Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Independent Effects of Hypertension and Obesity on Left Ventricular Mass and Geometry: Evidence from the Cardiovision 2030 Study

Obesity and hypertension independently promote pathological left ventricular remodelling (LVR) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), but to what extent they do so when they do not coexist is unclear. We used data from the Cardiovision Brno 2030 study to assess-for the first time in a region where no investigations have been previously carried out-the independent association of obesity and hypertension with LV geometry, and to evaluate the effects of hypertension in normal weight patients and the effects of obesity in normotensive patients. Overall, 433 individuals, aged 25⁻65 years, with no history of cardiovascular disease and/or antihypertensive treatment, were stratified into four groups according to BMI and hypertension: normal weight non-hypertensive (NWNH), normal weight hypertensive (NWH), overweight/obese non-hypertensive (ONH) and overweight/obese hypertensive (OH). LVR was classified as normal, concentric LVR (cLVR), concentric LVH (cLVH) or eccentric LVH (eLVH). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that body mass index (BMI) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) are the main predictors of LV mass and that they interact: SBP had a stronger effect in overweight/obese (β = 0.195; p = 0.033) compared to normal weight patients (β = 0.134; p = 0.048). Hypertension increased the odds of cLVR (OR = 1.78; 95%CI = 1.04⁻3.06; p = 0.037) and cLVH (OR = 8.20; 95% CI = 2.35⁻28.66; p = 0.001), independent of age, sex and BMI. Stratified analyses showed that NWH had a greater odd of cLVH (OR = 7.96; 95%CI = 1.70⁻37.08; p = 0.008) and cLVR (OR = 1.62; 95%CI = 1.02⁻3.34; p = 0.047) than NWNH. In the absence of hypertension, obesity was not associated with LVM and abnormal LV geometry, suggesting that it is not per se a determinant of LVR. Thus, antihypertensive therapy still remains the first-line approach against LVH in hypertensive patients, though weight loss interventions might be helpful in those who are obese.
Is Self-Compassion Selfish? The Development of Self-Compassion, Empathy, and Prosocial Behavior in Adolescence.

Both self-compassion and empathy have been theorized to promote prosociality in youth, but there is little longitudinal data examining this possibility. We assessed self-compassion, empathy, and peer-rated prosociality yearly, in a cohort of 2,078 youth across 17 schools (M age at T1 = 14.65 years; 49.2% female), as they progressed from Grade 9-12. We utilized multi-level modeling to predict prosocial behavior, nested within students, classes, and schools. We found that self-compassion and empathy uniquely predicted peer-rated prosocial behavior. However, only empathy predicted increases in prosocial behavior across time. While self-compassion is not selfish, it does not appear to facilitate the development of kindness toward adolescent peers. Self-compassion may help to buffer against possible negative effects of empathic distress.
Tsg101 positively regulates physiologic‐like cardiac hypertrophy through FIP3‐mediated endosomal recycling of IGF‐1R

