Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association of dehydroepiandrosterone, obesity, waist-hip ratio and insulin resistance with fatty liver in postmenopausal women--a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic insulin clamp study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The relationship between insulin resistance and the occurrence of fatty acid has been documented. Recently DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) was shown to have a protective effect against development of fatty liver in rats. We aimed to investigate the association of nonalcoholic fatty liver and serum levels of DHEA, obesity, fat distribution and insulin resistance and to evaluate the effect of DHEA on fatty liver, obesity and insulin resistance. METHODOLOGY Thirteen postmenopausal women with nonalcoholic fatty liver and 14 postmenopausal women with normal liver histology were included into the study. Body mass index, waist-hip ratio, serum DHEA, DHEAS, triglyceride, cholesterol levels and insulin resistance were determined. Fatty liver was determined by ultrasound and established by liver biopsy and histology. Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies were performed. RESULTS The subjects in both groups were age matched (p > 0.05). Body mass index showed obesity in patients with fatty liver but not in control group (p = 0.01). Central obesity was present in women with fatty liver (p = 0.039). As expected, insulin resistance was significantly present in patients with fatty liver (p = 0.001). DHEA and DHEAS levels of women with fatty liver were greater than those of control group (p1 = 0.001 and p2 = 0.0001, respectively). DHEA and DHEAS were positively correlated with both body mass index and waist-hip ratio. However, glucose disposal rate was inversely and significantly correlated with DHEA and DHEAS levels. CONCLUSIONS These data do not support the hypothesis that DHEA or DHEAS protect post-menopausal women against fatty liver, diabetes and obesity. Indeed, DHEA and DHEAS may be the cause of fatty liver, obesity (especially abdominal obesity) and diabetes in estrogen-deficient women.
The relationship between circulating interleukin-6 and carcinoembryonic antigen in patients with colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to clarify whether or not preoperative serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) correlate with well-established prognostic variables (serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), stage, histological grade, lymphatic and venous invasion) in colorectal cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Serum levels of IL-6 and CEA were determined in 62 patients who underwent resection of colorectal cancer. The patients were divided into two groups based on a selected cut-off value: high and low IL-6 and CEA groups. RESULTS The median serum level of IL-6 in colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher than the median level in normal controls (p = 0.0014). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a high serum level of CEA is an independent predictor for a high serum level of IL-6 (odds ratio, 4.10; p = 0.046). CONCLUSION A high serum level of IL-6 is significantly associated with a high serum level of CEA in preoperative colorectal cancer patients.
Expression and Secretion of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island-2 Virulence Genes in Response to Acidification Exhibit Differential Requirements of a Functional Type III Secretion Apparatus and SsaL*

Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-2 is pivotal to the intracellular survival of Salmonella and for virulence in mammals. SPI-2 encodes virulence factors (called effectors) that are translocated into the host cell, a type III secretion apparatus and a two-component regulatory system that regulates intracellular expression of SPI-2. Salmonella SPI-2 secretion activity appears to be induced in response to acidification of the vacuole in which it replicates. Here we show that the expression of the SPI-2 proteins, SseB and SseD (filament and pore forming components of the secretion apparatus, respectively) in response to acidification requires an intact secretion system and SsaL, a Salmonella homologue of SepL, a regulator required for type III-dependent secretion of translocators but not effectors in attaching and effacing gastrointestinal pathogens. We show that the expression of SPI-2-encoded effectors is acid-regulated but can be uncoupled from the expression of filament and translocon components, thus showing a differential requirement of SsaL for expression. The secretion and translocation of SPI-2-encoded effectors requires SsaL, but SsaL is dispensable for the secretion of SPI-2 effectors encoded in other pathogenicity loci, suggesting a secretion regulation function for SsaL. Further, we demonstrate that the differential expression of adjacent genes within the sseA operon (sseD and sseE) occurs at the transcriptional level. These data indicate that a Salmonella SPI-2 activation state is achieved by an acidregulated response that requires SsaL. These data also suggest the existence of a previously unrecognized regulatory element within SPI-2 for the “effector operon” region downstream of sseD that might demarcate the expression of translocators and effectors.
Mitogenic factors regulate ion channels in Schwann cells cultured from newborn rat sciatic nerve.

