Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment, Glycemia, and Diabetes Risk in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Comorbid Cardiovascular Disease

OBJECTIVE Despite evidence of a relationship among obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), metabolic dysregulation, and diabetes, it is uncertain whether OSA treatment can improve metabolic parameters. We sought to determine effects of long-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on glycemic control and diabetes risk in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and OSA. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Blood, medical history, and personal data were collected in a substudy of 888 participants in the Sleep Apnea cardioVascular Endpoints (SAVE) trial in which patients with OSA and stable CVD were randomized to receive CPAP plus usual care, or usual care alone. Serum glucose and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were measured at baseline, 6 months, and 2 and 4 years and incident diabetes diagnoses recorded. RESULTS Median follow-up was 4.3 years. In those with preexisting diabetes (n = 274), there was no significant difference between the CPAP and usual care groups in serum glucose, HbA1c, or antidiabetic medications during follow-up. There were also no significant between-group differences in participants with prediabetes (n = 452) or new diagnoses of diabetes. Interaction testing suggested that women with diabetes did poorly in the usual care group, while their counterparts on CPAP therapy remained stable. CONCLUSIONS Among patients with established CVD and OSA, we found no evidence that CPAP therapy over several years affects glycemic control in those with diabetes or prediabetes or diabetes risk over standard-of-care treatment. The potential differential effect according to sex deserves further investigation.
Lupeol alleviates coxsackievirus B3-induced viral myocarditis in mice via downregulating toll-like receptor 4

Objectives To investigate the effect of lupeol in a mouse model of viral myocarditis induced by coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3). Methods Mice were separated into controls (DMEM, n = 20) and CVB3 infected groups (i.e., untreated CVB3 [n = 40]; CVB3 + lupeol 50 mg/kg [n = 40]; CVB3 + lupeol 100 mg/kg [n = 40]; CVB3 + small interfering RNA (siRNA)- toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) [n = 20]; siRNA + EXP-H mice [n = 20]). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western-blot assay, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay and histopathology were performed to investigate the cardioprotective role of lupeol. Results The elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines in CVB3-infected mice (i.e., interleukin-1β [IL-1β]; interleukin-6 [IL-6]; tumour necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) were significantly reduced by lupeol 50 or 100 mg/kg. Interestingly, the mRNA level and protein level of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were inhibited by lupeol. Conclusions Lupeol alleviates CVB3-induced viral myocarditis and myocardial damage in mice. The underlying mechanism may due to downregulation of TLR4.
Three new diterpenoids from Euphorbia peplus

Abstract Three new diterpenoids (1–3) (two abietane type diterpenoids and a paralianone type diterpenoid), together with four known compounds (4–7) were isolated from the whole plants of Euphorbia peplus. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis and physicochemical characteristics. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1–7 against five human tumour cell lines were evaluated, however, they were inactive at the concentration of 40 μM. The compound 3 enhanced lysosomal biogenesis with Lyso Tracker staining intensity of 132.6%. Graphical Abstract
Increased Brain Serotonin Rather Than Increased Blood Acetaldehyde as a Common Denominator Behind Alleged Disulfiram-Like Reactions

