Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preoperative heart rate variability in relation to surgery outcome in refractory epilepsy

Background: Epilepsy patients may have an impaired autonomic cardiac control, which has been associated with an increased incidence of sudden unexpected death among people with epilepsy (SUDEP). The risk of SUDEP is particularly high among epilepsy surgery candidates with refractory epilepsy. This risk seems to be reduced after successful surgery but whether this is an effect of surgery or reflects pre-existing differences between good and poor responders is under debate. Methods: We used spectral analysis to analyze prospectively heart rate variability (HRV) preoperatively in 21 consecutive patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who were planned for epilepsy surgery. The presurgical HRV based on ambulatory 24 hours EKG recordings was analyzed in relation to seizure control at 1 year after surgery. Results: Patients had significantly lower SD of RR-intervals, total power, very low frequency power and low frequency power than matched healthy controls. Patients with good outcome of surgery (Engel class I; n = 11) did not differ from their controls while those with poor outcome (Engel class II-IV; n = 10) had significantly lower power in all domains than those with a favorable outcome. Conclusions: Measurements of heart rate variability preoperatively indicate that patients with a poor outcome of surgery have a more pronounced impairment of sympathetic as well as parasympathetic cardiac control than those with good outcome. Reduced heart rate variability may be associated with an increased risk of sudden unexpected death among people with epilepsy (SUDEP). Good surgery candidates may a priori have a lower risk of SUDEP.
Correlation between transgen expression and plasmid DNA loss in mouse liver

Transgene expression from plasmid DNA is dependent on the expression efficiency per plasmid and the amount of intranuclear plasmid. In the present study, intranuclear dispositions of two types of plasmid DNAs (i.e. the pCpGfree and pLIVE plasmids) that maintain transgene expression in mouse liver were analyzed. In addition, the relationship between transgene expression and plasmid stability in the nucleus was examined.
Invasive treatment of coronary artery disease : lessons from clinical trials and clinical practice

Vernauwingen in de kransslagader van het hart zijn een belangrijke oorzaak van ziekte en sterfte in Nederland en West Europa. Dotteren (PCI) of een operatie (CABG) kan de klachten doen verminderen en soms overlijden voorkomen. Beide therapieen zijn de laatste decennia verbeterd. Het blijft echter ingewikkeld te bepalen welke therapie het beste toegepast kan worden. Arno Breeman deed onderzoek naar de besluitvorming op dit vlak, en het verschil tussen klinische onderzoeken, aanbevelingen in de richtlijnen en de dagelijkse praktijk. Er zijn veel uitgebreide gerandomiseerde studies voorhanden. De meeste studies hebben echter ook belangrijke beperkingen, zoals lage externe validiteit en een beperkte follow-up periode. Daarom moeten deze studies worden gecombineerd met observationele studies. Een voortdurende evaluatie van het effect van behandelingen (van subgroepen) in de dagelijkse praktijk is noodzakelijk. Of bij patienten met meervatslijden, CABG of PCI de voorkeurstherapie is, dient nog verder te worden uitgezocht. Met name de groeiende groep patienten met coronairlijden en diabetes mellitus verdient daarbij aandacht.
Factors Determining Success of Awake and Asleep Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scans in Nonsedated Children

Abstract Effective techniques that allow children to complete magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans without sedation are high priority for the imaging community. We used behavioral approaches to scan 64 sleeping infants and toddlers younger than 4 years, and 156 awake children aged 2.5 to 18 years, for a neuroimaging research protocol. Infants and their families participated in a desensitization protocol for several days, then scanning was performed at the child's bedtime during natural sleep. For awake young children, a behavioral protocol was used that included tangible reinforcers, exploration of the scanner environment and a brief practice session. Two scan sessions were targeted for awake children. Success rates by participant were quantified in terms of the proportion of requisite scans in each session that were successfully acquired. The average success rate in sleeping infants and toddlers was 0.461. For awake children aged 2.5 to 6 years, success rates for each session were 0.739 and 0.847. For children aged 7 years and older, success rates were over 0.900 for both the sessions. Overall, though success was lower later in a scan session for both sleeping infants and awake young children, our results demonstrate that it is feasible to collect high-quality imaging data using standard imaging sequences in infants and children without sedation.
Prolonged antispasmodic effect in isolated radial artery graft and pronounced platelet inhibition induced by the inodilator drug, levosimendan.