Development of physiologic cardiac hypertrophy has primarily been ascribed to the IGF‐1 and its receptor, IGF‐1 receptor (IGF‐1R), and subsequent activation of the protein kinase B (Akt) pathway. However, regulation of endosome‐mediated recycling and degradation of IGF‐1R during physiologic hypertrophy has not been investigated. In a physiologic hypertrophy model of treadmill‐exercised mice, we observed that levels of tumor susceptibility gene 101 (Tsg101), a key member of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport, were dramatically elevated in the heart compared with sedentary controls. To determine the role of Tsg101 on physiologic hypertrophy, we generated a transgenic (TG) mouse model with cardiac‐specific overexpression of Tsg101. These TG mice exhibited a physiologic‐like cardiac hypertrophy phenotype at 8 wk evidenced by: 1) the absence of cardiac fibrosis, 2) significant improvement of cardiac function, and 3) increased total and plasma membrane levels of IGF‐1R and increased phosphorylation of Akt. Mechanistically, we identified that Tsg101 interacted with family‐interacting protein 3 (FIP3) and IGF‐1R, thereby stabilizing FIP3 and enhancing recycling of IGF‐1R. In vitro, adenovirus‐mediated overexpression of Tsg101 in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes resulted in cell hypertrophy, which was blocked by addition of monensin, an inhibitor of endosome‐mediated recycling, and by small interfering RNA—mediated knockdown (KD) of FIP3. Furthermore, cardiac‐specific KD of Tsg101 showed a significant reduction in levels of endosomal recycling compartment members (Rabila and FIP3), IGF‐1R, and Akt phosphorylation. Most interestingly, Tsg101‐KD mice failed to develop cardiac hypertrophy after intense treadmill training. Taken together, our data identify Tsg101 as a novel positive regulator of physiologic cardiac hypertrophy through facilitating the FIP3‐mediated endosomal recycling of IGF‐1R. —Essandoh, K. , Deng, S. , Wang, X. , Jiang, M. , Mu, X. , Peng, J., Li, Y. , Peng, T. , Wagner, K. ‐U. , Rubinstein, J., Fan, G. ‐C. Tsg101 positively regulates physiologic‐like cardiac hypertrophy through FIP3‐mediated endosomal recycling of IGF‐1R. FASEB J. 33, 7451–7466 (2019). www.fasebj. org
Handling has an anxiolytic effect that is not affected by the inhibition of the protein kinase C pathway in adult prenatal undernourished male rat offspring

Environmental enrichment (EE) after birth has been reported as an intervention improving the anxiety‐like behavior and cognitive deficit due to maternal restraint, foot‐shock, or social stress during pregnancy. However, it remains unclear whether EE after birth could benefit the early prenatal undernourished offspring. In this study, we examined the effect of daily handling as a simple EE intervention on the aberrant behavior of prenatally undernourished rats. The male rat offspring exhibited anxiety‐like behavior at 9 weeks of age due to maternal food restriction in early pregnancy. Our study shows that the daily handling after weaning has an anxiolytic effect in the prenatally undernourished offspring without affecting the behavior of prenatally well‐nourished offspring. Conversely, the concentrations of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and their metabolites were not altered in the prefrontal cortex by prenatal undernutrition or daily handling after weaning. We investigated whether the anxiolytic effect of daily handling was mediated by the protein kinase C (PKC) pathway using the PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine. The anxiolytic effect of the handling was not canceled by chelerythrine injection in prenatally undernourished offspring, whereas chelerythrine induced an anxiety‐like behavior in control rats. Our results suggest that maternal undernutrition in early pregnancy induces an anxiety‐like behavior accompanied with a PKC pathway‐hyporesponsiveness; however, daily handling ameliorates the anxiety‐like behavior through a PKC‐independent pathway.
Heart Rate Kinetics Response of Pre-Pubertal Children during the Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test—Level 1

This study analyzed heart rate (HR) kinetics during the Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance Test—level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1) in children. At the middle of the school year, 107 boys (7–10 years old) performed the Yo-Yo IE1. Individual HR curves during the Yo-Yo IE1 were analyzed to detect an inflection point between an initial phase of fast rise in HR, and a second phase in which the rise of HR is slower. The 7th shuttle of the test was established as the inflection point. Engagement with extra-school sports practice was identified. Percentile groups (P1, P2 and P3) were created for body weight and physical fitness data composite (PFcomposite). Differences were found between the slopes of P1 and P3 on phase 1 for body weight (12.5 ± 2.7 vs. 13.7 ± 2.0 bpm/shuttle; p = 0.033; d = 0.50) and PFcomposite (14.2 ± 2.5 vs. 12.5 ± 2.0 bpm/shuttle; p = 0.015; d = 0.75). Time spent >95% of peak HR was longer for the children engaged with extra-school sports practice (335 ± 158 vs. 234 ± 124 s; p < 0.001; d = 0.71); differences were also detected for PFcomposite (P1, P2 and P3: 172 ± 92, 270 ± 109, and 360 ± 157 s, respectively; p < 0.05; d = 0.66–1.46). This study indicates that physical fitness and body weight influence HR kinetics during the Yo-Yo IE1 in pre-pubertal boys.
Hippocampal Mossy Fibers Synapses in CA3 Pyramidal Cells Are Altered at an Early Stage in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Early Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects the brain non-uniformly, causing hippocampal memory deficits long before wide-spread brain degeneration becomes evident. Here we addressed whether mossy fiber inputs from the dentate gyrus onto CA3 principal cells are affected in an AD mouse model before amyloid β plaque deposition. We recorded from CA3 pyramidal cells in a slice preparation from 6-month-old male APP/PS1 mice, and studied synaptic properties and intrinsic excitability. In parallel we performed a morphometric analysis of mossy fiber synapses following viral based labeling and 3D-reconstruction. We found that the basal structural and functional properties as well as presynaptic short-term plasticity at mossy fiber synapses are unaltered at 6 months in APP/PS1 mice. However, transient potentiation of synaptic transmission mediated by activity-dependent release of lipids was abolished. Whereas the presynaptic form of mossy fiber long-term potentiation (LTP) was not affected, the postsynaptic LTP of NMDAR-EPSCs was reduced. In addition, we also report an impairment in feedforward inhibition in CA3 pyramidal cells. This study, together with our previous work describing deficits at CA3–CA3 synapses, provides evidence that early AD affects synapses in a projection-dependent manner at the level of a single neuronal population. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Because loss of episodic memory is considered the cognitive hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), it is important to study whether synaptic circuits involved in the encoding of episodic memory are compromised in AD mouse models. Here we probe alterations in the synaptic connections between the dentate gyrus and CA3, which are thought to be critical for enabling episodic memories to be formed and stored in CA3. We found that forms of synaptic plasticity specific to these synaptic connections are markedly impaired at an early stage in a mouse model of AD, before deposition of β amyloid plaques. Together with previous work describing deficits at CA3–CA3 synapses, we provide evidence that early AD affects synapses in an input-dependent manner within a single neuronal population.
RF Energy Harvesting System Based on an Archimedean Spiral Antenna for Low-Power Sensor Applications

This paper presents a radiofrequency (RF) energy harvesting system based on an ultrawideband Archimedean spiral antenna and a half-wave Cockcroft-Walton multiplier circuit. The antenna was proved to operate from 350 MHz to 16 GHz with an outstanding performance. With its use, radio spectrum measurements were carried out at the Telecommunication Engineering School (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid) to determine the power level of the ambient signals in two different scenarios: indoors and outdoors. Based on these measurements, a Cockcroft-Walton multiplier and a lumped element matching network are designed to operate at 800 MHz and 900 MHz frequency bands. To correct the frequency displacement in the circuit, a circuit model is presented that takes into account the different parasitic elements of the components and the PCB. With an input power of 0 dBm, the manufactured circuit shows a rectifying efficiency of 30%. Finally, a test is carried out with the full RF energy harvesting system to check its correct operation. Thus, the RF system is placed in front of a transmitting Vivaldi antenna at a distance of 50 cm. The storage capacitor has a charge of over 1.25 V, which is enough to run a temperature sensor placed as the load to be supplied. This demonstrates the validity of the RF energy harvesting system for low-power practical applications.
Laryngeal Melanosis

Laryngeal melanosis, the presence of ectopic melanocytes within the epithelial lining of the larynx, is rare and little is known or reported about its clinical significance. Pigmentation of the keratinocytes with a normal or slightly increased number of melanocytes histologically has been described. Supraglottic, glottic, and subglottic melanosis has been reported. A 56-year-old female with a 4-month history of throat pain presented to our office. The throat pain was constant, sharp, sore, and was relieved by tramadol. The pain was associated with heartburn, postnasal drip, dysphagia to solid foods, and hoarseness. The patient was diagnosed with asthma and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Additionally, she was an active smoker with a 25 pack-year smoking history, but she denied drinking alcohol. The patient was taking Flonase, omeprazole, and ranitidine. Her mother, grandmother, and aunt had had laryngeal cancer. Physical examination revealed oral candidiasis. Videolaryngoscopy revealed bilateral Reinke’s edema, pseudosulcus, erythema of the arytenoid mucosa, ventricular obliteration, laryngeal edema, posterior laryngeal hypertrophy, white patches, and hypopharyngolaryngeal flat mucosal pigmentation suggestive of laryngeal melanosis (Figure 1). No discrete laryngopharyngeal masses or lesions were seen. Barium swallow and esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed no abnormalities. The patient was counseled on smoking cessation and advised to continue treatment of LPR, which contributed in part to her throat pain, dysphagia, and increased risk of laryngeal and esophageal malignancies. Nystatin swish and swallow was prescribed, and corticosteroid inhaler education was provided to manage the oral and laryngeal candidiasis found on examination. She was scheduled to return for follow-up. The largest study in the literature prospectively enrolled 18 patients with laryngeal melanosis and compared this cohort to 19 cases reported previously, effectively encompassing every reported case to date. The authors reported a strong association between laryngeal melanosis and chronic tobacco use. The presenting symptom was most commonly dysphonia, although Figure 1. A, Videolaryngoscopy shows hypopharyngolaryngeal melanosis with no discrete lesions (black arrows) and white fungal patches (white arrows). B, Additional view reveals intact vocal fold movement, pyriform sinuses, and postcricoid area. 1 Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
MRI of acute appendicitis

Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain resulting in surgery. While historically ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) have been used to evaluate for appendicitis and its related complications, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a highly accurate and increasingly utilized modality in the last two decades, particularly in the pediatric and pregnant patient populations in whom ionizing radiation is used reluctantly. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of MRI as a modality to evaluate for acute appendicitis, summarizes studies of the diagnostic performance relative to CT and US, provides a standard MR protocol, and describes MRI findings typical of acute appendicitis, common complications, and other differential diagnoses.
Bariatric surgery is an effective means of improving adverse delivery complications in term births

Commentary on : Stephansson O, Johansson K, Soderling J, et al . Delivery outcomes in term births after bariatric surgery: population-based matched cohort study. PLoS Med 2018;15:e1002656. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed. 1002656 The prevalence of obesity has continued to rise in almost every country across the globe.1–3 Maternal obesity is linked with severe maternal morbidity and mortality3 and with adverse delivery outcomes.1 3 4 Bariatric surgery is regarded as a very effective …
Translation arrest as a protein quality control system for aberrant translation of the 3′‐UTR in mammalian cells

Read‐through or mutations of a stop codon resulting in translation of the 3′‐UTR produce potentially toxic C‐terminally extended proteins. However, quality control mechanisms for such proteins are poorly understood in mammalian cells. Here, a comprehensive analysis of the 3′‐UTRs of genes associated with hereditary diseases identified novel arrest‐inducing sequences in the 3′‐UTRs of 23 genes that can repress the levels of their protein products. In silico analysis revealed that the hydrophobicity of the polypeptides encoded in the 3′‐UTRs is correlated with arrest efficiency. These results provide new insight into quality control mechanisms mediated by 3′‐UTRs to prevent the production of C‐terminally extended cytotoxic proteins.
Microscopic Destination Choice: Incorporating Travel Time Budgets as Constraints

Despite empirical evidence, the common approaches for destination choice modeling do not usually account for an overall travel time budget. In fact, if congestion worsens workers will choose different workplaces instantaneously, a highly unrealistic representation of observed work trip destination choice. The objective of this paper is to incorporate travel time budgets as constraints for non-commute trips in the destination choice model, while the commute time will be given directly by home and workplace locations as defined in a synthetic population. Individual travel time budgets for every trip purpose were calculated using the household as analysis unit. The results indicate that travel time depends on the number of required trips by trip purpose and household sociodemographics. Increasing the number of trips for one purpose reduces the travel time allocated for the other trips, confirming the existence of an overall travel time budget. Household size is the most important sociodemographic variable, followed by the household income. Destination choice modeling with travel time budgets as constraint will add fidelity to trip-based travel demand models.
Validity of the Supramaximal Test to Verify Maximal Oxygen Uptake in Children and Adolescents.