1. Patch clamp studies were carried out in Schwann cells cultured from newborn rat sciatic nerve to determine the effects of mitogens on voltage‐gated currents without the confounding influences of axonal contact and myelin present in vivo. The relevance of the various Schwann cell currents to proliferation was assessed using assays of [3H]thymidine incorporation. 2. Treatment of cultured Schwann cells with known mitogens, namely axon fragments (AF), myelin fragments (MF), or glial growth factor in combination with forskolin (GGF+F), increased the magnitudes of delayed rectifying potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) currents. 3. In both control and mitogen‐treated cells, the magnitude of net outward current paralleled clearly the magnitude of the cells' proliferative response. 4. The K+ channel‐blocking quaternary ammonium ions, tetrabutylammonium (TBuA), tetrapentylammonium (TPeA) and tetrahexylammonium (THeA), but not the Na+ channel blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX), reduced proliferation in a dose‐dependent fashion offering further evidence for a role for K+ channels in Schwann cell proliferation. 5. Voltage‐gated chloride (Cl‐) currents were observed in both control and mitogen‐treated cells. Addition of the Cl‐ channel blockers, 4‐acetamido‐4'‐isocyanatostilbene‐2,2'‐disulphonate (SITS) or 4,4'‐diisothiocyanatostilbene‐2,2'‐disulphonate (DIDS), to the culture media enhanced proliferation. 6. The possible intermediary role of the Schwann cell resting potential was explored in ion substitution experiments by increasing the K+ concentration of the media and by adding ouabain. Both manipulations inhibited Schwann cell mitosis. 7. Comparison of the expression of functional ion channels in vitro with that previously described for Schwann cells in vivo suggests a difference in the Schwann cell response to the membrane fragment mitogens and their intact counterparts in regard to the regulation of ion channels. MF up‐regulates the number of functional channels, whereas the elaboration of myelin (or a factor related to its presence) in vivo appears to down‐regulate channel expression, at the cell soma of myelinating Schwann cells. In addition, axonal contact may be required for normal expression of functional inwardly rectifying K+ channels.
Workplace violence and influencing factors among medical professionals in China.

BACKGROUND Workplace violence has attracted increasing public attention over the past few decades in China. This study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of workplace violence in healthcare settings by various job titles and hospital departments, and to explore the related risk factors among Chinese medical professionals. METHODS A total of 2,464 medical professionals in 12 hospitals of two provinces were surveyed by using a stratified cluster sampling method. The Chinese version of the Workplace Violence Scale was used to measure the frequencies of workplace violence, classified as physical assault, emotional abuse, threat of assault, verbal sexual harassment and sexual assault experienced by the subjects over the previous 12 months. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on potentially influencing factors for workplace violence. Multivariate analysis was applied to determine the risk factors for workplace violence. RESULTS About 50% of study subjects reported at least one type of workplace violence. The rates of experiencing two episodes or more of physical assault, emotional abuse, threat of assault, verbal sexual harassment, and sexual assault were 11%, 26%, 12%, 3%, and 1%, respectively. Identified risk factors for workplace violence included working in the departments of psychiatry, emergency, pediatrics and surgery, male gender, divorce/widowed status, long working hours (≥10 hr/day), and night shift. CONCLUSIONS The study suggested that workplace violence occurs commonly in Chinese healthcare settings. Effective intervention strategies targeting workplace violence should be formulated in terms of major risk factors.
Serum interleukin-6 may modulate periodontal inflammation in type 1 diabetic subjects.

