Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metabolic needs of brain‐infiltrating leukocytes and microglia in multiple sclerosis

Metabolism, the umbrella term for complex biochemical pathways that sustain the basic functions of life, has garnered attention in recent years for its role in immune activation. Indeed, metabolic pathways and their intricate and complex connections with immune mechanisms constitute a new area of immunology termed ‘immunometabolism’. One highlight is the existence of a switch in the key metabolic programs in immune cells, which executes their effector functions. ‘Metabolic reprogramming’ is observed in conditions of both peripheral diseases as well as in neurodegenerative conditions associated with inflammation such as multiple sclerosis. Moreover metabolic reprogramming occurs for almost every immune cell type. Whether metabolic changes are cause or effect of immune activation, however, remains to be fully understood. Being central to cellular activation, metabolism has become very topical in terms of exploring therapeutic targets. This review covers the major metabolic programs in immune cells, discuss metabolites as regulators of immune cell functions, and consider metabolic enzymes or pathways as therapeutic targets using examples from multiple sclerosis and its animal models.
Prediction of chronic heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a general population: the Tromsø study

Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are main causes of dyspnoea, and echocardiography and spirometry are essential investigations for these diagnoses. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of HF and COPD in a general population, also how the diseases may be identified, and to what extent their clinical characteristics differ.
Structure and Function of Mung Bean Protein-Derived Iron-Binding Antioxidant Peptides

An iron-binding mung bean protein hydrolysate (MBPH) was prepared using a continuous enzymatic membrane reactor followed by peptide separation on anion-exchange (AEC) and reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) columns. Amino acid sequences of peptides present in the RP-HPLC fraction with the strongest iron-binding capacity were identified using mass spectrometry, and ten peptides of 5–8 amino acids synthesized for antioxidant characterization. Five fractions (AF1– AF5) with higher iron-binding capacity (88.86 ± 6.43 to 153.59 ± 2.18 mg/g peptide) when compared to the MBPH (36.81 ± 0.93 mg/g peptide) were obtained from AEC. PAIDL had the significantly (p < 0.05) highest iron-binding capacity, but LLLLG and LLGIL showed the strongest metal chelating activity. However, PAIDL (46.63%) and LLGIL (81.27%) had significantly (p < 0.05) better DPPH radical scavenging activity than the other peptides. PAIDL and LLGIL were also the most effective (p < 0.05) hydroxyl radical neutralizers with an effective concentration that scavenged 50% (EC50) values of 0.09 and 0.37 mM, respectively. PAIDL and AIVIL showed the lowest EC50 values of 0.07 mM each for superoxide radical scavenging activity. We conclude that short chain length in combination with leucine as the C-terminal amino acid residue contributed to the strong antioxidant properties of peptides in this study.
Linking the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale and the Severe Impairment Battery: evidence from individual participant data from five randomised clinical trials of donepezil

Background The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) and the Severe Impairment Battery (SIB) are widely used rating scales to assess cognition in Alzheimer’s disease. Objective To understand the correspondence between these rating scales, we aimed to examine the linkage of MMSE with the ADAS-Cog and SIB total and change scores. Methods We used individual-level data on participants with Alzheimer’s disease (n=2925) from five pivotal clinical trials of donepezil. Data were collected at baseline and scheduled visits for up to 6 months. We used equipercentile linking to identify the correspondence between simultaneous measurements of MMSE with ADAS-Cog, and SIB total and change ratings. Findings Spearman’s correlation coefficients were of strong magnitude between the MMSE total score and the ADAS-Cog (rs from −0.82 to −0.87; p<0.05) and SIB total scores (rs from 0.70 to 0.75; p<0.05). Weaker correlations between the change scores were observed between the MMSE change score and the ADAS-Cog (week 1: r=−0.11, p=0.18; rs thereafter: −0.28 to −0.45; p<0.05) and SIB change scores (rs from 0.31 to 0.44; p<0.05). Linking suggested that the MMSE total scores were sensitive to moderate and severe cognitive impairment levels. Despite weak to moderate correlations for the change scores, moderate change levels linked well, indicating ceiling and floor effects. Conclusions The current results can be used in meta-analyses, data harmonisation and may contribute to increasing statistical power when pooling data from multiple sources. Clinical implications The current study results help clinicians to understand these cognitive rating scale scores.
Prevalence of Mental Illness and Mental Health Care Use Among Police Officers

