Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of polyherbal antidiabetic formulation encapsulated in the phospholipids vesicle system

Multifactorial metabolic diseases, for instance diabetes develop several complications like hyperlipidemia, hepatic toxicity, immunodeficiency etc., Hence, instead of mono-drug therapy the management of the disease requires the combination of herbs. Marketed herbal drugs comprise of irrational combinations, which makes their quality control more difficult. Phytoconstituents, despite having excellent bioactivity in vitro demonstrate less or no in vivo actions due to their poor lipid solubility, resulting in high therapeutic dose regimen; phospholipids encapsulation can overcome this problem. Hence, present study was designed to develop a phospholipids encapsulated polyherbal anti-diabetic formulation. In the present study, polyherbal formulation comprises of lyophilized hydro-alcoholic (50% v/v) extracts of Momordica charantia, Trigonella foenum-graecum and Withania somnifera 2:2:1, respectively, named HA, optimized based on oral glucose tolerance test model in normal Wistar rats. The optimized formulation (HA) entrapped in the phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol (8:2) vesicle system is named HA lipids (HAL). The vesicles were characterized for shape, morphology, entrapment efficiency, polar-dispersity index and release profile in the gastric pH. The antidiabetic potential of HA, marketed polyherbal formulation (D-fit) and HAL was compared in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model of 21 days study. The parameters evaluated were behavioral changes, body weight, serum glucose level, lipid profile and oxidative stress. The antidiabetic potential of HA (1000 mg/kg) was at par with the D-fit (1000 mg/kg). However, the potential was enhanced by phospholipids encapsulation; as HAL (500 mg/kg) has shown more significant (P < 0.05) potential in comparison to HA (1000 mg/kg) and at par with metformin (500 mg/kg).
Gender relations and reproductive decision making in Honduras.

CONTEXT Gender differences influence decision making about reproductive health. Most information on reproductive health decision making in Latin America has come from women's reports of men's involvement. METHODS Data were collected in Honduras in 2001 through two national surveys that used independent samples of men aged 15-59 years and women aged 15-49. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with male-centered decision-making attitudes and behaviors regarding family size and family planning use. RESULTS Overall, 25% of women and 28% of men said that men alone should be responsible for at least one of these reproductive decisions, and 27% of women and 21% of men said that the man in their household made one or both decisions. For women, having no children and being in a consensual union were each associated with holding male-centered decision-making attitudes; having less than a secondary education, being of medium or low socioeconomic status and living in a rural area were each associated with male-centered decision making. Among men, having less than secondary education and being in a consensual union were each associated with male-centered decision-making attitudes and behavior. Women who had ever used or were currently using modern methods were significantly less likely to hold attitudes supporting male-centered decision-making than were those who relied on traditional methods and those who had never used a modern method. CONCLUSIONS Programs should recognize power imbalances between genders that affect women's ability to meet their stated fertility desires. In rural areas, programs should target men, encouraging them to communicate with their wives on reproductive decisions.
Resistance in bacteria and indirect beta-lactamase detection in E. coli isolated from Culex pipiens detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was detections of antibiotic resistance and resistance mechanism in bacteria isolated from mosquitos (Culex pipiens) living near humans. Therefore, antibiotic resistance in bacteria isolated from Culex pipiens was investigated by disk diffusion test and MIC E-test in this study. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was used for detection of resistant mechanism. In this study, hydrolytic breakdown products after a few hours of incubation of the bacteria isolated from Culex pipiens were detected. Results show that enzymatic destruction of ampicillin by beta-lactamases is able to be detected by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry from wild strains of potential pathogens. The MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is useful method for routine detection of beta-lactamases resistant mechanism, but overnight incubation of pure culture is necessary. The results are important for proper and fast intervention to limit the spread of beta-lactamase-producing wild bacteria and provide information for appropriate initial therapy of the infections caused by these microbes.
Evaluation of a Hepatitis A Immunization Program

