Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the Origin of Extracellular Glutamate Levels Monitored in the Basal Ganglia of the Rat by In Vivo Microdialysis

Abstract: Several putative neurotransmitters and metabolites were monitored simultaneously in the extracellular space of neostriatum, substantia nigra, and cortex and in subcutaneous tissue of the rat by in vivo microdialysis. Glutamate (Glu) and aspartate (Asp) were at submicromolar and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) was at nanomolar concentrations in all brain regions. The highest concentration of dopamine (DA) was in the neostriatum. Dynorphin B (Dyn B) was in the picomolar range in all brain regions. Although no GABA, DA, or Dyn B could be detected in subcutaneous tissue, Glu and Asp levels were ≈5 and ≈0.4 µM, respectively. Lactate and pyruvate concentrations were ≈200 and ≈10 µM in all regions. The following criteria were applied to ascertain the neuronal origin of substances quantified by microdialysis: sensitivity to (a) K+ depolarization, (b) Na+ channel blockade, (c) removal of extracellular Ca2+, and (d) depletion of presynaptic vesicles by local administration of α‐latrotoxin. DA, Dyn B, and GABA largely satisfied all these criteria. In contrast, Glu and Asp levels were not greatly affected by K+ depolarization and were increased by perfusing with tetrodotoxin or with Ca2+‐free medium, arguing against a neuronal origin. However, Glu and Asp, as well as DA and GABA, levels were decreased under both basal and K+‐depolarizing conditions by α‐latrotoxin. Because the effect of K+ depolarization on Glu and Asp could be masked by reuptake into nerve terminals and glial cells, the reuptake blocker dihydrokainic acid (DHKA) or l‐trans‐pyrrolidine‐2,4‐dicarboxylic acid (PDC) was included in the microdialysis perfusion medium. The effect of K+ depolarization on Glu and Asp levels was increased by DHKA, but GABA levels were also affected. In contrast, PDC increased only Glu levels. It is concluded that there is a pool of releasable Glu and Asp in the rat brain. However, extracellular levels of amino acids monitored by in vivo microdialysis reflect the balance between neuronal release and reuptake into surrounding nerve terminals and glial elements.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: evaluation with spirometrically controlled CT lung densitometry.

PURPOSE To compare the computed tomographic (CT) lung densitometry results in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in control subjects (healthy persons). MATERIALS AND METHODS Spirometrically gated CT sections at 5 cm above and 5 cm below the carina at 90% and 10% vital capacity (VC) were imaged in patients and controls. Various densitometric parameters were derived from the CT data, and results were compared between the two levels of inspiration. RESULTS Densitometric results in patients with emphysema were substantially different from those in patients with chronic bronchitis and in controls at 90% and 10% VC. Differences in patients with chronic bronchitis and in controls were not significant at 90% VC but were significant at 10% VC (P < .001). The mean changes in densitometric parameters between 90% and 10% VC were substantially greater in controls than in patients with COPD. CONCLUSION It may be possible to classify lung disease with only two CT sections obtained at the same anatomic level, one at 90% and one at 10% VC, irrespective of the densitometric parameter used.
Screening for Glaucoma in a General Population with the Non-Mydriatic Fundus Camera and the Frequency Doubling Perimeter

Purpose To evaluate the usefulness of non-mydriatic fundus camera (NMFu-camera) and frequency doubling perimeter (FDP) for detecting glaucoma in a general population. Methods This prospective observational multicenter study consisted in screening for glaucoma in the populations of three Belgian cities. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured with non-contact pneumo-tonometer (NCT) and applanation tonometry (AT) if NCT IOP was ≥17 mmHg. Visual field was screened with FDP (C-20-5) and digitized optic disc photographs (ODPs) were taken with NMFu-camera. FDP was considered abnormal if at least one defective point was found. ODPs were graded as normal or glaucomatous by consensus of three glaucoma specialists. Optic disc and visual field results were matched per eye. Subjects with known ocular hypertension and/or treated primary open angle glaucoma were excluded from the analysis. Results A total of 1620 subjects were included in the study. Their mean age was 63.2 years. AT IOP was >21 mmHg in 8.2%. A total of 98.1% of ODPs could be interpreted. Glaucomatous optic discs were detected in 3.5% of the subjects. In this group only 24% had an AT IOP ≥22 mmHg. FDP was abnormal in 44.5%. The sensitivity and specificity of FDP to identify patients with an optic disc graded as glaucomatous were 58.6% and 64.3% respectively. Conclusions The combined use of the NMFu-camera and the FDP is a feasible method for an initial glaucoma mass screening. NMFu-camera may be a useful and quick method to screen for glaucomatous damage in a community. FDP in screening strategy was revealed to be not sensitive enough when setting the cut-off value at one defective test location. IOP measurements were confirmed to be a poor tool to detect glaucomatous damage.
Transient crossed aphasia evidenced by functional brain imagery

