Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of polycystic ovary syndrome on quality of life of women in correlation to age, basal metabolic index, education and marriage

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the major endocrine related disorder in young age women. Physical appearance, menstrual irregularity as well as infertility are considered as a sole cause of mental distress affecting health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This prospective case-control study was conducted among 100 PCOS and 200 healthy control cases attending tertiary care set up of AIIMS, Patna during year 2017 and 2018. Pre-validated questionnaires like Short Form Health survey-36 were used for evaluating impact of PCOS in women. Multivariate analysis was applied for statistical analysis. In PCOS cases, socioeconomic status was comparable in comparison to healthy control. But, PCOS cases showed significantly decreased HRQOL. The higher age of menarche, irregular/delayed menstrual history, absence of child, were significantly altered in PCOS cases than control. Number of child, frequency of pregnancy, and miscarriage were also observed higher in PCOS cases. Furthermore, in various category of age, BMI, educational status and marital status, significant differences were observed in the different domain of SF-36 between PCOS and healthy control. Altogether, increased BMI, menstrual irregularities, educational status and marital status play a major role in altering HRQOL in PCOS cases and psychological care must be given during patient care.
Ozonation as a Critical Component Of Closed Marine System Design

Abstract Two recirculating marine systems using ozonization were examined. In the first system (2271 liters), ozone, used as an oxidative supplement to biological filtration, maintained filter bed effluent levels of total ammonia, unionized ammonia, and nitrite within acceptable limits while nitrates were elevated. Within 24 hours of the cessation of ozonization these levels reversed. In the second system (75,700 liters), a newly-designed, small, high-output ozone generator was evaluated with results similar to those reported for the first system.
Regional brain metabolism differentiates narcolepsy type 1 and idiopathic hypersomnia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Daytime sleepiness is a manifestation of multiple sleep and neurologic disorders. Few studies have assessed patterns of regional brain metabolism across different disorders of excessive daytime sleepiness. One such disorder, idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), is particularly understudied. METHODS People with IH, narcolepsy (NT1), and non-sleepy controls underwent [ 18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) with electroencephalography (EEG). Participants were instructed to resist sleep and were awoken if sleep occurred. Voxel-wise parametric analysis identified clusters that significantly differed between each pair of groups, with a minimum cluster size of 100 voxels at a cluster detection threshold of p < 0.005. Correlations between glucose metabolism and sleep characteristics were evaluated. RESULTS Participants (77% women) had IH (n = 16), NT1 (n = 14), or were non-sleepy controls (n = 9), whose average age was 33.8 (+/-10.7) years. Compared to controls, NT1 participants demonstrated hypermetabolism in fusiform gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, superior and middle temporal gyri, insula, cuneus, precuneus, pre- and post-central gyri, and culmen. Compared to controls, IH participants also demonstrated hypermetabolism in precuneus, inferior parietal lobule, superior and middle temporal gyri, and culmen. Additionally, IH participants demonstrated altered metabolism of the posterior cingulate. Most participants fell asleep. Minutes of N1 during uptake was significantly negatively correlated with metabolism of the middle temporal gyrus. CONCLUSION NT1 and IH demonstrate somewhat overlapping, but distinct, patterns of regional metabolism.
Involvement of β-catenin in Androgen-induced Mesenchymal Transition of Breast MDA-MB-453 Cancer Cells

ABSTRACT Purpose The cellular and molecular dynamics of DHT-induced EMT in MDA-MB-453 cells were investigated. Methods:PCR arrays were used to examine the expression of EMT-regulatory genes. Immunoblotting was used to detect protein levels and confirm protein-protein interaction following immunoprecipitation. Immunofluorescence was used to observe rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton and cell morphology. Cell migration was assessed by transwell assay Results: Change of cell morphology was concomitant with increased cell migration after treating cells with DHT. Exposure of cells to DHT for one hour was sufficient to induce changes in cell morphology and actin cytoskeleton after 72 hours indicating altered gene expression. A long-term lasting nuclear translocation of AR was observed after a short exposure of cells to DHT. Investigating the expression of 84 EMT-related genes revealed down-expression of β-catenin, N-cadherin, and TCF-4 and increased expression of Slug, all of which were confirmed at the protein level. Yet, not only early interaction of AR and β-catenin was observed following AR activation, inhibition of β-catenin blocked DHT-induced mesenchymal transition and migration. Wnt signaling was found to be partially important in DHT-induced morphological alteration. The mesenchymal transition of cells could be induced by treating cells with an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β, an enzyme that inhibits β-catenin; this morphological transition could be reversed by antagonizing AR suggesting that AR functions downstream of β-catenin. Conclusions: These results suggest that MDA-MB-453 cells undergo partial EMT induced by DHT, β-catenin is critical for this phenotypic change, and AR probably reciprocally mediates the mesenchymal transition of these cells upon activation of GSK-3 β.
European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB): An Update on the Pediatric CEUS Registry on Behalf of the “EFSUMB Pediatric CEUS Registry Working Group”

