Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dairy proteins and the response to pneumovax in senior citizens: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled pilot study

With the progressive aging of the world's population, immunosenescence is rapidly becoming a clinical concern as it accounts for a higher incidence of severe infections and poor response to vaccines. To identify nutritional approaches that may counteract immunosenescence is of obvious importance in clinical practice. Dairy products in general and whey proteins in particular share the capacity to stimulate the immune system within the digestive tract while the antibody response to Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine is a good marker of the immune function. We performed a controlled, randomized, double‐blind pilot study to determine if an eight‐week supplementation with whey protein (or soy protein used as control) could enhance the serum response to pneumococcal vaccine in healthy senior citizens. Out of 127 volunteers, 17 subjects were eligible and completed the study receiving the vaccine after four weeks of supplementation. Antibody levels were measured at baseline and the end of the study against 14 pneumococcal types and a detailed nutritional questionnaire was administered to all subjects. Subjects receiving whey protein manifested a serum response higher compared to the control soy supplementation against 12/14 bacterial types. In particular, whey led to a higher frequency of response to all four more virulent types (4, 9, 14, and 23). Calorie and protein intake data suggest a better nutritional status in the whey group. Whey protein supplementation is a promising supplement to stimulate the immune response to vaccine in senior citizens and possibly to counteract immunosenescence while larger studies are warranted.
A New Isoform of Interleukin-3 Receptor α with Novel Differentiation Activity and High Affinity Binding Mode*

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) promotes both self-renewal and differentiation of early multipotential progenitors and is involved in inducible hematopoiesis in response to infections. Here we report new insights into these processes with the identification of a new isoform (SP2) of IL-3 receptor α (IL-3Rα), present in mouse and human hematopoietic cells, which lacks domain 1 of the full-length receptor (SP1). Binding assays with βIL-3 mutants showed that mouse SP2 uses a different high affinity binding mode to SP1, although both mouse and human SP2 and SP1 can stimulate IL-3-dependent growth. In IL-3-dependent differentiation models, human SP2 and SP1 gave differential effects on lineage commitment or self-renewal dependent on the cellular context, suggesting that different modes of ectodomain binding may modulate intracellular signaling. In a multipotential factor dependent cell-Paterson mix, the transcription factors C/EBPα and PU.1 and microRNAs miRNA-15a, -223, and -181a were up-regulated in cells undergoing SP2-supported differentiation compared with SP1-supported self-renewal. Similarly in M1 cells, SP2 promoted differentiation compared with SP1 and gave up-regulation of PU.1 and miRNA-155 and -223. These findings suggest that IL-3-promoted lineage commitment uses similar mechanisms to those of steady-state hematopoiesis. Both the SP1 and SP2 isoforms activated the Jak2/STAT5, Akt, and Erk1/2 signaling pathways in M1 cells, although the activation was more prolonged for the SP2 isoform.
Vitrectomy, lensectomy and silicone oil tamponade in the management of retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment.

AIM To report the results of combined vitrectomy, lensectomy and silicone oil (SO) tamponade in treating primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) associated with choroidal detachment (CD). METHODS A retrospective, consecutive and case series study of 21 subjects with concurrent RRD associated with CD was conducted. All subjects underwent a standard three-port 20G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with lensectomy and silicone oil tamponade. Mean follow-up time was 8 months (rang from 4 to 19 months). The primary and final anatomic success rate, visual acuity and final intraocular pressure(IOP) were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS Of 21 subjects, 8 were women and 13 were men. Age at presentation ranged from 22 to 75 years (mean 57.4 years). The presenting vision ranged from light perception to 0.15. The initial IOP ranged from 3mmHg to 12mmHg (mean 6.2mmHg). All eyes were phakic except one pseudophakic. No intraocular lens was implanted during the primary surgical intervention. Fifteen of 21 (71.4%) eyes had retina reattached after one operation. Six eyes had recurrent inferior retinal detachment due to proliferation. Five of them were successfully reattached after one or more additional operations. Mean IOP at final follow-up was 15.2mmHg (range from 8mmHg to 20mmHg). One case declined for further operation. The final reattachment rate was 95.2%. Visual acuity improved in 19 (90.5%) eyes, was unchanged in 1 (4.8%) eye and decreased in 1 (4.8%) eye. CONCLUSION Combination of vitrectomy, lensectomy and silicone tamponade is an effective method in treating RRD associated with CD, reducing the incidence of postoperative hypotony.
Catabolism of bis(5'-nucleosidyl) oligophosphates in Escherichia coli: metal requirements and substrate specificity of homogeneous diadenosine-5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase.