Radial artery frequently develops spasm and requires vasodilator therapy during coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Levosimendan was recently shown to oppose 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction of radial artery (RA) grafts. The aim of the present study was to explore whether levosimendan retains its vasodilatory capacity following in vitro pre-incubation of RA segments with the inodilator. A possible cumulative effect of the drug in human platelets was also studied. Human isolated RA segments were pre-incubated in 0.16 μmol/L levosimendan containing solution or in 0.9% NaCl, Bretschneider, 5% albumin and a 5% human serum protein solution (Biseko) as controls for 45 min. Contractions were induced by three consecutive administrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (0.31 μM) 45, 90 and 120 min. after exchanging the pre-incubation solutions with Krebs-Henseleit solution, uniformly. Receptor-independent contractions (KCl, 80 mmol/L), endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine, 1 μmol/L) and independent relaxations (papaverine, 100 μmol/L) were also investigated. Washed human platelets were pre-incubated with levosimendan (0.06 μmol/L) for 2 or 15 min. and aggregated with thrombin (0.1 IU/mL). Contractions of RA grafts induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine were significantly smaller 45 min. and 90 min. after the replacement of levosimendan with Krebs-Henseleit solution. Biseko solution also decreased the contraction of the graft at 45 min. Contractions did not change in time following the pre-incubations of radial arteries with 0.9% NaCl, Bretschneider and 5% albumin solutions. The grafts remained intact as assessed by their maximum contractions and endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent relaxations at the end of the investigations. Platelets revealed larger anti-aggregatory effect to levosimendan following the enhancement of the incubation time. Results indicate that the antispasmodic and anti-aggregatory effects of levosimendan cumulate in the vascular tissue and in platelets. The storage of RA with the inodilator before implantation may help to prevent the intraoperative spasm of the graft and also thrombotic occlusion during CABG surgery.
Finite Element Analysis of Multipoint Counter Electrode Sensor in Steel Corrosion Rate Measurement

In this paper, a multipoint counter electrode (MCE) sensor to be placed on the concrete surface for testing the corrosion rate of reinforcing steel was developed. Both the normal platform counter electrode and the MCE have been tested and compared in chloride-contaminated mortar, simulating a kind of marine circumstance. By using the simulation software ANSYS and comparing with the real weight loss of the steel during corrosion, the accuracy of the MCE has been evaluated.
Stimulatory Effect of Interleukin-1β on Growth Hormone Gene Expression and Growth Hormone Release from Rat GH3 Cells

Our previous studies demonstrated that interferon gamma increases the human (h) growth hormone (GH) gene promoter activity in rat pituitary GH3 cells, and its regulatory mechanism may be different from the classical GH-releasing hormone-induced regulatory mechanism. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is thought to induce the release of GH by pituitary cells, but whether or not and by which mechanisms IL-1β regulates GH synthesis remains unclear. The purpose of our study was thus to investigate the effect of IL-1β on the hGH gene expression in GH3 rat pituitary tumor cells using stable transfection of the hGH promoter fused to a luciferase reporter gene. Our results showed that IL-1β (10–104 U/ml) increased GH secretion and synthesis and that 102 to 104 U/ml IL-1β promoted the luciferase expression in stable GH3 cells, with a maximal action of 1.61 times over that of controls. Among inhibitors of intracellular signaling transduction pathways, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK/MEK) inhibitor PD98059 (40 µM) and p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 (5 µM)blocked completely the stimulatory effect of IL-1β, and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 (10 µM) blocked partially the induction of IL-1β. Western blot analysis demonstrated that IL-1β increased the activation of phosphorylated MEK and p38 MAPK in GH3 cells. Neither overexpression of Pit-1 nor inhibiting Pit-1 expression affected IL-1β induction of hGH promoter activity. To identify the DNA sequence that mediated the effect of IL-1β, six deletion constructs of hGH promoter were created. The stimulatory effect of IL-1β was abolished following deletion of the –196- to –132-bp fragment. In conclusion, our data show that IL-1β promotes GH secretion and synthesis by rat pituitary GH3 cells. The stimulatory effect of IL-1β on the hGH gene promoter appears to require the activation of MEK, p38 MAPK, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase and a fragment of promoter sequence that spans the –196- to –132-bp fragment of the gene, but is unrelated to the Pit-1 protein.
Effects of height and load weight on shoulder muscle work during overhead lifting task

Few musculoskeletal models are available to assess shoulder deeper muscle demand during overhead lifting tasks. Our objective was to implement a musculoskeletal model to assess the effect of lifting height and load on shoulder muscle work. A musculoskeletal model scaled from 15 male subjects was used to calculate shoulder muscle work during six lifting tasks. Boxes containing three different loads (6, 12 and 18 kg) were lifted by the subjects from the waist to shoulder or eye level. After optimisation of the maximal isometric force of the model's muscles, the bio-fidelity of the model was improved by 19%. The latter was able to reproduce the subjects’ lifting movements. Mechanical work of the rotator cuff muscles, upper trapezius and anterior deltoid was increased with lifting load and height augmentation. In conclusion, the use of a musculoskeletal model validated by electromyography enabled to evaluate the muscle demand of deep muscles during lifting tasks. Practitioner Summary: This study aimed to assess the effect of lifting height and weight lifted on shoulder muscle load. A musculoskeletal model was implemented to calculate the work of shoulder muscles during lifting tasks. The overhead lifting task with the use of a heavy box was the most demanding for the rotator cuff muscles, anterior deltoid and upper trapezius.
Role of Gene Knockout and Transgenic Mice in the Study of Xenobiotic Metabolism

