Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum Leptin , Adiponectin and Vaspin Concentrations in Early Infancy : Relation to Feeding Practices and Indices of Growth and Adiposity

Early infant feeding practices can be considered as a target for later obesity prevention. Investigating whether some adipokines are involved is particularly interesting. The aim of this study was to investigate leptin, adiponectin and vaspin concentrations under different feeding practices in early infancy and their relation with growth and adiposity indices. Sixty healthy term infants, 33 males and 27 females, aged 2-5 months were grouped according to feeding practices into 29 exclusively breastfed, 14 exclusively formula-fed and 17 mixed-fed, and their leptin, adiponectin and vaspin were quantified and correlated to infant weight-for-age, length-for-age, weight-forlength, body mass index (BMI)-for-age and head circumference-for-age WHO Z-scores. Neither anthropometric Zscores of males and females nor leptin, adiponectin or vaspin were affected by feeding practice. These adipokines were also not affected by age. In contrast to adiponectin and vaspin, leptin exhibited marked gender differences (p<0.05) in breastfed, formula-fed and mixed-fed infants. When all infants were analyzed together, leptin correlated positively (p<0.0001) with weight-for-age (r=0.68), length-for-age (r=0.62), weight-for-length (r = 0.44), BMI-forage (r=0.53) and head circumference-for-age (r=0.25) Z-scores. With the exception of the latter, concordant correlations for leptin were obtained when study groups were processed separately according to feeding practices. Both adiponectin and vaspin did not correlate with any anthropometric Z-scores. In conclusions, the results of our study do not support that variation of infant feeding practice has an important impact on leptin, adiponectin and vaspin concentrations in early infancy. Leptin seems to be gender-dependent and reflects growth and adiposity patterns in early infancy, independent of feeding practice. [Ahmad MN, Fahham LM. Serum Leptin, Adiponectin and Vaspin Concentrations in Early Infancy: Relation to Feeding Practices and Indices of Growth and Adiposity. Life Sci J 2014;11(10):89-97] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com. 15
The ZNF217 oncogene is a candidate organizer of repressive histone modifiers

The zinc finger protein 217 (ZNF217) is an important oncogene based on the high frequency of amplification and over-expression in many cancer types, but its molecular mode of gene regulation is poorly understood. We purified a complex of nuclear ZNF217-binding proteins by affinity chromatography and identified its components by mass spectrometry as Jarid1b/Plu-1, G9a, LSD1, CoREST, and CtBP1. Individual binding of these with ZNF217 was confirmed by co-immunoprecipiation (IP). Known activities of these proteins suggested a role of the ZNF217 complex in histone modification. Using in vitro assays the following activities were demonstrated: Histone H3 lysine 4 trimethyl (H3K4me3) demethylase activity, which co-fractionated with Jarid1b/Plu-1 in anion-exchange chromatography; H3K9 methylation, the known principal activity of G9a; and H3K27 methylation. The latter suggested EZH2 as another ZNF217 binding candidate, which could be confirmed by co-IP. Taken together, these findings suggest that ZNF217 assembles a distinct set of histone modifying proteins at target DNA sites that act synergistically in transcriptional repression.
Pomegranate Extract Attenuates Gentamicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats by Reducing Oxidative Stress

Nephrotoxicity is a major complication of gentamicin (GEN), which is widely used in the treatment of severe Gram-negative infections. Reactive oxygen species are important mediators of GEN-induced nephrotoxicity. Because of the strong antioxidant properties of pomegranate extract (PE), we evaluated the protective effect of PE against GEN-induced nephrotoxicity. Thirty-two adult male rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: (1) controls; (2) treated with GEN for 14 consecutive days (100 mg/kg/day); (3) treated with GEN plus distilled water; and (4) treated with GEN plus PE (100 μL). After 15 days, the rats were killed and their kidneys were taken, and blood analysis was performed. Tubular necrosis and interstitial fibrosis scores were determined histopathologically; and biochemically, nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in kidneys were determined. Urea, creatinine, Na+, and K+ levels were investigated in the blood analysis. Statistical analyses were made by the chi-square test and analysis of variance. Serum urea and creatinine levels were significantly higher in rats treated with GEN alone than rats in the control and the GEN + PE-treated groups. The GSH level in renal tissue of only GEN-treated rats was significantly lower than those in the control group, and administration of PE to GEN-treated rats significantly increased the level of GSH. The group that was given GEN and PE had significantly lower MDA levels in kidney cortex tissue than those given GEN alone. There was no significant difference of NO levels between the groups. In rats treated with GEN + PE, despite the presence of mild tubular degeneration and tubular necrosis is less severe, and glomeruli maintained a better morphology when compared with the GEN-treated group. We think that PE prevents kidney damage by decreasing oxidative stress in kidney.
Predictors of HIV positivity among pregnant women presenting for obstetric care in South India – a case-control study