Several pharmaceutical agents are known to produce ethanol intolerance, which is often depicted as disulfiram-like reaction. As in the case with disulfiram, the underlying mechanism is believed to be the accumulation of acetaldehyde in the blood, due to inhibition of the hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenases, albeit this has not been confirmed in all cases by blood acetaldehyde measurements. Herein, cefamandole, cotrimoxazole, griseofulvin, procarbazine, and propranolol, which are reported to produce a disulfiram-like reaction, as well as disulfiram, were administered to Wistar rats and the hepatic activities of ethanol metabolizing enzymes along with the levels of brain monoamines were determined. Blood acetaldehyde was also evaluated after ethanol administration in rats pretreated with the abovementioned pharmaceutical products. Disulfiram, cefamandole, and procarbazine significantly increased blood acetaldehyde levels after ethanol administration, while on the contrary, cotrimoxazole, griseofulvin, and propranolol had no effect on blood acetaldehyde. Interestingly, all substances used, except disulfiram, increased the levels of brain serotonin. According to our findings, cotrimoxazole, griseofulvin, and propranolol do not produce a typical disulfiram-like reaction, because they do not increase blood acetaldehyde when given together with ethanol. On the other hand, all tested agents share the common property to enhance brain serotonin, whereas a respective effect of ethanol is well established. Hence, the ethanol intolerance produced by these agents, whether blood acetaldehyde concentration is elevated or not, could be the result of a “toxic serotonin syndrome,” as in the case of the concomitant use of serotonin-active medications that provoke clinical manifestations similar to those of a disulfiram reaction.
Biology and Ecology of Sardines and Anchovies

Systematics and Phylogeography Progress in Clupeiform Systematics, Sebastien Lavoue, Peter Konstantinidis, and Wei-Jen Chen Phylogeography and Population Genetics, Panagiotis Kasapidis Life History and Ecology Reproductive Potential, Kostas Ganias, Stylianos Somarakis and Cristina Nunes Feeding Biology and Ecology, Susana Garrido and Carl David van der Lingen Habitat Characterization and Migrations, Marianna Giannoulaki, Eudoxia Schismenou, Maria-Myrto Pyrounaki and Konstantinos Tsagarakis Recruitment Variability, Isidora Katara Exploitation and Management Role of Anchovies and Sardines as Reduction Fisheries in the World Fish Meal Production: Overview of the Interaction between the Resource and Environmental and Socioeconomic Drivers, Gorka Merino, Manuel Barange, and Christian Mullon Stock Assessment through Egg Production Methods in the U.S., Nancy C. H. Lo and Benjamin E. Fissel Socioeconomics and Management, Cristina Pita, Alexandra Silva, Raul Prellezo, Marga Andres and Andres Uriarte
Relationship of Performance Measures and Muscle Activity between a 180° Change of Direction Task and Different Countermovement Jumps

The ability to rapidly perform change of direction (COD) is crucial for performance in Soccer. COD speed is thought to share similarities with countermovement jumps in kinematics and muscle activation. Thus, the objective of the current study was to investigate the relationship between muscle activities in performance measures of a modified 505-agility test and different countermovement jumps. Twenty-one experienced soccer players performed a COD test including the 505-agility test and uni- and bi-lateral horizontal and vertical countermovement jumps. The main findings were that the vertical bilateral and horizontal unilateral countermovement jump were able to predict total time to complete the COD, but not 505-agility time. Muscle activity in the COD and countermovement jumps was only distinguished by a higher peak muscle activity for the adductor longus, semitendinosus and biceps femoris in the COD to stabilize the hip and decelerate knee joint movements when turning compared with the jumps. Conclusively, the relationship between performance in countermovement jumps and total time to complete the COD test was due to longer sprint distances, which makes the distinction between performances bigger. Peak muscle activity of most muscles is similar between the jumps and the COD step, indicating similar muscular demands between these activities.
Spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the Icelandic Population

