Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of GABAA receptors in rat hindbrain nuclei controlling gastric motor function

It has been shown in cats that gastric motor control by the dorsal vagal complex and nucleus ambiguus is under a tonic GABAergic influence. Since much more work has been performed in rats to define vago‐vagal reflexes controlling gastrointestinal function, an understanding of the potential inhibition by candidate neurotransmitters such as GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) in the rat dorsal vagal complex (DVC) is essential to assess. Multiple‐barrelled micropipettes were used to apply to the dorsal vagal complex the GABAA antagonist, bicuculline methiodide (0.1–1 nmol), and a GABAA agonist, muscimol (10 nmol) prior to micro‐injection of the GABAA antagonist. Micro‐injections of bicuculline (353 pmol and 1 nmol), which were localized primarily in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, produced significant increases in intragastric pressure and pyloric motility. These responses were abolished by vagotomy and by a prior micro‐injection of muscimol. To determine whether GABAergic blockade in the dorsal vagal complex results in gastric motor excitation through excitatory amino acid receptors, kynurenic acid (5 nmol), a kainate/NMDA (N‐methyl D‐aspartic acid) receptor antagonist, was micro‐injected prior to bicuculline. This abolished the increase in gastric motor function normally evoked by bicuculline. In the other two important hindbrain nuclei controlling gastric function, the nucleus raphe obscurus and nucleus ambiguus, bicuculline (353 pmol) significantly increased intragastric pressure via vagally mediated pathways. These data demonstrate that all three rat hindbrain nuclei known to influence gastric function via the vagus nerve are under tonic GABAergic control. In addition, in the dorsal vagal complex, relief from GABAergic inhibition results in increases in gastric motor function through kainate/NMDA receptor‐mediated excitation.
Muscle Activation of the Elbow Flexor and Extensor Muscles During Self-Resistance Exercises: Comparison of Unilateral Maximal Cocontraction and Bilateral Self-Resistance

Abstract Serrau, V, Driss, T, Vandewalle, H, Behm, DG, Lesne-Chabran, E, and Le Pellec-Muller, A. Muscle activation of the elbow flexor and extensor muscles during self-resistance exercises: comparison of unilateral maximal cocontraction and bilateral self-resistance. J Strength Cond Res 26(9): 2468–2477, 2012—Muscle activation during self-resistance exercises was studied in 18 subjects performing (a) maximal unilateral isometric cocontractions of flexor and extensor muscles of the right elbow (UNI); (b) bilateral exercises consisting of maximal isometric extensions of the right elbow against the left elbow flexors (BiExt) and maximal isometric flexion of the right elbow against the left elbow extensors (BiFlex). Force production by the biceps brachii (BB), brachioradialis (BR), and triceps brachii (TB) during UNI, BiFlex, and BiExt were estimated by comparing the integrated surface electromyograms (iEMG) of BB, BR, and TB during UNI, BiExt, and BiFlex with the individual iEMG-force relationship determined from isometric contractions at 30, 60, and 100% maximal voluntary contraction during elbow flexion (MVCflex) or extension (MVCext) against a force transducer. During BiFlex for BB or BR and BiExt for TB, the values (mean ± SE) of BB-iEMG, BR-iEMG, and TB-iEMG were 74.0 ± 4.5, 76.6 ± 5.7, and 84.4 ± 4.5% iEMG at MVC (% iEMGmax). The forces were 86.0 ± 3.7% TB-Forcemax during BiExt, 74.1 ± 3.6% BB-Forcemax and 71.8 ± 4.0% BR-Forcemax during BiFlex. During UNI, BB-iEMG, BR-iEMG, and TB-iEMG were 59.9 ± 4.6, 53.4 ± 4.0, and 66.3 ± 4.7% iEMGmax, respectively. The forces during UNI (70.4 ± 4.0% TB-Forcemax, 60.4 ± 4.3% BB-Forcemax, and 49.2 ± 3.1% BR-Forcemax) were significantly lower than those during bilateral exercises. A 2-way analysis of variance (Muscle × Exercise) indicated that the effects of Muscle and Exercise upon % iEMGmax were significant (p < 0.05; p < 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, bilateral opposition exercises should be more effective in developing strength than cocontraction exercises, which correspond to a moderate activation level even for weak agonist muscle groups.
The association between caregiving satisfaction, difficulties and coping among older family caregivers.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The aim was to study the association between gender, extent and content of care, satisfaction, coping and difficulties in the caregiving situation among older (75+) caregivers and to identify clusters of caregivers. The aim was also to explore psychometrically two instruments assessing satisfaction and difficulties in family caregivers. BACKGROUND Caregiving is a complicated phenomenon. Much of the research has focused on negative aspects, such as the burden, stress and emotional strain. Caregiving is known to affect health negatively for the caregivers. Little is known about satisfaction and motivation in voluntary work, such as informal caregiving, especially among older persons. DESIGN AND METHODS Cross-sectional. The sample for this study consisted of 171 informal caregivers aged 75 and over, identified from an age-stratified sample in a postal survey among older people in the southern part of Sweden. RESULTS Male caregivers proved to be more satisfied than female caregivers; caregiving had seemingly widened their horizon and had helped them to grow as persons. Based on satisfaction scores, those satisfied had a higher proportion of male caregivers and a significantly higher amount of caregiving hours per week. They used other coping strategies than the respondents in the other cluster, i.e. less satisfied in using more problem-solving strategies. CONCLUSIONS The instruments tested were appropriate for work in clinical and research settings, although the internal dropout indicates that a shorter version would be more useful. Those who found satisfaction in care used more problem-focused coping strategies and were more often men than women. From a salutogenic point of view, this may give important knowledge about factors that can promote health. The findings indicate that women deserve extra attention as informal caregivers as they did not find caregiving as rewarding as the men did. This may in turn make them less protected against the negative consequences of caregiving. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Reinforcing the health-promoting qualities in caregivers who are not feeling well, with women as a particularly vulnerable group, may restrict unnecessary suffering for both the caregiver and the person cared for.
Search for enhancers: teleost models in comparative genomic and transgenic analysis of cis regulatory elements.