Abstract Feminization of the HIV epidemic in India has increasingly burdened the public health infrastructure to provide prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services. A mere 20% of pregnant women in the country receive HIV counseling and testing. One of the strategies, for expansion of PMTCT services is to ascertain an accurate identification of HIV-positive pregnant women. Thus, we sought to characterize a demographic profile of pregnant women at high-risk for HIV infection. We performed a retrospective case-control study. We included as cases, all HIV-positive women identified in a PMTCT program implemented in 23 charitable faith-based hospitals in four states in South India over a period of 75 months, starting in January 2003. Thus a total of 320 HIV-positive cases were frequency matched using stratified random sampling to 365 HIV-negative pregnant women presenting for antenatal care during the same time period. Cases and controls were compared using Chi-square test for categorical variables and Student's t-test for continuous variables. Multivariate step-wise logistic regression analysis was performed. On multivariate analysis, following factors were independently predictive of HIV positivity: age ≤25 years (odds ratio [OR] 0.50; confidence interval [CI] 0.33–0.76; p = 0.001); illiteracy (OR 4.89; CI 2.79–8.57; p <0.0001); woman holding a service and/or professional job (OR 0.27; CI 0.14–0.53; p <0.0001); spouses holding a service or higher job (OR 3.13; CI 2.13–4.59; p <0.0001); being married ≤5 years (OR 2.89; CI 1.68–4.95; p <0.0001); late gestational age at presentation (OR 3.06; CI 2.04–4.59; p <0.0001); history of fetal and/or live born loss (OR 2.36; CI 1.51–3.67; p <0.0001). To our knowledge this is the first large study to evaluate factors predictive of HIV positivity among women presenting for antenatal care in the Indian setting. This type of profiling of HIV-positive pregnant women may help expand PMTCT services in a focused and cost-effective manner in India.
A Comparison of Strategies to Generate Test Requirements for Fail-Safe Behavior

This paper compares the effectiveness and efficiency of generating test requirements for testing fail-safe behavior with simulation experiments and case studies. The strategies to generate test requirements include genetic algorithm (GA) and coverage criteria for failure scenarios. The underlying testing method is based on a behavioral model and its test suite. The results show that test requirements generated by a genetic algorithm (GA) are more efficient for large search spaces. They are equally effective for the two strongest coverage criteria. For small search spaces, the genetic algorithm is less effective. The weakest coverage criteria is ineffective.
Resourceful design methodology of a low power two stage CMOS based Operational Transconductance Amplifier