AIMS To evaluate the associations between serum inflammatory biomarkers and periodontal inflammation in subjects with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Our hypothesis was that local host responses may be modulated by the serum inflammatory mediators. MATERIAL AND METHODS Plaque, bleeding on probing and probing pocket depth (PD) were examined in 80 T1DM subjects at the baseline and in 58 subjects 8 weeks after periodontal therapy. The levels of glycosylated haemoglobin, serum interleukin (IL)-6, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein and the lipid profile were measured at the baseline and after therapy. Stratification of the sample separately by smoking and body mass index (BMI) was performed. Adjusted associations between the levels of systemic biomarkers and periodontal parameters were studied using multiple regression models. RESULTS The level of serum IL-6 was associated with the extent of bleeding and PD≥4 mm at the baseline in non-smokers and in subjects with BMI≤26 kg/m(2). These associations were also evident after periodontal therapy. Subjects with a high after-therapy IL-6 level presented poorer periodontal healing than those with a low level. CONCLUSIONS The observed associations may be considered to be suggestive of a modulatory effect of IL-6 on host responses in T1DM subjects.
Additive Effects of Mitochondrion-targeted Cytochrome CYP2E1 and Alcohol Toxicity on Cytochrome c Oxidase Function and Stability of Respirosome Complexes*

Background: Alcohol toxicity affects mitochondrial function, which likely is a contributing factor in tissue injury. Results: Cytochrome c oxidase is the primary target of CYP2E1-mediated alcohol toxicity and oxidative stress. Conclusion: Damage to cytochrome oxidase affects respirosome complexes, which in turn may be the cause of increased ROS production. Significance: Identification of targets of alcohol toxicity and reversing the damage by mitochondrion-targeted antioxidants. Alcohol treatment induces oxidative stress by a combination of increased production of partially reduced oxygen species and decreased cellular antioxidant pool, including GSH. Recently, we showed that mitochondrion-targeted CYP2E1 augments alcohol-mediated toxicity, causing an increase in reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress. Here, we show that cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), the terminal oxidase of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, is a critical target of CYP2E1-mediated alcohol toxicity. COS-7 and Hep G2 cell lines expressing predominantly mitochondrion-targeted (Mt++) CYP2E1 and livers from alcohol-treated rats showed loss of CcO activity and increased protein carbonylation, which was accompanied by a decline in the steady state levels of subunits I, IVI1, and Vb of the CcO complex. This was also accompanied by reduced mitochondrial DNA content and reduced mitochondrial mRNA. These changes were more prominent in Mt++ cells in comparison with wild type (WT) CYP2E1-expressing or ER+ (mostly microsome-targeted) cells. In addition, mitochondrion-specific antioxidants, ubiquinol conjugated to triphenyl phosphonium, triphenylphosphonium conjugated carboxyl proxyl, and the CYP2E1 inhibitor diallyl sulfide prevented the loss of CcO activity and the CcO subunits, most likely through reduced oxidative damage to the enzyme complex. Our results suggest that damage to CcO and dissociation of respirosome complexes are critical factors in alcohol-induced toxicity, which is augmented by mitochondrion-targeted CYP2E1. We propose that CcO is one of the direct and immediate targets of alcohol-induced toxicity causing respiratory dysfunction.
Men’s Beliefs and Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Pakistan

This article documents the beliefs and attitudes of men toward intimate partner violence in Pakistan. Men’s beliefs and attitudes toward partner violence are shaped by the life-long process of gender socialization, where the role of wife is projected as submissive and docile. Drawing on eight in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted in Lahore and Sialkot, this article presents how men perceive and justify partner violence within the context of Pakistani society. The data show that the construct of “ideal wife” inculcated among men fits into Foucault’s notion of “docile bodies,” which are subjected to control, discipline, and violent punishment.
Diagnostic accuracy of pericardial fluid cytology: An analysis of 53 specimens from 44 consecutive patients

Over a 7‐yr period, a total of 53 pericardial fluid specimens from 44 patients was examined. A correlation between cytological and histological diagnosis was made in 19 of these cases. In the remaining 25 cases, where a biopsy was not performed, the cytological diagnosis was correlated with the final clinical diagnosis and the patients' clinical outcome. Finally, in 9 out of 14 cases of malignancy where both cytological and a histological diagnosis was made, the cytologic prediction of the histologic type of cancer was evaluated. The overall sensitivity was 100%, the overall specificity was 93.3%, and the overall cytological accuracy was 95.4%. The predictive value of the correct histologic type of cancer by cytology was 77.7%. Our findings show that the careful cytomorphological examination of pericardial fluid aspirates is a valuable, reliable, and diagnostically highly accurate method, which could be performed on a routine basis in a busy cytopathology department. Judiciously chosen ancillary procedures, as well as clinicopathological correlation, are of great value for an accurate diagnosis in problematic cases. Diagn Cytopathol 1996; 15:197–204. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of Campylobacter spp. isolated from conventional and antimicrobial-free swine production systems from different U.S. regions.