Key Points Question What is the prevalence of mental illness and mental health care use among police officers at a large, urban police department? Findings In this survey study of 434 police officers, 12% had a lifetime mental health diagnosis and 26% reported current symptoms of mental illness. Of these officers, 17% had sought mental health care services in the past 12 months, but officers reported interest in help if a few key concerns were met, including confidentiality assurance. Meaning The findings suggest that routine mental health screening may be needed in law enforcement agencies to systematically identify and refer officers to mental health care services.
Pediatric Teleheath: Opportunities Created by the COVID-19 and Suggestions to Sustain Its Use to Support Families of Children with Disabilities

Abstract Aims Telehealth is being rapidly adopted by physical and occupational therapists in pediatrics as a strategy to maintain services during the COVID-19 crisis. This perspective presents a mix of theoretical and practice perspectives to support the implementation of telehealth. Although research evidence is just emerging, there is sufficient indication to believe telehealth is effective. However, which telehealth strategies are best for which children and families, and which intervention goals, are not yet clear. Methods We discuss how different telehealth strategies (e.g. videoconferencing, emails, phone calls, online programs) are being used to address specific intervention goals. Comments from therapists using telehealth and examples of practices in different context and with different populations are provided. We discuss how newly adopted telehealth practices could be included in future hybrid service delivery models and programs, as well as factors influencing the decision to offer face-to-face or online interventions. Conclusion Although telehealth has been implemented quickly as a response to a health care crisis, and is not a one-size-fits-all intervention, we believe it offers great opportunities to increase the accessibility, cost-effectiveness and family-centredness of our services, to best support families of children with disabilities.
Longitudinal PEEP Responses Differ Between Children With ARDS and at Risk for ARDS

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether lung mechanics differ between patients with pediatric ARDS and at risk for ARDS. We aimed to examine the hypothesis that, compared to ARDS, subjects at risk of ARDS are characterized by higher end-expiratory lung volume (EELV) or respiratory system compliance (CRS) and lower distending pressure (stress) applied on the lung or parenchymal deformation (strain) during mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Consecutively admitted subjects fulfilling the PALICC ARDS criteria were considered eligible for inclusion in this study. A ventilator with an integrated gas exchange module was used to calculate EELV, CRS, strain, and stress after a steady state had been achieved based on nitrogen washout/washin technique. All subjects were subjected to incremental PEEP trials at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. RESULTS: A total of 896 measurements were longitudinally calculated in 32 mechanically ventilated subjects (n = 15 subjects with ARDS; n = 17 subjects at risk for ARDS). EELV correlated positively with strain or stress in the ARDS group (r = 0.30, P < .001) and the at risk group (r = 0.60, P < .001). CRS correlated with strain (r = 0.40, P < .001) only in subjects at risk for ARDS. EELV increased over time as PEEP rose from 4 to 10 cm H2O in subjects with ARDS (P = .001). In the at risk group, EELV only increased at 48 h (P = .001). Longitudinally, CRS (P = .001) and EELV (P = .002) were lower and strain and stress were higher in subjects with ARDS compared to those at risk for ARDS (P = .002), remaining within safe limits. Strain and stress increased by 24 h but declined by 72 h in subjects with ARDS at a PEEP of 4 cm H2O (P = .02). In the at risk group, strain and stress declined from 6 h to 72 h at a PEEP of 10 cm H2O (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinally, CRS and EELV were lower and strain and stress were higher in subjects with ARDS compared to subjects at risk for ARDS. These parameters behaved differently over time at PEEP values of 4 or 10 cm H2O. At these PEEP levels, strain and stress remained within safe limits in both groups.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Characterization of New Spirolides from Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Dinophyceae)