Homology searches between DNA sequences of evolutionary distant species (phylogenetic footprinting) offer a fast detection method for regulatory sequences. Because of the small size of their genomes, tetraodontid species such as the Japanese pufferfish and green spotted pufferfish have become attractive models for comparative genomics. A disadvantage of the tetraodontid species is, however, that they cannot be bred and manipulated routinely under laboratory conditions, so these species are less attractive for developmental and genetic analysis. In contrast, an increasing arsenal of transgene techniques with the developmental model species zebrafish and medaka are being used for functional analysis of cis regulatory sequences. The main disadvantage is the much larger genome. While comparison between many loci proved the suitability of phylogenetic footprinting using fish and mammalian sequences, fast rate of change in enhancer structure and gene duplication within teleosts may obscure detection of homologies. Here we discuss the contribution and potentials provided by different teleost models for the detection and functional analysis of conserved cis-regulatory elements.
Systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome during pregnancy: maternal and fetal complications and their management.

Systemic lupus erythematosus affects mostly young women. Despite this, the interrelationship between SLE and pregnancy has remained poorly understood for years. Fear of maternal or fetal complications has often resulted in advice against pregnancy. Since the mid-seventies, an increasing number of authors are providing specific care for pregnant women with SLE. Their experience over the years has demonstrated that pregnancy is not only possible in patients with lupus, but also usually successful. Moreover, this experience has contributed to better knowledge of the effects of pregnancy and lupus on each other. This review is based in part on our 10 year experience in the Lupus Pregnancy Clinic at St. Thomas' Hospital. More than 300 women with SLE, antiphospholipid syndrome and other systemic autoimmune diseases have been treated during this period. We describe the maternal and fetal complications of lupus pregnancies and provide practical guidelines for management. Maternal Complications Pregnancy is a period of important changes in the mother's body, all directed to allow the normal development of the fetus. Among them, adaptations in the immune and clotting systems may modify the course of SLE and APS. Specifically, disease activity and the tendency to thrombosis may be affected. Effects of pregnancy on SLE activity During pregnancy, the growing embryo behaves as an allograft, without triggering any response from the maternal immune system [1]. Fetal blood cells have been found in the maternal circulation [2], which implies that this immuno-tolerance is not limited to the placenta. Indeed, the synthesis of interleukin 10 and 4 — two of the main Th2 cytokines — increases during pregnancy whereas Th1 cytokines are inhibited. These adaptations
Follistatin-Like Protein 1 Promotes Arthritis by Up-Regulating IFN-γ1