Purpose: This study had 2 objectives: (1) to examine whether the validity of the supramaximal verification test for maximal oxygen uptake ( V˙O2max ) differs in children and adolescents when stratified for sex, body mass, and cardiorespiratory fitness and (2) to assess sensitivity and specificity of primary and secondary objective criteria from the incremental test to verify V˙O2max . Methods: In total, 128 children and adolescents (76 male and 52 females; age: 9.3-17.4 y) performed a ramp-incremental test to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer followed by a supramaximal test to verify V˙O2max . Results: Supramaximal tests verified V˙O2max in 88% of participants. Group incremental test peak V˙O2 was greater than the supramaximal test (2.27 [0.65] L·min-1 and 2.17 [0.63] L·min-1; P < .001), although both were correlated (r = .94; P < .001). No differences were found in V˙O2 plateau attainment or supramaximal test verification between sex, body mass, or cardiorespiratory fitness groups (all Ps > .18). Supramaximal test time to exhaustion predicted supramaximal test V˙O2max verification (P = .04). Primary and secondary objective criteria had insufficient sensitivity (7.1%-24.1%) and specificity (50%-100%) to verify V˙O2max . Conclusion: The utility of supramaximal testing to verify V˙O2max is not affected by sex, body mass, or cardiorespiratory fitness status. Supramaximal testing should replace secondary objective criteria to verify V˙O2max .
Policymakers’ Perspectives Towards Developing a Guideline to Inform Policy on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Study

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) has a high prevalence in South Africa, especially among the poor socioeconomic communities. However, there is no specific policy to address FASD. Using a qualitative study design, we explored the perspectives of policymakers on guidelines/policies for FASD, current practices and interventions, and what practices and interventions could be included in a policy for FASD. The data analysis was done using the Framework Method. Applying a working analytical framework to the data, we found that there is no specific policy for FASD in South Africa, however, clauses of FASD policy exist in other policy documents. Preventive services for women and screening, identification, assessment, and support for children are some of the current practices. Nevertheless, a multi-sectoral collaboration and streamlined program for the prevention and management of FASD are aspects that should be included in the policy. While there are generic clauses in existing relevant policy documents, which could be attributed to the prevention and management of FASD, these clauses have not been effective in preventing and managing the disorder. Therefore, a specific policy to foster a holistic and coordinated approach to prevent and manage FASD needs to be developed.
Contribution of YjbIH to Virulence Factor Expression and Host Colonization in Staphylococcus aureus

To persist within the host and cause disease, Staphylococcus aureus relies on its ability to precisely fine-tune virulence factor expression in response to rapidly changing environments. During an unbiased transposon mutant screen, we observed that disruption of a two-gene operon, yjbIH, resulted in decreased levels of pigmentation and aureolysin (Aur) activity relative to the wild-type strain. ABSTRACT To persist within the host and cause disease, Staphylococcus aureus relies on its ability to precisely fine-tune virulence factor expression in response to rapidly changing environments. During an unbiased transposon mutant screen, we observed that disruption of a two-gene operon, yjbIH, resulted in decreased levels of pigmentation and aureolysin (Aur) activity relative to the wild-type strain. Further analyses revealed that YjbH, a predicted thioredoxin-like oxidoreductase, is predominantly responsible for the observed yjbIH mutant phenotypes, though a minor role exists for the putative truncated hemoglobin YjbI. These differences were due to significantly decreased expression of crtOPQMN and aur. Previous studies found that YjbH targets the disulfide- and oxidative stress-responsive regulator Spx for degradation by ClpXP. The absence of yjbH or yjbI resulted in altered sensitivities to nitrosative and oxidative stress and iron deprivation. Additionally, aconitase activity was altered in the yjbH and yjbI mutant strains. Decreased levels of pigmentation and aureolysin (Aur) activity in the yjbH mutant were found to be Spx dependent. Lastly, we used a murine sepsis model to determine the effect of the yjbIH deletion on pathogenesis and found that the mutant was better able to colonize the kidneys and spleens during an acute infection than the wild-type strain. These studies identified changes in pigmentation and protease activity in response to YjbIH and are the first to have shown a role for these proteins during infection.