Operational Transconductance Amplifiers(OTA) are generally voltage to current converters and hence named as Voltage controlled current source(VCCS). OTAs exhibits the same characteristics as that of an ideal transistor. The design methodology of a low power two stage CMOS based Operational Transconductance Amplifier is discussed and the outputs are analyzed in this paper. It was analyzed and verified that this results in a good power performance by employing the compensation network of Reverse Nested Miller Compensation along with single miller capacitor and nulling resistor. The design and the simulations were implemented and the results were verified using Pspice.
Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor (etanercept) for treating ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE To determine the safety and efficacy of etanercept in a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of adults with moderate to severe active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS Patients (n = 277) were treated with either etanercept 25 mg (n = 138) or placebo (n = 139) subcutaneously twice weekly for 24 weeks. The primary outcome measures were the percentages of patients achieving the Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis 20% response (ASAS20) at weeks 12 and 24. Other outcome measures included the percentage of patients achieving higher ASAS responses, and the safety of etanercept in patients with AS. All outcome measures were assessed at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks. RESULTS Treatment with etanercept resulted in dramatic improvement. The ASAS20 was achieved by 59% of patients in the etanercept group and by 28% of patients in the placebo group (P < 0.0001) at week 12, and by 57% and 22% of patients, respectively, at week 24 (P < 0.0001). All individual ASAS components, acute-phase reactant levels, and spinal mobility measures were also significantly improved. The safety profile of etanercept was similar to that reported in studies of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. The only adverse events that occurred significantly more often in the etanercept group were injection-site reactions, accidental injuries, and upper respiratory tract infections. CONCLUSION Etanercept is a highly effective and well tolerated treatment in patients with active AS.
Transoral Laser Microsurgery vs Radiotherapy for Early Glottic Cancer: Study at Tertiary Care Center in India

Aim: To compare laryngeal preservation rates, survival rates, and voice outcomes after treatment of early glottic cancer between transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and radiotherapy (RT). Materials and methods: A review of oncologic results was performed on a consecutive series of individuals with early-stage glottic carcinoma (T1 and T2) who were treated between 2011 and 2014 at Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology and had received either RT or TLM. Data were collected with a view to assess overall survival, disease-specific survival, laryngectomyfree survival, and laryngeal preservation rates. The Voice Handicap Index-30 (VHI-30) was used as the measure of voice quality after treatment. Results: Two-year overall survival for TLM group was 93.8% and for RT group was 90.5%, p = 0.643. Disease-free survival (TLM = 90.6% vs RT = 76.2%) was not found to be significant (p-value = 0.104). Laryngeal preservation rate was 79.5% in TLM and 71.4% in RT group (p-value = 0.003). Laryngectomyfree survival was better in TLM (TLM = 96.9% vs RT = 76.2%, p = 0.003). Substage analysis showed equivalent voice for TLM (VHI = 6–12) and RT (VHI = 6–14) in T1a patients (p = 0.94), whereas voice outcome was better for RT in T1b (VHI = 10–16 for TLM vs VHI = 11–18 for RT, p = 0.044) and T2 (VHI = 21–29 for TLM vs VHI = 16–23 for RT, p = 0.002) stages. Conclusion: Transoral laser microsurgery can be considered the treatment of choice for early glottic cancer in view of better IJHNS
Comparison of One-Stage Versus Two-Stage Anteroposterior Spinal Fusion in Pediatric Patients With Cerebral Palsy and Neuromuscular Scoliosis

Study Design. A retrospective study was performed including 45 pediatric patients with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent anteroposterior spinal fusion. Objectives. To evaluate the outcomes and complications of one-stage and two-stage combined anteroposterior spine fusion and to document which procedure is more efficacious and provides better results. Summary of Background Data. Circumferential spinal arthrodesis has been proven to achieve better scoliotic curve correction, decreasing significantly the risk of pseudarthrosis and progression of the deformity. There have been a few studies comparing same-day versus staged anteroposterior spinal surgery in mixed populations with neuromuscular scoliosis, but not in an isolated group of pediatric patients with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods. The medical records and radiographs of all patients were reviewed, and the results were statistically analyzed. The complications were divided into medical, subcategorized into major and minor, and technical. Results. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) between one-stage (Group 1) and two-stage (Group 2) patients, considering age at surgery, preoperative scoliosis angle, pelvic obliquity, kyphosis angle, lordosis angle, levels of anterior release, percentage of scoliosis correction, radiographic follow-up, hospitalization time, and intensive care unit stay. Sequentially performed spinal procedures (Group 1) were associated with increased intraoperative blood loss, prolonged operative time, and a considerably higher incidence of medical and technical complications, including two perioperative deaths. Conclusion. Two-stage anteroposterior spinal fusion provides safer and more consistent results with several advantages over the single-stage procedure in the management of patients with cerebral palsy and neuromuscular scoliosis.
Indirect projections from the suprachiasmatic nucleus to the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus: a dual tract‐tracing study in rat

