Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insights to potential antihypertensive activity of berry fruits

Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease and causes widespread morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although several antihypertensive drugs have been proposed for management of high blood pressure, changing lifestyle, including diet, has attracted interest recently. In this sense, consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, has been assigned as an efficient therapeutics. Berry fruits contain various bioactive compounds with potential health implications such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti‐inflammatory properties. The main mechanisms responsible for antihypertensive activity mainly arise from the activity of flavonoids, minerals, and vitamins, as well as fibers. The objective of this review is to provide a summary of studies regarding the effect of berry fruits on the hypertensive animals and humans. The mechanisms involved in reducing blood pressure by each group of compounds have been highlighted. It can be concluded that berries' bioactive compounds are efficient in mitigation of hypertension through improvement of vascular function, angiotensin‐converting enzyme's (ACE) inhibitory activity, increasing endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity, and nitric oxide (NO) production, besides anti‐oxidative and anti‐inflammatory activities. These fruits can be considered as potential sources of invaluable compounds for development of antihypertensive foods and pharmaceuticals.
Sexual satisfaction of middle-aged and older adults: longitudinal findings from a nationally representative sample.

BACKGROUND whilst previous studies have investigated the determinants of sexual satisfaction (i) using longitudinal data or (ii) among older adults, only a few studies have done both at the sametime. OBJECTIVE the purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of sexual satisfaction longitudinally among middle-aged and older adults. DESIGN nationally representative longitudinal study (German Ageing Survey-DEAS). SETTING community-dwelling individuals in Germany. Data drawn from three waves (2002, 2008, 2011). SUBJECTS individuals aged 40-95 (36.9% age group 65+). At wave 2 in the year 2002, n = 3,843 individuals took part. METHODS well-established and widely used scales were used to quantify the independent variables. We included variables such as sociodemographic factors, self-rated health, physical functioning, depression and loneliness in our analysis. Sexual satisfaction was our outcome measure. Results were stratified by age (40-64, 65+). To take into account the multilevel data structure, we used random coefficient models. RESULTS random-effects regressions showed that increased sexual satisfaction was consistently associated with the following variables in both age groups: lower number of physical illnesses, β = -0.03, P < 0.001 (betas coefficients given for individuals 65 years and over); better self-rated health, β = -0.06, P < 0.001; absence of depression, β = -0.16, P < 0.01; and higher importance of sexuality and intimacy, β = 0.08, P < 0.001. Moreover, sexual satisfaction was associated with having a partner: β = 0.16, P < 0.001; living with a partner in the same household, β = 0.26, P < 0.001; and a lower score of loneliness, β = -. 28, P < 0.001. In contrast, sexual satisfaction was, for example, not associated with cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS the most surprising findings were that among both middle-aged and older adults, almost the same determinants (with exception of sociodemographic factors) were associated with satisfaction with sexlife.
Topography-Guided Photorefractive Keratectomy for Postkeratoplasty Astigmatism: Long-Term Outcomes.

PURPOSE To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (TG-PRK) for postkeratoplasty refractive error correction. METHODS A retrospective interventional case series of 54 eyes of 50 patients who underwent previous corneal transplants. Unaided distance visual acuity (UDVA) and best corrected visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, mean central keratometric value, mean keratometric astigmatism, and postoperative complications were reviewed. RESULTS Final follow-up was at mean 31 (±17) months. Sixteen point seven percent of eyes underwent more than 1 surface ablation. Mean UDVA improved from 0.96 ± 0.06 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) preoperatively to 0.46 ± 0.05 LogMAR of resolution at the final follow-up (Bonferroni, P < 0.0001). Mean UDVA improved by 4.4 Snellen lines. Improvement in CDVA was not significant, although a significant improvement was noted when eyes with preoperative CDVA <20/40 were analyzed separately (t test, P = 0.005). Mean astigmatism improved from -4.4 ± 0.26 D preoperatively to -2.4 ± 0.26 D at the final follow-up (Bonferroni, P < 0.0001), whereas mean SEQ improved from -2.5 ± 0.39 D preoperatively to -1.1 ± 0.25 D (Bonferroni, P = 0.02). In total, 9% at the preoperative visit and 55% at the final visit had less than 2 D of astigmatism, respectively. Keratometric astigmatism decreased from 5.24 ± 0.36 D preoperatively to 2.98 ± 0.34 D at the final follow-up (t test, P < 0.0001). No eyes developed clinically significant haze, 14.8% developed regression, and 13% had a reduction of 2 or more CDVA lines. CONCLUSIONS Postkeratoplasty topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy has good long-term efficacy and safety, resulting in significant UDVA, refractive, and keratometric improvement. Regression can occur after the first year of treatment, emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-up.
MiR-32-5p knockdown inhibits epithelial to mesenchymal transition and renal fibrosis by targeting SMAD7 in diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is primary cause of end-stage renal disease. A previous study has shown that miR-32-5p (miR-32) is highly expressed in kidney tissue during chronic allograft dysfunction with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. However, the role of miR-32-5p (miR-32) in DN is still unclear. In this study, streptozotocin-induced DN rat models and high glucose (HG)-incubated human kidney proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells were established to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of miR-32 in DN. Results of real-time PCR revealed that miR-32 levels were greatly increased in DN rats and HG-incubated HK-2 cells. Downregulation of miR-32 effectively relieved HG-induced autophagy suppression, fibrosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and inflammation in HK-2 cells. Besides, miR-32 overexpression significantly down-regulated the expression of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (SMAD7), whereas knockdown of miR-32 markedly up-regulated the level of SMAD7. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that SMAD7 was a target of miR-32. Reintroduction of SMAD7 expression rescued miR-32-induced HK-2 cells autophagy suppression, EMT and renal fibrosis. Our findings indicate that miR-32 may play roles in the progression of EMT and fibrosis in DN.
A Comparison of the Effects of a Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse on Cycling Performance in Depleted and Non-depleted Glycogen States

