Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cerebral metabolism of ethanol-derived acetate: A metabolic basis for dependence?

PETER C. NICHOLAS: Cerebral Metabolism of Ethanol-Derived Acetate: A Metabolic Basis for Dependence? (Under the direction of Jeffrey M. Macdonald, Ph.D.) Alcoholism is a tremendous health problem throughout the world. Ethanol is a unique drug that is consumed in large quantities for pharmacologic effect, reaching blood concentrations as high as 100mM. Ethanol is eliminated almost exclusively via oxidation to acetate in the liver, and nearly all of the ethanol-derived acetate is released into the blood where it travels to other organs, including the brain, for use as an energy source. Thus ethanol directly alters metabolism in the liver, and causes the production of large amounts of acetate which may serve as a substrate for brain, possibly contributing to intoxication and dependence. This dissertation describes two separate approaches to study the metabolic effects of ethanol. First, H NMR-based metabolomic analysis of endogenous metabolites revealed decreased lactate and alanine, and increased acetate and ketone bodies due to ethanol. These results provided new insights regarding the effect of ethanol on gluconeogenesis. In addition, we determined that ethyl glucuronide (EtG), a unique metabolite of ethanol, produces a characteristic NMR signal. EtG is formed within hours of ethanol dosing, and remains elevated during a 4 day binge exposure. The antioxidant BHT appears to reduce formation of EtG during a 4 day exposure to ethanol. Our second approach used C-enriched tracers along with C NMR to measure brain metabolism of ethanol-derived acetate. Our hypothesis was that cerebral metabolism of acetate released from the liver during ethanol oxidation perturbs cerebral metabolism, and thereby contributes to neuroadaptation associated with alcohol dependence and withdrawal. Using a single dose of [2-C] ethanol intragastrically, we found carbons derived from ethanol are rapidly incorporated into brain amino acids glutamate, glutamine, and GABA. Next, we investigated whether a 10 day exposure to ethanol would increase cerebral utilization of acetate. We found that acetate metabolism was not increased, most likely because transport into brain astrocytes was not increased. We did find, however, that ethanol induced significant changes in metabolism of GABA, and we speculate that this may reflect neuroadaptations that produce tolerance to ethanol.
Effects of lipid oxidation initiators and antioxidants on the total antioxidant capacity of milk and oxidation products during storage

Oxidized flavor is a major problem currently affecting the dairy industry. The objectives of this research were to determine the effects of light (2300 Lux) and/or cupric sulfate (0, 0.5, 1 mg/kg) as pro-oxidative factors in milk during an 11-day refrigerated storage period. The effects of added vitamin A (2113 IU/L) and vitamin E (100 mg/kg milk fat) as potential inhibitors of oxidation in the presence of light (2300 Lux) and light with cupric sulfate (0.05 mg/kg) during a 7-day refrigerated storage were also investigated. The presence of pro-oxidants significantly decreased the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and increased the oxidation products in milk during storage. Light had a greater effect in the decrease of TAC, while cupric sulfate in the presence of light significantly increased oxidation products. Added vitamin A and E showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in TAC when samples were exposed to light on day 0. On day 1, only vitamin A significantly increased TAC when samples were exposed to light and cupric sulfate. Oxidation products were not affected by the presence of either vitamin A or E. Sensory results showed that the presence of light and cupric sulfate significantly increase oxidized flavor score from the control, but no significant difference in oxidized flavor intensity was detected between milk with added vitamins and milk without added vitamins.
Anxiety Disorders are Associated with Reduced Heart Rate Variability: A Meta-Analysis

Background: Anxiety disorders increase risk of future cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality, even after controlling for confounds including smoking, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status, and irrespective of a history of medical disorders. While impaired vagal function, indicated by reductions in heart rate variability (HRV), may be one mechanism linking anxiety disorders to CVD, prior studies have reported inconsistent findings highlighting the need for meta-analysis. Method: Studies comparing resting-state HRV recordings in patients with an anxiety disorder as a primary diagnosis and healthy controls were considered for meta-analysis. Results: Meta-analyses were based on 36 articles, including 2086 patients with an anxiety disorder and 2294 controls. Overall, anxiety disorders were characterized by lower HRV [high frequency (HF): Hedges’ g = −0.29. 95% CI: −0.41 to −0.17, p < 0.001; time domain: Hedges’ g = −0.45, 95% CI: −0.57 to −0.33, p < 0.001] than controls. Panic disorder (n = 447), post-traumatic stress disorder (n = 192), generalized anxiety disorder (n = 68), and social anxiety disorder (n = 90), but not obsessive–compulsive disorder (n = 40), displayed reductions in HF HRV relative to controls (all ps < 0.001). Conclusion: Anxiety disorders are associated with reduced HRV, findings associated with a small-to-moderate effect size. Findings have important implications for future physical health and well-being of patients, highlighting a need for comprehensive cardiovascular risk reduction.
Population dynamics of two cichlids, Oreochromis aureus and Tilapia zillii, from Wadi El-Raiyan lakes, Egypt.