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a hepatitis A vaccine requirement targeted at child-care center attendees 2–5 years of age in Maricopa County, AZ. A case-control study conducted before implementation in 1997 found that individuals with hepatitis A were 6 times more likely to have worked in or attended a child-care center than were matched controls, and 40% of hepatitis A cases were attributable to attending or working in a child-care center. Methods: A case-control study was conducted postimplementation in 1999. Cases were individuals reported to surveillance staff between August 1, 1999 and April 30, 2000. Cases were included if they met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hepatitis A surveillance case definition. Each case (n = 72) was matched to 2 controls (n = 144) based on age and neighborhood. Results: Cases were more likely to have had contact with a hepatitis A case [odds ratio (OR), 7.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.96, 25.31] than were their matched controls in the unadjusted analysis. Individuals with direct contact with a child-care center (OR 0.221; CI 0.05, 0.99) were protected against disease. In the multivariate analysis, contact with a hepatitis A case (OR 5.63; CI 1.22, 25.91) was significantly associated with disease, and the protective effect of education (OR 0.19; CI 0.06, 0.60) remained significant. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the vaccination requirement had some impact on the epidemiology of hepatitis A in Maricopa County. The risk associated with child-care centers seen in the 1997 study is no longer significantly associated with hepatitis A disease.
Impact of a Nurse-Physician Communication Intervention on Psychological Empowerment and Effectiveness of Collaboration between Medical Staff and Critical Care Nurses

Background: Nurse-physician communication is an essential element of safe, effective patient care, nurse engagement and job satisfaction. Communication breakdowns can lead to poor patient outcomes and disengagement among nurses. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine the impact of a nurse-physician communication intervention on psychological empowerment of critical care nurses. A second purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of communication between critical care nurses and members or the cardiothoracic surgery team and understand barriers and communication challenges. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design was utilized to evaluate the impact of a nurse-physician communication intervention on nurses’ psychological empowerment and perceptions of barriers to communication. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in psychological empowerment scores or nurse perceptions of communication pre and post intervention. Qualitative data demonstrated some improvement in overall communication. Conclusions: Further study is needed to determine the extent to which relationship-building interventions can impact nurse-physician communication. IMPACT OF NURSE-PHYSICIAN COMMUNICATION
The role of the NTPDase enzyme family in parasites: what do we know, and where to from here?

SUMMARY Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases (NTPDases, GDA1_CD39 protein superfamily) play a diverse range of roles in a number of eukaryotic organisms. In humans NTPDases function in regulating the inflammatory and immune responses, control of vascular haemostasis and purine salvage. In yeast NTPDases are thought to function primarily in the Golgi, crucially involved in nucleotide sugar transport into the Golgi apparatus and subsequent protein glycosylation. Although rare in bacteria, in Legionella pneumophila secreted NTPDases function as virulence factors. In the last 2 decades it has become clear that a large number of parasites encode putative NTPDases, and the functions of a number of these have been investigated. In this review, the available evidence for NTPDases in parasites and the role of these NTPDases is summarized and discussed. Furthermore, the processes by which NTPDases could function in pathogenesis, purine salvage, thromboregulation, inflammation and glycoconjugate formation are considered, and the data supporting such putative roles reviewed. Potential future research directions to further clarify the role and importance of NTPDases in parasites are proposed. An attempt is also made to clarify the nomenclature used in the parasite field for the GDA1_CD39 protein superfamily, and a uniform system suggested.
Murine Neonatal Lymphocytes Show Rapid Early Cell Cycle Entry and Cell Division1

