Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Techniques used for the isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles: results of a worldwide survey

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) represent an important mode of intercellular communication. Research in this field has grown rapidly in the last few years, and there is a plethora of techniques for the isolation and characterization of EVs, many of which are poorly standardized. EVs are heterogeneous in size, origin and molecular constituents, with considerable overlap in size and phenotype between different populations of EVs. Little is known about current practices for the isolation, purification and characterization of EVs. We report here the first large, detailed survey of current worldwide practices for the isolation and characterization of EVs. Conditioned cell culture media was the most widely used material (83%). Ultracentrifugation remains the most commonly used isolation method (81%) with 59% of respondents use a combination of methods. Only 9% of respondents used only 1 characterization method, with others using 2 or more methods. Sample volume, sample type and downstream application all influenced the isolation and characterization techniques employed.
Functionalized para-substituted benzenes as 1,8-cineole production modulators in an endophytic Nodulisporium species.

A Nodulisporium species (designated Ti-13) was isolated as an endophyte from Cassia fistula. The fungus produces a spectrum of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that includes ethanol, acetaldehyde and 1,8-cineole as major components. Initial observations of the fungal isolate suggested that reversible attenuation of the organism via removal from the host and successive transfers in pure culture resulted in a 50 % decrease in cineole production unrelated to an overall alteration in fungal growth. A compound (CPM1) was obtained from Betula pendula (silver birch) that increases the production of 1,8-cineole by an attenuated Ti-13 strain to its original level, as measured by a novel bioassay method employing a 1,8-cineole-sensitive fungus (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum). The host plant produces similar compounds possessing this activity. Bioactivity assays with structurally similar compounds such as ferulic acid and gallic acid suggested that the CPM1 does not act as a simple precursor to the biosynthesis of 1,8-cineole. NMR spectroscopy and HPLC-ES-MS indicated that the CPM1 is a para-substituted benzene with alkyl and carboxyl substituents. The VOCs of Ti-13, especially 1,8-cineole, have potential applications in the industrial, fuel and medical fields.
Impact of involvement in athletics upon leadership preferences among selected Rowan University athletes

Lindsay K. Hanson IMPACT OF INVOLVEMENT IN ATHLETICS UPON LEADERSHIP PREFERENCES AMONG SELECTED ROWAN UNIVERSITY ATHLETES 2007/08 Dr. Burton R. Sisco Masters of Arts in Higher Education Administration The purpose of the study was to assess the level and attitudes of involvement of selected Rowan University student-athletes and any significant relationships between involvement and preferences among five dimensions of leadership. Involvement included activities such as academics, athletics, on and off campus occupations, religious organizations, professional clubs, and other organizations found on campus. Demographic factors were also studied including age, class level, role on team, ethnicity, gender, and participation in a specific sport. The five dimensions of leadership studied were autocratic behavior, democratic behavior, positive feedback, social support, and training and instruction. The researcher surveyed 210 student-athletes at Rowan University during the 2007-2008 academic year. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to calculate descriptive statistics, and Pearson correlations between demographics, attitudes of involvement, and leadership dimensions. The study provides insight on the amount of time and attitudes of Rowan University student-athletes regarding involvement. The study also provides insight on Rowan University student-athletes leadership preferences and demographic variables. The relationship between the leadership patterns and the student-athletes' attitudes toward involvement was studied as well. Significant relationships were detected between the leadership patterns of Rowan University student-athletes and the attitudes toward social, academic, and campus involvement. A significant relationship was found between student-athletes and the preference of the training and instruction dimension of leadership.
The Role of Supplemental Complex Dietary Carbohydrates and Gut Microbiota in Promoting Cardiometabolic and Immunological Health in Obesity: Lessons from Healthy Non-Obese Individuals

Dietary supplementation with complex carbohydrates is known to alter the composition of gut microbiota, and optimal implementation of the use of these so called “prebiotics” could be of great potential in prevention and possibly treatment of obesity and associated cardiometabolic and inflammatory diseases via changes in the gut microbiota. An alternative to this “microbiocentric view” is the idea that health-promoting effects of certain complex carbohydrates reside in the host, and could secondarily affect the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota. To circumvent this potential interpretational problem, we aimed at providing an overview about whether and how dietary supplementation of different complex carbohydrates changes the gut microbiome in healthy non-obese individuals. We then reviewed whether the reported changes in gut bacterial members found to be established by complex carbohydrates would benefit or harm the cardiometabolic and immunological health of the host taking into account the alterations in the microbiome composition and abundance known to be associated with obesity and its associated disorders. By combining these research areas, we aimed to give a better insight into the potential of (foods containing) complex carbohydrates in the treatment and prevention of above-mentioned diseases. We conclude that supplemental complex carbohydrates that increase Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, without increasing the deleterious Bacteroides, are most likely promoting cardiometabolic and immunological health in obese subjects. Because certain complex carbohydrates also affect the host’s immunity directly, it is likely that host–microbiome interactions in determination of health and disease characteristics are indeed bidirectional. Overall, this review article shows that whereas it is relatively clear in which direction supplemental fermentable carbohydrates can alter the gut microbiome, the relevance of these changes regarding health remains controversial. Future research should take into account the different causes of obesity and its adverse health conditions, which in turn have drastic effects on the microbiome balance.
Evidence of linkage disequilibrium between schizophrenia and the SCa1 CAG repeat on chromosome 6p23.