Age, growth, mortality, relative yield-per-recruit and relative biomass-per-recruit of Oreochromis aureus and Tilapia zilli collected from Wadi EI-Raiyan lakes during the period from August 2000 until July 2001 have been estimated. Age was determined from scale readings and the results showed that the maximum life spans of O. aureus and T. zilli were three and four years, respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth equations were L1= 27.15 (l-e'0.56(t+0.32) for 0. aureus and L1= 33.5 (l-e -0.49(t+0.15) for T. zilli. The instantaneous annual rates of total, natural and fishing mortality were calculated as 1.69, 0.25 and 1.44, respectively for 0. aureus and 1.1, 0.2 and 0.9, respectively for T. zilli. Exploitation rate was estimated as 0.85 and 0.82 for 0. aureus and T. zilli, respectively. Relative yield-per- recruit and relative biomass-per-recruit analysis indicated that the stocks of O. aureus and T. zilli were overexploited and that the current exploitation rate should be reduced by about 53% for 0. aureus and 55% for T. zilli to ensure that at least 50% of the individuals could be maintained for spawning and recruitment.
Clinical safety and tolerability issues in use of triazole derivatives in management of fungal infections

There has been an increase in the number of patients susceptible to invasive fungal infections (IFIs) leading to a greater need for effective, well tolerated, and easily administered antifungal agents. The advent of triazoles has revolutionized the care of patients requiring treatment or prophylaxis for IFIs. However, triazoles have been associated with a number of adverse events and significant drug–drug interactions. While commonly used, physicians and patients should be aware of the distinct properties of these agents in order to ensure that patients are optimally treated with the least amount of toxicity possible. Clinicians should have a full understanding of the basic pharmacokinetics, absorption, and bioavailability of triazoles. Moreover, knowledge of the drug–drug interactions and potential toxicities of each agent is critical prior to administering a triazole. Careful history taking, thorough review of the patient’s medication list, and detailed discussion with the patients and their families about the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of these agents should be performed. Clinicians treating patients with triazoles should closely follow them, monitor pertinent laboratory tests, and consider measuring drug levels as needed. This article will review the basic pharmacokinetic properties and most frequently encountered adverse events and pitfalls associated with triazoles in clinical practice.
Adaptation and implementation of a multinational eHealth intervention for people with cancer: reflections from the field

Background: There has been an international shift in healthcare which has seen an increasing focus and development of technological and personalized at-home interventions which aim to improve health outcomes and patient-clinician communication. However, there is a notable lack of empirical evidence describing the preparatory steps of adapting and implementing technology of this kind across multiple countries and clinical settings. Objective: To describe the steps undertaken in the preparation of a multinational, multicentre randomized controlled trial to test a mobile phone-based remote symptom monitoring system, i.e. Advanced Symptom Management System Remote Technology (ASyMS), designed to enhance management of chemotherapy toxicities amongst people with cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy versus standard cancer centre care. Methods: Multiple steps were undertaken, including; a scoping review of empirical literature and clinical guidelines, translation and linguistic validation of study materials, development of standardised international care procedures and the integration and evaluation of the technology within each cancer centre. Results: ASyMS was successfully implemented and deployed in clinical practice across five European countries. The rigorous and simultaneous steps undertaken by the research team highlighted the strengths of the system in clinical practice, as well as the clinical and technical changes required to meet the diverse needs of its intended users within each country, prior to the commencement of the randomized controlled trial. Conclusions: Adapting and implementing this multinational, multicentre system required close attention to diverse considerations and unique challenges, primarily related to communication, clinical and technical issues. Success was dependent on collaborative and transparent communication amongst academics, technology industry, translation partners, patients, and clinicians as well as a simultaneous and rigorous methodological approach within the five relevant countries.
Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy Dovepress

php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms (https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php). Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy 2018:11 345–355 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy Dovepress
Mild spherocytic hereditary elliptocytosis and altered levels of α- and γ-adducins in β-adducin-deficient mice