Performance improvements have been reported when mouth rinsing with a carbohydrate (CHO) solution during short duration, high intensity endurance exercise. Limited research has been conducted in this area when endogenous CHO stores are depleted. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a CHO mouth rinse on endurance-trained cyclists during a 30-kilometer time trial in depleted vs. non-depleted glycogen states. METHODS: 5 endurance-trained men (28±7 years; 179.32±8.15 cm; 68.65±8.16 kg; 54.00±5.95 mL/kg/min VO2 max) participated in a repeated measures crossover study using a CHO mouth rinse (6.4% maltodextrin) or placebo. RESULTS: Subjects completed the time trial faster (p=0.033) in the non-depleted state, despite reporting lower RPE (p=0.010). There was no significant treatment effect, but subjects completed the time trial 20 seconds faster in the depleted CHO mouth rinse condition. Power output was significantly higher (p=0.010) in non-depleted than depleted conditions; no significant treatment effect was observed. RER was significantly higher (p=0.001) in the non-depleted state; no significant differences were observed between mouth rinses. A mouth rinse segment interaction (p=0.028) was observed for heart rate in the last 6k for the CHO mouth rinse condition, indicating a possible increase in effort over the last segment of the time trial. CONCLUSION: CHO mouth rinse may be a valuable tool for performance enhancement in suboptimal nutrition states. Further, the results supported current knowledge regarding performance in depleted and non-depleted glycogen states.
Effect of increased incubation temperature on Hsp 90 and 60 gene expressions in coloured broiler chickens

ABSTRACT The mRNA expression profiles of Hsp-90 alpha, Hsp-90 beta and Hsp-60 were evaluated in coloured broiler chickens, that is, Punjab broiler-2 (PB-2) and naked neck (NN), exposed to 2°C increased incubation temperature for 3 h each on 16th, 17th and 18th days of incubation. Another set of eggs were incubated at normal conditions that were utilized as control. A total of 432 chicks, 216 in each breed (PB-2; NN) and treatment (heat exposed; normal), randomly distributed were reared at high ambient temperatures (32–45°C) during summer in battery brooders. Birds were sacrificed on 0 and 28th days post-hatch and different tissues (heart, liver, muscle, spleen and bursa) were collected to assess the mRNA expression. Heat exposure during incubation significantly (P ≤ .05) influenced the expression of Hsp-90 alpha in spleen of day old; in heart, liver and spleen at 28 days in PB-2 chicken. Hsp-90 alpha mRNA expression was not significant among the tissues at different ages in NN chicken. Hsp-90 beta did not show any significant variations in gene expression across the tissues at both the age groups either in NN or in PB-2 chicken. Heat exposure had significant effect in the expression patterns of Hsp-60 at 28 days in heart, liver and spleen in PB-2 chicken. The mRNA expression of all the three genes significantly (P ≤ .05) varied in different tissues across the age groups in both PB-2 and NN chickens. The study concluded that thermal adaptation during the embryonic stage to higher incubation temperature reduced Hsp gene expression in different tissues in postnatal life during high ambient temperature which might result in increased heat tolerance capacity of the broiler chickens.
CRISPR/Cas gene therapy

