Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exosomes As Potential Biomarkers and Targeted Therapy in Colorectal Cancer: A Mini-Review

The number of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases have increased gradually year by year. In fact, CRC is one of the most widely diagnosed cancer in men and women today. This disease is usually diagnosed at a later stage of the development, and by then, the chance of survival has declined significantly. Even though substantial progress has been made in understanding the basic molecular mechanism of CRC, there is still a lack of understanding in using the available information for diagnosing CRC effectively. Liquid biopsies are minimally invasive and have become the epitome of a good screening source for stage-specific diagnosis, measuring drug response and severity of the disease. There are various circulating entities that can be found in biological fluids, and among them, exosomes, have been gaining considerable attention. Exosomes can be found in almost all biological fluids including serum, urine, saliva, and breast milk. Furthermore, exosomes carry valuable molecular information such as proteins and nucleic acids that directly reflects the source of the cells. Nevertheless, the inconsistent yield and isolation process and the difficulty in obtaining pure exosomes have become major obstacles that need to be addressed. The potential usage of exosomes as biomarkers have not been fully validated and explored yet. This review attempts to uncover the potential molecules that can be derived from CRC-exosomes as promising biomarkers or molecular targets for effective diagnosing of CRC.
Pycnogenol® in Chronic Venous Insufficiency and Related Venous Disorders

The present review provides an update of the biological profile of Pycnogenol in the light of its use in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and related venous disorders such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), post‐thrombotic syndrome, long haul air‐travel‐related leg oedema, venous ulcers and acute haemorrhoids. Pycnogenol is a French maritime pine bark extract produced from the outer bark of Pinus pinaster Ait. subsp. atlantica. Its strong antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and vasodilator activities, antithrombotic effects and collagen stabilizing properties make it uniquely able to target the multi facet pathophysiology of CVI and related venous disorders. Clinical studies have shown that it can reduce oedema of the legs in CVI, reduce the incidence of deep venous thrombosis during long haul flights and enhance the healing of venous ulcers and haemorrhoidal episodes by topical application and/or oral administration. This review highlights clinical research findings on the safety, compliance and efficacy of Pycnogenol, including its use in combination products. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Activates Endothelial Cells

ABSTRACT Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) causes viral hemorrhagic fever with high case-fatality rates and is geographically widely distributed. Due to the requirement for a biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) laboratory and the lack of an animal model, knowledge of the viral pathogenesis is limited. Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is characterized by hemorrhage and vascular permeability, indicating the involvement of endothelial cells (ECs). The interplay between ECs and CCHFV is therefore important for understanding the pathogenesis of CCHF. In a previous study, we found that CCHFV-infected monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) activated ECs; however, the direct effect of CCHFV on ECs was not investigated. Here, we report that ECs are activated upon infection, as demonstrated by upregulation of mRNA levels for E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1). Protein levels and cell surface expression of ICAM1 responded in a dose-dependent manner to increasing CCHFV titers with concomitant increase in leukocyte adhesion. Furthermore, we examined vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin in CCHFV-infected ECs by different approaches. Infected ECs released higher levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-8; however, stimulation of resting ECs with supernatants derived from infected ECs did not result in increased ICAM1 expression. Interestingly, the moDC-mediated activation of ECs was abrogated by addition of neutralizing tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) antibody to moDC supernatants, thereby identifying this soluble mediator as the key cytokine causing EC activation. We conclude that CCHFV can exert both direct and indirect effects on ECs.
Relationship between Pulmonary O2 Uptake Kinetics and Muscle Deoxygenation during Moderate‐Intensity Exercise.

The temporal relationship between the kinetics of phase 2 pulmonary O2 uptake (Vo -->Vo2p) and deoxygenation of the vastus lateralis muscle was examined during moderate-intensity leg-cycling exercise. Young adults (5 men, 6 women; 23 +/- 3 yr; mean +/- SD) performed repeated transitions on 3 separate days from 20 W to a constant work rate corresponding to 80% of lactate threshold. Breath-by-breath Vo2p was measured by mass spectrometer and volume turbine. Deoxyhemoglobin (HHb), oxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin and myoglobin were sampled each second by near-infrared spectroscopy (Hamamatsu NIRO-300). Vo2p data were filtered, interpolated to 1 s, and averaged to 5-s bins; HHb data were averaged to 5-s bins. Phase 2 Vo2p data were fit with a monoexponential model. For HHb, a time delay (TDHHb) from exercise onset to an increase in HHb was determined, and thereafter data were fit with a monoexponential model. The time constant for Vo2p (30 +/- 8 s) was slower (P < 0.01) than that for HHb (10 +/- 3 s). The TDHHb before an increase in HHb was 13 +/- 2 s. The possible mechanisms of the TDHHb are discussed with reference to metabolic activation and matching of local muscle O2 delivery and O2 utilization. After this initial TDHHb, the kinetics of local muscle deoxygenation were faster than those of phase 2 Vo2p (and presumably muscle O2 consumption), reflecting increased O2 extraction and a mismatch between local muscle O2 consumption and perfusion.
Intravenous levetiracetam in critically ill children with status epilepticus or acute repetitive seizures