Spirolides belong to a group of marine phycotoxins produced by the marine planktonic dinophyte Alexandrium ostenfeldii. Composed of an imine moiety and a spiroketal ring system within a macrocylcle, spirolides are highly diverse with toxin types that vary among different strains. This study aims to characterize the spirolides from clonal A. ostenfeldii strains collected from The Netherlands, Greenland and Norway by mass spectral techniques. The structural characterization of unknown spirolides as inferred from high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) and collision induced dissociation (CID) spectra revealed the presence of nine novel spirolides that have the pseudo-molecular ions m/z 670 (1), m/z 666 (2), m/z 696 (3), m/z 678 (4), m/z 694 (5), m/z 708 (6), m/z 720 (7), m/z 722 (8) and m/z 738 (9). Of the nine new spirolides proposed in this study, compound 1 was suggested to have a truncated side chain in lieu of the commonly observed butenolide ring in spirolides. Moreover, there is indication that compound 5 might belong to new spirolide subclasses with a trispiroketal ring configuration having a 6:5:6 trispiroketal ring system. On the other hand, the other compounds were proposed as C- and G-type SPX, respectively. Compound 7 is proposed as the first G-type SPX with a 10-hydroxylation as usually observed in C-type SPX. This mass spectrometry-based study thus demonstrates that structural variability of spirolides is larger than previously known and does not only include the presence or absence of certain functional groups but also involves the triketal ring system.
Mechanistic Actions of microRNAs in Diabetic Wound Healing

Wound healing is a complex biological process that is impaired under diabetes conditions. Chronic non-healing wounds in diabetes are some of the most expensive healthcare expenditures worldwide. Early diagnosis and efficacious treatment strategies are needed. microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of 18–25 nucleotide long RNAs, are important regulatory molecules involved in gene expression regulation and in the repression of translation, controlling protein expression in health and disease. Recently, miRNAs have emerged as critical players in impaired wound healing and could be targets for potential therapies for non-healing wounds. Here, we review and discuss the mechanistic background of miRNA actions in chronic wounds that can shed the light on their utilization as specific wound healing biomarkers.
Evans Review No. 1: Gibberellins and flowering in long day plants, with special reference to Lolium temulentum

The relation between gibberellins (GAs) and flowering in some long day (LD) plants is reviewed, with particular emphasis on Lolium temulentum. Lang’s early experiments with rosette plants established the effectiveness of several GAs in replacing the need for LD. Subsequent work with mutants, especially of Arabidopsis, has clarified genetic and environmental control points in GA synthesis, various feedback effects and some of the factors affecting responsiveness to, as well as synthesis of, GAs in the flowering process. Further complexities are revealed in the experiments with Lolium temulentum, which have clearly shown that the structural requirements for effectiveness of GAs in the flowering process are quite different from those for elongation growth. The precise role of GAs in the long day induction of flowering remains unclear.
Distribution of Palm Fruits on a Rain Forest Floor: Why White-Lipped Peccaries Forage near Objects

