order to improve adolescents’ self-management. Method: Adopting interpretive, description methodology (ID), focus group discussion, and interviews were conducted with eight parents of adolescents with psoriasis. The analysis was inductive with an iterative comparative approach. Main themes conveying participants’ perceptions were identified for constructing a coherent narrative of parents’ perspectives on their young people’s transition with psoriasis through adolescence. Results: Parents initially perceived psoriasis mainly a physical and treatment-related burden and not until late realized its socio-emotional impact. They eventually found themselves balancing between declining treatment due to fear of side effects and acknowledging the impact on their young people’s quality of life and their desire for effective treatment. Conclusions: Caring for young people with psoriasis is a stressful process involving experimental learning to understand and manage the complexity of psoriasis and its impact on adolescents’ emotional and social life. Future research should consider integration of shared decision-making and self-management support interventions in routine daily care as focus points.
Barriers of Access to Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

Background: The purpose of this systematic review was to comprehensively summarize barriers of access to breast reconstruction and evaluate access using the Penchansky and Thomas conceptual framework based on the six dimensions of access to care. Methods: The authors performed a systematic review that focused on (1) breast reconstruction, (2) barriers, and (3) breast cancer. Eight databases (i.e., EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINHAL, ePub MEDLINE, ProQuest, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched. English peer-reviewed articles published between 1996 and 2016 were included. Results: The authors’ search retrieved 4282 unique articles. Two independent reviewers screened texts, selecting 99 articles for inclusion. All studies were observational and qualitative in nature. The availability of breast reconstruction was highest in teaching hospitals, private hospitals, and national cancer institutions. Accessibility affected access, with lower likelihood of breast reconstruction in rural geographic locations. Affordability also impacted access; high costs of the procedure or poor reimbursement by insurance companies negatively influenced access to breast reconstruction. Acceptability of the procedure was not universal, with unfavorable physician attitudes toward breast reconstruction and specific patient and tumor characteristics correlating with lower rates of breast reconstruction. Lastly, lack of patient awareness of breast reconstruction reduced the receipt of breast reconstruction. Conclusions: Using the access-to-care framework by Penchansky and Thomas, the authors found that barriers to breast reconstruction existed in all six domains and interplayed at many levels. The authors’ systematic review analyzed this complex relationship and suggested multiprong interventions aimed at targeting breast reconstruction barriers, with the goal of promoting equitable access to breast reconstruction for all breast cancer patients.
Social isolation rearing-induced anxiety and response to agomelatine in male and female rats: Role of corticosterone, oxytocin, and vasopressin

Background: The chronobiotic antidepressant, agomelatine, acts via re-entrainment of circadian rhythms. Earlier work has demonstrated late-life anxiety and reduced corticosterone in post-weaning social isolation reared (SIR) rats. Agomelatine was anxiolytic in this model but did not reverse hypocortisolemia. Reduced corticosterone or cortisol (in humans) is well-described in anxiety states, although the anxiolytic-like actions of agomelatine may involve targeting another mechanism. Central oxytocin and vasopressin exert anxiolytic and anxiogenic effects, respectively, and are subject to circadian fluctuation, while also showing sex-dependent differences in response to various challenges. Aims and methods: If corticosterone is less involved in the anxiolytic-like actions of agomelatine in SIR rats, we wondered whether effects on vasopressin and oxytocin may mediate these actions, and whether sex-dependent effects are evident. Anxiety as assessed in the elevated plus maze, as well as plasma vasopressin, oxytocin, and corticosterone were analyzed in social vs SIR animals receiving sub-chronic treatment with vehicle or agomelatine (40 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally at 16:00) for 16 days. Results: Social isolation rearing induced significant anxiety together with increased plasma vasopressin levels, but decreased corticosterone and oxytocin. While corticosterone displayed sex-dependent changes, vasopressin, and oxytocin changes were independent of sex. Agomelatine suppressed anxiety as well as reversed elevated vasopressin in both male and female rats and partially reversed reduced oxytocin in female but not male rats. Conclusion: SIR-associated anxiety later in life involves reduced corticosterone and oxytocin, and elevated vasopressin. The anxiolytic-like effects of agomelatine in SIR rats predominantly involve targeting of elevated vasopressin.
Cemented versus uncemented hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures

Background: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the effectiveness and safety of cemented versus uncemented hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures. Methods: We searched PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar from their inception to February 2016. All RCTs comparing cemented with uncemented hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures were eligible. The participants who underwent primary hemiarthroplasty for unilateral femoral neck fracture were older than 55 and the mean age of more than 75 years old. For the trials before 2006 used old designed prostheses, so we excluded trails before 2006 which used old designed prostheses. Outcomes of interest include postoperative hip function, Harris hip score (HHS), mortality, reoperation rate, complications, operation time, intraoperative blood loss. Two reviewers independently evaluated the included studies and extracted data into RevMan. Quality Assessments were classified by agreement of 2 authors based on the Cochrane tool. Results: Seven trials were eligible. Postoperative hip function at 12 months cemented hemiarthroplasty was better than that in uncemented hemiarthroplasty (OR = 0.52, 95% CI, 0.31–0.88; P = .01). Postoperative fractures rates in cemented hemiarthroplasty were lower than that in uncemented hemiarthroplasty (OR = 0.09, 95% CI, 0.02–0.38; P = .001). Also, the interoperative fracture rates in cemented hemiarthroplasty were lower than that in uncemented hemiarthroplasty (OR = 0.29, 95% CI, 0.13–0.68; P = .004). Shorter operation time was achieved in uncemented hemiarthroplasty than that in cemented hemiarthroplasty (WMD = 8.22 min, 95% CI, 5.57–10.86 min; P<.00001). There was no significant difference between the 2 groups with HHS, mortality, wound infection, dislocation, general complications, reoperation rate, and intraoperative blood loss. Conclusion: The available evidence indicates that compared with uncemented hemiarthroplasty cemented hemiarthroplasty achieved better postoperative hip function, less postoperative, and interoperative fractures in displaced femoral neck fracture. Uncemented hemiarthroplasty achieved shorter operation time. There was no difference between the 2 groups with HHS at 1 year, mortality, and complications.