Objective: Intravenous (IV) levetiracetam (LEV) is approved for use in patients older than 16 years and may be useful in critically ill children, although there is little data available regarding pharmacokinetics. We aim to investigate the safety, an appropriate dosing, and efficacy of IV LEV in critically ill children. Design: We describe a cohort of critically ill children who received IV LEV for status epilepticus, including refractory or nonconvulsive status, or acute repetitive seizures. Results: There were no acute adverse effects noted. Children had temporary cessation of ongoing refractory status epilepticus, termination of ongoing nonconvulsive status epilepticus, cessation of acute repetitive seizures, or reduction in epileptiform discharges with clinical correlate. Conclusions: IV LEV was effective in terminating status epilepticus or acute repetitive seizures and well tolerated in critically ill children. Further study is needed to elucidate the role of IV LEV in critically ill children.
Comparative use of CO2 laser, diode laser and monopolar electrocautery for resection of the soft palate in dogs with brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome

Clinical results, complications and the outcome of using either a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, diode laser or electrocautery (ELEC) for resection of the soft palate with an extended palatoplasty technique in brachycephalic dogs with upper airway obstructive syndrome were compared. Dogs were randomly allocated into three groups (n=20 in each group): ELEC, diode and CO2 groups. The palatoplasty was made at the rostral aspect of the tonsils. A respiratory clinical score, ranging from 0 (normal) to 4 (cyanosis), was attributed to each dog before surgery and at 0 hours, 24 hours, two weeks and six months after surgery. A favourable outcome was defined as a one point or greater decrease in score 24 hours after surgery. The proportion of dogs with a favourable outcome was significantly higher in the CO2 (n=15) and ELEC groups (n=15) in comparison with the diode group (n=7) (OR=5.6, 95 per cent confidence interval 1.4 to 21.9). Surgical time was significantly shorter (P<0.001; mean [sd] 510 [178] seconds), and bleeding was less common (P<0.001; 30 per cent of cases) in the CO2 group. Complications were most frequent with the diode group (two cases of death and two cases of tracheostomy). The final outcome for all groups (n=57) was considered excellent in 79 per cent of cases and was considered good in 21 per cent.
Investigating Tourists’ Revisit Proxies: The Key Role of Destination Loyalty and Its Dimensions

Literature in tourism marketing has focused on understanding tourists’ revisit patterns, mostly through its proxies (i.e., destination loyalty, past visitation, intention to revisit). Interestingly, however, consensus has not been reached yet, regarding not only the distinctiveness of these proxies but also their interrelationships. This study hypothesizes the impact of past visitation, along with holistic image and subjective norms, on tourists’ intention to revisit directly, and via destination loyalty, expecting place attachment to serve as key moderator. Additionally, since research remains quite vague in terms of the destination loyalty components and their operationalization, this study tests other than the baseline model, a competing one, in which we replace destination loyalty construct with two of its main components, namely, destination commitment and intention to recommend. Evidence coming from 1,292 British tourists visiting Crete, Greece, verifies the distinctiveness of the three proxies and identifies the superior explanatory power of the competing model.
Bronchoalveolar oxyradical inflammatory elements herald bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

OBJECTIVES To quantify oxyradical inflammatory markers in serial endotracheal tube aspirates obtained from premature neonates at risk for developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and to correlate these parameters with clinical manifestations of the disease. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. PATIENTS Twenty-eight intubated, premature infants, with 15 infants displaying simple respiratory distress syndrome and 13 infants eventually developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia. INTERVENTIONS Endotracheal tube aspirates were collected and clinical severity scores were calculated longitudinally from an inception cohort during the first week of life. Diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia by standard criteria was recorded at 30 days of life. Various biochemical analyses related to pulmonary oxyradical stress were determined on endotracheal tube aspirates and were normalized according to the magnitude of serum/aspirate urea ratios. The demographic, illness severity, and biochemical characteristics of infants with simple respiratory distress syndrome and those characteristics of infants developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia were evaluated by masked comparison. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Populations of respiratory distress syndrome and bronchopulmonary dysplasia infants could be differentiated during the first week of life by means of the following parameters: gestational age; birth weight; Score of Neonatal Acute Physiology; Neonatal Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System; epithelial lining fluid leukocytes; elastase; myeloperoxidase; xanthine oxidase and catalase enzyme activities; and total sulfhydryls. CONCLUSIONS Infants with simple respiratory distress syndrome could be segregated from those infants who developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia by the magnitude of the epithelial lining fluid oxyradical inflammation markers. While infants developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia typically exhibited increased concentrations of these markers during the first week of life, those infants with simple respiratory distress syndrome displayed low, uniform, or decreasing values of these markers over this interval. Infants developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia demonstrate an early pulmonary inflammatory response, and one key aspect of this response involves various oxyradical-generating systems.
Changing the Work Environment to Promote Wellness