Litter and soil disturbance in the wake of white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) herds in southeastern Peru indicates that these animals often forage intensively at the bases of "objects" such as trees, exposed roots, logs, and lianas. I sampled the litter and soil near such objects on the forest floor, and found that fruits of the common palm trees were encountered more frequently near objects than in the open. This pattern was especially well marked for seeds of an Astrocaryum palm having a very restricted fruiting season. Where white-lippeds had recently foraged, densities of some fruit types were significantly reduced near objects. Apparently the peccaries are consuming palm fruits that have been scatterhoarded by rodents. WHITE-LIPPED PECCARIES (Tayassu pecari) occur in larger groups than any other terrestrial mammal in neotropical rain forests. Their herds, which may contain over 100 individuals, leave broad areas of overturned litter and disturbed soil wherever they have foraged. During a study of "white-lippeds" in southeastern Peru, I invariably noted that soil and litter disturbance in the wakes of herds was concentrated near certain objects-at the' bases of plant stems, along logs and exposed roots, and beneath lianas and low shrubs with dense foliage. One possible explanation for this observation was that the white-lippeds were searching for invertebrates in such places, as Ewer (1970) suggested to explain similar habits of the African forest hog Hylochoerus meinertzhageni. However, the extent of the disturbance seemed disproportionate to the small amounts of invertebrate body parts found in white-lipped stomachs (Kiltie 1980). Another possibility was that the peccaries were searching for fruits with hard endocarp at these places, since stomach contents, feeding experiments with captive animals, and anatomical evidence (Kiltie 1980) indicated that white-lippeds are distinguished by their ability to masticate very hard fruits and seeds. This explanation was further suggested by the fact that elsewhere in the neotropics, agoutis (Dasyprocta punctata) and squirrels (Sciurus granatensis) have been observed scatterhoarding fruits along tree bases, logs, roots, and beneath lianas (Smythe 1978: 26; Heaney and Thorington 1978; Morris 1962). Thus it was conceivable that white-lippeds were exploiting hard fruits that had been stored by rodents. The study described in this report was designed to see if palm fruits were more abundant near objects than elsewhere on the forest floor and to see if whitelipped peccaries were harvesting such fruits.
Outcome of 45,X fetuses with cystic hygroma: A systematic review

This objective of this systematic review was to estimate live birth rate and explore prognostic indicators in fetuses with 45,X karyotype and a posterior cystic hygroma (CH). Electronic databases were searched and studies reporting pregnancy outcomes (termination, spontaneous abortion, demise, or live birth) for fetuses with 45,X karyotype and a CH diagnosed on ultrasound were included. For cases of survival, CH characteristics, presence of hydrops fetalis, or concomitant anomalies, delivery details, and postnatal outcomes were summarized. A total of 95 studies, including 535 cases, met inclusion criteria: 285 (53.3%) pregnancies were terminated, 72 (13.5%) had spontaneous abortion or demise, 164 (30.7%) had unspecified pregnancy failure, and 14 (2.6%) were live births. Among live births with data available, all CH measured 2–7 cm, more than half were septate, and almost all regressed in size or eventually disappeared. Hydrops fetalis was noted in five cases. Of the eight live births with neonatal outcomes available, three neonates died shortly after birth and five survived past the neonatal period. This review suggests that diagnosis of CH in a 45,X fetus is associated with an estimated live birth rate of 2.6%, but only 1% survive to infancy. Prognosis appears to improve with CH regression.
Flexible phytoplankton functional type (FlexPFT) model: Size-scaling of traits and optimal growth

Recent studies have analysed valuable compilations of data for the size-scaling of phytoplankton traits, but these cannot be employed directly in most large-scale modelling studies, which typically do not explicitly resolve the relevant trait values. Although some recent large-scale modelling studies resolve species composition and sorting within communities, most do not account for the observed flexible response of phytoplankton communities, such as the dynamic acclimation often observed in laboratory experiments. In order to derive a simple yet flexible model of phytoplankton growth that can be useful for a wide variety of ocean modelling applications, we combine two trade-offs, one for growth and the other for nutrient uptake, under the optimality assumption, i.e. that intracellular resources are dynamically allocated to maximize growth rate. This yields an explicit equation for growth as a function of nutrient concentration and daily averaged irradiance. We furthermore show how with this model effective Monod parameter values depend on both the underlying trait values and environmental conditions. We apply this new model to two contrasting time-series observation sites, including idealized simulations of size diversity. The flexible model responds differently compared with an inflexible control, suggesting that acclimation by individual species could impact models of plankton diversity.
Enhanced omega‐3 index after long‐ versus short‐chain omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation in dogs

