Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemically Modified Derivatives of the Activator Compound Cloxyquin Exert Inhibitory Effect on TRESK (K2P18.1) Background Potassium Channel

Cloxyquin has been reported as a specific activator of TRESK [TWIK-related spinal cord K+ channel (also known as K2P18.1)] background potassium channel. In this study, we have synthetized chemically modified analogs of cloxyquin and tested their effects on TRESK and other K2P channels. The currents of murine K2P channels, expressed heterologously in Xenopus oocytes, were measured by two-electrode voltage clamp, whereas the native background K+ conductance of mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons was examined by the whole-cell patch-clamp method. Some of the analogs retained the activator character of the parent compound, but, more interestingly, other derivatives inhibited mouse TRESK current. The inhibitor analogs (A2764 and A2793) exerted state-dependent effects. The degree of inhibition by 100 µM A2764 (77.8% ± 3.5%, n = 6) was larger in the activated state of TRESK (i.e., after calcineurin-dependent stimulation) than in the resting state of the channel (42.8% ± 11.5% inhibition, n = 7). The selectivity of the inhibitor compounds was tested on several K2P channels. A2793 inhibited TWIK-related acid-sensitive K+ channel (TASK)-1 (100 µM, 53.4% ± 13, 5%, n = 5), while A2764 was more selective for TRESK, it only moderately influenced TREK-1 and TWIK-related alkaline pH-activated K+ channel. The effect of A2764 was also examined on the background K+ currents of DRG neurons. A subpopulation of DRG neurons, prepared from wild-type animals, expressed background K+ currents sensitive to A2764, whereas the inhibitor did not affect the currents in the DRG neurons of TRESK-deficient mice. Accordingly, A2764 may prove to be useful for the identification of TRESK current in native cells, and for the investigation of the role of the channel in nociception and migraine. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT TRESK background potassium channel is a potential pharmacological target in migraine and neuropathic pain. In this study, we have identified a selective inhibitor of TRESK, A2764. This compound can inhibit TRESK in native cells, leading to cell depolarization and increased excitability. This new inhibitor may be of use to probe the role of TRESK channel in migraine and nociception.
Quantity–Quality Trade-Off and Early Childhood Development in Rural Family: Evidence from China’s Guizhou Province

This paper empirically investigates the causal effect of having siblings on the cognitive, language, motor, and social-emotional skills of infants under the age of 2 in rural families in Guizhou Province in China. The results are based on data from a survey conducted in 2017. To effectively relieve the endogeneity induced by selection bias, we applied the matching-smoothing (MS) method to evaluate the effects of having siblings. The results show that, first, having siblings produces significant negative impacts on an infant’s cognitive, language, and social-emotional skills; second, intrahousehold resource allocation is the mechanism behind the Quantity–Quality (Q–Q) trade-off, and it exerts its effects through two key identified channels—the home environment and parental warmth. By spreading the parents’ investment among siblings in terms of both the home environment and parental warmth, having siblings hinders infants’ early development. Our findings provide new evidence for the relation between the Q–Q trade-off and early childhood development in rural families in western China.
Address Terms Used among Male Basketball Players at a Ghanaian University

In the last three decades, there has been an increasing interest among scholars in the use of address terms across domains such as academia, politics, religion, family, friendship, and sports. The present study examines the range of address terms and the factors that influence their use among male basketball players in a Ghanaian university. In this study, we draw on the notion of community of practice. An ethnographic research approach, comprising mainly participant and non-participant observation and interview, was adopted in collecting our data. Two key findings emerged from the analysis. First, Ghanaian male university students used four major categories of address terms while playing basketball: personal names, descriptive terms, nicknames, and ethnic-related terms. Second, in general, these address forms constituted an isogloss or idiolect, identifying the male basketball players as a distinct community of practice. These findings have implications for the sociolinguistic research on address terms in the domain of sports, gendered language, and further research on communication in sports.
Total Phenolic Content, Flavonoid Content and Antioxidant Potential of Wild Vegetables from Western Nepal