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) contains a master clock for most circadian rhythms in mammals, including daily sleep–wake cycles. The ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO) plays a key role in sleep generation and, as such, might be an important target of the SCN circadian signal. However, direct SCN projections to the VLPO are limited, suggesting that most of the SCN output to the VLPO might be conveyed indirectly. We examined this possibility by microinjecting selected known major targets of SCN efferents with biotinylated dextran‐amine and/or cholera toxin B subunit, followed by analyses of retrograde labelling in the SCN and anterograde labelling in the VLPO. Retrograde labelling results confirmed that the medial preoptic area, subparaventricular zone, dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and posterior hypothalamic area all received projections from the SCN; these projections arose predominantly from the shell, as opposed to the core, of the SCN. Anterograde labelling results indicated that these same nuclei also projected to the VLPO, mainly its medial and ventral aspects. Comparison of the results of injections of similar sizes across different target groups indicated that the rostral part of the medial preoptic area and the caudal part of the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus were particularly noteworthy for the abundance of both SCN source neurons and efferent fibres and terminals in the VLPO. These results suggest that the SCN might provide indirect input to the VLPO via the medial preoptic area and the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus, and that these indirect neuronal pathways might play a major role in circadian control of sleep–wake cycles.
Increased neutrophil function induced by bile duct ligation in a rat model

Neutrophil function was studied in rats with common bile duct ligation. Superoxide production stimulated by phorhol myristate acetate, opsonized zymosan or formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine; phagocytosis; and chemotaxis were significantly greater in neutrophils from rats with common bile duct ligation than in sham‐operated control rats. Enhanced neutrophil activity was observed within 12 hr of bile duct ligation; it remained increased during the 15‐day study. Preincubation of neutrophils from control rats with sera of rats with common bile duct ligation did not increase superoxide generation. This suggests that the high superoxide production observed in neutrophils of rats with common bile duct ligation was not an immediate effect of the serum. Neutrophils of rats with portal vein ligation exhibited normal activity, indicating that portal systemic shunting per se is not the underlying mechanism for increased activity. The elevated levels of AST and alkaline phosphatase, indicating liver damage, that appeared within 12 hr of bile duct ligation correlated with the increased superoxide generation. (HEPATOLOGY 1993;17:908–914.)
Exogenous enzymes in nutrient digestion and health of non-ruminant : Carbohydrases enzyme

Not all nutrients in farm animal’s diet are fully digested by animals own digestive enzymes as a consequence important nutrients are unavailable to the animal. But supplementation of enzymes to farm animals has shown to increase the digestibility of poorly digested diets to a much greater extent. By targeting specific anti-nutrients in certain feed ingredients, feed enzymes allow especially pigs and poultry to extract more nutrients from the feed and so improve feed efficiency. Appropriate use of exogenous enzymes in feeds requires strategic reductions in dietary energy and nutrient content, as well as careful choice of feed ingredients to capture economic benefits of the various enzymes. The efficacy of enzymes will vary depending on ingredients because nutrient and energy release caused by enzyme supplementation will depend on the structure of the feedstuff itself. It is imperative to continue the effort to understand the use and limitations of matrix values of enzymes, which, if inappropriately applied, will result in depressed performance because of inadequacy of diets or will lead to depletion of resources.
ARH‐77, an established human IgG‐producing myeloma cell line. II. growth kinetics, clonogenic capacity, chalone production, xenogeneic transplantations, and response to melphalan