The membrane skeleton, a dynamic network of proteins associated with the plasma membrane, determines the shape and mechanical properties of erythrocytes. Deficiencies or defects in membrane skeletal proteins are associated with inherited disorders of erythrocyte morphology and function. Adducin is one of the proteins localized at the spectrin-actin junction of the membrane skeleton. In this work we show that deficiency of β-adducin produces an 80% decrease of -adducin and a fourfold up-regulation of γ-adducin in erythrocytes. β-Adducin or any other isoform generated by translation of abnormally spliced messenger RNAs could not be detected by our antibodies either in ghosts or in cytoplasm of −/− erythrocytes. Actin levels were diminished in mutant mice, suggesting alterations in the actin-spectrin junctional complexes due to the absence of adducin. Elliptocytes, ovalocytes, and occasionally spherocytes were found in the blood film of −/− mice. Hematological values showed an increase in reticulocyte counts and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, decreased mean corpuscular volume and hematocrit, and normal erythrocyte counts that, associated to splenomegaly, indicate that the mice suffer from mild anemia with compensated hemolysis. These modifications are due to a loss of membrane surface and dehydration that result in an increase in the osmotic fragility of red blood cells. The marked alteration in osmotic fragility together with the predominant presence of elliptocytes is reminiscent of the human disorder called spherocytic hereditary elliptocytosis. Our results suggest that the amount of adducin remaining in the mutant animals (presumably γ adducin) could be functional and might account for the mild phenotype.
Determinants of Childhood Malaria Morbidities in Nigeria: Secondary Analysis of 2015 Malaria Indicator Survey

Background: In Nigeria, malaria remains an important public health problem accounting for 25% of infant mortality, 30% of under-five mortality and 11% of maternal mortality. Between 2000 and 2010, at least 50% of the population had an episode of malaria per year while under-five children had 2-4 episodes. Currently, malaria parasite prevalence is still high with average prevalence of 45.0%. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey utilizing data from the Nigeria 2015 MIS. The outcome variables were fever in the past two before the survey, positive blood smear for malaria parasite and positive rapid malaria diagnostic test (RDT). Statistical analysis was the survey logistic regression. Results: A total number of 6632 children and 8034 mothers were used for the analysis. Overall, prevalences of fever, malaria parasitaemia and positive RDT are 41%, 27% and 45% respectively. Significant and uniform determinants of the three outcomes are: geopolitical zone, place of Original Research Article Dahiru et al.; IJTDH, 31(1): 1-15, 2018; Article no.IJTDH. 40520 2 residence, wealth quintile and indoor residual spray; other maternal factors are preventive practices and knowledge of malaria prevention. Conclusion: Socio-economic status and maternal knowledge of malaria prevention are important factors that influence childhood malaria morbidities. These factors need to be taken into consideration when planning malaria control programmes in order to have effective programmes.
Changing the diet can control the blood glucose level and help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes

Background: Maintenance of the botanical integrity of cereal kernels and the addition of acetic acid (as vinegar) in the product or meal has been shown to lower the postprandial blood glucose and insulin response and to increase satiety. However, the mechanism behind the benefits of acetic acid on blood glucose and satiety is not clear. We hypothesized that the gastric emptying rate could be involved. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of maintained botanical integrity of cereals and the presence of acetic acid (vinegar) on gastric emptying rate (GER), postprandial blood glucose and satiety. Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects were included in a blinded crossover trial, and thirteen of the subjects completed the study. Equicarbohydrate amounts of the following wheat-based meals were studied: white wheat bread, whole-kernel wheat bread or wholemeal wheat bread served with white wine vinegar. The results were compared with a reference meal consisting of white wheat bread without vinegar. The GER was measured with standardized real-time ultrasonography using normal fasting blood glucose <6.1 mmol/l or plasma glucose <7.0 mmol/l as an inclusion criterion. The GER was calculated as the percentage change in the antral cross-sectional area 15 and 90 minutes after ingestion of the various meals. Satiety scores were estimated and blood glucose was measured before and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min after the start of the meal. Results: The whole-kernel wheat bread with vinegar resulted in significantly higher (<0.05) satiety than the wholemeal wheat bread and white wheat bread with vinegar and the reference bread. Wheat fiber present in the wholemeal wheat bread, or the presence of wheat kernels per se, did not affect the postprandial blood glucose or GER significantly compared with white wheat bread, neither did the addition of vinegar to white bread affect these variables. There was no correlation found between the satiety with antral areas or GER Conclusion: The present study shows higher satiety after a whole-kernel wheat bread meal with vinegar. This may be explained by increased antral distension after ingestion of intact cereal kernels but, in this study, not by a lower gastric emptying rate or higher postprandial blood glucose response. Trial registration: NTR1116 Published: 27 April 2008 Nutrition Journal 2008, 7:12 doi:10.1186/1475-2891-7-12 Received: 26 November 2007 Accepted: 27 April 2008 This article is available from: http://www.nutritionj. com/content/7/1/12 © 2008 Hlebowicz et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The role of CD4+ T cells in Friend virus infection