Follistatin-like protein-1 (FSTL-1) is a poorly characterized protein that is up-regulated in the early stage of collagen-induced arthritis and that exacerbates arthritis when delivered by gene transfer. The current study was designed to determine the mechanism by which FSTL-1 promotes arthritis. FSTL-1 was injected into mouse paws, resulting in severe paw swelling associated with up-regulation of IFN-γ transcript and the IFN-γ-induced chemokine, CXCL10. Mice depleted of T cells were protected. A central role for IFN-γ was confirmed by the finding that mice deficient in IFN-γ failed to exhibit paw swelling in response to injection of FSTL-1. Furthermore, IFN-γ secretion from mouse spleen cells exposed to a weak TCR signal was increased 5-fold in the presence of FSTL-1. FSTL-1 could be induced by innate immune signals, including TLR4 agonists and the arthritogenic cytokine, IL-1β, via an NFκB pathway. Finally, FSTL-1 was found to be overexpressed in human arthritis and its neutralization inhibited murine collagen-induced arthritis and suppressed IFN-γ and CXCL10 production in arthritic joints. These findings demonstrate that FSTL-1 plays a critical role in arthritis by enhancing IFN-γ signaling pathways and suggest a mechanism by which FSTL-1 bridges innate and adaptive immune responses.
Experimental Observations of Propagating Waves and Switching Phenomena in a Coupled Bistable Oscillator System

In this study, we construct a circuit composed of bistable oscillators and we report the experimental observations of quasi-periodic waves propagating in the circuit and compare them with the associated numerical results. Two different types of propagating quasi-periodic waves with identical parameter sets are experimentally verified. The associated numerical results are distinguished by comparing trajectories on the phase planes and by analyzing the one-parameter bifurcation diagrams. Furthermore, the experiments reveal five different types of switching oscillations. The associated numerical results are also presented, and the stability of the switching oscillations (when constrained to an invariant subspace) is numerically investigated. We also calculate spectral distribution for one type of the switching oscillation.
Cartilages and ligaments of the adult human larynx.

The present report is of an investigation of the range of normal distribution in the shape, size, and configuration of the human laryngeal cartilages and in the size, symmetry, and placement of the articulations and ligaments of these cartilages. The study involved dissection of the larynges of ten white men, and ten white women with the aid of a binocular dissection microscope. The study indicated significant patterns in the adult human laryngeal cartilage configurations with respect to sex, symmetry, size, and anatomical interrelationships. Speculations on vocal fold length adjustments were made based on examination of the cricoarytenoid and cricothyroid articulations and their ligaments.
Hazards to wildlife associated with underground strychnine baiting for pocket gophers

Author(s): Hegdal, Paul L. ; Gatz, Thomas A. | Abstract: Under an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contract, we evaluated the hazards associated with strychnine baiting for pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) with the burrowbuilder. On the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota, we treated 662 ha (1,638 acres) with 0.5 percent strychnine-treated bait. Treated fields were scattered throughout 10 sections. Control was effective--data from pocket gopher activity plots showed 87.5 + 5.9 percent reduction in activity. Populations of other small rodents (while quite low) significantly declined on the treated area, but significantly increased on the control area. To measure secondary effects we equipped 36 raptors and 36 mammalian predators with radio transmitters. We detected little, if any, effect on radio-equipped raptors and mammalian predators. Red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) , American kestrels (Falco sparverius), great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), badgers (Taxidea taxus), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), red fox (Vulpes fulva) and a coyote (Canis latrans) were intensively radio-tracked during treatment; those that utilized treated fields all survived. Mammalian predator tracks and diggings were frequently observed on the burrow-builder tracks after treatment. Red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were selected as a representative of seed-eating birds. We marked 100 territorial males on both the treated and control area and monitored them during the treatment. Even though some treated grain was available on the surface and marked birds were observed feeding in treated fields, we did not detect any detrimental effects. Nevertheless, we found one treatment-killed mourning dove (Zenaida macroura).
Infant Mortality and Air Pollution: A Comprehensive Analysis of U.S. Data for 1990