Schizophrenia and the closely related phenotype schizoaffective disorder are severe mental illnesses that affect >1.0% of the population. The major role that genetic factors contribute to disease susceptibility is very well established. Schizophrenia appears to be a highly complex and heterogeneous disorder, however, and gene-mapping efforts also face challenges in assigning diagnoses and in delineating the disease`s phenotypic boundary. Several recently reported studies indicate that a schizophrenia-susceptibility gene may reside on the distal short arm of chromosome 6. Wang et al. reported a strong suggestion of linkage to chromosome 6pter-p22, using a resource based on 186 Irish families that was developed by K. S, Kendler, D. Walsh and colleagues, and one of us (S.R.D.), as described elsewhere. In that study, locus D6S260 gave the highest pairwise LOD score, 3.5, allowing for locus heterogeneity. Analysis with D6S260 and the distal locus F13A1 yielded a multipoint LOD score of 3.9, which maximized by allowing for locus heterogeneity and assuming that 50% of families are linked to this region. Nonparametric affected-pedigree-member analyses also supported this finding. Several other groups have recently reported additional evidence suggesting linkage to this region, both in an expanded collection of Irish families and in families from a varietymore » of other geographic locations. However, none of these studies succeed in narrowing the location of the putative disease gene beyond the {approximately}30-cM region first identified by Wang et al. 44 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab. « less
Anaerobic bacteria and intrahepatic stones: detections of Clostridium sp. and Bacteroides fragilis.

OBJECTIVE To detect anaerobic bacteria Clostridium sp. and Bacteroides fragilis in intrahepatic stones by molecular genetic method. METHODS DNA was extracted from 59 stone samples and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Clostridium sp. and the glutamine synthetase gene of Bacteroides fragilis. Single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was performed to identify the Clostridium sp. RESULTS 16S rRNA gene sequences for Clostridium sp. were identified in 49 stones (83%, 49/59). The two most common groups were detected in 19 (41%) and 17 (37%) of the 46 samples using SSPC analysis, and 25/59 (42%) stones were tested positive for Bacteroides fragilis. CONCLUSIONS Anaerobes such as Clostridium sp. and Bacteroides fragilis present in intrahepatic stones and may play a role in stone formation. PCR is a useful technique to detect fastidious pathogens, which are difficult to culture. SSCP of PCR products is a rapid method in differentiating bacterial species.
Phospholipid transfer protein reduces phosphorylation of tau in human neuronal cells

Tau function is regulated by phosphorylation, and abnormal tau phosphorylation in neurons is one of the key processes associated with development of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. In this study we provide evidence that phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP), one of the main lipid transfer proteins in the brain, significantly reduces levels of phosphorylated tau and increases levels of the inactive form of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK3β) in HCN2 cells. Furthermore, inhibition of phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI3K) reversed the PLTP‐induced increase in levels of GSK3β phosphorylated at serine 9 (pGSK3βSer9) and partially reversed the PLTP‐induced reduction in tau phosphorylation. We provide evidence that the PLTP‐induced changes are not due to activation of Disabled‐1 (Dab1), insofar as PLTP reduced levels of total and phosphorylated Dab1 in HCN2 cells. We have also shown that inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity of insulin receptor (IR) and/or insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1) receptor (IGFR) reverses the PLTP‐induced increase in levels of phosphorylated Akt (pAktThr308 and pAktSer473), suggesting that PLTP‐mediated activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway is dependent on IR/IGFR receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Our study suggests that PLTP may be an important modulator of signal transduction pathways in human neurons. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Progesterone treatment alters neurotrophin/proneurotrophin balance and receptor expression in rats with traumatic brain injury.

