Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Probiotics for Reduction of Examination Stress in Students (PRESS) study: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001

Background Studies suggest that bioactive compounds such as probiotics may positively influence psychological health. This study aimed to determine whether supplementation with the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN001 reduced stress and improve psychological wellbeing in university students sitting examinations. Methods In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 483 undergraduate students received either the probiotic L. rhamnosus HN001, or placebo, daily during a university semester. Students completed measures of stress, anxiety, and psychological wellbeing at baseline and post-intervention before examinations. Mann Whitney U tests compared the change in psychological outcomes between groups. Results Of the 483 students, 391 (81.0%) completed the post-intervention questions. There was no significant difference between the probiotic and placebo supplemented groups in psychological health outcomes. The COVID19 pandemic restrictions may have influenced the typical trajectory of stress leading up to examinations. Conclusion We found no evidence of significant benefit of probiotics on the psychological health of university students. These findings highlight the challenges of conducting probiotic trials in human populations where the potential for contextual factors such as COVID19 response, and participant adherence to the intervention may influence results.
Examining the Impact of Obesity on Individuals with CFS

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex medical condition affecting multiple systems within the body. Occupational health nurses will frequently encounter these patients in health care settings. The most commonly used case definition requires an individual to have six or more months of fatigue and the presence of at least four of eight minor symptoms(Fukuda, et al., 1994). In addition, there are many health and psychological conditions, including severe obesity as defined as body mass index equal to or greater than 40 kg/m 2 , which, when present, exclude patients from receiving a diagnosis of CFS. Obesity has been correlated with levels of fatigue, increased sleep problems and has been significantly associated with reduced satisfaction with general health functioning and vitality (Lim, Thomas, Bardwell, & Dimsdale, 2008). The current study investigated weight trends over time in a community-based sample of individuals with CFS and healthy controls. It further investigated the impact of co-morbid weight issues on a number of health and disability outcomes with a subset of overweight individuals. Overweight and obese individuals with CFS demonstrated poorer functioning than controls that were similarly weighted. One participant was excluded because she had gained weight at follow up and her BMI was > 40 kg/m 2 . The implications of these findings for health care workers are discussed.
The action of cinnarizine on noradre.naline-sensitive calcium influx and efflux in vascular smooth muscle Alpha and beta adrenoceptors in the hepatic portal venous vascular bed of the dog

It has recently been reported that, in the rat aorta, the turnover of the calcium fraction resistant to displace- ment by lanthanum provides an estimate of Ca2+ fluxes across the smooth muscle cell membrane (Godfraind, 1976). Noradrenaline increased the rate of 45Ca uptake into the La-resistant fraction. Once this fraction was loaded with "Ca, noradrenaline also increased the rate of 41Ca efflux. For both influx and efflux, the increased rate corresponded to a Ca turn- over of 30 g-mol 45Ca kg-' min-'. This increased influx of Ca appeared to control the tonic component of the contraction which is dependent on the calcium concentration of the bathing fluid. Cinnarizine is a non-competitive antagonist for noradrenaline in rat aorta. It reduced in a dose-dependent manner the tonic component of the contraction and blocked the noradrenaline evoked calcium influx (Godfraind, 1974). The purpose of the present experiments was to examine the action of cinnarizine on the rate of calcium exchange into the La-resistant Ca fraction, considering not only the Ca influx but also the Ca efflux. Contractility and 45Ca exchange were studied as reported elsewhere (Godfraind, 1976). The action of cinnarizine was analyzed after a preincubation of 90 minutes. In unstimulated strips, a slight depression of 4'Ca uptake in the La-resistant fraction was observed with cinnarizine (10- M). Lower concentrations reduced the initial rate of uptake, but the 41Ca content measured after the 5 min preincubation in the radio- active solution preceding the addition of noradrenaline was not different from controls.
Intracellular and Extracellular Concentrations of Na 1 Modulate Mg 2 1 Transport in Rat Ventricular Myocytes