Abstract The European Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) created the “EFSUMB Pediatric Registry” (EFSUMB EPR) with the purpose of collecting data regarding the intravenous application of pediatric contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). The primary aim was to document the current clinical practice and usefulness of the technique and secondarily to assess CEUS safety in children. We issue the preliminary results of this database and examine the overall practice of CEUS in children in Europe.
Mild and efficient access to lithium alkanesulfinates based on oxaziridine-promoted oxidation of thiolates

Lithium alkanethiolates do not react with N-sulfonyloxaziridine 1 to generate sulfenate species, as uniformly reported in other series. In the present case, a double oxidation reaction is exclusively observed. This unexpected outcome was then exploited for a general, mild and straightforward route to aliphatic sulfinate salts. Investigation of further transformation into sulfones is also described.
MIR503HG Loss Promotes Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Vascular Disease

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Rationale: Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a dynamic biological process involved in pathological vascular remodeling. However, the molecular mechanisms that govern this transition remain largely unknown, including the contribution of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). Objectives: To investigate the role of lncRNAs in EndMT and their relevance to vascular remodeling. Methods and Results: To study EndMT in vitro, primary endothelial cells were treated with transforming growth factor-β2 and interleukin-1β. Single-cell and bulk RNA-seq (RNA-sequencing) were performed to investigate the transcriptional architecture of EndMT and identify regulated lncRNAs. The functional contribution of seven lncRNAs during EndMT was investigated based on a DsiRNA (dicer-substrate short interfering RNAs) screening assay. The loss of lncRNA MIR503HG was identified as a common signature across multiple human endothelial cell types undergoing EndMT in vitro. MIR503HG depletion induced a spontaneous EndMT phenotype, while its overexpression repressed hallmark EndMT changes, regulating 29% of its transcriptome signature. Importantly, the phenotypic changes induced by MIR503HG were independent of miR-424 and miR-503, which overlap the lncRNA locus. The pathological relevance of MIR503HG downregulation was confirmed in vivo using sugen/hypoxia–induced pulmonary hypertension in mice, as well as in human clinical samples, in lung sections and blood outgrowth endothelial cells from pulmonary arterial hypertension patients. Overexpression of human MIR503HG in sugen/hypoxia mice led to reduced mesenchymal marker expression, suggesting MIR503HG therapeutic potential. We also revealed that MIR503HG interacts with the PTBP1 (polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1) and regulates its protein level. PTBP1 regulation of EndMT markers suggests that the role of MIR503HG in EndMT might be mediated in part by PTBP1. Conclusions: This study reports a novel lncRNA transcriptional profile associated with EndMT and reveals the crucial role of the loss of MIR503HG in EndMT and its relevance to pulmonary hypertension.
HPTLC and HPLC Determination of Alkaloids in Poppies Subjected to Stress

Papaver somniferum produces secondary metabolites which have important roles in self-defense processes, in plant biochemistry, and in allelochemistry. By performing experiments to determine how irregular stress effects changed the alkaloid content of poppies we have shown that different types of stress affect the quantities of alkaloids. Papaver somniferum (cv. ‘Kék Duna’, Budakalasz, Hungary) plants were grown for 2 months, from seeds, in quartz-sand (natural light, temperature 24–28°C, in Knopf’s nutritive solution). In this work we studied alkaloids in poppies subjected to two kinds of stress - mycotoxin and drought. Amounts of alkaloids were measured by different separation and detection procedures - thin-layer chromatography (TLC and HPTLC) with fluorescence detection, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC proved superior for identification and approximate estimation of the morphine alkaloids, but the effects of stress on poppy plants can be detected by use of either method. Drought stress resulted in higher levels of the alkaloids whereas mycotoxin stress did not result in significant differences.
PD-L1 expression in anogenital and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas associated with different clinicopathological features, HPV status and prognosis: a meta-analysis