Diadenosine-5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase (diadenosinetetraphosphatase) from Escherichia coli strain EM20031 has been purified 5000-fold from 4 kg of wet cells. It produces 2.4 mg of homogeneous enzyme with a yield of 3.1%. The enzyme activity in the reaction of ADP production from Ap4A is 250 s-1 [37 degrees C, 50 mM tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, pH 7.8, 50 microM Ap4A, 0.5 microM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and 50 microM CoCl2]. The enzyme is a single polypeptide chain of Mr 33K, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis and high-performance gel permeation chromatography. Dinucleoside polyphosphates are substrates provided they contain more than two phosphates (Ap4A, Ap4G, Ap4C, Gp4G, Ap3A, Ap3G, Ap3C, Gp3G, Gp3C, Ap5A, Ap6A, and dAp4dA are substrates; Ap2A, NAD, and NADP are not). Among the products, a nucleoside diphosphate is always formed. ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP, dATP, dGTP, dCTP, and dTTP are not substrates; Ap4 is. Addition of Co2+ (50 microM) to the reaction buffer containing 0.5 microM EDTA strongly stimulates Ap4A hydrolysis (stimulation 2500-fold). With 50 microM MnCl2, the stimulation is 900-fold. Ca2+, Fe2+, and Mg2+ have no effect. The Km for Ap4A is 22 microM with Co2+ and 12 microM with Mn2+. The added metals have similar effects on the hydrolysis of Ap3A into ADP + AMP. However, in the latter case, the stimulation by Co2+ is small, and the maximum stimulation brought by Mn2+ is 9 times that brought by Co2+. Exposure of the enzyme to Zn2+ (5 microM), prior to the assay or within the reaction mixture containing Co2+, causes a marked inhibition of Ap4A hydrolysis. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Autonomous and non-autonomous differentiation of ectoderm in different sea urchin species.

During early embryogenesis, the highly regulative sea urchin embryo relies extensively on cell-cell interactions for cellular specification. Here, the role of cellular interactions in the temporal and spatial expression of markers for oral and aboral ectoderm in Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Lytechinus pictus was investigated. When pairs of mesomeres or animal caps, which are fated to give rise to ectoderm, were isolated and cultured they developed into ciliated embryoids that were morphologically polarized. In animal explants from S. purpuratus, the aboral ectoderm-specific Spec1 gene was activated at the same time as in control embryos and at relatively high levels. The Spec1 protein was restricted to the squamous epithelial cells in the embryoids suggesting that an oral-aboral axis formed and aboral ectoderm differentiation occurred correctly. However, the Ecto V protein, a marker for oral ectoderm differentiation, was detected throughout the embryoid and no stomodeum or ciliary band formed. These results indicated that animal explants from S. purpuratus were autonomous in their ability to form an oral-aboral axis and to differentiate aboral ectoderm, but other aspects of ectoderm differentiation require interaction with vegetal blastomeres. In contrast to S. purpuratus, aboral ectoderm-specific genes were not expressed in animal explants from L. pictus even though the resulting embryoids were morphologically very similar to those of S. purpuratus. Recombination of the explants with vegetal blastomeres or exposure to the vegetalizing agent LiCl restored activity of aboral ectoderm-specific genes, suggesting the requirement of a vegetal induction for differentiation of aboral ectoderm cells. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
High-dose aprotinin does not affect troponin I, N-Terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptid and renal function in children submitted to surgical correction with extracorporeal circulation.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate if the use of hemostatic high-dose aprotinin seems influence to myocardial, renal and metabolic functions in children submitted to surgical correction with extracorporeal circulation (ECC). Material and Methods A prospective randomized study was conducted on children aged 30 days to 4 years submitted to correction of acyanogenic congenital heart disease with ECC and divided into two groups: Control (n=9) and Aprotinin (n=10). In the Aprotinin Group the drug was administered before and during ECC and the myocardial and multiorgan dysfunctions were analyzed on the basis of clinical and biochemical markers. Differences were considered to be significant when P<0.05. RESULTS The groups were similar regarding demographic and intraoperative variables, except for a greater hemodilution in the Aprotinin Group. The drug had no benefit regarding time of mechanical pulmonary ventilation, permanence in the pediatric postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) and length of hospitalization, or regarding the use of inotropic drugs and renal function. The partial arterial oxygen pressure/inspired oxygen fraction ratio (PaO2/FiO2) was significantly reduced 24h after surgery in the Control Group. Blood loss was similar for both groups. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase MB fraction (CKMB), serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and the aminoterminal fraction of natriuretic peptide type B (NT-proBNP) did not differ significantly between groups. Post-ECC blood lactate concentration and metabolic acidosis was more intense in the Aprotinin Group. There were no complications with the use of aprotinin. CONCLUSION High-dose aprotinin did not significant influence in serum markers troponin I, NT-proBNP and renal function, but did associated with hemodilution, blood lactate concentration and metabolic acidosis more intense.
Succinylome Analysis Reveals the Involvement of Lysine Succinylation in Metabolism in Pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis*