Eight selected wild vegetables from Nepal (Alternanthera sessilis, Basella alba, Cassia tora, Digera muricata, Ipomoea aquatica, Leucas cephalotes, Portulaca oleracea and Solanum nigrum) were investigated for their antioxidative potential using 2,2-dyphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and ferric thiocyanate (FTC) methods. Among the selected plant extracts C. tora displayed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity with an IC50 value 9.898 μg/mL, whereas A. sessilis had the maximum H2O2 scavenging activity with an IC50 value 16.25 μg/mL—very close to that of ascorbic acid (16.26 μg/mL). C. tora showed the highest absorbance in the FRAP assay and the lowest lipid peroxidation in the FTC assay. A methanol extract of A. sessilis resulted in the greatest phenolic content (292.65 ± 0.42 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g) measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent method, while the smallest content was recorded for B. alba (72.66 ± 0.46 GAE/g). The greatest flavonoid content was observed with extracts of P. oleracea (39.38 ± 0.57 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/g) as measured by an aluminium chloride colorimetric method, while the least was recorded for I. aquatica (6.61 ± 0.42 QE/g). There was a strong correlation between antioxidant activity with total phenolic (DPPH, R2 = 0.75; H2O2, R2 = 0.71) and total flavonoid content (DPPH, R2 = 0.84; H2O2, R2 = 0.66). This study demonstrates that these wild edible leafy plants could be a potential source of natural antioxidants.
Osteocytic connexin 43 channels affect fracture healing

The cross‐talk between cells is very critical for moving forward fracture healing in an orderly manner. Connexin (Cx) 43‐formed gap junctions and hemichannels mediate the communication between adjacent cells and cells and extracellular environment. Loss of Cx43 in osteoblasts/osteocytes results in delayed fracture healing. For investigating the role of two channels in osteocytes in bone repair, two transgenic mouse models with Cx43 dominant negative mutants driven by a 10 kb‐DMP1 promoter were generated: R76W (gap junctions are blocked, whereas hemichannels are promoted) and Δ130–136 (both gap junctions and hemichannels are blocked). R76W mice (promotion of hemichannels) showed a significant increase of new bone formation, whereas delayed osteoclastogenesis and healing was observed in Δ130–136 (impairment of gap junctions), but not in R76W mice (hemichannel promotion may recover the delay). These results suggest that gap junctions and hemichannels play some similar and cooperative roles in bone repair.
Comparison between in-hospital stroke and community-onset stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy

Objective In-hospital stroke (IHS) is an uncommon but serious medical emergency. Early recanalization through endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) may offer a vital therapeutic choice. This study compared the clinical features and outcomes between IHS and community-onset stroke (COS). Methods From a single-center registry of 2813 patients with ischemic stroke, those who had received EVT for acute ischemic stroke were included and classified into the IHS and COS groups based on their stroke onset scenario. We compared the outcomes including successful recanalization, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2) at 90 days, and mortality between the two groups. Results A total of 24 patients with IHS (mean age, 70 years; 54% men) and 105 patients with COS (mean age, 73 years; 47% men) were included. The most frequently reported reasons for admission in patients with IHS were cardiovascular and oncological diseases. The initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and main occluded vessels were similar between the two groups. Patients with IHS received a higher number of active malignancy diagnoses, were more likely to withhold antithrombotic agents, and exhibited higher prestroke functional dependency. The median onset-to-puncture time was 192 min in IHS and 217 min in COS (P = 0.15). The percentages of successful recanalization (79% vs 71%), symptomatic hemorrhage (0% vs 9%), functional independence (42% vs 40%), and mortality (17% vs 12%) were comparable between the two groups. After adjustment for covariates, initial NIHSS scores and successful recanalization were the most important predictors for functional independence at 90 days. Conclusions Despite having disadvantages at baseline, patients with IHS could still benefit from timely EVT to achieve favorable outcomes. A well-designed acute stroke protocol tailored for IHS should be developed.
Towards an Integrated Model of Electronic Word of Mouth Communication