Crossed aphasia refers to language deficits induced by unilateral right hemisphere injuries in right-handed people who had no previous history of brain damage. One of the intriguing questions concerning crossed aphasia is the atypical language representation in the brain. In this respect, fMRI is a valuable tool for understanding the neural basis of crossed aphasia. Here, we used neuropsychological and fMRI language tasks in a right-handed subject who presented a crossed aphasia due to a right frontal meningioma. fMRI maps from two language tasks showed bilateral patterns of activation. In the light of previous studies reporting much frequent bilateral than exclusive right hemisphere representations, we hypothesise that some crossed aphasia cases could occur in subjects with bilateral language representation.
Airflow Decline after Myeloablative Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: The Role of Community Respiratory Viruses

Abstract We conducted a 12-year retrospective study to determine the effects that the community respiratory-virus species and the localization of respiratory-tract virus infection have on severe airflow decline, a serious and fatal complication occurring after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Of 132 HCT recipients with respiratory-tract virus infection during the initial 100 days after HCT, 50 (38%) developed airflow decline ⩽1 year after HCT. Lower-respiratory-tract infection with parainfluenza (odds ratio [OR], 17.9 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.0–160]; P=.01) and respiratory syncytial virus (OR, 3.6 [95% CI, 1.0–13]; P=.05) independently increased the risk of development of airflow decline ⩽1 year after HCT. The airflow decline was immediately detectable after infection and was strongest for lower-respiratory-tract infection with parainfluenza virus; it stabilized during the months after the respiratory-tract virus infection, but, at ⩽1 year after HCT, the initial lung function was not restored. Thus, community respiratory virus–associated airflow decline seems to be specific to viral species and infection localization
Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus of lineage ST398 as cause of mastitis in cows

The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence and molecular characteristics of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in milk of cows with mastitis. The California mastitis test (CMT) was used to detect the presence of mastitis in all 100 cows of a farm in Brazil. The CMT was positive in milk of 115 mammary quarters from 36 cows (36%). MRSA isolates were recovered from 4 of these 36 cows with mastitis (11%), and they were further characterized (one MRSA/sample). The four MRSA isolates were typed as t011‐ST398‐agr1‐SCCmecV and presented two different pulsed‐field‐gel‐electrophoresis‐ApaI patterns. These four MRSA isolates showed resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin and ciprofloxacin, carried the mecA, blaZ, tet(K), and tet(M) resistance genes, and presented the S84L and S80F amino acid substitutions in GyrA and GrlA proteins, respectively. Two ST398 isolates exhibited resistance to gentamicin and tobramycin [with aac(6)‐aph(2”) and ant(4)‐Ia genes] and one isolate resistance to clindamycin [with lnu(B) and lsa(E) genes]; this latter isolate also carried the spectinomycin/streptomycin resistance genes spw and aadE. MRSA of lineage ST398 is worldwide spread, normally multidrug resistant and may be responsible for bovine mastitis. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of MRSA‐ST398 in Brazil.
Implementation Planning and Progress on Physical Activity Goals

This 4-week prospective study examined whether the use of life-management strategies mediates the relationship between implementation planning and short-term progress on physical activity goals. In particular, the strategies of elective selection, compensation, and loss-based selection were disentangled to assess their specific mediating effects. Results from a sample of 131 undergraduate students showed that, as a composite, life-management strategies fully mediated the relationship between planning and goal progress. More specifically, decomposing the effects demonstrated that only elective selection and compensation mediated the association between planning and greater progress on a personal physical activity goal. Results are discussed in light of their practical implications and contributions to the personal goal literature.
Gene expression profiling, chromosome assignment and mutational analysis of the porcine Golgi-resident UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine transporter SLC35A3

SLC35A3 encodes a Golgi-resident UDP-N-acetylglucosamine transporter. Here, the porcine SLC35A3 gene was assigned to Sus scrofa chromosome 4 (SSC4) by a combination of radiation hybrid and linkage analysis. Expression profiling using real time RT-PCR showed ubiquitous but variable transcription of SLC35A3 in a selection of tissues. The deduced 325 amino acid sequence revealed a hydrophobic protein with 10 predicted transmembrane helices and the N- and C-terminal tails facing the cytosolic side of the Golgi apparatus. In addition, mutated versions of the UDP-GlcNAc transporter were analyzed in a yeast complementation assay, which allowed us to identify important domains and amino acid residues. Thus, the N-terminal tail was inessential for activity, whereas removal of the first transmembrane domain inhibited yeast complementation. The hydrophilic C-terminus was dispensable while mutant proteins either fully or partially deprived of the last membrane-spanning helix were functionally impaired. The third luminal loop showed modest sequence conservation and appeared structurally flexible as certain deletions were acceptable. In contrast, the fourth luminal loop was more sensitive to changes since the competence of the mutant protein was lowered by mutations. Substitutions of glycines 190, 215 and 254, which are invariant positions in the SLC35A subfamilies affected activity negatively. Interestingly, inhibition of function by a valine to phenylalanine mutation, which has been associated with skeletal malformations, is likely caused by structural incompatibility of the bulky aromatic phenylalanine side chain with the integrity of the transmembrane helix, since substitutions with the smaller aliphatic side chains of leucine and isoleucine were acceptable changes.
[Caregiving burden and associated factors among caregivers of terminally ill gastrointestinal cancer patients].

BACKGROUND Heavy caregiving burdens can harm the physical and mental health of primary caregivers and reduce patient care quality. Understanding caregiving burden and its associated factors among primary caregivers of terminally ill patients with gastrointestinal cancer can help improve holistic terminal healthcare quality. PURPOSE The authors explore in this paper the relationship between caregiving burden and terminally ill gastrointestinal cancer patient disease characteristics, demographic backgrounds, level of social support, self-care efficacy, fear of death and self-perceived symptom distress in both patients and primary caregivers. METHODS This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study that used convenience sampling and structured questionnaires. Data were collected from 178 family caregivers of terminally ill patients with gastrointestinal cancer in the Tainan and Chiayi areas of Southern Taiwan. RESULTS The caregiving burden of caregivers of terminally ill gastrointestinal cancer patients in hospice homecare was significantly higher than that of those recruited from outpatient departments. Caregiving burden for liver and pancreatic cancer patients was significantly higher than for colorectal cancer patients. The caregiving burden of spousal caregivers was significantly higher than that of lineal blood relatives. The caregiving burden of caregivers with worse self-perceived health status was significantly higher than that of those with better self-perceived health status. The most important explanatory factors of caregiving burden among primary caregivers terminally ill gastrointestinal cancer patients were (in descending order) social support, self-perceived symptom distress in patient, self-perceived health status, location of study subject recruitment, fear of death, and relationship with patient; these factors explained 63.8% of the total variation. Social support was the most important explanatory factor, explaining 37.2% of total variance. CONCLUSIONS We recommend that terminal health care teams better assess the social support given primary caregivers of terminally ill gastrointestinal cancer patients, that assistance be provided to caregivers with less social support, that caregiver life-and-death education be improved, and that primary caregivers be taught how to accept and positively handle the death of the loved one in their care. More attention should be paid to controlling symptoms of terminal stage cancer patients in order to reduce caregiver self-perceived symptom distress. Evaluation of caregiving burden is especially important for those primary caregivers who are hospice homecare workers, spouses, and of lower self-perceived health status.
Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Uncultured Legionella spp. in Drinking Water Treated at Temperatures below 15°C

ABSTRACT Representatives of the genus Legionella were detected by use of a real-time PCR method in all water samples collected directly after treatment from 16 surface water (SW) supplies prior to postdisinfection and from 81 groundwater (GW) supplies. Legionella concentrations ranged from 1.1 × 103 to 7.8 × 105 cells liter−1 and were significantly higher in SW treated with multiple barriers at 4°C than in GW treated at 9 to 12°C with aeration and filtration but without chemical disinfection. No Legionellae (<50 CFU liter−1) were detected in treated water by the culture method. Legionella was also observed in untreated SW and in untreated aerobic and anaerobic GW. Filtration processes in SW and GW treatment had little effect or increased the Legionella concentration, but ozonation in SW treatment caused about 1-log-unit reduction. A phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences of 202 clones, obtained from a selection of samples, showed a high similarity (>91%) with Legionella sequences in the GenBank database. A total of 40 (33%) of the 16S rRNA gene sequences obtained from treated water were identified as described Legionella species and types, including L. bozemanii, L. worsleiensis, Legionella-like amoebal pathogen types, L. quateirensis, L. waltersii, and L. pneumophila. 16S rRNA gene sequences with a similarity of below 97% from described species were positioned all over the phylogenetic tree of Legionella. Hence, a large diversity of yet-uncultured Legionellae are common members of the microbial communities in SW and GW treated at water temperatures of below 15°C.
Does narrative writing instruction enhance the benefits of expressive writing?

Abstract We examined whether instructing participants to write in a narrative fashion about stressful life events would produce superior physical and psychological health benefits relative to standard expressive writing instructions that do not specify the essay's structure. Undergraduates (N=101) were randomly assigned to engage in two, 20-minute narrative writing, standard expressive writing, or control writing tasks. Follow-up data were obtained one month later. The essays of the narrative writing group evidenced higher levels of narrative structure than did those of the expressive writing group. Greater narrative structure was associated with mental health gains, and self-rated emotionality of the essays was associated with lesser perceived stress at follow-up. In addition, the narrative and expressive writing groups reported lower levels of perceived stress and depressive symptoms relative to controls but did not differ from each other with regard to these outcomes. Health care utilization at follow-up did not vary by group assignment. Findings suggest that both emotional expression and narrative structure may be key factors underlying expressive writing's mental health benefits. Results also suggest that, among college students, instruction in narrative formation does not increase the positive effects of expressive writing relative to standard expressive writing instructions.
The Research on Purchasing Intention of Fresh Agricultural Products under O2O Mode Based on the Framework of Perceived Benefits-Perceived Risk

The development of technology promotes the combination of traditional industries and the Internet,creating a new mobile International business mode—O2O( online to offline). O2 O mode combines the advantages of online and shopping malls,has become a marketing innovation paradigm. The framework of perceived benefits-perceived risk is a mainstream framework of consumer behavior research. Based on this framework,this paper gives the theoretical framework of purchase intention of fresh agricultural products under the mode of O2 O and puts forward a series of hypothesis. The empirical results show that: the general attitude has a positive influence on perceived benefits,has a negative influence on perceived risk; trust has a positive influence on perceived benefits,has a negative influence on perceived risk; perceived benefits have a positive influence on purchasing intention; perceived risk has a negative influence on purchasing intention.
Detection of endoparasites with zoonotic potential in dogs with gastrointestinal disease in the UK.

We report a substantial prevalence study in symptomatic pet dogs of important zoonotic parasitic enteric infections. A total of 4526 dogs which had a faecal sample submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in the UK between 2003 and 2005 were included in the study. The most common parasite was Giardia spp. , which was found in 380/4526 dogs (8.4%, 95% CI 7.6-9.2%). Surprisingly, Cryptosporidium spp. infection was detected in only 29/4526 (0.6%, 95% CI 0.4-0.9%). Toxocara canis was found in 63/4526 dogs (1.4%; 95% CI 1.1-1.8%). Prevalence of Giardia (P < 0.001) was significantly higher in dogs <12 months of age, with nearly one-fifth of all symptomatic dogs under 6 months being infected with Giardia. Some seasonality was detected with a higher prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding found from October to December. These data are of importance for veterinarians in judging the likelihood of enteric parasitic infection in an individual with clinical signs. Moreover, they provide information to direct future work in determining the risk to the human population from parasitic zoonoses of dogs.
D-Amino Acids Govern Stationary Phase Cell Wall Remodeling in Bacteria

Anyone for d? The chemistry of amino acids comes in two chirally distinct flavors—so-called l- and d-enantiomers. By far the most commonly used form of amino acids in all kingdoms of life is the l-form. Now Lam et al. (p. 1552; see the Perspective by Blanke) present the unanticipated observation that diverse bacteria release large amounts of various d-amino acids into the environment in a population density–dependent fashion and that d-amino acids act as extracellular effectors that regulate the composition, structure, amount, and strength of peptidoglycan, the major stress-bearing component of the bacterial cell wall. Bacteria produce D-amino acids to regulate their cell wall composition, structure, amount, and strength. In all known organisms, amino acids are predominantly thought to be synthesized and used as their L-enantiomers. Here, we found that bacteria produce diverse D-amino acids as well, which accumulate at millimolar concentrations in supernatants of stationary phase cultures. In Vibrio cholerae, a dedicated racemase produced D-Met and D-Leu, whereas Bacillus subtilis generated D-Tyr and D-Phe. These unusual D-amino acids appear to modulate synthesis of peptidoglycan, a strong and elastic polymer that serves as the stress-bearing component of the bacterial cell wall. D-Amino acids influenced peptidoglycan composition, amount, and strength, both by means of their incorporation into the polymer and by regulating enzymes that synthesize and modify it. Thus, synthesis of D-amino acids may be a common strategy for bacteria to adapt to changing environmental conditions.
DNA Damage Induced by 4,6,8,9-Tetramethyl-2H-furo[2,3-h]quinolin-2-one, a New Furocoumarin Analog: Photochemical Mechanisms

Abstract Some photochemical and photobiological properties of 4,6,8,9-tetramethyl-2H-furo[2,3-h]quinolin-2-one (HFQ) were studied in comparison with its isomer 1,4,6,8-tetramethyl-2H-furo[2,3-h]quinolin-2-one (FQ) and 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP). The HFQ photobinds to DNA forming furan-side monoadducts (MAHFQ) that have molecular structure very similar to those of FQ (MAFQ). Unlike MA8-MOP and MAFQ, MAHFQ no longer photoreact. The HFQ, like FQ, produces moderate amounts of singlet oxygen but no superoxide anions. The HFQ and FQ induce numbers of DNA–protein cross-links (DPC), much more plentiful than those of 8-MOP (about two and seven times, respectively) but no interstrand cross-links. The mechanism of DPC formation was studied in vivo in mammalian cells by alkaline elution and in vitro using a new test mixing histones and DNA from calf thymus. The latter is a very useful technique for the double irradiation protocol. The DNA (or histones) are separately exposed to a first UVA dose in the presence of the sensitizer; then, after its unbound molecules have been removed, histones (or DNA) are added to assemble the chromatin-like complex that is irradiated again. According to in vitro and in vivo methods, DPC appear to be formed by FQ and 8-MOP by a biphotonic process that starts with monoadduct induction in DNA, followed by their conversion into DPC. In the resulting lesions, the sensitizer molecule forms a covalent bridge between the two macromolecules (DPC at length greater than zero). Instead, HFQ induces DPC by a monophotonic process; thus, HFQ is probably not a physical part of the bridge between DNA and proteins, which may be linked together directly, like DPC at zero length induced by UVC.
The Southern Oscillation Index and Ross River virus outbreaks

intestinal haemorrhage in the elderly population are associated with the use of NSAIDs.3 McManus et ai's estimate is based on this aetiological fraction method and the total number of hospital admissions for peptic ulceration (ICD-9-CM codes 531, 532 and 533). However, analysis of the E-coded data reveals that additional diagnosis codes should also be considered to provide an overall estimate. If we assume that McManus's estimate is correct for the identified diagnoses, then only a quarter of these adverse reactions were reported, and if this level of under-reporting is consistent across all diagnosis categories then hospital admissions associated with gastrointestinal complications due to NSAIDs in the elderly may be closer to 1600 admissions annually.