Apparent free cytoplasmic concentrations of Mg 2 1 ([Mg 2 1 ] i ) and Na 1 ([Na 1 ] i ) were estimated in rat ventricular myocytes using ﬂuorescent indicators, furaptra (mag-fura-2) for Mg 2 1 and sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate for Na 1 , at 25 (cid:1) C in Ca 2 1 -free conditions. Analysis included corrections for the inﬂuence of Na 1 on furaptra ﬂuorescence found in vitro and in vivo. The myocytes were loaded with Mg 2 1 in a solution containing 24 mM Mg 2 1 either in the presence of 106 mM Na 1 plus 1 mM ouabain (Na 1 loading) or in the presence of only 1.6 mM Na 1 to deplete the cells of Na 1 (Na 1 depletion). The initial rate of decrease in [Mg 2 1 ] i from the Mg 2 1 -loaded cells was estimated in the presence of 140 mM Na 1 and 1 mM Mg 2 1 as an index of the rate of extracellular Na 1 -dependent Mg 2 1 efﬂux. Average [Na 1 ] i , when estimated from sodium-binding benzofuran isophthalate ﬂuorescence in separate experiments, increased from 12 to 31 mM and 47 mM after Na 1 loading for 1 and 3 h, respectively, and decreased to ; 0 mM after 3 h of Na 1 depletion. The intracellular Na 1 loading signiﬁcantly reduced the initial rate of decrease in [Mg 2 1 ] i , on average, by 40% at 1 h and by 64% at 3 h, suggesting that the Mg 2 1 efﬂux was inhibited by intracellular Na 1 with 50% inhibition at ; 40 mM. A reduction of the rate of Mg 2 1 efﬂux was also observed when Na 1 was introduced into the cells through the amphotericin B-perforated cell membrane (perforated patch-clamp technique) via a patch pipette that contained 130 mM Na 1 . When the cells were heavily loaded with Na 1 with ouabain in combination with intracellular perfusion from the patch pipette containing 130 mM Na 1 , removal of extracellular Na 1 caused an increase in [Mg 2 1 ] i , albeit at a very limited rate, which could be interpreted as reversal of the Mg 2 1 transport, i.e., Mg 2 1 inﬂux driven by reversed Na 1 gradient. Extracellular Na 1 dependence of the rate of Mg 2 1 efﬂux revealed that the Mg 2 1 efﬂux was activated by extracellular Na 1 with half-maximal activation at 55 mM. These results contribute to a quantitative characterization of the Na 1 -Mg 2 1 exchange in cardiac myocytes.
Structure and function of the β subunit of voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels

The voltage-gated Ca 2+ channel β subunit (Ca v β ) is a cytosolic auxiliary subunit that plays an essential role in regulating the surface expression and gating properties of high-voltage activated (HVA) Ca 2+ channels. It is also crucial for the modulation of HVA Ca 2+ channels by G proteins, kinases, Ras-related RGK GTPases, and other proteins. There are indications that Ca v β may carry out Ca 2+ channel-independent functions. Ca v β knockouts are either non-viable or result in a severe pathophysiology, and mutations in Ca v β have been implicated in disease. In this article, we review the structure and various biological functions of Ca v β , as well as recent advances. channel surface expression. The results suggest that the I-II linker of Ca v 1.2 has an ER export signal composed of 9 acidic residues downstream of the AID. All other intracellular
Human Tissue Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Activity Is Regulated by Genetic Polymorphisms, Posttranslational Modifications, Endogenous Inhibitors and Secretion in the Serum, Lungs and Heart