PURPOSE The neuroactive steroid progesterone (PROG) has been shown to be an effective treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) both in animal models and in humans, but the signaling pathways involved have not yet been fully described. Here we characterize the protein expression of nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and their pro-proteins and receptors following PROG treatment for TBI. METHODS To evaluate whether PROG treatment given after TBI alters mature and proneurotrophin protein balance and the expression of receptors involved in apoptotic and cell survival signaling, we used Western blots in tissue obtained 24 h, 72 h, and 7 days after injury from rats with bilateral frontal cortical contusions. RESULTS Compared to controls, PROG reduced levels of pro-apoptotic NGF precursor (proNGF) at 24 h and 7 days post-injury, reduced levels of pro-apoptotic BDNF precursor (proBDNF) and the BDNF receptor TrkB at all time points, and increased levels of mature NGF at 72 h. Levels of mature BDNF were decreased at 24 and 72 h. These observations were associated with reduced markers of apoptosis and improved behavioral parameters in PROG-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS Some of PROG's protective effects after TBI are mediated, in part, by simultaneous induction of pro-survival neurotrophin signaling and inhibition of apoptotic proneurotrophin signaling.
Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content in colorectal polyps resected at endoscopy.

Samples from 64 consecutive resected colorectal polyps were preserved in liquid nitrogen and analyzed by flow cytometry to assess the nuclear DNA content, which was compared to the histopathologic findings. The frequency of aneuploidy in these nonselected polyps was 17.2%. There was a significant correlation between the diameter of the polyp and the frequency of aneuploidy (P = .04), with all aneuploid polyps being greater than or equal to 10 mm. Similarly, aneuploidy was significantly more frequent for polyps that were both greater than or equal 20 mm and showed at least severe dysplasia (P = .02). On the other hand, there was no correlation between the ploidy and the gross histopathologic type (tubular, tubulovillous or villous), and the proliferation index did not correlate with any of the parameters studied.
The influence of pregnancy on sensation of ear problems – ear problems associated with healthy pregnancy

Abstract We wondered how many women had experienced a sensation of fullness in the ear during pregnancy. To address this question, data were obtained from a group of healthy women who attended the gynaecology clinic in our hospital as pregnancy cases between February 1995 and January 1998 and who volunteered to participate in our study. A control group was drawn from healthy female co-medical staff members of our hospital who had never been pregnant. The data used for comparing the two groups were taken from a questionnaire about ear problems that was presented to all subjects. The results suggest that ear problems may be increased in pregnancy, particularly for hypotensive pregnant women. However, even for pregnant women complaining of ear problems, pure-tone audiometry and impedance audiometry showed normal hearing in all cases. Furthermore, these women's complaints resolved completely on delivery of their babies.
New therapies for pneumococcal meningitis

The treatment of pneumococcal meningitis remains a major challenge, as reflected by the continued high morbidity and case fatality of the disease. The worldwide increase of penicillin-resistant pneumococci and more recently cephalosporin- and vancomycin-tolerant pneumococci has jeopardised the efficacy of standard treatments based on extended spectrum cephalosporins alone or in combination with vancomycin. This review provides a summary of newly developed antibiotics tested in the rabbit meningitis model. In particular, newer β-lactam monotherapies (cefepime, meropenem, ertapenem), recently developed quinolones (garenoxacin, gemifloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin) and a lipopeptide antibiotic (daptomycin) are discussed. A special emphasis is placed on the potential role of combination treatments with some of the new compounds, which are of interest based on the background of increasing resistance problems due to their often synergistic activity in the rabbit model of pneumococcal meningitis.
The Ki-67 protein: fascinating forms and an unknown function.

The Ki-67 protein is a nuclear and nucleolar protein, which is tightly associated with somatic cell proliferation. Antibodies raised against the human Ki-67 protein paved the way for the immunohistological assessment of cell proliferation, particularly useful in numerous studies on the prognostic value of cell growth in clinical samples of human neoplasms. The primary structure revealed potential phosphorylation site for a range of essential kinases, PEST sequences, and a forkhead-associated domain, which are features present in a variety of cell-cycle-regulating proteins, but information about the position of the Ki-67 protein within the protein network that drives the cell cycle remained scarce. There is now evidence that posttranslational modifications based on phosphorylation by cdc2 kinase and PKC accompany the remarkable redistribution of the Ki-67 protein from the interior of the nucleus to the perichromosomal layer during mitosis and vice versa. The discovery of Ki-67 equivalents in other species is advantageous for a precise and cross-species investigation of the structural requirements for its yet unknown function. The recently published data add new pieces to the challenging puzzle of this multifaceted protein, which are waiting to be put together.
Enterochromaffin cell hyperplasia and decreased serotonin transporter in a mouse model of postinfectious bowel dysfunction

