Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Greenlandic schoolchildren’s compliance with national dietary guidelines

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent children and adolescents in Greenland comply with the national dietary guidelines, and to analyse the influence of habitation and family affluence on the compliance with dietary guidelines. Design Data were from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey in Greenland. The 2006 survey included 2462 students aged 11 to 17 years. Results The proportion of students complying with the national dietary guidelines varied from 14 % to 87 % depending on the food item. Sweets and soft drinks had the lowest compliance. The oldest children had the following characteristics compared with the younger children: fewer ate traditional Greenlandic foods, fewer ate fruit, fewer ate breakfast daily on school days and more drank soft drinks frequently. More boys than girls ate traditional Greenlandic foods often, while more girls ate vegetables daily. The least favourable eating habits in general were found among children from low affluent families and children in villages. Conclusions Many Greenlandic schoolchildren did not comply with the national dietary guidelines. Despite a higher intake of traditional foods as a whole, children in villages and less affluent children were less likely to comply with guidelines. A strong relationship between diet, family affluence and availability was found. The study findings indicate that factors such as availability, cost and seasonal variation are important to the intake of both imported and traditional Greenlandic foods. The findings should be taken into consideration when promoting the national guidelines.
High affinity iron‐uptake systems in Vibrio damsela: role in the acquisition of iron from transferrin

In this work, the high affinity iron‐acquisition systems displayed by virulent and avirulent strains of Vibrio damsela have been investigated. This species is an autochthonous member of marine ecosystems that can behave as an opportunistic pathogen for fish and mammals. All strains tested (i) were able to grow under the restricted conditions imposed by the iron chelators transferrin (Tf) and EDDHA, (ii) secreted siderophores of hydroxamic type, other than aerobactin and desferal, that were able to stimulate the growth of the auxotroph mutant Arthrobacter flavescens JG9, and (iii) expressed common iron‐regulated outer membrane proteins (IROMPs). No change in LPS patterns was observed in response to iron restriction. Results from the assays with transferrin suggest that these siderophores could be utilized to sequester iron from Tf, a protein for which no surface receptor was detected in any strain. In summary, the overall data demonstrate that V. damsela expresses siderophore‐mediated iron‐uptake systems. These systems are probably involved in the survival of the species in the different environments that it can colonize, i.e. water and several vertebrate hosts.
Hyaluronan Preserves Peritoneal Membrane Transport Properties

Background We have shown that intraperitoneal (IP) addition of hyaluronan (HA) in a single dwell study in rat could increase peritoneal fluid removal by decreasing the peritoneal fluid absorption rate. In this study, we investigated the impact of repeated use of HA on peritoneal membrane transport characteristics. Methods Twelve male Sprague–Dawley rats received a once-daily IP injection of 25 mL 4.25% glucose dialysis solution without (HP group, n = 6) or with 0.025% HA (HA group, n = 6) for 1 week. Forty-eight hours after the last injection, a 4 hour dwell using 25 mL 4.25% glucose dialysis solution with IP volume marker and frequent dialysate and blood samplings was performed in each rat as well as in rats that did not receive any injection (control group, n = 8). Results Although the IP volumes were significantly lower in the HP and HA groups compared to the control group, IP volume in the HA group was significantly higher than in the HP group. Net ultrafiltration at 4 hours was 5.6 ± 1.3 mL, 10.2 ± 1.8 mL, and 13.2 ± 0.6 mL for the H P, HA, and control group, respectively. The peritoneal fluid absorption rate decreased by 45% in the HA group compared to the HP group. There was no significant difference in peritoneal fluid absorption rate between the HA and the control group. No difference was found in the direct lymphatic absorption rate between the HP and HA groups [0.010 ± 0.003 mL/minute in the HP group and 0.011 ± 0.004 mL/min in the HA group] although they were both higher than that of the control group (0.004 ± 0.001 mL/min). The solute transport rates were in general significantly higher in the HP group compared to the HA and control groups, and there was no significant difference between the latter two groups, except that protein transport rate was significantly lower in the HA group compared to the control group. Conclusions The present study suggests that (1) repeated exposure to hypertonic glucose-based dialysis solution results in increased peritoneal solute transport rates, as well as increased peritoneal fluid absorption rates; and (2) these changes, reflecting a highly permeable peritoneal membrane, were ameliorated by repeated IP addition of hyaluronan. The similar changes in the direct lymphatic absorption rate in rats that received daily IP injection of dialysis solution suggest that direct peritoneal lymphatic absorption was not influenced by hyaluronan.
Genetic evidence for interaction of sigma E with the spoIIID promoter in Bacillus subtilis