Neonatal animals are highly susceptible to infectious agents. At least part of this susceptibility is due to the virtual absence of immunological memory in newborns. One of the hallmarks of memory is the rapidity of the response. We show in this study that neonates may make up for their lack of memory, at least in part, by the rapid entry of large proportions of naive lymphocytes into the cell cycle. Following activation, greater percentages of both CD4+ and CD8+ neonatal, as compared with adult, lymph node cells showed early cell cycle entry; this was assessed by propidium iodide staining, CFSE labeling profiles, [3H]thymidine uptake, and up-regulation of early activation markers. This rapid cycle entry was observed following polyclonal activation with anti-CD3 or with PMA and ionomycin and in both C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. Stimulation with specific peptide also elicited more rapid proliferative responses from neonatal vs adult TCR transgenic CD4+ cells. In addition, more rapid cycle entry was observed in vivo, in lymphopenic RAG2−/− hosts. For both CD4+ and CD8+ cells, this phenomenon was observed out to 3 wk of life, although the differences between neonatal and adult cells became smaller with increasing time postbirth. These properties of peripheral neonatal T cells appeared to be inherited from their thymic precursors, because CD4+8− single-positive cells in the neonatal thymus also showed more rapid cycle entry, compared with their counterparts in the adult thymus. Interestingly, rapid early cycling was also observed among activated neonatal B cells, compared with adult B cells. Thus, early cell cycle entry by large proportions of cells may allow the naive lymphocyte population to efficiently mobilize responses against the broad range of pathogens first encountered in neonatal life.
Folate-targeted imaging of activated macrophages in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether overexpression of the high-affinity folate receptor (FR) on activated macrophages can be exploited to selectively target imaging agents to sites of inflammation in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA). METHODS Folic acid was conjugated to a (99m)Tc chelator (the complex termed EC20), and its distribution was visualized using gamma scintigraphy in healthy rats, rats with AIA, and arthritic rats that had been depleted of macrophages. To confirm that uptake was mediated by the FR, excess folic acid competition studies were conducted, and tissue FR levels were quantitated using a radioligand binding assay. Flow cytometry was also used to investigate uptake of folate conjugates into macrophages of both arthritic and healthy rats. RESULTS EC20 concentrated in the arthritic extremities of diseased rats but not in the extremities of healthy rats. The intensity of images of affected tissues was greatly reduced in the presence of excess competing folic acid. The livers and spleens of arthritic animals also showed enhanced uptake of EC20 and increased levels of FR. Depletion of macrophages from arthritic animals reduced tissue FR content and concomitantly abolished uptake of EC20. In addition, macrophages isolated from livers of rats with AIA exhibited a significantly higher binding capacity for folate conjugates than did macrophages obtained from healthy rats. CONCLUSION Although EC20 is currently undergoing clinical evaluation for use in the imaging of ovarian carcinomas, the present results suggest that it may also be useful for assaying the participation of activated macrophages in inflammatory processes such as rheumatoid arthritis.
At HOME in Scotland: validation of the home observation for measurement of the environment inventory.

BACKGROUND This study used the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment (HOME) Inventory to measure aspects of the quality and quantity of psychological stimulation and cognitive support available in the home environment of a sample of Scottish children and to examine the effectiveness of this measure in a British context. METHODS Forty-seven families who had previously attended parent-training programmes at family centres were assessed. The Middle Childhood (MC) and Early Adolescent (EA) version of the HOME were used with children aged between 8 and 13 years old. Measures of family adversity were also taken. RESULTS There were no significant differences in the demographics of the MC-HOME and EA-HOME groups nor in their total HOME scores. Total HOME scores were compared with independent measures of family adversity. The results of the MC-HOME and the EA-HOME were similar to results reported for socially deprived American samples. DISCUSSION This Scottish sample had similar MC-HOME and EA-HOME scores as previously reported in American samples and the HOME scores related strongly to family adversity, supplying a proximal link between social conditions and the environment of children. These results suggest that the HOME Inventory is reliable and has concurrent validity with measures of social adversity in a British sample.
Indirect Measures of Total Body Water May Confound Precise Assessment of Peritoneal Dialysis Adequacy