The term electronic word of mouth has witnessed a constant evolution due to the technological advancements and increased internet mediated consumer conversations. The topic has become a subject of interest for both business professionals and academic scholars with its growing importance in business research. Past studies mostly discussed the dynamic nature of eWOM under the strong influence of emerging concepts and technological innovations. However, very few research studies have viewed its extensive evolution in the context of a basic model of communication. In this research paper, a theoretical review was conducted to systematically organize the literature findings to develop an eWOM communication model. From participants’ classification and motivation to generate eWOM to its influence on receivers, the model elaborates all the basic elements of communication process which also include content type and transmitting platform. This paper significantly contributes to elaborate the basic eWOM communication process by the extensive analyzation of the existing body of knowledge which will help in building a strong foundation of the topic for future studies.
Role of Hysterosalpingography in Diagnosing Tubal Blockage – A Prospective Diagnostic Study

Background: Women with abnormal hysterosalpingography (HSG) are anxious regarding the presence of tubal pathology. It is important to know the predictive value of HSG and the need for subsequent laparoscopy following an abnormal report. In the era of assisted reproductive technology, the role of invasive testing such as diagnostic laparoscopy is being increasingly questioned due to its invasiveness and associated risks. There is a need to explore the positive predictive value (PPV) of HSG in detecting bilateral tubal block in our population as PPV changes with the prevalence of disease. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of HSG in identifying tubal blockage in subfertile women. Setting and Design: This was a prospective diagnostic study conducted in the department of reproductive medicine and surgery in a university-level hospital. Materials and Methods: The study included 199 subfertile women who had undergone HSG earlier and were planned for laparoscopy from April 2017 to January 2021. Findings of HSG and laparoscopy were compared with HSG as index test and laparoscopy as reference test, and the outcomes analysed were PPV of HSG for a bilateral tubal block, bilateral hydrosalpinx, abnormal HSG (unilateral or bilateral tubal block) and agreement between HSG and diagnostic laparoscopy in detecting normal and abnormal findings. Statistical Analysis: Kappa statistics, Stuart–Maxwell tests of marginal homogeneity and prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK) statistics were used. Results: The PPV for a bilateral block with HSG was 20.9% (95% CI: 13.7–29.7). The PPV of HSG for bilateral hydrosalpinx was 50.0% (95% CI: 6.8–93.2). PABAK was estimated to be 0.42 (95% CI: 0.30–0.55), suggestive of moderate agreement between the tests. Findings of laparoscopy in women with at least one patent tube in HSG showed that in 12.3% of cases, the management was likely to change due to the operative findings. Conclusion: The current study showed low PPV for bilateral tubal block diagnosed with HSG which translates into a need for further confirmation by laparoscopy. In one out of every eight women with at least one patent tube on HSG, performing laparoscopy changed the management.
A Survey of Self-perceived Physical Discomforts and Health Behaviors Related to Personal Protective Equipment of Indian Dental Professionals during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Aim In the current situation of COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective equipment has to be mandatorily worn by dental professionals all times in the dental clinical settings. The aim of this study was to assess the physical discomforts and related health issues faced by dental professionals while wearing personal protective equipment in dental clinical settings during the pandemic. Methods This was an online cross-sectional survey conducted in November to December 2020 among dental professionals of various regions of country. A prevalidated questionnaire was sent through email/WhatsApp groups to 650 dental professionals. Informed consent was taken from all the participants. Information was collected about the demographics, type of dental set-up, average daily working hours, types of PPE worn, physical discomforts related to the various procedures in dentistry. Association was analyzed between demographics and the discomforts using Chi-square test. Results A total of 309 dental professionals (163 females, 146 males) from all parts of the country responded to the online questionnaire. Maximum respondents were postgraduates or pursuing MDS (79%), majority (42.1%) were pediatric dentists followed by general dentists. Sweating, difficulty in vision, difficulty in breathing, and headache were the common discomforts reported by majority of the respondents. Headache and difficult breathing were more significantly associated with female dental professionals (p < 0.05). N95 wear was associated with breathing difficulty (56%) while use of faceshield led to the discomforts in visual acuity in 46% respondents. Conclusion The survey has depicted several challenges and various physical discomforts being experienced by the dental professionals during this pandemic. Although wearing PPE is associated with difficulties to dentists but it is extremely essential to wear PPEs for self-protection during the ongoing pandemic. How to cite this article Bansal K, Saji S, Mathur VP, et al. A Survey of Self-perceived Physical Discomforts and Health Behaviors Related to Personal Protective Equipment of Indian Dental Professionals during COVID-19 Pandemic. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(6):784–789.
Inhibition of jejunal protein synthesis and breakdown in Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced sepsis pig model.