ABSTRACT This paper uses U.S. linked birth and death records to explore associations between infant mortality and environmental factors, based on spatial relationships. The analysis considers a range of infant mortality end points, regression models, and environmental and socioeconomic variables. The basic analysis involves logistic regression modeling of individuals; the cohort comprises all infants born in the United States in 1990 for whom the required data are available from the matched birth and death records. These individual data include sex, race, month of birth, and birth weight of the infant, and personal data on the mother, including age, adequacy of prenatal care, and smoking and education in most instances. Ecological variables from Census and other sources are matched on the county of usual residence and include ambient air quality, elevation above sea level, climate, number of physicians per capita, median income, racial and ethnic distribution, unemployment, and population density. The air quality variables considered were 1990 annual averages of PM10, CO, SO2, SO4 2-, and “non-sulfate PM10” (NSPM10—obtained by subtracting the estimated SO4 2-mass from PM10). Because all variables were not available for all counties (especially maternal smoking), it was necessary to consider various subsets of the total cohort. We examined all infant deaths and deaths by age (neonatal and postneonatal), by birth weight (normal and low [<2500 g]), and by specific causes within these categories. Special attention was given to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). For comparable modeling assumptions, the results for PM10 agreed with previously published estimates; however, the associations with PM10 were not specific to probable exposures or causes of death and were not robust to changes in the model and/or the locations considered. Significant negative mortality associations were found for SO4 2-. There was no indication of a role for outdoor PM2.5, but possible contributions from indoor air pollution sources cannot be ruled out, given higher SIDS rates in winter, in the north and west, and outside of large cities.
Six-month results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of etanercept treatment in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE There is increasing evidence that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is centrally involved in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and other spondylarthritides. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of anti-TNFalpha therapy with etanercept, a 75-kd receptor fusion protein, in active AS. METHODS This multicenter trial had 2 phases: an initial placebo-controlled period of 6 weeks' duration and an observational phase lasting 24 weeks. Thirty patients with active AS were included. They were randomized into 2 groups, which received either etanercept (25 mg twice weekly) (n = 14) or placebo (n = 16) for 6 weeks. Then both groups were treated with etanercept. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment could be continued, but disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and steroids had to be withdrawn prior to the study. All patients received etanercept for a total of 12 weeks and were followed up for at least 24 weeks. The Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath AS Functional Index, Bath AS Metrology Index, pain level on a numeric rating scale, quality of life by the Short Form 36, and C-reactive protein (CRP) level were assessed. The primary outcome parameter was a >or=50% improvement in the BASDAI. RESULTS Treatment with etanercept resulted in at least a 50% regression of disease activity in 57% of these patients at week 6, versus 6% of the placebo-treated patients (P = 0.004). After the placebo-treated patients switched to etanercept, 56% improved. The mean +/- SD BASDAI improved from 6.5 +/- 1.2 at baseline to 3.5 +/- 1.9 at week 6 in the etanercept group, with no improvement in the placebo group (P = 0.003 between groups). Similarly, pain, function, mobility, and quality of life improved with etanercept but not with placebo at week 6 (P < 0.05). Mean CRP levels decreased significantly with etanercept but not with placebo (P = 0.001). There was ongoing improvement in all parameters in both groups until week 12 and week 18, respectively (i.e., throughout the period of etanercept treatment). Disease relapses occurred a mean +/- SD of 6.2 +/- 3.0 weeks after cessation of etanercept. No severe adverse events, including major infections, were observed during the trial. CONCLUSION This study shows that on a short-term basis (3 months), treatment with etanercept is clearly efficacious in patients with active AS who are receiving NSAID therapy but not DMARDs or steroids. After cessation of therapy, almost all patients experienced a relapse within a few weeks. Thus, it seems probable that etanercept must be administered continuously in most AS patients to achieve permanent inhibition of the inflammatory process.
Frequentist performance of Bayesian inference with response‐adaptive designs