Abstract Background During the current worldwide pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) was first diagnosed in Iceland at the end of February. However, data are limited on how SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, enters and spreads in a population. Methods We targeted testing to persons living in Iceland who were at high risk for infection (mainly those who were symptomatic, had recently traveled to high-risk countries, or had contact with infected persons). We also carried out population screening using two strategies: issuing an open invitation to 10,797 persons and sending random invitations to 2283 persons. We sequenced SARS-CoV-2 from 643 samples. Results As of April 4, a total of 1221 of 9199 persons (13.3%) who were recruited for targeted testing had positive results for infection with SARS-CoV-2. Of those tested in the general population, 87 (0.8%) in the open-invitation screening and 13 (0.6%) in the random-population screening tested positive for the virus. In total, 6% of the population was screened. Most persons in the targeted-testing group who received positive tests early in the study had recently traveled internationally, in contrast to those who tested positive later in the study. Children under 10 years of age were less likely to receive a positive result than were persons 10 years of age or older, with percentages of 6.7% and 13.7%, respectively, for targeted testing; in the population screening, no child under 10 years of age had a positive result, as compared with 0.8% of those 10 years of age or older. Fewer females than males received positive results both in targeted testing (11.0% vs. 16.7%) and in population screening (0.6% vs. 0.9%). The haplotypes of the sequenced SARS-CoV-2 viruses were diverse and changed over time. The percentage of infected participants that was determined through population screening remained stable for the 20-day duration of screening. Conclusions In a population-based study in Iceland, children under 10 years of age and females had a lower incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection than adolescents or adults and males. The proportion of infected persons identified through population screening did not change substantially during the screening period, which was consistent with a beneficial effect of containment efforts. (Funded by deCODE Genetics–Amgen.)
From LMX to Individual Creativity: Interactive Effect of Engagement and Job Complexity

This study explores how the quality of leader–member exchange (LMX) is associated with employees’ creativity via engagement, and the moderating role of a job characteristic related to knowledge (job complexity) in this relationship. A moderated mediation model was tested on a sample of 320 employees from emergent high-tech and knowledge-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Spain. The results supported an indirect influence of LMX on individual creativity through engagement. Additionally, this study found that job complexity accentuated the impact of engagement on creativity. More importantly, the findings confirmed that the intensity of the LMX–engagement–creativity relationship was moderated by job complexity. That is, the relationship was stronger when job complexity was high. Taken together, this study improves the understanding of the factors that contribute to increased employee creativity, an important outcome for high-tech and knowledge-based SMEs.
The Influence of Negative Life Events on Suicidal Ideation in College Students: The Role of Rumination

This study aimed to investigate the influence of negative life events on suicidal ideation in college students and the role of rumination. Using a cluster sampling method, 894 college students were asked to fill out the adolescent life event scale, ruminative response scale, and suicidal ideation scale. The study revealed the following: (1) negative life events, rumination, and suicidal ideation were significantly positively correlated with each other; (2) rumination played a full mediating role in the influence of negative life events on suicidal ideation; and (3) rumination also played a moderating role in the influence of negative life events on suicidal ideation. Under a high level of rumination, negative life events had a significant positive effect on suicidal ideation in college students; however, under a low level of rumination, negative life events did not have a significant effect on suicidal ideation. Rumination played mediating and moderating roles in the relationship between negative life events and suicidal ideation among college students.
Characteristics of the Distribution of Ferritin in Epithelial Ovarian Tumor Patients: Results of a Retrospective, Observational Study

Purpose: To investigate the ferritin distribution in epithelial ovarian cancer patients according to the FIGO stage in the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Method: All ovarian cancer patients were divided into two groups according their FIGO stage. Benign ovarian tumor patients were analyzed as the control. Serum ferritin, serum iron, and other related medical index were detected by automatic instruments for all patients. In addition, ferritin heavy chain (FHC) and ferritin light chain (FLC) proteins were detected by immunohistochemical staining in 60 epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients and 30 benign ovarian tumor (BOT) patients, which were diagnosed in our department between 2011 and 2016. Results: The serum ferritin concentration was significantly higher in the EOC group than in the BOT group (172.56 ± 99.39 ng/mL vs 78.18 ± 43.06 ng/mL; p μmol/L vs 14.92 ± 6.36 μmol/L; p p p p p p p > 0.05). Conclusion: Patients showed an overexpression of ferritin and a downregulation of serum iron correlated with the prognosis of epithelial ovarian cancer, which may be a new target for diagnosis and treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Cytotoxic Activity of Vanadium Compounds against Cancer Cells

Discovering that metals are essential for the structure and function of biomolecules has given a completely new perspective on the role of metal ions in living organisms. Nowadays, the design and synthesis of new metal-based compounds, as well as metal ion binding components, for the treatment of human diseases is one of the main aims of bioinorganic chemistry. One of the areas in vanadium-based compound research is their potential anticancer activity. In this review, we summarize recent molecular and cellular mechanisms in the cytotoxic activity of many different synthetic vanadium complexes as well as inorganic salts. Such mechanisms shall include DNA binding, oxidative stress, cell cycle regulation and programed cell death. We focus mainly on cellular studies involving many type of cancer cell lines trying to highlight some new significant advances.
Closed-loop Control using Electrotactile Feedback Encoded in Frequency and Pulse Width

Sensory substitution by electrotactile stimulation has been widely investigated for improving the functionality of human-machine interfaces. Few studies, however, have objectively compared different ways in which such systems can be implemented. In this study, we compare encoding of a feedback variable in stimulation pulse width or stimulation frequency during a closed-loop control task. Specifically, participants were asked to track a predefined pseudorandom trajectory using a joystick with electrotactile feedback as the only indication of the tracking error. Each participant performed eight 90 s trials per encoding scheme. Tracking performance using frequency modulation enabled lower tracking error (RMSE: Frequency modulation: 0.27 ± 0.03; Pulse width modulation: 0.31 ± 0.05; p < 0.05) and a higher correlation with the target trajectory (Frequency modulation: 83.4 ± 4.1%; Pulse width modulation: 79.8 ± 5.2%; p < 0.05). There was no significant improvement in performance over the eight trials. Furthermore, frequency-domain analysis revealed that frequency modulation was characterized with a higher gain at lower error frequencies. In summary, the results indicate that encoding of feedback variables in the frequency of pulses enables better control than pulse width modulation in closed-loop dynamic tasks.
Astrocyte-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Regulate Dendritic Complexity through miR-26a-5p Activity

In the last few decades, it has been established that astrocytes play key roles in the regulation of neuronal morphology. However, the contribution of astrocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) to morphological differentiation of neurons has only recently been addressed. Here, we showed that cultured astrocytes expressing a GFP-tagged version of the stress-regulated astrocytic enzyme Aldolase C (Aldo C-GFP) release small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) that are transferred into cultured hippocampal neurons. Surprisingly, Aldo C-GFP-containing sEVs (Aldo C-GFP sEVs) displayed an exacerbated capacity to reduce the dendritic complexity in developing hippocampal neurons compared to sEVs derived from control (i.e., GFP-expressing) astrocytes. Using bioinformatics and biochemical tools, we found that the total content of overexpressed Aldo C-GFP correlates with an increased content of endogenous miRNA-26a-5p in both total astrocyte homogenates and sEVs. Notably, neurons magnetofected with a nucleotide sequence that mimics endogenous miRNA-26a-5p (mimic 26a-5p) not only decreased the levels of neuronal proteins associated to morphogenesis regulation, but also reproduced morphological changes induced by Aldo-C-GFP sEVs. Furthermore, neurons magnetofected with a sequence targeting miRNA-26a-5p (antago 26a-5p) were largely resistant to Aldo C-GFP sEVs. Our results support a novel and complex level of astrocyte-to-neuron communication mediated by astrocyte-derived sEVs and the activity of their miRNA content.
Sensing Ability of Ferroelectric Oxide Nanowires Grown in Templates of Nanopores

Nanowires of ferroelectric potassium niobate were grown by filling nanoporous templates of both side opened anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) through radiofrequency vacuum sputtering for multisensor fabrication. The precise geometrical ordering of the AAO matrix led to well defined single axis oriented wire-shaped material inside the pores. The sensing abilities of the samples were studied and analyzed in terms of piezoelectric and pyroelectric response and the results were compared for different length of the nanopores (nanotubes)—1.3 µm, 6.3 µm and 10 µm. Based on scanning electronic microscopy, elemental and microstructural analyses, as well as electrical measurements at bending and heating, the overall sensing performance of the devices was estimated. It was found that the produced membrane type elements, consisting potassium niobate grown in AAO template exhibited excellent piezoelectric response due to the increased specific area as compared to non-structured films, and could be further enhanced with the nanowires length. The piezoelectric voltage increased linearly with 16 mV per micrometer of nanowire’s length. At the same time the pyroelectric voltage was found to be less sensitive to the nanowires length, changing its value at 400 nV/µm. This paper provides a simple and low-cost approach for nanostructuring ferroelectric oxides with multisensing application, and serves as a base for further optimization of template based nanostructured devices.
Congenital Tufting Enteropathy-Associated Mutant of Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule Activates the Unfolded Protein Response in a Murine Model of the Disease