Maintenance of gut integrity has long been recognized as crucial for survival in sepsis, but alterations in protein metabolism have not previously been documented. Therefore, in the present study, we measured in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced porcine sepsis model fractional protein synthesis (FSR) and breakdown rates (FBR) in jejunal mucosa in a fasted, conscious state. FSR was measured by the incorporation rate of stable tracer amino acid (l-[ring-13C6]phenylalanine) into tissue protein. FBR was determined using the relation between blood arterial enrichment and intracellular enrichment of phenylalanine in consecutive mucosal biopsies after a pulse of l-[15N]phenylalanine. Additionally, we determined the FSR in jejunum, ileum, liver, muscle, and lung tissue. We found in this sham-controlled acute sepsis pig model (control: n = 9; sepsis: n = 13) that jejunal mucosal protein turnover is reduced with both decreased FSR (control: 3.29 ± 0.22; sepsis: 2.32 ± 0.12%/h, P = 0.0008) and FBR (control: 0.72 ± 0.12; sepsis: 0.34 ± 0.04%/h, P = 0.006). We also found that FSR was unchanged in ileum and muscle, whereas it was higher in the liver (control: 0.87 ± 0.05; sepsis: 1.05 ± 0.06%/h, P = 0.041). Our data, obtained with a translational acute sepsis model, suggest that jejunal mucosal protein metabolism is diminished in acute sepsis. Comparison with other tissues indicates that the most serious acute metabolic changes in sepsis occur in the jejunum rather than the muscle. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In a highly translational acute sepsis model, presented data suggest that jejunal mucosal protein metabolism is diminished in acute sepsis, even if the origin of the sepsis is not located in the gut. Comparison with other tissues indicates that the most serious acute changes in the protein synthesis rates in sepsis occur in the gut rather than the muscle. Therefore, we hypothesize that preventing a compromised gut is critical to maintain gut function during sepsis.
Feedforward regulation of Myc coordinates lineage-specific with housekeeping gene expression during B cell progenitor cell differentiation

The differentiation of self-renewing progenitor cells requires not only the regulation of lineage- and developmental stage–specific genes but also the coordinated adaptation of housekeeping functions from a metabolically active, proliferative state toward quiescence. How metabolic and cell-cycle states are coordinated with the regulation of cell type–specific genes is an important question, because dissociation between differentiation, cell cycle, and metabolic states is a hallmark of cancer. Here, we use a model system to systematically identify key transcriptional regulators of Ikaros-dependent B cell–progenitor differentiation. We find that the coordinated regulation of housekeeping functions and tissue-specific gene expression requires a feedforward circuit whereby Ikaros down-regulates the expression of Myc. Our findings show how coordination between differentiation and housekeeping states can be achieved by interconnected regulators. Similar principles likely coordinate differentiation and housekeeping functions during progenitor cell differentiation in other cell lineages.
Publication bias examined in meta-analyses from psychology and medicine: A meta-meta-analysis