In controlled clinical trials, where minimizing treatment failures is crucial, response‐adaptive designs are attractive competitors to 1:1 randomized designs for comparing the success rates ϕ1 and ϕ2 of two treatments. In these designs each new treatment assignment depends on previous outcomes through some predefined rule. Here Play‐The‐Winner (PW), Randomized Play‐The‐Winner (RPW), Drop‐The‐Loser, Generalized Drop‐the‐Loser and Doubly adaptive Biased Coin Designs are considered for new treatment assignments. As frequentist inference relies on complex sampling distributions in those designs, we investigate how Bayesian inference, based on two independent Beta prior distributions, performs from a frequentist point‐of‐view. Performance is assessed through coverage probabilities of interval estimation procedures, power and minimization of failure count. It is shown that Bayesian inference can be favorably compared to frequentist procedures where the latter are available. The power of response‐adaptive designs is generally very close to the power of 1:1 randomized design. However, failure count savings are generally small, except for the PW and Doubly adaptive Biased Coin designs in particular ranges of the true success rates. The RPW assignment rule has the worst performance, while PW, Generalized Drop‐the‐Loser or Doubly adaptive Biased Coin Designs may outperform other designs depending on different particular ranges of the true success rates. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selective early-acquired fear memories undergo temporary suppression during adolescence

Highly conserved neural circuitry between rodents and humans has allowed for in-depth characterization of behavioral and molecular processes associated with emotional learning and memory. Despite increased prevalence of affective disorders in adolescent humans, few studies have characterized how associative-emotional learning changes during the transition through adolescence or identified mechanisms underlying such changes. By examining fear conditioning in mice, as they transitioned into and out of adolescence, we found that a suppression of contextual fear occurs during adolescence. Although contextual fear memories were not expressed during early adolescence, they could be retrieved and expressed as the mice transitioned out of adolescence. This temporary suppression of contextual fear was associated with blunted synaptic activity in the basal amygdala and decreased PI3K and MAPK signaling in the hippocampus. These findings reveal a unique form of brain plasticity in fear learning during early adolescence and may prove informative for understanding endogenous mechanisms to suppress unwanted fear memories.
Perceived stigma as a predictor of treatment discontinuation in young and older outpatients with depression.

OBJECTIVE The authors' goal was to examine the extent to which perceived stigma affected treatment discontinuation in young and older adults with major depression. METHOD A two-stage sampling design identified 92 new admissions of outpatients with major depression. Perceived stigma was assessed at admission. Discontinuation of treatment was recorded at 3-month follow-up. RESULTS Although younger patients reported perceiving more stigma than older patients, stigma predicted treatment discontinuation only among the older patients. CONCLUSIONS Patients' perceptions of stigma at the start of treatment influence their subsequent treatment behavior. Stigma is an appropriate target for intervention aimed at improving treatment adherence and outcomes.
The Story of a Topological Game

In the author’s dissertation, he introduced a simple topological game. Seemingly minor variations of this game have over the years seen various uses, including the characterization of Corson and Eberlein compacta, and characterizing when certain function spaces with the compact- open topology are Baire. This article is primarily a survey of this game and its applications. Some new results are included, and a number of open problems are stated.
NORADRENERGIC HYPERINNERVATION IN THE CAVAL VEIN OF STROKE‐PRONE SPONTANEOUSLY HYPERTENSIVE RATS

1. The distribution of fluorescent noradrenergic (NA) nerve fibres in the caval vein, which originate from the coeliac ganglion, was examined by glyoxylic acid method in stroke‐prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) aged 10, 30, 60, 90 and 180 days. The results were compared with those in age‐matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats.