Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic, epidemiological and cell culture studies on human resistin

Resistin was discovered in the year 2000. In the mouse, it was reported to be produced by adipocytes and to be linked with insulin resistance and obesity. Human resistin has been shown to be produced by leucocytes but the literature contains contradictory results on its association with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Aim of this study was to clarify the role of resistin in the human context especially in type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. The first study examined the possible association of human resistin gene variants with type 2 diabetes. The studied three variants were not associated with type 2 diabetes though they were demonstrated in the second study to be associated with the plasma resistin concentration. However, two gene variants were associated with the prevalence of cerebrovascular disease in subjects with type 2 diabetes. In the third work, the association of the plasma resistin level with the risk factors of atherosclerosis and early atherosclerosis measured with carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were studied. Plasma resistin level was not associated with IMT independently from the known risk factors of atherosclerosis. However, resistin was associated with inflammatory markers highly sensitive CRP and the number of leucocytes whereas insulin resistance did not associate with resistin. In the fourth study, resistin expression in different leucocytes and its modulation, as well as the effect of resistin on monocyte adhesion to endothelium were evaluated. The novel discovery was that resistin is expressed in all the main leucocyte lineages, with monocytes and neutrophils exhibiting the highest relative mRNA and protein levels of resistin. Resistin expression was upregulated by pro-inflammatory factors in the cells of both innate and adaptive immunity. The present results demonstrating that resistin increases adhesion and expression of some adhesion molecules support the hypothesis that resistin may be involved in the development of atherosclerosis. The above results indicate that resistin is widely produced by leucocytes and therefore may participate in inflammatory processes. Since it may be considered as an inflammatory cytokine, resistin may also influence the development of atherosclerosis. In the future, resistin could possibly be used as a marker of inflammation.
Drug Effects on Myasthenia Gravis

In this issue of Clinical Case Reports, Nadig [1] describe a case of myasthenia gravis (MG) unmasked after treatment with beta-blockers for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. MG presents at an age when comorbid conditions are common and require treatment with multiple medications. In addition, heart disease may be a manifestation of MG. In one study, 16% of 108 patients with MG showed signs of heart disease, mainly arrhythmia.
Mitochondrial Segregation in Budding Yeast Gametogenesis

Author(s): Sawyer, Eric M | Advisor(s): Unal, Elcin | Abstract: Cellular differentiation involves remodeling cellular architecture to transform one cell type into another. An important and conserved cellular differentiation program is gametogenesis, the process by which sexually reproducing organisms produce gametes. Gametogenesis involves specialized cell division as well as extensive cellular remodeling. Here, we investigated mitochondrial dynamics during gametogenesis in budding yeast to determine how regulators of meiotic differentiation act to control organelle morphogenesis. We found that mitochondria detach from the plasma membrane during meiosis II in a temporally controlled manner. Mitochondrial detachment is regulated by the induction of a transcription factor, Ndt80, which promotes the activation of a protein kinase, Ime2. Ime2 induces mitochondrial detachment by promoting the destruction of the mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum-cortex anchor (MECA), which normally attaches mitochondria to the plasma membrane. Destruction of MECA involves Ime2-dependent phosphorylation and proteolysis that target both known subunits of the complex. We next investigated the fate of the mitochondrial network after its detachment. Consistent with previous studies, we found that the detached mitochondria gained associations with meiotic nuclei. By light and electron microscopy, we determined that the association between mitochondria and the nucleus is a developmentally regulated membrane contact site. Formation of the nucleus-mitochondria contact site required Ndt80 but not Ime2, indicating that the contact site is potentiated prior to destruction of MECA. We analyzed the potential involvement of two known ER-mitochondria tethers, ERMES and Ltc1/Lam6, but our data disfavor their potential roles in this process. Instead, novel factors are likely responsible for generating the nucleus-mitochondria contact site. Our study defines key mechanisms that coordinate mitochondrial morphogenesis with the landmark events of meiosis. Further, our work demonstrates that cells can developmentally regulate tethering to induce organelle remodeling.
The availability of family planning and maternal and child health services

An analysis of data on 11 developing countries examined availability of family planning (FP) and maternal and child health (MCH) services at the community level. Roads were the main means of access to services. Most rural women in 4 countries lived within 30 km of a town with health services. In Egypt this distance was 10 km. About 66% of rural women in Egypt and Zimbabwe had access to outreach services and had the best diversity of outreach providers while Uganda had the worst diversity. For rural women traditional birth attendants were the most accessible providers. Most rural women in North Africa Asia and Latin America lived within 5 km of a FP facility. Less than 50% of rural women in Togo and Zimbabwe and 22% in Uganda lived within 5 km of a FP facility. Almost all urban women lived within 5 km of a FP facility. Travel time to the nearest FP facility for rural women in the Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Guatemala and Thailand was less then 30 minutes. At least 40% of rural women in Togo and Uganda were not familiar with a FP facility or their nearest health facility did not provide FP services. Travel time for the remaining women was at least 30 minutes. In Zimbabwe the travel time to the nearest FP facility was no more than 1 hour for most rural women. Walking was the main means of transport in all countries except Thailand and Ecuador. Pharmacies health centers and clinics were the most accessible facilities providing FP in rural areas. Contraceptive prevalence rates were greatest among women with a community based distribution program or a FP field worker and among those who lived within 5 km of a facility. They tended to use supply methods (i.e. oral contraceptives condoms injection and vaginals). MCH services were more available in urban areas than rural areas. Overall however access to MCH facilities in all 11 countries was relatively good.
Who is Who - Current Scientific Impact of the Medical Staff Affiliated at the Institutes, Faculty of Medicine, University "Ss Kiril and Metodij", Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

Who is Who - Current Scientific Impact of the Medical Staff Affiliated at the Institutes, Faculty of Medicine, University "Ss Kiril and Metodij", Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate current individual scientific impact of the academic staff employed at the Institutes, Faculty of Medicine, University "Ss Kiril and Metodij", Skopje, Republic of Macedonia and to create a list of Top Ten Scientists. Material and methods. One hundred thirty nine members of the academic staff employed at the institutes, Faculty of Medicine in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia were analysed with Harzing's Publish or Perish software for their current individual scientific impact (October, 2009). Results. Gordana Petrushevska from the Institute of Pathology is on the first place of Top Ten Scientists list, Aleksandar Petlichkovski from the Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics is on the second place, Dragica Zendelovska from the Institute of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology is on the third place, Ljudmila Efremovska from the Institute of Medical and Applied Physiology is on the fourth place. Fifth place on the Top Ten Scientists list belongs to Mirko Spiroski from the Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, the sixth place to Ljiljana Bozhinovska from the Institute of Medical and Applied Physiology, the seventh place to Sloboda Dzhekova-Stojkova from the Institute of Medical, Experimental and Applied Biochemistry, the eight place to Dejan Trajkov from the Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, and the ninth and the tenth places share Emilija Janevic-Ivanovska from the Institute of Pathophysiology and Nuclear Medicine and Doncho Donev from the Institute of Social Sciences. Conclusion. The Top Ten Scientists list comprising only members from the Institutes of the Faculty of Medicine has three members from the Institute of Immunobiology and Human Genetics, two members from the Institute of Medical, Experimental and Applied Physiology with Anthropology, and one member from each of the Institute of Pathology, Institute of Preclinical and Clinical Pharmacology with Toxicology, Institute of Medical, Experimental and Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Pathophysiology and Nuclear Medicine, and Institute of Social Sciences.
The Difference of Mental Health Levels and Personality Traits Between Internet Social Addition and Internet Game Addition in College Students