Publication bias is a substantial problem for the credibility of research in general and of meta-analyses in particular, as it yields overestimated effects and may suggest the existence of non-existing effects. Although there is consensus that publication bias exists, how strongly it affects different scientific literatures is currently less well-known. We examined evidence of publication bias in a large-scale data set of primary studies that were included in 83 meta-analyses published in Psychological Bulletin (representing meta-analyses from psychology) and 499 systematic reviews from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR; representing meta-analyses from medicine). Publication bias was assessed on all homogeneous subsets (3.8% of all subsets of meta-analyses published in Psychological Bulletin) of primary studies included in meta-analyses, because publication bias methods do not have good statistical properties if the true effect size is heterogeneous. Publication bias tests did not reveal evidence for bias in the homogeneous subsets. Overestimation was minimal but statistically significant, providing evidence of publication bias that appeared to be similar in both fields. However, a Monte-Carlo simulation study revealed that the creation of homogeneous subsets resulted in challenging conditions for publication bias methods since the number of effect sizes in a subset was rather small (median number of effect sizes equaled 6). Our findings are in line with, in its most extreme case, publication bias ranging from no bias until only 5% statistically nonsignificant effect sizes being published. These and other findings, in combination with the small percentages of statistically significant primary effect sizes (28.9% and 18.9% for subsets published in Psychological Bulletin and CDSR), led to the conclusion that evidence for publication bias in the studied homogeneous subsets is weak, but suggestive of mild publication bias in both psychology and medicine.
Attention and corpus callosum volumes in individuals with mucopolysaccharidosis type I

Objective Previous research suggests attention and white matter (WM) abnormalities in individuals with mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I); this cross-sectional comparison is one of the first to examine the relationship of WM structural abnormalities as measured by corpus callosum (CC) volumes with attention scores to evaluate this relationship in a larger sample of patients with MPS I. Methods Volumetric MRI data and performance on a computerized measure of sustained attention were compared for 18 participants with the severe form of MPS I (MPS IH), 18 participants with the attenuated form of MPS I (MPS IATT), and 60 typically developing age-matched controls. Results The MPS I groups showed below-average mean attention scores (p < 0.001) and smaller CC volumes (p < 0.001) than controls. No significant associations were found between attention performance and CC volume for controls. Attention was associated with posterior CC volumes in the participants with MPS IH (p = 0.053) and total (p = 0.007) and anterior (p < 0.001) CC volumes in participants with MPS IATT. Conclusions We found that attention and CC volumes were reduced in participants with MPS I compared to typically developing controls. Smaller CC volumes in participants with MPS I were associated with decreased attention; such an association was not seen in controls. While hematopoietic cell transplantation used to treat MPS IH may compound these effects, attention difficulties were also seen in the MPS IATT group, suggesting that disease effects contribute substantially to the clinical attentional difficulties seen in this population.
What is the function of psychosocial factors in predicting length of time since last dental visit? A secondary data analysis.

AIM To conduct a secondary analysis of the Adult Dental Health Survey, UK (ADHS.UK) data to investigate the function of psychosocial factors (costs, dental anxiety, communication) and whether their interaction mediates the relationship between perception of need and length of time since last dental visit. MATERIALS AND METHODS The data used from the ADHS.UK interview questionnaires included demography, costs, perception of treatment need, communication, dental anxiety and reported dental attendance. The data were subjected to χ2 -analysis and hierarchical logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Time since last dental visit was significantly associated with all demographic and psychosocial variables. The hierarchical logistic regression analysis tested three models. Model 1 examined the demography and explained 2% of the variance. Model 2 showed that those in intermediate (e.g. clerical staff) and routine (e.g. agriculture workers) occupations and those who were unemployed/never worked had a greater likelihood of increased interval between dental visits, explaining an additional 2% of the variance of the time interval between dental visits. Model 3 provided an additional 10% of the variance, which included costs, perceived need, communication and dental anxiety. The interaction of the perception of need by extreme dental anxiety (OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.40, 0.69) improved the fit of the model [χ2 (df1) = 22.85, P < 0.001]. CONCLUSION This study revealed that dental anxiety, communication and treatment costs acted as barriers to accessing dental care. Dental anxiety acted as a mediator in the relationship between perception of need and increased time interval between dental visits.