It is estimated that employers spend more than 75 billion dollars annually on obesity-attributable health care. Interventions to reduce or prevent the risk of obesity are increasingly common at worksites and include health fairs, weight loss and nutrition classes, and fitness programs. However, many companies lack the resources to plan and implement these types of programs. Environmental approaches offer companies a low-cost option. A community-based participatory research model was used to bring academic researchers, human resources personnel, and health department educators together to plan and implement an environmental program aimed at increasing healthy eating and physical activity at four small manufacturing companies. The Diffusion of Innovations Theory guided the development of focus group questions. A focus group study was then conducted to gather information from employees and managers at these four companies. The questions identified workplace strategies that would aid in reducing barriers and developing appropriate communication channels to enhance employee participation in the program. The researchers identified themes from manager and employee focus groups regarding the following five environmental components: signs, walking paths, food changes, educational strategies, and advisory groups.
Autocrine Interleukin-10 Mediates Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor-Induced Spinal Microglial β-Endorphin Expression

The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist exenatide stimulates microglial β-endorphin expression and subsequently produces neuroprotection and antinociception. This study illustrated an unrecognized autocrine role of IL-10 in mediation of exenatide-induced β-endorphin expression. Treatment with exenatide in cultured primary spinal microglia concentration dependently stimulated the expression of the M2 microglial markers IL-10, IL-4, Arg 1, and CD206, but not the M1 microglial markers TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, or CD68. Intrathecal exenatide injection also significantly upregulated spinal microglial expression of IL-10, IL-4, Arg 1, and CD206, but not TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, or CD68. Intrathecal injection of exenatide stimulated spinal microglial expression of IL-10 and β-endorphin in neuropathic rats. Furthermore, treatment with IL-10 (but not IL-4) stimulated β-endorphin expression in cultured primary microglia, whereas treatment with β-endorphin failed to increase IL-10 expression. The IL-10-neutralizing antibody entirely blocked exenatide-induced spinal microglial expression of β-endorphin in vitro and in vivo and fully blocked exenatide mechanical antiallodynia in neuropathic rats. Moreover, specific cAMP/PKA/p38 signal inhibitors and siRNA/p38β, but not siRNA/p38α, completely blocked exenatide-induced IL-10 expression in cultured primary microglia. Knock-down of IL-10 receptor-α mRNA using siRNA fully inhibited exenatide-induced spinal microglial β-endorphin expression and mechanical antiallodynia in neuropathy. Exenatide also markedly stimulated phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT3 in cultured primary microglia and β-endorphin stimulation was completely inhibited by the specific STAT3 activation inhibitor. These results revealed that IL-10 in microglia mediated β-endorphin expression after GLP-1 receptor activation through the autocrine cAMP/PKA/p38β/CREB and subsequent IL-10 receptor/STAT3 signal pathways. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Activation of GLP-1 receptors specifically and simultaneously stimulates the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-4, as well as the neuroprotective factor β-endorphin from microglia. GLP-1 receptor agonism induces β-endorphin expression and antinociception through autocrine release of IL-10. Activation of GLP-1 receptors stimulates IL-10 and β-endorphin expression subsequently through the Gs-cAMP/PKA/p38β/CREB and IL-10/IL-10 receptor-α/STAT3 signal transduction pathways.
Temptation and Self-Control: Some Evidence from the Consumer Expenditure Survey