Objective: Inhibitors of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) are the primarily chosen drugs to treat heart failure and hypertension. Moreover, an imbalance in tissue ACE/ACE2 activity is implicated in COVID-19. In the present study, we tested the relationships between circulating and tissue (lung and heart) ACE levels in men. Methods: Serum, lung (n = 91) and heart (n = 72) tissue samples were collected from Caucasian patients undergoing lung surgery or heart transplantation. ACE I/D genotype, ACE concentration and ACE activity were determined from serum and tissue samples. Clinical parameters were also recorded. Results: A protocol for ACE extraction was developed for tissue ACE measurements. Extraction of tissue-localized ACE was optimal in a 0.3% Triton-X-100 containing buffer, resulting in 260 ± 12% higher ACE activity over detergent-free conditions. SDS or higher Triton-X-100 concentrations inhibited the ACE activity. Serum ACE concentration correlated with ACE I/D genotype (II: 166 ± 143 ng/mL, n = 19, ID: 198 ± 113 ng/mL, n = 44 and DD: 258 ± 109 ng/mL, n = 28, p < 0.05) as expected. In contrast, ACE expression levels in the lung tissue were approximately the same irrespective of the ACE I/D genotype (II: 1423 ± 1276 ng/mg, ID: 1040 ± 712 ng/mg and DD: 930 ± 1273 ng/mg, p > 0.05) in the same patients (values are in median ± IQR). Moreover, no correlations were found between circulating and lung tissue ACE concentrations and activities (Spearman’s p > 0.05). In contrast, a significant correlation was identified between ACE activities in serum and heart tissues (Spearman’s Rho = 0.32, p < 0.01). Finally, ACE activities in lung and the serum were endogenously inhibited to similar degrees (i.e., to 69 ± 1% and 53 ± 2%, respectively). Conclusion: Our data suggest that circulating ACE activity correlates with left ventricular ACE, but not with lung ACE in human. More specifically, ACE activity is tightly coordinated by genotype-dependent expression, endogenous inhibition and secretion mechanisms.
Identification of Metabolites from LC-EC Profiling: GC-MS and Re-Fractionation Provide Essential Information Orthogonal to LCMS/microNMR

HPLC-coulometric electrode-array detection (LC-EC) is a sensitive, quantitative and robust metabolomics profiling tool that complements the commonly used MS and NMR-based approaches. However, LC-EC provides little structural information. We recently demonstrated a workflow for the structural characterization of metabolites detected by LC-EC profiling, combined with LC-ESI-MS and microNMR. This methodology is now extended to include: (i) GC-EI-MS analysis to fill structural gaps left by LC-ESI-MS and NMR, and (ii) secondary fractionation of LC-collected fractions containing multiple co-eluting analytes. GC-EI-MS spectra have more informative fragment ions that are reproducible for database searches. Secondary fractionation provides enhanced metabolite characterization by reducing spectral overlap in NMR and ion-suppression in LC-ESI-MS. The need for these additional methods in the analysis of the broad chemical classes and concentration ranges found in plasma is illustrated with discussion of four specific examples, including: (i) characterization of compounds for which one or more of the detectors is insensitive (e.g., positional isomers in LC-MS, the direct detection of carboxylic groups and sulfonic groups in 1 H NMR, or non-volatile species in GC-MS). ; (ii) detection of labile compounds, (iii) resolution of closely eluting and/or co-eluting compounds and,
(CovishieldTM) Vaccination: How Long Will It Persist?

An increase in COVID-19 immunization coverage has been linked to a decrease in the average case fatality rate. As a result, further research is needed to determine the persistence and duration of vaccine-induced protective antibodies in order to assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccinations. *e present study aimed to determine the COVID-19 IgG antibodies among healthcare workers (HCWs) before and after the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (CovishieldTM) vaccination. A total of 150 HCWs who had received the CovishieldTM vaccine were assessed after obtaining written informed consent. Blood samples were drawn at three time points, namely, within one week prior to first dose of vaccination, prior to second dose of vaccination (28–33 days after the first dose of vaccination), and 90–95 days after the second dose of vaccination for detecting neutralizing antibodies, i.e., IgG antibodies by ELISA. *e overall baseline seropositivity among the HCWs was found to be 28% (n� 42), assessed by the sample collected prior to first dose of COVID-19 vaccination. *e seroconversion rate was reported to be 80% (n� 120) one month after the first dosage and increased to 92.7% (n� 139) three months later. Additionally, there was a significant gradual increase in the IgG concentrations postvaccination in majority of the study participants. In those HCWs who had prior history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, significantly higher antibody level was observed compared to antibody-naive individuals. Fever, pain or swelling at the site of injection, and headache were the most frequently reported adverse events following vaccination among the study participants. Regardless of prior SARS-CoV-2 positivity, two doses of the Covishield vaccine elicited a protective neutralizing antibody response that lasted for three months after the second dose of vaccination.
β -endorphin neuronal transplantation into the hypothalamus alters anxiety-like behaviors in prenatal alcohol exposed rats and non-preferring and preferring rats