During sporulation in Bacillus subtilis, new RNA polymerase sigma factors are produced. These sigma factors direct the transcription of genes that are required for this cellular differentiation. In order to determine the role of each sigma factor in this process, it is necessary to know which promoters are recognized by each sigma factor. The spoIIID gene product plays an important role in the establishment of mother cell-specific gene expression during sporulation. We found that substitution of an alanine at position 124 of the sporulation-specific sigma factor sigma E suppressed the effect of a single-base-pair transition at position -13 of the spoIIID promoter. This alanine substitution in sigma E did not suppress the effect of a transversion at position -12 of the spoIIID promoter. The allele specificity of the interaction between sigma E and the spoIIID promoter is strong evidence that sigma E directs transcription from the spoIIID promoter during sporulation. Position 124 in sigma E is located within a region that is highly conserved among the regions in other sigma factors that probably interact with the -10 regions of their cognate promoters.
Tinnitus Annoyance in Normal-Hearing Individuals

Objective: To assess and correlate tinnitus annoyance in normal-hearing patients with auditory brainstem response and with anxiety/depression. Methods: A sample of 84 individuals with tinnitus and normal hearing levels (pure-tone thresholds ≤25 dB HL) was compared to a matched control group of 47 normal-hearing individuals without tinnitus. All participants underwent auditory brainstem response testing. Tinnitus annoyance was assessed using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and depression and anxiety using the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. We compared auditory brainstem response and anxiety/depression symptoms between groups. In the study group, we correlated the degree of tinnitus annoyance with normal/abnormal auditory brainstem response and presence/level of anxiety/depression symptoms. Results: All controls had normal auditory brainstem response; 30 patients with tinnitus had abnormal results. Thirty-five patients with tinnitus had depression and 41 anxiety, while only 2 controls had depression and none had anxiety, with a significant between-group difference (P < .001). Normal/abnormal auditory brainstem response showed no association with tinnitus annoyance, anxiety, or depression. A higher degree of tinnitus annoyance was associated with severity of depression and anxiety. Conclusions: Increased tinnitus annoyance was positively correlated with greater severity of anxiety and depression in normal-hearing patients but was unrelated to normal/abnormal auditory brainstem response.
Concentration dependent dual effect of thrombin in endothelial cells via Par‐1 and Pi3 Kinase

Disruption of endothelial barrier is a critical pathophysiological factor in inflammation. Thrombin exerts a variety of cellular effects including inflammation and apoptosis through activation of the protease activated receptors (PARs). The activation of PAR‐1 by thrombin is known to have a bimodal effect in endothelial cell permeability with a low concentration (pM levels) eliciting a barrier protective and a high concentration (nM levels) eliciting a barrier disruptive response. It is not known whether this PAR‐1‐dependent activity of thrombin is a unique phenomenon specific for the in vitro assay or it is part of a general anti‐inflammatory effect of low concentrations of thrombin that may have a physiological relevance. Here, we report that low concentrations of thrombin or of PAR‐1 agonist peptide induced significant anti‐inflammatory activities. However, relatively high concentration of thrombin or of PAR‐1 agonist peptide showed pro‐inflammatory activities. By using function‐blocking anti‐PAR‐1 antibodies and PI3 kinase inhibitor, we show that the direct anti‐inflammatory effects of low concentrations of thrombin are dependent on the activation of PAR‐1 and PI3 kinase. These results suggest a role for cross communication between PAR‐1 activation and PI3 kinase pathway in mediating the cytoprotective effects of low concentrations of thrombin in the cytokine‐stimulated endothelial cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 744–751, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lectin histochemical characteristics of the canine female mammary gland.