The growth curve of monolayer cultures of ARH‐77 cells, a human myeloma cell line propagated in vitro, is represented by an everbending curve on a semilogarithmic plot; however, the curve can be fitted by a straight line on a linear—linear plot. This unusual growth pattern suggests that, instead of a fixed proportion of the population, a fixed number of ARH‐77 cells divide per unit time. The following are cell cycle transit time parameters calculated from percent labeled mitosis experiments: TG1, 10.0 ± 3.5 hours; TS, 14.3 ± 2.3 hours; TG2, 4.3 hours; TM, 1.4 ± 1.3 hours; and TC, 30.0 ± 6.1 hours. For cells exposed continuously to 3H‐thymidine the values are: growth fraction, 67%; TG1, 6.5 hours; TS, 13.0 hours; and TG2 + M, 3.0 hours. The average doubling time is 4.6 days (range, 3.8–4.7 days); after about 10 to 15 days in culture, the growth rate of freshly passaged cells declines markedly, as reflected by a growth curve with a much shallower slope. The changes are accompanied by a marked decline in the labeling index from 41.3% (range, 28.9%–53.7%) during the first 3 days of culture to less than 5% measured on day 21. Flow cytometry for DNA content‐dependent cell cycle compartment distribution demonstrates an obvious decline in the proportion of S‐phase cells and a marked accumulation of G2 phase cells as the cultures age. When the supernatant medium of ARH‐77 cells grown for 10 days is replaced by fresh medium, a new burst of vigorous cellular growth is observed with a curve slope similar to that observed during the first 5 days of culture. If the 10‐day‐old supernatant medium is used to set up cultures with freshly harvested ARH‐77 cells, their growth curve resembles that of 10‐day‐old cultures. However, this supernatant medium induces no decrease in the growth rate of other human tumor cells, suggesting that inhibition of cellular growth does not result from exhaustion of nutrients, but that ARH‐77 cells produce a molecular mediator that specifically inhibits the growth of these cells. ARH‐77 cells could be synchronized with a single treatment of 3 or 5 mM thymidine; (dThd) and cloning efficiency was 2% to 4% in a double‐layer soft agar assay. Treatment for 1 hour with increasing concentrations of melphalan produced a threshold exponential survival curve (Dq = 0.45 μg/ml and D0 = 0.35 μg/ml, 1 hour). Heterotransplantation into nude mice and rats failed for every route (subcutaneous, intravenous, intraperitoneal, and intrafemoral) except the intracerebral route.
Prospective Career Preferences of Imminent Pharmacist

The present was conducted with the aim to identify the career preferences and the attributing factors of the career ambitions of fifth professional pharmacy undergraduate students. A previously developed and validated questionnaire was administered to fifth professional pharmacy undergraduate students of different private and government universities of Karachi. The students were asked to complete six sectioned questionnaire to identify the students’ career preferences and future career ambitions. Descriptive statistics were used to elucidate participant’s characteristics and their response to the questionnaire items. Chi square test was used at 0.05 level of significance to observe influence of gender and institutions on their responses. Out of 550, 458 questionnaires were returned back hence the response rate was 83.27%. Industrial pharmacy (31.44%) and hospital pharmacy (31.22%) were the most desired areas of upcoming pharmacy students to start their career. Getting the opportunity to be the part of healthcare team (83.4%) and utilizing their knowledge (83.84%) were the major reasons for selecting particular area of pharmacy practice. In this study the students showed positive attitude towards the pharmacy profession. Industrial and hospital pharmacy were the most preferred choices of pharmacy students to start their career.
Fermentation, losses, and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages treated with chemical or bacterial additives

Utilization of sugarcane Saccharum officinarum L. silage is increasing in Brazil but intensive ethanol production during fermentation reduces forage quality. This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of additives on fermentation and aerobic stability of sugarcane silages produced in minisilos. Treatments were (fresh basis): untreated silage (control), urea (5.0 g kg-1), sodium benzoate (1.0 g kg-1), potassium sorbate (0.3 g kg-1), Lactobacillus plantarum (1 x 106 cfu g-1), and Lactobacillus buchneri (3.64 x 105 cfu g-1). At the 94th day after ensilage, ethanol concentration was lower in urea, benzoate, sorbate and L. buchneri supplemented silages and higher in L. plantarum inoculated silage, as compared to control. Urea and benzoate treated silages showed the highest and L. plantarum treated silage the lowest in vitro dry matter digestibility. Effluent production was higher in the urea treated silage. Inoculation with L. buchneri reduced 50% ethanol production as compared to control. Urea and L. buchneri reduced yeast count. Aerobic stability was enhanced by L. buchneri and benzoate. Sodium benzoate and L. buchneri were the most promising additives, improving both silage fermentation and aerobic stability; inoculants containing L. plantarum can be deleterious to fermentation and conservation of sugarcane silages.