Abstract Patients with postinfective irritable bowel syndrome and Trichinella spiralis‐infected mice share many features including visceral hypersensitivity and disordered motility. We assessed enterochromaffin (EC) numbers and serotonin transporter (SERT) using National Institute of Health (NIH) female mice studied for up to 56 days post‐T. spiralis infection. The effects of steroid treatment and the T‐cell dependence of the observed responses were assessed by infection of hydrocortisone‐treated or T‐cell receptor knock out [TCR (β×δ) KO] animals. Enterochromaffin cell density in uninfected animals increased from duodenum 10.0 cells mm−2 (5.9–41.0) to colon 61.8. (46.3–162) cells mm−2P < 0.0001. Infection increased duodenal and jejunal counts which rose to 37.3 (22–57.7) cells mm−2 and 50.6 (7–110.8) cells mm−2, respectively, at day 14. Infection significantly reduced jejunal SERT expression, with luminance values falling from 61.0 (45.1–98.3) to a nadir of 11.6 (0–36.0) units at day 9, P < 0.001. Specific deficiencies in all T cells reduced EC hyperplasia and abrogated infection‐induced mastocytosis. Thus infection induced inflammation increases EC numbers, as has been reported in PI‐IBS, and reduces SERT. This may increase mucosal 5HT availability and contribute to the clinical presentation of PI‐IBS.
Meta‐analysis of pancreaticogastrostomy versus pancreaticojejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Surgical reconstruction following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Because of great variability in definitions of specific complications, it remains unclear whether there is a difference in complication rates following the two commonest types of reconstruction, pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) and pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ). Published consensus definitions for postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) have led to a series of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) uniquely placed to address this question.
Not All Surges of Gross Capital Inflows are Alike

This paper looks into the transition of a surge episode to a stop episode and differentiates between two types of surges, namely surges that end in stops and surges that end in normal episodes. Previous studies on capital flows show that surges end in output contraction, crises, and reversals of capital inflows. However, when one looks closely at the data, more than half of surges end in normal episodes at least four quarters following the last surge quarter. This study focuses on global and domestic factors that strongly correlate with the transition of surges to either stop or normal episodes, as well as which factors correlate with the magnitude of gross inflows for these two types of surges. The results show that the higher likelihood of experiencing surges ending in stops is significantly correlated with lower global risk aversion and with higher domestic output gap. The estimates also indicate that surges ending in stops are different from surges ending in normal episodes. For instance, while global risk aversion and domestic credit are significant for both surges, larger gross capital inflows are significantly correlated with higher global commodity prices for surges ending in stops, but with lower commodity prices for surges ending in normal episodes.
Requesting cesareans without medical indications: an option being considered by young canadian women.

BACKGROUND Cesarean delivery on maternal request is a worldwide growing phenomenon. The goal of this study was to describe young nulliparous women's attitudes about cesarean delivery on maternal request. METHODS A total of 140 nulliparous women in Canada aged between 18 and 24years and attending school from the vocational (n=53), college (n=61), and university (n=18) levels (n=8 other) participated in the survey. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of 23 open-ended questions. The outcome measure was the participant's attitude toward cesarean delivery on maternal request. Descriptive, bivariate, and multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS Many of the respondents (63%) had previously heard about cesarean delivery on maternal request, and of these women 28.6 percent had a favorable attitude toward the procedure. Sociodemographic variables were not associated with participants' attitudes toward cesarean delivery on maternal request except for place of residence and type of professional preferred for pregnancy care. Thinking that vaginal birth was more painful than cesarean delivery (p=0.012) and had more consequences for the mother (p<0.001) were related to a positive attitude toward cesarean delivery on maternal request. A positive attitude by peers was also associated with participants' favorable attitude toward cesarean delivery on maternal request (p<0.001). The overall predictive success of the model was 66.5 percent. CONCLUSIONS Young women are spreading the word about cesarean delivery on maternal request and may influence one another about their preferred delivery method. During prenatal visits practitioners need to address women's fear of vaginal birth and its consequences for the mother, counseling, and women's understanding of the consequences of cesarean delivery. This study supports the urgent need to systematically document cesarean delivery on maternal request as a medical procedure and to study its prevalence and related factors.
Learning New Faces in Typically Developing Children and Children on the Autistic Spectrum

As faces become familiar, recognition becomes easier but the style of processing also changes. Here, twenty-one typically developing (TD) children and twenty-one children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were familiarised with 6 identities over 3 days. Next, they completed a 4-alternative forced-choice matching test in which targets were the 6 familiarised faces and 6 unfamiliar faces. The TD group showed a significant advantage for familiarised faces when matching whole faces and both internal and external facial regions. The ASD group showed similar familiarisation effects for whole and external faces, but not for internal regions. The ASD group was also impaired at matching eyes and mouths of familiarised faces. Results suggest the process of acquiring familiarity with faces differs from ASD and TD children.