Twelve biotinylated lectins and an avidin-biotin-peroxidase method were used to detect and localize specific carbohydrate residues on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded female canine mammary gland sections. Histologic sections from 3 lactating and 7 nonlactating mixed-breed dogs (age 5.6 +/- 0.35 years) were incubated with Arachis hypogea agglutinin (peanut agglutinin; PNA), Concanavalia ensiformis agglutinin (conA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), Glycine max agglutinin (SBA), Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin-I (GS-I), Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA), Lycopersicon esculentum agglutinin (LEA), Phytolacca americana mitogen (pokeweed mitogen; PWM), Ricinus communis agglutinin-I and -II (RCA-I and -II), Triticum vulgaris (WGA), and Ulex europaeus agglutinin-I (UEA-I). Each lectin had a specific binding pattern, except SBA and DBA. In nonlactating glands, PNA, conA, LEA, and UEA-I stained duct cells in a linear-binding pattern, with a mean percentage of positive ducts per section of 28.7 (+/- 0.6), 65.7 (+/- 0.3), 100 (+/- 0), and 8.4 (+/- 0.2), respectively. Strong apical, lateral, basal, and cytoplasmic positivity on duct cells was seen after incubation of the sections with RCA-I, RCA-II, and WGA in all ducts. In acinar cells, the binding pattern and the staining distribution of all the lectins studied were similar to those in duct cells. However, for PNA, conA, and UEA-I, the mean percentage of positive lobules per section was 33.7 (+/- 0.9), 62 (+/- 0.5), and 10.5 (+/- 0.2), respectively. In glands from lactating dogs, conA and UEA-I did not stain. The cytoplasm of all myoepithelial cells was moderately stained with RCA-I, RCA-II, and WGA. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Collectins and pulmonary innate immunity

Summary: The surfactant‐associated proteins SP‐A and SP‐D are members of a family of host defense lectins, designated collectins. There is increasing evidence that these pulmonary, epithelial‐derived proteins are important components of the innate immune response to microbial challenge and participate in other aspects of immune and inflammatory regulation within the lung. Both proteins bind to glycoconjugates and/or lipid moieties expressed by a wide variety of microorganisms, and to certain organic particles, such as pollens. SP‐A and SP‐D have the capacity to modulate leukocyte function and, in some circumstances, to opsonize and enhance the killing of microorganisms. The biologic activity of cell wall components, such as Gram‐negative bacterial polysaccharides, or viral glycoproteins, such as the hemagglutinin of influenza viruses, may be altered by interactions with collectins. In addition, complementary or cooperative interactions between SP‐A, SP‐D and other host defense lectins could contribute to the efficiency of this defense system. Collectins could play particularly important roles in settings of inadequate or impaired specific immunity, and acquired alterations in the levels of active collectins within the airspaces and distal airways may increase susceptibility to infection.
The application of NMR-based milk metabolite analysis in milk authenticity identification.

BACKGROUND Milk is an important food component in the human diet and is a target for fraud, including many unsafe practices. For example, the unscrupulous adulteration of soymilk into bovine and goat milk or of bovine milk into goat milk in order to gain profit without declaration is a health risk, as the adulterant source and sanitary history are unknown. A robust and fit-for-purpose technique is required to enforce market surveillance and hence protect consumer health. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a powerful technique for characterization of food products based on measuring the profile of metabolites. In this study, 1D NMR in conjunction with multivariate chemometrics as well as 2D NMR was applied to differentiate milk types and to identify milk adulteration. RESULTS Ten metabolites were found which differed among milk types, hence providing characteristic markers for identifying the milk. These metabolites were used to establish mathematical models for milk type differentiation. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of adulteration was 2% (v/v) for soymilk in bovine milk, 2% (v/v) for soymilk in goat milk and 5% (v/v) for bovine milk in goat milk, with relative standard deviation (RSD) less than 10%, which can meet the needs of daily inspection. CONCLUSION The NMR method described here is effective for milk authenticity identification, and the study demonstrates that the NMR-based milk metabolite analysis approach provides a means of detecting adulteration at expected levels and can be used for dairy quality monitoring. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Physical Function in Older Adults With Multiple Sclerosis: An Application of the Short Physical Performance Battery