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of human tuberculosis, remains one of the most prevalent human pathogens and a major cause of mortality worldwide. Metabolic network is a central mediator and defining feature of the pathogenicity of Mtb. Increasing evidence suggests that lysine succinylation dynamically regulates enzymes in carbon metabolism in both bacteria and human cells; however, its extent and function in Mtb remain unexplored. Here, we performed a global succinylome analysis of the virulent Mtb strain H37Rv by using high accuracy nano-LC-MS/MS in combination with the enrichment of succinylated peptides from digested cell lysates and subsequent peptide identification. In total, 1545 lysine succinylation sites on 626 proteins were identified in this pathogen. The identified succinylated proteins are involved in various biological processes and a large proportion of the succinylation sites are present on proteins in the central metabolism pathway. Site-specific mutations showed that succinylation is a negative regulatory modification on the enzymatic activity of acetyl-CoA synthetase. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that succinylation affects the conformational stability of acetyl-CoA synthetase, which is critical for its enzymatic activity. Further functional studies showed that CobB, a sirtuin-like deacetylase in Mtb, functions as a desuccinylase of acetyl-CoA synthetase in in vitro assays. Together, our findings reveal widespread roles for lysine succinylation in regulating metabolism and diverse processes in Mtb. Our data provide a rich resource for functional analyses of lysine succinylation and facilitate the dissection of metabolic networks in this life-threatening pathogen.
Awareness of, opinions about, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines in otorhinolaryngology.

BACKGROUND Guidelines may assist physicians and patients in decisions about effective and safe care. Little is known about the awareness of, opinions about, and adherence to evidence-based guidelines in otolaryngology. METHODS We performed a survey among 440 otorhinolaryngologists of the Dutch Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. The questionnaire consisted of questions about the characteristics of the respondents, their knowledge and opinions of available evidence-based guidelines, and their adherence to them. Furthermore, 2 clinical scenarios were included to test their knowledge regarding the guideline for diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. RESULTS The daily practice of most otorhinolaryngologists (70%) was influenced by evidence based guidelines: 62% stated that evidence-based guidelines supported their clinical practice; 32% stated that guidelines directed their clinical practice. The mean confidence in the evidence of recommendations stated in the guidelines was 77%. The mean percentage of nonadherence to guideline recommendations was 45%. The guideline adherence was higher in younger otorhinolaryngologists. Sex, type of hospital, and PhD grade did not affect the preferences of the responders. In general, surveyed otorhinolaryngologists treated patients in accordance with the guidelines. However, when disease characteristics were less distinct, on the one hand, the guidelines included a wider range of treatment options, and on the other hand, variation in chosen treatment by otorhinolaryngologists increased. CONCLUSIONS Dutch otorhinolaryngologists are well aware of the available evidence-based guidelines, and many use these to support their clinical practice. The treatment by Dutch otorhinolaryngologists is in accordance with the Dutch guidelines. When guidelines, however, do not provide strict recommendations and allow flexibility in treatment, larger variations in chosen treatment occur. This may reflect that otorhinolaryngologists still may encounter difficulties when applying the current guidelines to an individual patient.
Effects of pseudoephedrine on maximal cycling power and submaximal cycling efficiency.