Background— Alcohol exposure has adverse effects on stress physiology and behavioral reactivity. This is suggested to be due, in part, to the effect of alcohol on β -endorphin ( β -EP) producing neurons in the hypothalamus. In response to stress, β -EP normally provides negative feedback to the HPA axis and interacts with other neurotransmitter systems in the amygdala to regulate behavior. We examined whether β -EP neuronal function in the hypothalamus reduces the corticosterone response to acute stress, attenuates anxiety-like behaviors, and modulates alcohol drinking in rats. Methods— To determine if β -EP neuronal transplants modulate the stress response, anxiety behavior and alcohol drinking, we implanted differentiated β -EP neurons into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) of normal, prenatal alcohol exposed, and alcohol-preferring (P) and non-preferring (NP) rats. We then assessed corticosterone levels in response to acute restraint stress and other markers of stress response in the brain, and anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze and open-field assays. Results— We showed that β -EP neuronal transplants into the PVN reduced the peripheral corticosterone response to acute stress and attenuated anxiety-like behaviors. Similar transplants completely reduced the hyper-corticosterone response and elevated anxiety behaviors in prenatal alcohol exposed adult rats. Moreover, we showed that β -EP reduced anxiety behavior in P rats with minimal effects on alcohol drinking during and following restraint stress. These data further establish a role of β -EP neurons in the hypothalamus for regulating physiological stress response and anxiety behavior, and resembles a potential novel therapy for treating stress-related psychiatric disorders in prenatal alcohol exposed children and those genetically predisposed to increased alcohol consumption. understanding of the neurobiological basis of alcohol use disorders and possibly provide novel treatment approaches for alleviating the consequences of alcohol exposure during development and in adulthood. These studies provide novel evidence for the role of β -EP neuronal deficiency in regulating the stress response and anxiety behavior in fetal alcohol exposed animals. We report that β -EP transplantation into the PVN reduces the hyper-corticosterone response to acute restraint stress and reduces baseline anxiety-like behavior in fetal alcohol exposed adult male rats. Interestingly, β -EP transplantation also altered alcohol preference in P and NP rats and reduced anxiety-like behavior in both male and female P rats. that altered -EP functioning regulates the of the in those with altered These suggest β -EP may be an important
Endometrial Receptivity in Eutopic Endometrium of Women with Endometriosis It is affected, let me show you why

The endometrium maintains complex controls on proliferation and apoptosis as part of repetitive menstrual cycles that prepare the endometrium for the window of implantation and pregnancy. The reliance on inflammatory mechanisms for both implantation and menstruation, creates the opportunity in the setting of endometriosis for the establishment of chronic inflammation that is disruptive to endometrial receptivity, causing both infertility and abnormal bleeding. Clinically, there can be little doubt that the endometrium of women with endometriosis is less receptive to embryo implantation, and strong evidence exists to suggests that endometrial changes are associated with decreased cycle fecundity as a result of this disease. Here we provide unifying concepts regarding those changes and how they are coordinated to promote progesterone resistance and estrogen dominance through aberrant cell signaling pathways and reduced expression of key homeostatic proteins in eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis.
NF- κ B-dependent gene transcription in CCK- and TNF- α stimulated isolated acinar cells is regulated by p38 MAP kinase

Background— Mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF- κ B) are implicated in early stages of acute pancreatitis pathogenesis. We investigated the relationship between the p38 MAP kinase and NF- κ B in isolated acinar cells. Methods— Isolated rodent acinar cells were stimulated with agonists after infection with an adenovector containing a luciferase promotor driven only by NF- κ B and an adenovector containing the dominant negative (DN) form of p38 (empty vector in controls). Results— Initial immunoblots confirmed that the agonist stimulated p38 activation in acinar cells was substantially attenuated by DN p38 over expression. Stimulation of native CCK-A receptors or TNF- α receptors promoted a significant increase in NF- κ B-dependent gene transcription in cells infected with the empty vector, while over expression of DN p38 CCK and TNF- α in isolated acinar cells, and demonstrated that Ad.DN p38 attenuates CCK- or TNF- α -stimulated p38 activation. We have shown evidence of excellent
The Role of Soluble LAG3 and Soluble Immune Checkpoints Profile in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Pilot Study