Urea kinetic modeling (UKM) has yet to be optimized as a practical tool for assessing adequacy of therapy In continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPO) patients. Watson equation (WV) and 58% body weight (58%WT) estimates of total body water (TBW) are Indirect measures likely to yield Imprecise estimates of Kt/V. Bioelectrical Impedance (BEl) measures body composition as a function of electrical conductance, minimizing fat contribution to TBW. TBW values were highest when measured as 58%WT and lowest when calculated from WV. These differences were most striking In patients with overweight body habitus. BEI-derived TBW correlated best with UKM values. The relationship between BEI-derived and anthropometrically derived TBW was best In patients of normal habitus. Kt/V values were highest when calculated from WV-derived volumes and significantly differed from Kt/V values calculated from BEI-derived and 58%WT volumes. When segregated by habitus, however, only In overweight patients was this pattern of clinical significance. Serial body weight, lean body mass, and TBW remained stable In patients of normal habitus. Overweight patients increased weight by 5%, lean mass by 2%, and TBW by 5%, 3%, and 2% when measured by 58%WT, WV, and BEl, respectively. BEl measures of TBW exclude fat mass and thus strengthen the use of Kt/V for assessing dialysis adequacy In CAPO patients of all body weights.
Imperfectly Flexible Prices, from Macroeconomic Theory: A Dynamic General Equilibrium Approach

Macroeconomic Theory is the most up-to-date graduate-level macroeconomics textbook available today. This book truly offers something new by emphasizing the general equilibrium character of macroeconomics to explain effects across the whole economy, not just part. It is also the perfect resource for economists who need to brush up on the latest developments. Michael Wickens lays out the core ideas of modern macroeconomics and its links with finance. He presents the simplest general equilibrium macroeconomic model for a closed economy, and then gradually develops a comprehensive model of the open economy. Every important topic is covered, including growth, business cycles, fiscal policy, taxation and debt finance, current account sustainability, exchange-rate determination, and an up-to-date account of monetary policy through inflation targeting. Wickens addresses the interrelationships between macroeconomics and modern finance and shows how they affect stock, bond, and foreign-exchange markets. While the mathematics needed for this book is rigorous, the author describes fundamental concepts in a way that helps make the book self-contained and easy to use. Accessible, comprehensive, and wide-ranging, Macroeconomic Theory will become the standard text for students and is ideal for economists, particularly those in government, central and commercial banking, and financial investment.
Tesmin transcription is regulated differently during male and female meiosis

Tesmin is a protein with homology to the metal‐binding motif of the metallothionein protein family. Tesmin has been described as a testis‐specific transcript, which starts to accumulate in 8‐day‐old mouse spermatocytes. Herein, a differential display comparing meiotic gene expression in embryonic ovaries and mature testes also revealed the presence of the Tesmin transcript in fetal ovaries as well as in fetal and adult heart. Time‐course experiments showed that Tesmin was expressed in a characteristic development‐related manner in fetal ovaries. Only a weak expression was observed at E12½, the strongest signal was reached at E14½, whereas the signal declined between E14½ and E16½. This transitional expression coincides with the early stages of the female meiotic prophase I. In the male, however, Tesmin was expressed in all stages of meiotic prophase I except preleptonema and leptonema. In situ hybridization further showed that the mRNA level increased during prophase I in the male, with the strongest expression seen at the transition from mid‐ to late pachytema (Stage VII–VIII). Furthermore, initiation of Tesmin transcription paralleled that of the synaptonemal complex protein 1 transcript (Scp1) in the fetal ovary and prepubertal testis. We, therefore, propose that Tesmin is likely to have a function in both the male and female meiotic prophase I. Moreover, the distinct difference in both the timing and the level of mRNA accumulation in the two gender's meiotic prophase I suggests that Tesmin transcription may be controlled by two different mechanisms during male and female meiosis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 67: 116–126, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Instrument Development Measuring Critical Care Nurses' Attitudes and Behaviors with End-of-life Care