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated enzyme (Cas) is a naturally occurring genome editing tool adopted from the prokaryotic adaptive immune defense system. Currently, CRISPR/Cas9‐based genome editing has been becoming one of the most promising tools for treating human genetic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neuro‐disorders, and cancers. As the quick modification of the CRISPR/Cas9 system, including delivery system, CRISPR/Cas9‐based gene therapy has been extensively studied in preclinic and clinic treatments. CRISPR/Cas genome editing is also a robust tool to create animal genetic models for studying and treating human genetic disorders, particularly diseases associated with point mutations. However, significant challenges also remain before CRISPR/Cas technology can be routinely employed in the clinic for treating different genetic diseases, which include toxicity and immune response of treated cells to CRISPR/Cas component, highly throughput delivery method, and potential off‐target impact. The off‐target effect is one of the major concerns for CRISPR/Cas9 gene therapy, more research should be focused on limiting this impact by designing high specific gRNAs and using high specificity of Cas enzymes. Modifying the CRISPR/Cas9 delivery method not only targets a specific tissue/cell but also potentially limits the off‐target impact.
Combined modified atmosphere packaging and guar gum edible coatings to preserve blackberry (Rubus glaucus Benth)

Blackberry fruits are fresh products with wide market possibilities but of very limited shelf life (3–6 days). To develop preservation alternatives, the effect and interaction of a modified atmosphere packaging and an edible coating based on guar gum were determined on the shelf life and quality properties of blackberry cv. Castilla stored at 5 ℃. Three types of packaging were evaluated: (1) perforated polyethylene terephthalate clamshells, (2) sealed polyethylene terephthalate clamshells, and (3) sealed polyethylene terephthalate clamshells with a polylactic acid film on top. In turn, two types of coating were evaluated: coatings of guar gum solutions at (1) 0.3% and (2) 0.4% in water. During storage, an index of deterioration and different quality properties were evaluated. In the polyethylene terephthalate packages with polylactic acid, an equilibrium modified atmosphere packaging was formed. Weight loss was much lower for the sealed polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene terephthalate + polylactic acid (<2%) compared to fruits in perforated clamshells, with no significant differences between these two types of packaging. It was possible to observe the treatment with an edible coating of 0.3% gum guar and perforated clamshells (guar gum 0.3/N) presented the lowest deterioration rate and preserve the fruit longer time (13 days) although with a high weight loss (23.23%) while the treatment with polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid film + edible coating of gum guar (guar gum 03/polylactic acid) kept the samples during 12 days with a lower weight loss (1.75%). This latter combination of equilibrium modified atmosphere packaging with a biodegradable film and the guar gum edible coating can be an interesting treatment from a commercial point of view.
Association of Hydroxychloroquine use and Hemolytic Anemia in Patients With Low Levels of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Background Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD) is linked to hemolytic anemia with certain medications and is the most common enzyme deficiency worldwide. Although the American College of Rheumatology does not recommend routine testing for G6PD prior to initiation of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the package insert for HCQ does recommend careful use in patients with G6PD deficiency. Methods We identified eligible subjects seen at our tertiary care, urban medical center between 1997 and 2018. Case records were analyzed for G6PD deficiency, HCQ use, length of exposure to HCQ, demographic characteristics, and laboratory evidence of hemolysis. Results We found 5264 patients who were prescribed HCQ, of which 49.5% (2605 patients) were screened for G6PD deficiency. Of the screened patients, 36 were found to be G6PD-deficient. Of the G6PD-deficient patients, 18 were exposed to HCQ. No evidence of hemolysis was found in these exposed patients. Conclusions Despite more than 500 months of cumulative exposure time to HCQ, there were no cases of hemolysis. These findings are in line with recently published data and suggest that this interaction is not associated with clinically significant hemolysis in our population of mainly African American and Hispanic patients. Limitations to our study are potential bias due to case review design and lack of prior assessment of episodes of hemolysis before HCQ exposure. A high proportion of our patients were Hispanic, suggesting no increase of adverse events in this subgroup. A larger longitudinal trial would be needed to definitively answer the question of the safety of HCQ in G6PD-deficient patients.
Neuromodulatory and oxidative stress evaluations in African catfish Clarias gariepinus exposed to antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine

Abstract Chlorpromazine (CPZ) is among the most famous drugs used for the treatment of psychosis such as delusions, hallucinations, schizophrenia, paranoia, or disordered thought in humans. In the present study, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and oxidative stress parameters in the brain of Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to CPZ were investigated. Fish were exposed to 0.53, 1.56, and 2.11 mg/L corresponding to 5, 10, and 20% of the 96 h LC50 of CPZ on C. gariepinus, respectively. The fish brain was sampled on days 1, 7, 14, and after 7-days recovery. Our results indicate that AChE values were significantly higher in exposed groups compared to the control on days 7, 14, and 7-days recovery. The values of lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) increased compared to the control while catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly declined at higher CBZ concentrations. While LPO and CAT returned to the same range as the control values after the 7-day withdrawal from the drug, AChE, SOD, GR, and GPx did not. The use and disposal of CPZ should be strictly regulated to avoid possible ecotoxicological impacts on non-target organisms.
Is independence enough? Rehabilitation should include autonomy and social engagement to achieve quality of life