Abstract Background: Little research has been done on clinicopathological characteristics and human papillomavirus (HPV) status of anogenital and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) with a strong expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in tumor cells. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis. Methods: We performed a comprehensive research in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases up to 30 September 2020. The effect size was hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), disease-free survival (DFS). The pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI were used to assess the association between PD-L1 expression and clinicopathological features along with HPV status. Results: A total of 2003 cases (944 anogenital and 1059 oropharynx SCC patients) were included. High PD-L1 expression in anogenital SCC cases were associated with advanced age (OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.04–2.58) and HPV negativity (OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.31–0.71). Besides, PD-L1 positive anogenital SCC cases held a significantly declined OS (HR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.37–3.47) and CSS (HR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.30–4.65). For oropharynx SCC, PD-L1 was more frequent in younger and HPV positive patients (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37–0.98; OR = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.78–5.09) and PD-L1 expression was relevant to better OS and DFS (HR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.60–0.97; HR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.33–0.75). Conclusions: The meta-analysis demonstrated that in anogenital SCC, PD-L1 positivity had to do with a worse outcome, which might attribute to advanced age, higher tumor grade, lymph node metastasis and HPV negativity, while in oropharynx cancer, PD-L1 expression was related to better prognosis for the reason that PD-L1 was less frequent in the aged and negative HPV status.
Iron metabolism strategies in diatoms

Abstract Diatoms are one of the most successful group of photosynthetic eukaryotes in the contemporary ocean. They are ubiquitously distributed and are the most abundant primary producers in polar waters. Equally remarkable is their ability to tolerate iron deprivation and respond to periodic iron fertilization. Despite their relatively large cell sizes, diatoms tolerate iron limitation and frequently dominate iron-stimulated phytoplankton blooms, both natural and artificial. Here, we review the main iron use strategies of diatoms, including their ability to assimilate and store a range of iron sources, and the adaptations of their photosynthetic machinery and architecture to iron deprivation. Our synthesis relies on published literature and is complemented by a search of 82 diatom transcriptomes, including information collected from seven representatives of the most abundant diatom genera in the world’s oceans.
Separation of Bovine Serum Albumin by Foam Fractionation with Sieve Tray Column

A batch foam fractionation column with sieve trays was developed for enhancing the foam drainage. Effects of feeding concentration, air flow rate, number of stages, and sieve pore size on foam fractionation performances were investigated. The results indicated that the sieve trays enhanced the foam drainage effectively and improved enrichment ratio. At the liquid loading volume 490 mL, feeding concentration 0.1 g L−1, and air flow rate 300 mL min−1, the enrichment ratio reached 7.56 by using 10 stages of sieve trays with opening ratio of 38.25%, which was 1.84 times of that obtained by the control column.
Use of sodium lauryl sulphate in a photogalvanic cell for solar energy conversion and storage: Methylene blue‐edta system

Photogalvanic effects were studied in a photogalvanic cell containing methylene blue, EDTA and NaLS as a photosensitizer, reductant and surfactant, respectively. The photocurrent and photopotential generated by this system were 190 μA and 654 mV, respectively. The effects of different parameters on the electrical output of the cell were observed. Current/voltage characteristics of the cell have also been studied, and a mechanism has been proposed for the generation of photocurrent in photogalvanic cell.
"A Different Person Entirely": Adolescent and Young Adults' Experiences Returning to Education after Cancer Treatment.

Purpose: Adolescent and young adults (AYAs) establish their independent, adult identities as part of their psychosocial development, a process that is largely informed by educational experiences. Not only is a cancer diagnosis disruptive to this process but also AYA cancer survivors (AYACs) face barriers as they attempt to reintegrate into educational systems. This study explores the experiences of AYACs as they return to education, to identify these obstacles and the implications for care teams. Methods: In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with AYACs (n = 8), 16-19 years of age at diagnosis and 18-27 years of age at time of interview. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the principles of Giorgi's phenomenological analysis. Results: Four major themes were identified: AYACs suffer from debilitating late effects (theme 1) post-treatment as they adjust to a loss of normality and other fundamental losses (theme 2) associated with a cancer diagnosis, such as irrecoverable future plans. The educational systems (theme 3) to which they return can be both accommodating, capable of making allowances, and uncompromising, unable to adapt to AYAC survivors' needs. Appropriate mechanisms to facilitate resilience (theme 4) among AYACs are vital for successful return to education. Conclusions: This study supports previous findings that late effects and systemic barriers can hinder return to education, but further research focused on this age group is required. We believe that treating clinicians and specialist services can facilitate the return of AYACs to education by providing warning and comprehensive information about late effects, as early as possible before treatment completion, as well as effective information sharing with educational institutions.
Polycaprolactone/Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate Scaffolds Obtained via Rotary Jet-Spinning: in vitro and in vivo Evaluation