PURPOSE To study the effects of a therapeutic dose of pseudoephedrine on anaerobic cycling power and aerobic cycling efficiency. METHODS Eleven healthy moderately trained males (VO (2peak) 4.4 +/- 0.8 L x min(-1) participated in a double-blinded crossover design. Subjects underwent baseline (B) tests for anaerobic (Wingate test) and aerobic (VO (2peak) test) cycling power. Subjects ingested either 60 mg of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride (D) or a placebo (P) and, after 90 min of rest, a Wingate and a cycling efficiency test were performed. During the cycling efficiency test, heart rate (HR) and VO(2) were averaged for the last 5 min of a 10-min cycle at 40% and 60% of the peak power achieved during the VO (2peak) test. RESULTS There were no significant differences in peak power (B = 860 +/- 154, D = 926 +/- 124, P = 908 +/- 118 W), total work (B = 20 +/- 3, D = 21 +/- 3, P = 21 +/- 3 kJ), or fatigue index (B = 39 +/- 8, D = 45 +/- 5, P = 43 +/- 5%). There were no significant differences in HR at 40% power (D = 138 +/- 10, P = 137 +/- 10 beats.min-1) or 60% power (D = 161 +/- 11, P = 160 +/- 11 beats x min(-1). There were no significant differences in cycling efficiency at 40% power (D = 18.8 +/- 1.8, P = 18.5 +/- 1.8%) or 60% power (D = 20.3 +/- 2.0, P = 20.1 +/- 2.1%). CONCLUSION A therapeutic dose of pseudoephedrine hydrochloride does not affect anaerobic cycling performance or aerobic cycling efficiency.
Gallbladder Cancer: Comparison of Patients Presenting Initially for Definitive Operation With Those Presenting After Prior Noncurative Intervention

ObjectiveTo compare patients with gallbladder cancer presenting for therapy with and without prior operation elsewhere to determine if an initial noncurative procedure alters outcome. Summary Background DataNihilism has traditionally surrounded treatment of gallbladder cancer, particularly since the majority of cases are discovered during exploration for presumed gallstone disease when unsuspected cancers cannot be handled definitively and tumor is often violated. MethodsPresentation, operative data, complications, and survival were examined for 410 patients presenting between July 1986 and March 2000. In particular, the 248 patients presenting for therapy after prior operation elsewhere were compared with the remainder who presented without prior operation to determine if an initial noncurative procedure alters outcome. ResultsOverall Outcome: 51 patients were inoperable, 92 were subjected to exploration and biopsy only, 135 to noncurative cholecystectomy, 30 to surgical bypass, and 102 to potentially curative resections consisting of portal lymph node dissection and liver parenchymal resections. Operative mortality was 3.9%. T-stage predicted likelihood of distant metastases and resectability. Median survival for resected patients was 26 months and 5-year survival was 38%, and for patients not resected, 5.4 months and 4% (P < .0001). Effect of Prior Operation: 22 patients subjected to potentially curative resection as the first surgical procedure were compared to 80 patients resected after prior exploration elsewhere. Mortality, complication, and long-term survival were the same. By multivariate analysis (Cox regression), resectability and stage were independent predictors (P < .001) of long-term survival, but prior surgical exploration was not. ConclusionUnresected gallbladder cancer is a rapidly fatal disease. Radical resection can provide long-term survival, even for large tumors with extensive liver invasion. Long-term survival can be achieved for patients presenting after prior noncurative surgical exploration.
Aspergillus fumigatus complement inhibitor: production, characterization, and purification by hydrophobic interaction and thin-layer chromatography