Abstract Background The Omega‐3 Index is a test that measures the amount of the long‐chain omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n‐3 PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cell membranes, which is expressed as a percentage of all fatty acids. However, alpha‐linolenic acid (ALA) from flaxseed oil, which is a short‐chain n‐3 PUFA, is often promoted in pet feed as a n‐3 source, implicitly assuming it is an effective precursor of EPA and DHA. Objective This study was aimed to compare the effect of supplementation with a plant‐based short‐chain n‐3 PUFA source (flaxseed oil, FSO) with a marine long‐chain n‐3 PUFA source (astaxanthin krill oil, AKO) to increase the Omega‐3 Index in dogs. Methods Ten adult Alaskan Huskies of both genders were supplemented daily with 1,155 mg of EPA/DHA from AKO, whereas another 10 dogs received 1,068 mg ALA from flaxseed oil for 6 weeks. Fatty acid and Omega‐3 Index measurements of the two groups were taken after 0, 3 and 6 weeks for comparison. Results The EPA and DHA concentrations increased significantly only in the dogs fed with AKO resulting in a significant increase in mean Omega‐3 Index, from 1.68% at baseline to 2.7% after 6 weeks of supplementation (p < .0001). On the contrary, both EPA and DHA concentrations decreased significantly in the dogs fed with FSO, which led to a significant decrease in mean Omega‐3 Index from 1.6% at baseline to 0.96% at study end (p < .0001). Conclusions The results showed that supplementation of AKO from Antarctic krill led to a significant increase in the Omega‐3 Index in comparison to FSO in dogs. This suggests that preformed marine EPA and DHA sources are needed in dog feeds, as the dietary requirements proposed by feed industry organizations are not met with conversion from short‐chain n‐3 fatty acids.
Quality of life of blind people’s carers

Abstract Introduction: Quality of life is a multidimensional concept and a subjective value that depends on many factors. Disability caused by sight loss induces changes for both patients and their carers. The function of a blind person’s carer is usually performed by family members, whose limited knowledge limits their ability to help effectively and satisfactorily. This, in turn, may lead to their reduced sense of the quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of blind people’s carers. Materials and methods: The study was conducted September– October 2016 and involved 130 blind peoples’ carers using a diagnostic poll. Short Form Survey SF-36 and a specially designed questionnaire were used. The majority of participants were women (69.23%), married couples (63.1%), with high school education (40.77%). Results: Wellbeing self-assessment indicated that 36.15% of carers considered their mental condition to have worsened, while 43.08% remained at the same level when compared to 1 year earlier. Analysis of quality of life showed that carers very highly rated their physical functioning 59.46 ±26.35; social functioning 57.4 ±26.12; vitality 55.48 ±23.27; and emotional functioning 54.81 ±29.24. Conclusions: Quality of life tends to gradually deteriorate as the carers grow older. The carer’s educational background and the professional activity of the disabled person influence the assessment of the carer’s quality of life.
Durability of tunneled catheters in children is associated with catheter tip depth: A single‐center report

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of different catheter tip positions on catheter duration and dysfunction of tunneled catheters in children. Catheters were evaluated for place of insertion, time of insertion, catheter tip depth and position, duration of use, and reason for removal. The mean duration of implanted catheters with tips placed in cavo‐atrial junction/right atrium was significantly longer with significantly lower percentage of complications than tips placed in superior vena cava. Only catheter tips placed in cavo‐atrial junction/right atrium was a predictor of catheter functionality and survival. Shorter catheter survival in children with tunneled catheters is a consequence of a catheter tip depth proximal of CAJ and RA. Our results showed that the main factor responsible for better catheter functionality was not laterality but the depth of the catheter tip, which reduces need for future catheter insertions with increased catheter durability.