This study aimed to evaluate in vitro and in vivo polymeric membranes obtained by a rotary jet-spinning process for the repair of critical bone defects in the calvaria of Wistar rats, for future use in tissue engineering. Experimental sample collections were performed on the 30, 60 and 90th postoperative days, and the analyses performed were histomorphometric, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Reducing inflammatory infiltrate in all groups and experimental periods, angiogenesis on the 30th day did not show any difference between the groups, on the 60th day, 5% polycaprolactone/beta-tricalcium phosphate(PCL/β-TCP) was high compared to control (C), and on the 90th day, the same group reduced when compared to C and 10% PCL/β-TCP. The fibroplasia presented oscillations in every segment; on the 30th and 60th day, there was an increase in 5% PCL/β-TCP, which decreased by the 90th day compared to group C. 10% PCL/β-TCP decreased compared to C on the 60th and 90th day. The percentage of the collagen area remained high in all groups and all experimental periods. Immunohistochemistry quantifications showed variations in bone metabolism suggesting new bone formation. The 5 and 10% PCL/β-TCP scaffold were promising for the bone regeneration process because they participated in the modulation of inflammation, angiogenesis, fibroplasia, and collagenosis.
Environmental studies on impacts of dredging

The coastal zone acts as a major interface between the ocean and continents. Harbours located in this zone face grave problems from sedimentation, which is a global issue for most of the harbours of the world. Dredging which counter acts sedimentation, brings about innumerable environmental impacts — both positive and negative. As a case study, this paper reports the impacts of dredging conducted at Cochin harbour which is the second largest port along the west coast of India; this port is a nodal center in trade and commerce connecting south east Asia to European sector. The harbour operation mainly depends on maintenance form of dredging bringing about impacts which have both direct and indirect effects in the long term. The important parameters selected for this study are salinity, current, extinction coefficient, turbidity, nutrients, chlorophyll and bottom fauna. An assessment is made on both positive and negative impacts which indicate rise in turbidity, changes in nutrient content and biota. The current practice on dredging is conducive to harbour operations, regulating the material made available to the near shore areas and highlights the possible venues for utilization of spoil for reclamation of land and wetland development. A flow chart identifies the areas vulnerable to impacts arising out of dredging and its consequential environmental issues.
Chemical composition, antimicrobial activity and antioxidant capacity of some medicinal and aromatic plant extracts

In this study, the chemical composition, antimicrobial activity and antioxidant capacity of essential oils obtained from oregano (Origanum onites L.), sage (Salvia triloba L.), mint (Mentha piperita L.), and laurel (Laurus nobilus L.) were determined. The essential oil components were identified by gas chromatography (GC) analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the oils was determined against some pathogenic and lactic acid bacteria using a disc diffusion method. The total antioxidant capacity was evaluated spectrophotometrically as α-tocopherol equivalent. The GC analysis showed that the major constituents of the oils were monoterpene hydrocarbons and phenolic monoterpenes, but the concentration of these compounds varied greatly among the oils examined. The main components of the essential oil were carvacrol, menthol, 1-8 cineole, thujon, camphor and menthone. The results of the antimicrobial assay showed that majority of essential oils showed varied levels of antimicrobial activity against the tested indicator strains. Also, all essential oils exhibited antioxidant effect on oils used in the experiment. The results of this study confirmed the possibility of using some essential oils in food as preservation systems for growth of foodborne bacteria, improving antioxidant properties and extend the shelf-life of processed foods.
Humanin alleviates insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome: a human and rat model-based study.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, is characterized by hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance (IR); however, the pathogenesis of local ovarian IR in PCOS remains largely unclear. Humanin, a mitochondria-derived peptide, has been reported to be associated with IR. Our previous study confirmed that humanin is expressed in multiple cell types and is present in follicular fluid. However, it remains unknown whether humanin participates in the pathogenesis of local ovarian IR or whether humanin supplementation can improve IR in PCOS patients. In this study, we compared humanin concentrations in follicular fluid from PCOS patients with and without IR. We further investigated the effect of humanin analogue (HNG) supplementation on IR in a rat model of dehydroepiandrosterone-induced PCOS. Humanin concentrations in the follicular fluid were found to be significantly lower in PCOS patients with IR than in those without IR. HNG supplementation attenuated both the increases in the levels of fasting plasma glucose and fasting insulin in rats with PCOS and the decreases in phosphorylation of IRS1, PI3K, AKT, and GLUT4 proteins in the granulosa cells of these rats. Combined supplementation with HNG and insulin significantly improved glucose consumption in normal and humanin-siRNA-transfected COV434 cells. In conclusion, downregulated humanin in the ovaries may be involved in the pathogenesis of IR in PCOS, and exogenous supplementation with HNG improved local ovarian IR through modulation of the IRS1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a rat model. This finding supports the potential future use of HNG as a therapeutic drug for PCOS.