Aspergillus fumigatus has previously been shown to produce a soluble extracellular inhibitor of the alternative complement pathway, called Aspergillus complement inhibitor, or CI. We now report an efficient method for production of CI which relies on the fact that poorly conidiating cultures yielded CI activity with approximately sevenfold-higher potency than CI produced by conidiating cultures. CI from poorly conidiating cultures provided 50% inhibition of alternative pathway-mediated binding of 125I-labeled complement component C3 to cryptococcal blastoconidia at a mean concentration of 60 micrograms/ml. The ability of crude CI to inhibit the alternative complement pathway seemed to be independent of intact protein or polysaccharide structure, as evidenced by resistance of inhibitory activity to digestion by proteases, including subtilisin, alpha-chymotrypsin, papain, and pepsin as well as endoglycosidases F and H. Separation of the active inhibitory component of CI from contaminating materials contained in crude CI preparations was achieved by using Phenylsuperose hydrophobic interaction chromatography in a fast protein liquid chromatography system. The active material proved to be extremely hydrophobic, desorbing from the column only during elution with ethanol; it contained only 15% protein and 5% polysaccharide. Furthermore, results from preparative thin-layer chromatography indicated that lipids which comigrated with phosphatidylserine/phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine possessed significant complement-inhibitory activity. Taken together, these data suggested that phospholipids from A. fumigatus contributed to the functional activity of CI.
Anatomy and clinical importance of cholecystic venous drainage: helical CT observations during injection of contrast medium into the cholecystic artery.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to use helical CT to elucidate the anatomy and clinical importance of cholecystic venous drainage. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We performed helical CT of the upper abdomen during injection of contrast medium through a superselectively catheterized cholecystic artery (cholecystic artery CT) in 28 patients, all of whom were surgical candidates for suspected hepatobiliary abnormality. In nine of these patients, CT during arterial portography (CTAP) was also performed. RESULTS Cholecystic venous blood most frequently entered peripheral portal branches of hepatic segment V (27 of 28 patients, 96%) and segment IV (26 of 28, 93%). In order of decreasing frequency, cholecystic venous blood also drained to segments I, VI, VIII, III, and VII. Cholecystic venous blood subsequently drained into the middle hepatic vein (21 of 28, 75%) or right hepatic vein (20 of 28, 71%). In two patients with adenocarcinoma involving the gallbladder associated with multiple liver metastases, cholecystic venous drainage was seen around each metastatic focus. In the nine patients in whom both cholecystic artery CT and CTAP were performed, nontumorous portal perfusion defects were attributable to cholecystic venous drainage. CONCLUSION Recognition of cholecystic venous drainage as a possible pathway for spread of disease from the gallbladder to the liver and also as one of the causes of non-tumorous portal perfusion defects seen on CTAP is important.
A Multilevel Study on the Relationships Between Work Characteristics, Self- Efficacy, Collective Efficacy, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Case of Taiwanese Police Duty-Executing Organizations

ABSTRACT Public security, traffic management, and service for the people are the 3 major functions of policing in Taiwan. This definition encompasses not only the traditional job characteristics, but also the level of contextual characteristics and social characteristics because of police work's characteristics and its frequent interaction with the public. Thus, the present study conducted a multilevel model analysis by taking self-efficacy and collective efficacy as the mediating variables. The purpose was to investigate the influences of motivational work characteristics (knowledge-oriented) and social work characteristics (socially and contextually oriented) of work-design model on the police officers’ organizational citizenship behavior (OCB), by using first-line police officers in Taiwan as the research objects. The study showed not only that knowledge characteristics will influence the self-efficacy of a police officer and that self-efficacy can in turn influence individual police officers’ OCB, but also the contextual effect of social characteristics, contextual characteristics, and collective efficacy on self-efficacy and individuals’ OCB. Additionally, there was a crosslevel moderating effect from contextual characteristics on the relationship between knowledge characteristics and self-efficacy and the relationship between self-efficacy and the individuals’ OCB. The authors conclude the article with research implications.