Background and Purpose: There is a growing prevalence of older persons living with multiple sclerosis (MS), and this cohort likely undergoes changes in physical function associated with MS and its progression as well as those associated with normal aging. This cross-sectional study examined physical function in a community-dwelling sample of older adults with MS compared with matched controls using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Methods: The sample (N = 40) included 20 older adults with MS and 20 older adults without MS who were matched on sex and age. All participants completed the SPPB. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between groups for the overall SPPB score (P = .013; d = 0.45) and the balance (P = .002; d = 0.46) and gait speed (P = .009; d = 0.30) component scores. The difference between groups in the lower extremity strength component approached significance (P = .056; d = 0.34). Of note, only 2 older adults without MS had SPPB scores below 10 (ie, 10%), whereas 8 older adults with MS had SPPB scores below 10 (ie, 40%); this represented a statistically significant difference in future risk for disability (P = .028). Discussion/Conclusions: We provide preliminary evidence for reduced physical function based on the SPPB as a valid, objective measure of lower extremity functional performance among older adults with MS.
Common components of the infection thread matrix and the intercellular space identified by immunocytochemical analysis of pea nodules and uninfected roots

Three rat hybridoma cell lines have been isolated which produce monoclonal antibodies identifying a noduleenhanced, soluble component of Pisum sativum root nodules. These antibodies each recognized a protease‐sensitive band (Mr 95K) on SDS‐polyacrylamide gels. The 95K antigen was resolved by isoelectric focusing into acidic and neutral components which were separately detected by AFRC MAC 236 and MAC 265 respectively. The third antibody (MAC 204) reacted with both acidic and neutral components through an epitope that was sensitive to periodate oxidation. These monoclonal antibodies were used for immunogold localizations at light and electron microscopic levels. In each case, the antigen was shown to be present in the matrix that surrounds the invading rhizobia in infection threads and infection droplets, as well as in the intercellular spaces between plant cell walls of nodules and also of uninfected roots. By contrast, a fourth monoclonal antibody, AFRC JIM 5, labelled a pectic component in the walls of infection threads, and JIM 5 was also found to label the middle lamella of plant cell walls, especially at three‐way junctions between cells. The composition and structure of the infection thread lumen is thus comparable to that of an intercellular space.
Effect of morphine on the bispectral index during isoflurane anesthesia in dogs.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of morphine on the bispectral index (BIS) in dogs during isoflurane anesthesia maintained at a constant end-tidal concentration. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized, experimental trial. ANIMALS Eight adult Beagle dogs, weighing between 7.1 and 9.8 kg. METHODS Anesthesia was induced with isoflurane via a face mask. Dog's tracheas were intubated and anesthesia maintained with isoflurane at a constant end-tidal concentration (e'Iso) of 1.81% for a 30-minute equilibration period. Pulmonary ventilation was controlled to normocapnia. After equilibration, baseline values were recorded prior to intravenous administration of morphine sulfate (0.5 mg kg(-1)) (MT) or an equal volume of saline (CT). Measurements for heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure (SAP, DAP and MAP) were recorded at 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 minutes after treatment. Bispectral index was recorded every 10 seconds for 3 minutes for each time measurement. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 and 120 minutes for determination of morphine serum concentrations. Anesthesia was discontinued after the last measurement and dogs were allowed to recover. RESULTS Baseline BIS for MT and CT at 1.81%e'Iso were 63 +/- 10 and 58 +/- 9, respectively. Bispectral index in MT was 4-8% lower at 20, 75, 90 and 105 minutes compared with CT. There were no differences in BIS between baseline and any subsequent measurement within either MT or CT. Heart rate, SAP, MAP, and DAP decreased after morphine administration. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Intravenous administration of 0.5 mg kg(-1) morphine sulfate did not cause clinically significant changes in the BIS of unstimulated dogs during isoflurane anesthesia at an e'Iso of 1.81%.
Selection of treatment method for pelvic ring fractures.