Retroviruses can establish persistent infection despite induction of a multipartite antiviral immune response. Whether collective failure of all parts of the immune response or selective deficiency in one crucial part underlies the inability of the host to clear retroviral infections is currently uncertain. In this study, the contribution of virus-specific CD4+ T cells in resistance against Friend virus (FV) infection in the murine host is examined. The results show that the magnitude and duration of the FV-specific CD4+ T cell response is directly proportional to resistance against acute FV infection and subsequent disease. Notably, significant protection against FV-induced disease is afforded by FV-specific CD4+ T cells in the absence of a virus-specific CD8+ T cell or B cell response. Enhanced spread of FV infection in hosts with increased genetic susceptibility causes a proportional increase in the number of FV-specific CD4+ T cells required to control FV-induced disease. Thus, these results suggest that FV-specific CD4+ T cells provide significant direct protection against acute FV infection, the extent of which critically depends on the ratio of FV-infected cells to FV-specific CD4+ T cells. In addition to precursor frequency, the T cell receptor (TCR) affinity for antigen is also considered an important contributor to CD4+ T cell expansion and effector function. Study of polyclonal TCRβ-transgenic FV-specific CD4+ T cells has previously revealed a distinct pattern of clonal evolution during FV infection. In the current study, immunisation regimens, including adjuvanted peptide and replication-attenuated retrovirus vaccination, are assessed for the overall TCR affinity of the CD4+ T cell population they elicit. The implications for vaccine design and vaccine-induced CD4+ T cell-mediated protection are discussed.
Sleep quality and related factors among the nurses of the Hospital of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Aim: Sleep and rest are the essential physiological needs of human. Nurses are at risk of developing sleep problems than others because of having various shift work. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sleep quality and related factors in the nurses. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 nurses were selected randomly from Shahid Beheshti Educational Hospital of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, 2016. Persian version of Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire Index and demographic questionnaire were used for the detection of sleep quality. Results: The mean age of cases was 51.31 years, and most of them (73%) were female. The majority of them had rotating shift work and worked over 150 h per month. 95.5% (191 cases) of them had poor sleep quality. The mean total score of sleep quality in females was higher than males (P = 0.04). The nurses with rotating shift work had higher mean total score of sleep quality than nurses with fixed shift work. Nurses with over 150 h per month had more problems in daily function than others (P = 0.04). Conclusion: These results present that the majority of the nurses had poor sleep quality. Poor sleep quality could be affect function, mental and physical health, and secondary effect delivery service to patients. Therefore, attention to this issue and strategies for improved sleep quality is necessary.
Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) Recruitment, Survival, Seed Production, and Interference in Soybean (Glycine max)

Field studies were conducted at Rosemount, MN, in 1992 and 1993 to quantify the demographic processes regulating the population dynamics of velvetleaf in soybean as part of a corn-soybean rotation. A consistent 6.8 ± 0.5% of the total velvetleaf seedbank emerged each year. Less than 21% of all velvetleaf seedlings survived each year in mixture with soybean, due in part to Verticillium spp wilt infection. The probability of seedling survival varied across time of emergence. Velvetleaf seed production in the absence of crop competition was 125 and 227 seeds plant−1 in 1992 and 1993, respectively. Velvetleaf plants that emerged early produced greater numbers of seed than later emerging plants. Velvetleaf survival and seed production were reduced up to 82% in the presence of crop competition. Soybean yield varied across soybean densities in both years, but was not reduced across velvetleaf densities.
Responses of Asian Citrus Psyllids to Substrate-borne Vibrational Communication Signals

The Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, vectors a harmful bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, which causes huanglongbing, an economically devastating disease of citrus. Improved methods for detection and trapping of ACP could significantly reduce the damage associated with the spread of this disease. One previously unexploited method of detection involves the vibratory, substrate-borne signals by which adult male and female ACP communicate over 10-50-cm distances within their citrus tree hosts. Mate-seeking males begin calling while moving along the tree branches, searching for females. A receptive female replies to these signals within about 0.5-s, which helps the male to find her position (Wenninger et al. 2009, Rohde et al. 2013). A series of studies was conducted in a noise- and vibration-shielded anechoic chamber (Fig. 1) to manipulate these communications in a way that could be used to attract and trap ACP males in field environments. Male recorded calls were played back to females through the vibration exciter and the replies were monitored with the accelerometer. The frequencies, durations, and loudness of calls that elicited the greatest female response were analyzed for further study. In addition, recorded replies from females were played back to males, attracting them to the signal source. Based on the successful results with the laboratory accelerometer and vibration exciter systems (Rohde et al. 2013), we began development of a portable, automated system with a piezoelectric vibratory element that replies to male calls immediately after they are detected by a microphone attached to a small, inexpensive microcomputer. Searching males move towards the source of such calls (Fig. 2) and can thereby be trapped. To facilitate trap development we have begun testing the relative attractiveness of carefully constructed synthetic calls, some of which are described in (Rohde et al. 2013). In addition, we are beginning to conduct field studies under conditions of moderate background noise.