Congenital tufting enteropathy (CTE) is a rare chronic diarrheal disease of infancy caused by mutations in epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). Previously, a murine CTE model showed mis-localization of EpCAM away from the basolateral cell surface in the intestine. Here we demonstrate that mutant EpCAM accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) where it co-localized with ER chaperone, GRP78/BiP, revealing potential involvement of ER stress-induced unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway in CTE. To investigate the significance of ER-localized mutant EpCAM in CTE, activation of the three UPR signaling branches initiated by the ER transmembrane protein components IRE1, PERK, and ATF6 was tested. A significant reduction in BLOS1 and SCARA3 mRNA levels in EpCAM mutant intestinal cells demonstrated that regulated IRE1-dependent decay (RIDD) was activated. However, IRE1 dependent XBP1 mRNA splicing was not induced. Furthermore, an increase in nuclear-localized ATF6 in mutant intestinal tissues revealed activation of the ATF6-signaling arm. Finally, an increase in both the phosphorylated form of the translation initiation factor, eIF2α, and ATF4 expression in the mutant intestine provided support for activation of the PERK-mediated pathway. Our results are consistent with a significant role for UPR in gastrointestinal homeostasis and provide a working model for CTE pathophysiology.
Impact of Dual Cell Co-culture and Cell-conditioned Media on Yield and Function of a Human Olfactory Cell Line for Regenerative Medicine

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are a promising candidate therapy for neuronal tissue repair. However, appropriate priming conditions to drive a regenerative phenotype are yet to be determined. We first assessed the effect of using a human fibroblast feeder layer and fibroblast conditioned media on primary rat olfactory mucosal cells (OMCs). We found that OMCs cultured on fibroblast feeders had greater expression of the key OEC marker p75NTR (25.1 ± 10.7 cells/mm2) compared with OMCs cultured on laminin (4.0 ± 0.8 cells/mm2, p = 0.001). However, the addition of fibroblast-conditioned media (CM) resulted in a significant increase in Thy1.1 (45.9 ± 9.0 cells/mm2 versus 12.5 ± 2.5 cells/mm2 on laminin, p = 0.006), an undesirable cell marker as it is regarded to be a marker of contaminating fibroblasts. A direct comparison between human feeders and GMP cell line Ms3T3 was then undertaken. Ms3T3 cells supported similar p75NTR levels (10.7 ± 5.3 cells/mm2) with significantly reduced Thy1.1 expression (4.8 ± 2.1 cells/mm2). Ms3T3 cells were used as feeder layers for human OECs to determine whether observations made in the rat model were conserved. Examination of the OEC phenotype (S100β expression and neurite outgrowth from NG108-15 cells) revealed that co-culture with fibroblast feeders had a negative effect on human OECs, contrary to observations of rat OECs. CM negatively affected rat and human OECs equally. When the best and worst conditions in terms of supporting S100β expression were used in NG108-15 neuron co-cultures, those with the highest S100β expression resulted in longer and more numerous neurites (22.8 ± 2.4 μm neurite length/neuron for laminin) compared with the lowest S100β expression (17.9 ± 1.1 μm for Ms3T3 feeders with CM). In conclusion, this work revealed that neither dual co-culture nor fibroblast-conditioned media support the regenerative OEC phenotype. In our case, a preliminary rat model was not predictive of human cell responses.