Objective: To explore the difference of psychological health levels and personality traits between Internet social addition and Internet game addition in college students,and analyze the relationship between personality,Internet addition and psychological health.Methods: A sample of 667 college students completed translated Chinese version of Generalized Pathological Internet Use Scale(GPIUS),Internet Game Cognition-addition Scale(IGCAS),Self Rating Checklist(SCL-90),and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Brief version(EPQ). 263 subjects were divided into three groups: Internet game addition group(A1 group,n=76),Internet social addition group(A2 group,n=89) and control group(C group,n=98). Results: ①The subtest and total scores of SCL-90 of A2 group were significantly higher than those of control group,and A1 group(P0.01). Only Photic subtest score of SCL-90 of A1 group was higher than that of C group(P0.05). ②Psychoticism of A2 group was also significantly higher than that of A1 group and C group(P0.01). ③The scores of GPIUS had significantly positive correlation with psychoticism,scores of subtest and total scale of SCL-90 at 0.01 level.Conclusion: The mental health levels of two Internet addition subtype students are worse than non-addition students.Furthermore,Internet social addition behaviors can induce more psycho-somatic symptoms than Internet game addition in college students.Psychoticism may be a susceptible index for Internet social addition.The relationship between personality and Internet game addition behaviors has not been found in the present study.
Surgically treated acute acalculous cholecystitis in critically ill patients

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is an insidious and increasingly recognized complication of critical illness, whose pathogenesis is poorly understood and clinical picture obscure. Diagnosis is difficult and there is no consensus on treatment. The medical records of all ICU patients who had undergone open cholecystectomy due to AAC during the years 2000–2001 and 2003–2004 were examined for clinical and organ failure data. The indication for open cholecystectomy was a suspicion of AAC based on clinical signs and symptoms of sepsis or deteriorating multiple organ dysfunction without other obvious foci and/or radiological (computed tomography or ultrasound) findings indicative of cholecystitis. A total of 73 patients had operatively treated AAC during the study periods, giving an incidence of 0.9% of all admissions (73/8184) and an incidence of 6.7% among the long-stayers (ICUstay >5 days). The hospital mortality of these patients was 43%. Infection was the most common admission diagnosis followed by cardiovascular surgery. The patients were severely ill, the mean (SD) APACHE II score being 25.5 (6.4) and the mean (SD) SOFA score 10.2 (3.5) on admission. In those patients who had AAC as the only intra-abdominal complication of multiple organ dysfunction, cholecystectomy was followed by a remarkable improvement of individual and total SOFA scores by the seventh postoperative day. The AAC gallbladders were histologically and immunohistologically compared to normal gallbladders and to gallbladders of patients with acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC). The ACC patients were admitted into hospital because of primary acute gallbladder disease, were treated on a normal ward and did not have severe sepsis or multiple organ dysfunction. The typical histopathological features of AAC (34 cases) in the gallbladder wall were bile infiltration, lymphatic dilatation and leucocyte margination of blood vessels, while epithelial degeneration and defects, widespread occurrence of inflammatory cells and extensive and deep muscle layer necrosis were typical features of ACC (28 cases). Tight junction proteins (claudin-1, -2, -3, -4, occludin, ZO-1 and E-cadherin) were uniformly expressed in normal gallbladder epithelium, with the exception of claudin-2, which was present in less than half of the cells. In AAC, the expression of cytoplasmic occludin and claudin-1 was decreased compared to control group. In ACC, the expression of claudin-2 was increased, but the expression of claudin-1, -3 and -4, occludin and ZO-1 was decreased compared to normal or AAC gallbladders. In conclusion, AAC is associated with severe illness, infection, long intensive care unit stay and deteriorating multiple organ dysfunction. Open cholecystectomy is one important contributing factor to reverse the course of multiple organ dysfunction in these patients. Histological and immunohistological studies suggest that AAC is a manifestation of systemic inflammatory disease, while ACC is a local inflammatory and often infectious disease.
Effects of hypoglycemia on human thermoregulation

The effect of hypoglycemia on autonomic thermoregulatory responses and thermal perception was examined in ten male subjects who participated in the study on two different occasions. On one occasion they were rendered euglycemic (blood glucose 5.0 mM) and on the other hypoglycemic (blood glucose 2.8 mM), using the hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique. In both cases they were immersed in a 28 OC water and exercised on an underwater cycle ergometer for twenty minutes at 50% of their maximum work rate (exercise phase). Thereafter they remained immersed for an additional 99 minutes (cooling phase). During the exercise phase, skin temperature (Tsk) and the change in esophageal temperature relative to resting values (ATes) were similar for the euglycemic and hypoglycemic conditions. Oxygen uptake ( ~ 0 ~ ) was higher during exercise in the euglycemic compared with the hypoglycemic condition (p I 0.004). Skin flux from the skin ( Q ) and and skin blood perfusion (SkBP) values were also higher in the euglycemic condition compared to the hypoglycemic condition during the last 5-6 minutes of exercise (p 0.04). Passive vasodilation and sweating were initiated at similar ATes values and the gain of their response was unaffected by hypoglycemia. In the cooling phase, the Tsk, Q and SkBP were similar in the two conditions. ATes was greater (p 10.005) during the hypoglycemic than in the euglycemic condition. Hypoglycemia caused a greater decrease in Tes (p 5 0.001) by shifting the ATes threshold for onset of shivering from -0.09 + 0.07 OC in the euglycemic condition to -0.65 + 0.12 OC in the hypoglycemic condition (p 5 0.001). Hypoglycemia did not affect subjective thermal perception during the exercise-induced mild hyperthermia, but decreased the sensitivity of thermal perception during mild hypothermia (p 5 0.02). The present results indicate that hypoglycemia (2.8 mM) does not affect either the thermal tonomic thermoregulatory responses activated during exerciseinduced hyperthermia. In contrast, i sensitivity of thermal perception and the ATes threshold for shivering during mild hypothermia. Lack of a similar effect of hypoglycemia upon the thermoregulatory defence responses activated during mild hyperthermia versus those activated during mild hypothermia indicates separate control for these different thermoregulatory responses. In conclusion, hypoglycemia does not interfere with thermal balance during exercise-induced mild hyperthermia. but may predispose subjects to hypothermia when exposed to a relatively high heat loss y-. ---environment, while are not exercising.
Pain and Its Consequences in Quality of Life: A Study with WHOQOL-Bref in Leprosy Patients with Neuropathic Pain

Chronic neuropathic pain emerges as a challenge in the treatment of leprosy patients after multidrug therapy discharge. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of life and its repercussions in leprosy patients with chronic pain. We studied male and female patients with chronic neuropathic pain in the last year. Neuropathic pain was confirmed using Douleur Neuropathique en 4 (DN4) and its intensity evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). A general questionnaire was applied to evaluate quality of life (WHOQOL-bref). Statistical analyses were composed by descriptive and central tendency. Spearman correlation was used to identify the relation between pain intensity, quality of life domains, and facets. Multiple linear regressions were performed to verify the influence of pain intensity on each facet. Neuropathic pain patients scored worst in physical and environment domains. The low facets were related to pain and discomfort, thinking and concentration, sexual activity, and recreation opportunities. Pain intensity has a high negative influence on psychological domain and recreation opportunities. These findings should contribute to the development of rehabilitation programs considering patients needs to improve their quality of life and true social reintegration.
Serum resistin a biomarker of type II diabetes development