Purpose: This discussion paper argues that holding independence as the central goal for rehabilitation has limitations that hinder successful outcomes. It shows why autonomy and social engagement should also serve as goals of rehabilitation, in order to achieve quality of life and effective functioning. Methods: The paper reviews problems arising from the over-emphasis on independence in rehabilitation. Although independence is a valuable goal on some tasks, it is sometimes not possible or desirable and is best complimented by autonomy and social engagement. Autonomy recognises that enacting some goals requires the support of other people. Autonomy is thus linked to social engagement (connectivity) in the workplace and personal relationships. The paper applies this framework to motor and cognitive disabilities. Results: The inclusion of autonomy and social engagement as goals for rehabilitation addresses the limitations of independence and can serve the unifying aim of enhancing the person’s quality of life. These goals apply equally to motor disabilities and the cognitive and behavioural effects of injuries which affect personal and work relationships. Conclusions: Rehabilitation is likely to be more effective if it aims at a combination of independence, autonomy and social engagement, in service of the goal of a good quality of life.
Electrochemical Performance of Micropillar Array Electrodes in Microflows

The microchip-based electrochemical detection system (μEDS) has attracted plenty of research attention due to its merits including the capability in high-density integration, high sensitivity, fast analysis time, and reduced reagent consumption. The miniaturized working electrode is usually regarded as the core component of the μEDS, since its characteristic directly determines the performance of the whole system. Compared with the microelectrodes with conventional shapes such as the band, ring and disk, the three-dimensional (3D) micropillar array electrode (μAE) has demonstrated significant potential in improving the current response and decreasing the limits of detection due to its much larger reaction area. In this study, the numerical simulation method was used to investigate the performance of the μEDS, and both the geometrical and hydrodynamic parameters, including the micropillars shape, height, arrangement form and the flow rate of the reactant solution, were taken into consideration. The tail effect in μAEs was also quantitatively analyzed based on a pre-defined parameter of the current density ratio. In addition, a PDMS-based 3D μAE was fabricated and integrated into the microchannel for the electrochemical detection. The experiments of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) were conducted, and a good agreement was found between the experimental and simulation results. This study would be instructive for the configuration and parameters design of the μEDS, and the presented method can be adopted to analyze and optimize the performance of nanochip-based electrochemical detection system (nEDS).
Individual Differences in Intrinsic Brain Networks Predict Symptom Severity in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The neurobiology of heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is still unknown. We hypothesized that differences in subject-level properties of intrinsic brain networks were important features that could predict individual variation in ASD symptom severity. We matched cases and controls from a large multicohort ASD dataset (ABIDE-II) on age, sex, IQ, and image acquisition site. Subjects were matched at the individual level (rather than at group level) to improve homogeneity within matched case-control pairs (ASD: n = 100, mean age = 11.43 years, IQ = 110.58; controls: n = 100, mean age = 11.43 years, IQ = 110.70). Using task-free functional magnetic resonance imaging, we extracted intrinsic functional brain networks using projective non-negative matrix factorization. Intrapair differences in strength in subnetworks related to the salience network (SN) and the occipital-temporal face perception network were robustly associated with individual differences in social impairment severity (T = 2.206, P = 0.0301). Findings were further replicated and validated in an independent validation cohort of monozygotic twins (n = 12; 3 pairs concordant and 3 pairs discordant for ASD). Individual differences in the SN and face-perception network are centrally implicated in the neural mechanisms of social deficits related to ASD.
Predicting the response to a triptan in migraine using deep attack phenotyping: A feasibility study

Background Triptans, specific symptomatic medications for migraine, are not effective in a proportion of patients, or in all attacks, hence the importance of identifying predictors of response. Our aim was to investigate the association between the efficacy of oral frovatriptan 2.5 mg and clinical characteristics of migraine attacks. Methods We enrolled 29 consecutive patients affected by migraine without aura at the Headache Center of “Mondino” Institute of Pavia. Each patient was given a diary and asked to record prospectively the features of three consecutive migraine attacks while using frovatriptan. A generalized estimating equations approach was used to determine phenotypic features associated with the pain free response at 2 hours. Results Participants provided complete data for 85 attacks. Thirty of these (34%) patients reported being pain free 2 hours after taking frovatriptan 2.5 mg intake. Unilateral pain, presence of phonophobia, presence of one or more cranial autonomic symptoms and presence of one or more premonitory symptom were each associated with being pain free at 2 hours. Conclusions The response to frovatriptan was associated with particular features of the migraine attack, either before or during the pain phase of attacks. The data support larger studies to explore detailed attack phenotyping, with particular attention to early signs, to enable individualized treatment in migraine.