INTRODUCTION The pelvis is the central part of the body that receives the weight from the vertebral column and transfers it to the lower extremities. It protects the internal organs with its specific structure and shape. OBJECTIVE The study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of emergency non-surgical and surgical treatment of such patients, to analyze the types and severity of complications and final functional outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS We present a series of 47 patients treated in the period between 1999 and 2009 at the Traumatology Clinic, CHC Banja Luka. According to Marvin Tile's classification, fractures were distributed as follows: Type A fractures occurred in 19 patients (40.6%), Type B in 18 (38.1%) and Type C in 10 (21.3%). 30 patients (63.8%) were polytraumatised, with craniocerebral injuries in 12 patients (25.5%), chest cavity injuries in 5 (10.6%) and abdominal organ injuries in 13 patients (27.6%). 27 patients (57.4%) had clinical and laboratory signs of hemorrhagic shock on admission, while 26 patients (56.2%) received conservative treatment and 21 patients (43.8%) were treated using surgical methods of stabilization of the pelvic ring. RESULTS The analysis of the outcomes of treating pelvic ring fractures in our series of patients by using radiography (x-rays according to Slatis) showed that out of 47 treated patients, the outcomes were excellent in 28 (60%), good in 7 (15%), fair in 5 (12%) and poor in 7 (14%). The functional outcomes in all patients were evaluated according to the D'Aubigne-Postel scale, on average 18 months after the trauma. The outcomes were excellent in 22 patients (45%), good in 15 (31%), fair in 4 (9%) and poor in 6 (14%). The chi-square test showed that there was no significant statistical difference between the outcomes monitored using x-rays and functional outcomes monitored using the D'Aubigne-Postel scale (p = 0.097). The surgical treatment efficiency coefficient was introduced for the purpose of comparative evaluation of treatment outcomes. The surgical treatment efficiency coefficient, compared with conservative treatment, showed that all evaluated parameters were between 1.56 and 16.33 times lower in surgical treatment, which represents the more favorable outcome. CONCLUSION We can conclude that conservative treatment is the treatment of choice for Tile's Type A fractures, external fixator for treating Type B fractures (including all subtypes), and internal fixation, as mono therapy or in combination with external fixator, for treating Type C2 and Type C3 fractures. Surgical treatment, compared with conservative treatment, allows faster mobilisation of the patient and it shortens the recovery period, which in turn lowers the total treatment costs.
Intake of the major carotenoids and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies

Carotenoids, found in fruits and vegetables, have the potential to protect against cancer because of their properties, including their functions as precursors to vitamin A and as antioxidants. We examined the associations between intakes of α‐carotene, β‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin and lycopene and the risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. The primary data from 10 prospective cohort studies in North America and Europe were analyzed and then pooled. Carotenoid intakes were estimated from a validated food frequency questionnaire administered at baseline in each study. Study‐specific relative risks (RR) were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model and then combined using a random‐effects model. Among 521,911 women, 2,012 cases of ovarian cancer occurred during a follow‐up of 7–22 years across studies. The major carotenoids were not significantly associated with the risk of ovarian cancer. The pooled multivariate RRs (95% confidence intervals) were 1.00 (0.95–1.05) for a 600 μg/day increase in α‐carotene intake, 0.96 (0.93–1.03) for a 2,500 μg/day increase in β‐carotene intake, 0.99 (0.97–1.02) for a 100 μg/day increase in β‐cryptoxanthin intake, 0.98 (0.94–1.03) for a 2,500 μg/day increase in lutein/zeaxanthin intake and 1.01 (0.97–1.05) for a 4,000 μg/day increase in lycopene intake. These associations did not appreciably differ by study (p‐values, tests for between‐studies heterogeneity >0.17). Also, the observed associations did not vary substantially by subgroups of the population or by histological type of ovarian cancer. These results suggest that consumption of the major carotenoids during adulthood does not play a major role in the incidence of ovarian cancer. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.