Unresectable recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) has a very poor prognosis. Soluble immune checkpoints (sICs) are circulating proteins that result from the alternative splicing of membrane proteins and can modulate the immune response to cancer cells. The aim of our pilot study was to determine the possible role of a comprehensive evaluation of sICs in the classification of prognosis and response to treatment in patients with advanced disease. We evaluated several sICs (CD137, CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, TIM3, LAG3, GITR, HVEM, BTLA, IDO, CD80, CD27, and CD28) from peripheral blood at baseline and investigated the association with clinical characteristics and outcomes. A high baseline soluble LAG3 (sLAG3 > 377 pg/mL) resulted in an association with poor PFS and OS (p = 0.047 and p = 0.003, respectively). Moreover, sLAG3 emerged as an independent prognostic factor using an MVA (p = 0.005). The evaluation of sICs, in particular sLAG3, may be relevant for identifying patients with worse prognoses, or resistance to treatments, and may lead to the development of novel targeted strategies.
Nitric Oxide Stimulates γ -Aminobutyric Acid Release and Inhibits Glycine Release in Retina

Nitric oxide (NO) modulates the uptake and/or release of neurotransmitters through a variety of cellular mechanisms. However, the pharmacological and biochemical processes underlying these neurochemical effects of NO often remain unclear. In our study, we used immunocytochemical methods to study the effects of NO, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and peroxynitrite on the uptake and release of γ -aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glycine in the turtle retina. In addition, we examined the involvement of glutamate receptors, calcium, and the GABA transporter in this GABA uptake and release. We also tested for interactions between the GABAergic and glycinergic systems. In general, we show that NO stimulated GABA release and inhibited glycine release. The NO-stimulated GABA release involved calcium-dependent or calcium-independent synaptic release or reversal of the GABA transporter. Some effects of NO on GABA release involved glutamate, cGMP, or peroxynitrite. NO promoted glycine uptake and inhibited its release, and this inhibition of glycine release was influenced by GABAergic modulation. These findings indicate that NO modulates the levels of the inhibitory transmitters GABA and glycine through several specific biochemical mechanisms in different retinal cell types and layers. Thus it appears that some of the previously described reciprocal interactions between GABA and glycine in the retina function through specific NO signaling pathways.
A simple model of the wind turbine induction zone derived from numerical simulations

The induction zone in front of different wind turbine rotors is studied by means of steady-state Navier-Stokes simulations combined with an actuator disk approach. It is shown that, for distances beyond 1 rotor radius upstream of the rotors, the induced velocity is self-similar and independent of the rotor geometry. On the basis of these findings, a simple analytical model of the induction zone of wind turbines is proposed.
Ga-68 labeled DOTA-rhenium cyclized α -MSH analog for imaging of malignant melanoma

Introduction— Diagnosis of malignant melanoma is critical, since a patient’s prognosis is poor. Previous studies have shown that 64 Cu- and 86 Y-DOTA-ReCCMSH(Arg 11 ) have the potential for early detection of malignant melanoma by exploiting the sensitivity and high resolution of PET. This encouraged us to investigate DOTA-ReCCMSH(Arg 11 ) labeled with another β + -emitting radionuclide, 68 Ga. Methods— DOTA-ReCCMSH(Arg 11 ) was successfully labeled with 68 Ga at pH 3.8–4 at 85 ºC. Acute biodistribution and small animal PET imaging studies were performed in B16/F1 melanoma tumor bearing mice. Results— Biodistribution studies showed moderate receptor-mediated tumor uptake, fast non-target organ clearance, and high tumor to non-target tissue ratios. Pre-administration of D-lysine significantly reduced kidney uptake without affecting the uptake of the agent in the tumor. Small animal PET images showed that the tumor could be clearly visualized at all time points examined (0.5 – 2 h) with the standardized uptake value (SUV) analysis following a similar trend as the biodistribution data. Conclusions— The preliminary data obtained suggests that 68 Ga-DOTA-ReCCMSH(Arg 11 ) is a promising PET imaging agent for early detection of malignant melanoma.