We conducted a study to compare the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of Campylobacter isolated from 34 farm-slaughter pair cohorts of pigs raised in conventional and antimicrobial-free (ABF) production systems. Isolates originated from four different states of two geographic regions (region 1--Ohio and Michigan; region 2--Wisconsin and Iowa). A total of 838 fecal and 1173 carcass samples were examined. Campylobacter isolates were speciated using multiplex polymerase chain reaction targeting ceuE and hipO genes. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined using agar dilution to a panel of six antimicrobials: chloramphenicol, erythromycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, and tetracycline. Campylobacter spp. was isolated from 472 of 838 pigs (56.3%). Campylobacter prevalence did not vary significantly based on production system (conventional [58.9%] and ABF [53.7%], odds ratio [OR] 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8-2.6, p = 0.24) or geographic region (region 1 [54.1%] and region 2 [58.2%], OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.6-1.9, p = 0.92). At slaughter plant, Campylobacter prevalence varied based on processing stages (19.4% at pre-evisceration, 25.3% at postevisceration, and 3.2% at postchill). Resistance was common to tetracycline (64.5%), erythromycin (47.9%), and nalidixic acid (23.5%). Campylobacter isolates from conventional production systems were more likely to be erythromycin resistant than from ABF (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.4-7.2, p = 0.01). The proportion of ciprofloxacin-resistant Campylobacter coli isolates were 3.7% and 1.2% from ABF and conventional production systems, respectively. Thirty-seven out of 1257 C. coli (2.9%) were resistant to both erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, drugs of choice for treatment of invasive human campylobacteriosis. The finding of ciprofloxacin resistance, particularly from ABF herds, has significant implications on the potential role of risk factors other than mere antimicrobial use for production purposes.
Pyruvate-Associated Acid Resistance in Bacteria

ABSTRACT Glucose confers acid resistance on exponentially growing bacteria by repressing formation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)-cAMP receptor protein (CRP) complex and consequently activating acid resistance genes. Therefore, in a glucose-rich growth environment, bacteria are capable of resisting acidic stresses due to low levels of cAMP-CRP. Here we reveal a second mechanism for glucose-conferred acid resistance. We show that glucose induces acid resistance in exponentially growing bacteria through pyruvate, the glycolysis product. Pyruvate and/or the downstream metabolites induce expression of the small noncoding RNA (sncRNA) Spot42, and the sncRNA, in turn, activates expression of the master regulator of acid resistance, RpoS. In contrast to glucose, pyruvate has little effect on levels of the cAMP-CRP complex and does not require the complex for its effects on acid resistance. Another important difference between glucose and pyruvate is that pyruvate can be produced by bacteria. This means that bacteria have the potential to protect themselves from acidic stresses by controlling glucose-derived generation of pyruvate, pyruvate-acetate efflux, or reversion from acetate to pyruvate. We tested this possibility by shutting down pyruvate-acetate efflux and found that the resulting accumulation of pyruvate elevated acid resistance. Many sugars can be broken into glucose, and the subsequent glycolysis generates pyruvate. Therefore, pyruvate-associated acid resistance is not confined to glucose-grown bacteria but is functional in bacteria grown on various sugars.
Coronaviruses, a new group of animal RNA viruses.