Background: Resistin and ghrelin are hormones that have roles in the glucose and lipid homeostasis and weight regulation. Human studies regarding resistin and ghrelin in diabetic patients are scarce, especially in the cases of normotensive and non-obese patients. This study was designed to illuminate some of the missing points. Methods: Eighty diabetic patients and eighty healthy individuals participated in this study; according to the inclusion criteria [age, gender, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP) and diabetes type]. Fasting and postprandial glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin, acylated-ghrelin and resistin were evaluated for all the participants while HOMA and QUICKI were calculated. Results: Fasting and postprandial glucose, HbA1c, insulin and calculated HOMA increased, while QVICKI decreased among the diabetic patients (p<0.001). All patients also had reduced acylated-ghrelin that was more predominant among type I cases (p<0.001), while resistin was significantly reduced among the female patients (p<0.001). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation between circulating insulin and resistin of older healthy subjects [female (R=-0.72, p<0.001) and male (R=-0.59, p<0.01)] was detected which was absent for the patient groups. Conclusion: None of the diabetes indicators correlated with the circulating ghrelin or resistin that may indicate reductions in the results of protective phenomena due to excess glucose, increase insulin, or high circulating lipids usually observed among the diabetic patients. On the other hand, a strong negative correlation between the insulin and resistin among the older (38-55 years) healthy individuals that indicate the rise of resistin can be a sign of initiation of type II diabetes.
Brain Cavernomas Induced By Radiotherapy in the Patient With Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

Introduction: Radiotherapy is considered the main part of the curative and preventive regimes in the pediatric cancer especially has been highly used in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) as prophylaxis. A large number of the radiotherapy secondary delayed effects have been well known. Case Presentation: In present study, we has introduced a 15-year-old boy with ALL underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Who had generalized tonic-colonic seizure which has been lasted 10 minutes (without any previous history). The patient with ALL ten years ago has been treated by chemotherapy and whole brain prophylactic radiotherapy with dose 1200 cGy/120 cGy/10. In his MRI a heterogeneous mass with the dimensions 3 × 2 cm in the left frontal lobe with the peripheral edema and after complete the diagnose process the final report of this mass was Cavernoma. Conclusions: There has been identified a clear link between radiotherapy and brain cavernoma; therefore, it should be considered in differential diagnosis of brain hemorrhagic lesions in each patient with the history of radiotherapy of the central nervous system. This risk is higher when the patient has the history of the brain radiotherapy in childhood.
Antioxidant activity of Litsea petiolata Hk. f

Litsea petiolata Hk. f was included Lauraceae family, and the previous study had been isolated 5 compounds from the Litsea petiolata Hk. f stem bark dichloromethane extract namely harman or aribine, norharman, reticuline, isoboldine, and thalifoline. Antioxidants can prevent tissue damage by free radical. Free radical production continuously in all cells as cellular function usually, but excess production can cause many diseases. The research aimed to assay the activity of antioxidant from the extract and fractions of the Litsea petiolata Hk. f stem bark with DPPH assay and FRAP assay. The extract was obtained by soxhletation used dichloromethane as solvent. The fractions fractionated with column chromatography. The antioxidant test used DPPH assay and FRAP assay. The IC50 values for the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test of the dichloromethane extract was 27.36 µg/mL, the fraction A was 113.74 µg/mL, fraction B was 60.17 µg/mL, and the control positive (quercetin) was 3.96 µg/ml. The EC50 values for ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) test of the dichloromethane extract was obtained 13.47 µg/mL, the fraction A was 76.49 µg/mL, fraction B was 55.73 µg/mL, and the control positive (quercetin) was 14.01 µg/ml. The extract had higher antioxidant activity than the fractions, and by FRAP test the extract showed better antioxidant activity than the positive control (quercetin).
Exploitation of technological variability among wild non-Saccharomyces yeasts to select mixed starters for the production of low alcohol wines

Increase of the sugar content in grape must, and consequently, alcohol levels in wine are some of the principal problems affecting the winemaking industry. High alcohol content can compromise wine quality, creating sensory imbalances, as well as decreasing the perception of some flavors. The technological approaches proposed at this aim, although allowing achievement of the purpose, can determine negative influence on quality of wine. A promising strategy is based on the use of specific microorganisms, such as selected yeast strains, mainly non-Saccharomyces, able to convert grape must sugars towards secondary metabolites rather than ethanol. This study aims at screening of wild non-Saccharomyces strains in order to identify those suitable for the use in mixed starter for the production of wine with reduced alcohol content and, at the same time, with improved aromatic characteristics.