This paper empirically estimates a balanced-growth consistent, dynamic, structural model of intertemporal consumption and asset pricing that allows for, but does not assume, the Gul-Pesendorfer preferences of temptation and self-control, using synthetic panel data constructed from the Consumer Expenditure Survey. One novelty of our model is that the cross-sectional distribution of wealth-consumption ratio is a potentially important determinant for the implied pricing kernel, additional to the cross-sectional distribution of consumption growth, while the importance of this additional factor depends on the strength of temptation and self-control. The estimates that we obtain provide evidence supporting the existence of temptation and self-control in preferences. With reasonable precision, we estimate a significant present-biased temptation strength, and we reject the null hypothesis of no temptation at common confidence levels. We explore the quantitative implications of the self-control problems for equity premium, risk-free rate, and asset price volatility.
Elongated versions of Vlp surface lipoproteins protect Mycoplasma hyorhinis escape variants from growth-inhibiting host antibodies

Variation in Vlp surface proteins of Mycoplasma hyorhinis was evaluated in terms of its role in determining susceptibility of organisms to growth inhibition by host antibodies (Abs). High-frequency switching of Vlp surface lipoproteins has been studied in isogenic lineages of M. hyorhinis SK76. In these lineages, the products of three genes, vlpA, vlpB, and vlpC, are subject to phase and size variation in vitro, which occur through distinct mutator elements that independently govern the expression of each vlp gene (promoter mutations) or the size of the vlp gene product (by intragenic expansion or contraction of a 3' region containing tandem repeats). Isogenic clonal variants of M. hyorhinis SK76 expressing distinct profiles of Vlp products were assessed for their susceptibility to complement-independent growth inhibition by serum Abs of swine experimentally infected with the arthritigenic SK76 strain. Invariably, variants expressing longer versions of VlpA, VlpB, or VlpC (each expressed individually) were completely resistant to host immune serum Abs, whereas variants expressing shorter allelic versions of each Vlp were susceptible. The target of growth-inhibiting Abs was not the Vlp products, since removal of anti-Vlp Abs had no effect on the inhibitory activity of the host immune serum on susceptible variants. Escape variant populations derived by propagating susceptible variants in an immune (versus control) host serum revealed a strong selection for the long-Vlp phenotype, irrespective of the identity of the Vlp expressed. Apparent mutational pathways of acquiring the protective phenotype included mutational switches to express long vlp genes that had been transcriptionally silent or switches to elongate expressed vlp genes. These results suggest that a major function of the Vlp system is to shield the wall-less mycoplasma surface from host Abs capable of binding vital (and as-yet-unidentified) surface antigens of this organism.
A Novel Cluster Kernel RX Algorithm for Anomaly and Change Detection Using Hyperspectral Images

The Reed-Xiaoli (RX) algorithm has been widely used as an anomaly detector for hyperspectral images. Recently, kernel RX (KRX) has been proven to yield high performance in anomaly detection and change detection. In this paper, we present a generalization of the KRX algorithm. The novel algorithm is called cluster KRX (CKRX), which becomes KRX under certain conditions. The key idea is to group background pixels into clusters and then apply a fast eigendecomposition algorithm to generate the anomaly detection index. Both global and local versions of CKRX have been implemented. Application to anomaly detection using actual hyperspectral images is included. In addition to anomaly detection, the CKRX algorithm has been integrated with other prediction algorithms for change detection. Spatially registered visible and near-infrared hyperspectral images collected from a tower-based geometry have been used in the anomaly and change detection studies. Receiver operating characteristics curves and actual computation times were used to compare different algorithms. It was demonstrated that CKRX has comparable detection performance as KRX, but with much lower computational requirements.
Young women's beliefs about the terms sexually transmitted disease and sexually transmitted infection.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether young women differentiate between the terms sexually transmitted disease and sexually transmitted infection and if they do whether their reasons are consistent with those of health care providers. DESIGN Secondary analysis of cross-sectional, survey data. SETTING Four women's health clinics and one university classroom. PATIENT/PARTICIPANTS Three hundred and two women aged 18 to 24. METHODS The women completed a survey that measured beliefs about seven sexually transmitted diseases, a demographic and sexually transmitted disease health information questionnaire, and a single item assessing whether the terms sexually transmitted disease and sexually transmitted infection were interchangeable. RESULTS Fifty-seven percent (n=155) responded that sexually transmitted disease and sexually transmitted infection do not mean the same thing, 28% (n=76) responded that sexually transmitted disease and sexually transmitted infection mean the same thing, and 15% (n=42) responded they do not know. Beliefs about sexually transmitted disease stigma and symptoms were not related to sexually transmitted disease terminology; beliefs about curability were related but not in the hypothesized direction. CONCLUSIONS A majority of the young women do differentiate between the terms sexually transmitted disease and sexually transmitted infection; however, the rationale for doing so is not consistent with the rationale used by health care providers. Professionals should clarify their use of the terms sexually transmitted disease and sexually transmitted infection when talking with patients as a means to improve health communication and subsequently improve sexually transmitted disease health care.