In the last few years, strains have been isolated from various human common cold epidemics which resemble avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) so much, both morphologically and in other properties, that they have been called IBV-like viruses. It has also been found that the mouse hepatitis virus is morphologically identical with them. All these viruses seem to constitute a group of their own and are known to possess at least the following common properties: 1) size 80-160 m/; 2) characteristic surface structure; 3) sensitivity to lipid solvents; 4) ribonucleic acid content; 5) low density of infectious units (1.18-1.19 in sucrose gradient); 6) development in the cytoplasma by budding into cisternae or vesicles. The nucleocapsid structure of these viruses is still unknown. Because of the characteristic appearance, recalling the solar corona, the name coronaviruses has been suggested. Besides avian infectious bronchitis virus and mouse hepatitis virus, this virus group at present includes five IBV-like human strains: B814, 229E, OC43, LP, and EVS. Some comparisons in cross-neutralization tests have been made among the viruses of the group. The results showed that they all seem to belong to distinct serotypes. However, it was necessary to use several neutralization methods since no common method applicable to all the strains was available. Hence, conclusions based on those results must be treated with reserve. First, the adequate serological studies can disclose how closely related the viruses are and whether there is a speculative possibility that the IBV strains which are ubiquitous in almost all poultry populations can serve as reservoirs for human common cold infections, e.g. through mutation of IBV or hybridization of animal and human coronaviruses.
Responses of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Cells to the Presence of Extracellular Antibodies: gE-Dependent Glycoprotein Capping and Enhancement in Cell-to-Cell Spread

ABSTRACT Binding of anti-herpes simplex virus (HSV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) to HSV type 1 (HSV-1)-infected HEL and HEp-2 cells causes changes in surface viral glycoprotein distribution, resulting in a capping of all viral glycoproteins towards one pole of the cell. This occurs in a gE-dependent manner. In HEL cells, low concentrations of anti-HSV IgG also enhance cell-to-cell spread of wild-type HSV-1 but not of gE deletion mutant HSV-1. These observations raised the possibility that gE-dependent mechanisms exist that allow some HSV-1-infected cells to respond to the presence of extracellular antibodies by enhancing the antibody-resistant mode of virus transmission.
High cardiovascular disease mortality in subjects with visual impairment caused by diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess mortality and causes of death in subjects with visual impairment caused by diabetic retinopathy (DR). Only limited data are available concerning the mortality of subjects with DR, and to our knowledge, no data so far have been published on the mortality of subjects with visual impairment caused by DR. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We identified 34 men and 73 women living in northern Finland with visual impairment caused by DR on 31 December 1993. The median age of the subjects was 71 years (range 27-88). The mortality of these 107 diabetic subjects was followed up for 4 years, until 31 December 1997, and compared with the mortality rates of 3 age- and sex-matched control groups. The first control group consisted of subjects treated for DR by laser coagulation from 1990 to 1993. The second control group consisted of diabetic subjects who had had fundus photographs taken from 1991 to 1992. The third control group comprised nondiabetic subjects selected from the population register. Information on deaths was obtained from official death certificates. RESULTS A total of 91 diabetic and 10 nondiabetic subjects died during the follow-up. Of the deaths, 51 occurred in the subjects with visual impairment caused by DR, with a 4-year mortality rate of 477/1,000 (95% CI 382-571/1,000). Mortality rates were 224/1,000 (145-303/1,000) for the diabetic subjects with retinopathy treated by laser coagulation; 150/1,000 (82-217/1,000) for the diabetic subjects who had undergone fundus photography; and 94/1,000 (46-165/1,000) for the nondiabetic subjects. Cardiovascular diseases were the underlying cause of death in 55% of the subjects with visual impairment. Nephropathy was mentioned as the immediate cause of death for only 10% of the subjects. Compared with the nondiabetic control subjects, the odds ratios (ORs) for all-cause mortality were 5.1 (2.6-11) in the diabetic subjects with visual impairment caused by DR, and 5.6 (2.1-19) for mortality caused by diseases of the circulatory system. The ORs for all-cause mortality were 2.4 (1.1-5.6) in the diabetic subjects with retinopathy treated by laser coagulation and 1.6 (0.68-4.0) in the diabetic subjects with fundus photographs taken. CONCLUSIONS The survival of diabetic subjects with visual impairment caused by DR was poor. The high mortality rate was attributed mainly to cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, severe retinopathy proves to be a risk marker of cardiovascular death in diabetic patients.