Background: Although critical care nurses are expected to focus on providing life-sustaining measures, many intensive care patients actually receive end-of-life care. Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop an instrument to measure nursing attitudes and behaviors regarding end-of-life care. Method: Phase 1 was focused on item development from a content analysis of the literature and qualitative interviews of critical care nurses. Phase 2 consisted of content validity assessment and pilot testing. Phase 3 included field testing, factor analysis, and reliability estimation. Results: The Values of Intensive Care Nurses for End-of-Life (n = 695) was found to have four factors: Self-appraisal, Appraisal of Others, Emotional Strain, and Moral Distress. Reliability estimates (&agr;) were acceptable at . 59-. 78, but the interitem range (.12-.78) was wider than desirable. Test-retest reliability was deemed adequate based on Pearson's correlations (.68-.81) and intraclass correlation coefficients (.65-.79) but less so when considering &kgr; (.05-.30). The Behaviors of Intensive Care Nurses for End-of-Life (n = 682) was found to have two factors: Communication and Nursing Tasks. Reliability estimates were adequate when considering internal consistency (&agr; = .67 and .78, respectively), item total correlations (.30-.61), and test-retest as judged by Pearson's and intraclass correlations (.77-.81) but not when &kgr; was considered (.02-.40). The interitem correlations (.20-.35) were also lower than desirable. Discussion: Both the Values of Intensive Care Nurses for End-of-Life and the Behaviors of Intensive Care Nurses for End-of-Life were found to have conceptually linked factors and acceptable internal consistency estimates (&agr;). However, test-retest estimates were inconsistent, suggesting that further work needs to be done on the stability of these instruments.
Functional specialization of Piwi proteins in Paramecium tetraurelia from post-transcriptional gene silencing to genome remodelling

Proteins of the Argonaute family are small RNA carriers that guide regulatory complexes to their targets. The family comprises two major subclades. Members of the Ago subclade, which are present in most eukaryotic phyla, bind different classes of small RNAs and regulate gene expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Piwi subclade members appear to have been lost in plants and fungi and were mostly studied in metazoa, where they bind piRNAs and have essential roles in sexual reproduction. Their presence in ciliates, unicellular organisms harbouring both germline micronuclei and somatic macronuclei, offers an interesting perspective on the evolution of their functions. Here, we report phylogenetic and functional analyses of the 15 Piwi genes from Paramecium tetraurelia. We show that four constitutively expressed proteins are involved in siRNA pathways that mediate gene silencing throughout the life cycle. Two other proteins, specifically expressed during meiosis, are required for accumulation of scnRNAs during sexual reproduction and for programmed genome rearrangements during development of the somatic macronucleus. Our results indicate that Paramecium Piwi proteins have evolved to perform both vegetative and sexual functions through mechanisms ranging from post-transcriptional mRNA cleavage to epigenetic regulation of genome rearrangements.
Health Numeracy and Understanding of Risk Among Older American Indians and Alaska Natives

American Indian and Alaska Native people suffer extreme health disparities and remain underrepresented in health research. This population needs adequate numeracy skills to make informed decisions about health care and research participation, yet little is known about their numeracy skills. Participants were 91 American Indian and Alaska Native elders who completed an anonymous survey that measured numeracy and the correlation between framing of risk and comprehension of risk. The authors measured numeracy by a previously developed 3-item scale that assessed basic probability skills and the ability to manipulate percentages and proportions. Risk comprehension was measured by 3 items on treatment benefits, which were variously framed in terms of relative risk reduction, absolute risk reduction, and number needed to treat. Framing in terms of relative risk was associated with higher odds of correct interpretation compared to absolute risk (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.2–2.9) and number needed to treat (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.2–3.5). This association persisted after adjusting for covariates, including baseline numeracy skills. Our results underscore the need for clinicians to consider how health information is framed and to check carefully for understanding when communicating risk information to patients.