Abstract The role of P450s in xenobiotic metabolism, toxicity, and carcinogenicity has been studied for many years by using in vitro approaches and limited in vivo investigations. Genetic analysis to study the effects of xenobiotics in intact animals has only recently been carried out by use of gene knockout mice. Mice lacking expression of these enzymes have no or only modest phenotypes, indicating that their xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes are not critical for mammalian development or physiological homeostasis. The null mice have been used to study the roll of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in chemical toxicity and carcinogenicity. There are marked species differences in the expression and catalytic activities of P450s that metabolize xenobiotics, and this complicates the extrapolation of data obtained in rodents for use in drug development and human risk assessment. This is especially notable between mice and rats, commonly used experimental models, and humans. To begin to develop more predictive models, P450 humanized mice were produced and characterized by using genomic clones containing the complete coding and regulatory regions of genes, as transgenes. Humanized lines expressing CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 human P450 were characterized and found to accurately express human P450 proteins and catalytic activities at levels comparable to or higher than the corresponding activities found in human tissues. These novel mouse lines offer the opportunity to predict human drug and carcinogen metabolism and disposition and to search for endogenous substrates for human P450s.
Towards a Framework for Identifying and Measuring the Benefits of Accessibility

This paper (i) explains the motivation for articulating the benefits of accessibility; (ii) provides a narrative basis for articulating how accessibility affects economic and social life; and (iii) moves a framework for quantifying the benefits of accessibility. In examining laws, regulations and judicial proceedings in different nations, the paper finds that most view cost as a limiting factor on what public and private entities can be compelled to provide in relation to the accessibility of transportation, the build environment, employment, and services. This is so even in the context of constitutionally and legislatively enshrined human rights. This paper also finds that cost-benefit balancing is emerging as a necessary part of the accessibility governance framework. When addressing the specific application of accessibility rights, governments, regulatory bodies ad courts around the world deal comprehensively with costs but fail to value important categories of benefit, such as the reduction of stigmatic harms, “option” benefits and “existence” value, and capability value. The paper describes progress towards a comprehensive narrative and analytical framework for describing and measuring such benefits.
Genetic Characterization and Antibiotic Resistance of Campylobacter jejuni Isolated from Meats, Water, and Humans in Sweden

ABSTRACT The incidence of Campylobacter jejuni has increased during the last decade, and today it is the leading cause of bacterial enteritis in most developed countries. Still, there is a lack of knowledge about infection routes and to what extent identified sources are responsible for spreading the bacterium to humans. The major objective of this work was to explore the genetic similarity between C. jejuni isolated from different sources. C. jejuni isolated from patients (n = 95), five types of meat (n = 71), and raw water (n = 11) during the year 2000 were subtyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The pulsotypes obtained after digestion with SmaI revealed not only that C. jejuni is genetically diverse but also that specific pulsotypes occur frequently. Five clusters comprising 88 of the 162 SmaI-digested isolates were obtained. After digestion with KpnI most isolates in four of the five clusters were still indistinguishable, while the fifth cluster was strongly dissolved. The clusters comprised high frequencies of human and meat isolates, while only one of nine water isolates belonged to a cluster. The largest cluster comprised 21 human isolates, one raw water isolate, and seven chicken meat isolates, originating from at least six different broiler flocks. Low frequencies of antibiotic resistance were revealed when the meat and water isolates were tested for sensitivity to six antibiotics. Interestingly, the five isolates resistant to quinolones displayed similar or identical pulsotypes. The results showed that PFGE has proved useful in identifying clones and will be used in future work focusing on identification and eradication of the major reservoirs for common clones.
Mutagenesis of the RGD motif in the yellow fever virus 17D envelope protein.

The envelope protein of yellow fever virus 17D (YFV-17D) contains a solvent-exposed RGD motif, which has led to the suggestion that integrins may function as cellular receptors for YFV-17D. We found that mutating the RGD motif to RGE had no effect on viral titers, whereas changing RGD to TGD, TGE, TAD, TAE, or RGS led to reduced titers. Substitution of RGD by RAD or RAE yielded RNA genomes that replicated in mammalian cells but could not spread to neighboring cells at 37 degrees C. These mutants did spread through the cell monolayer at 30 degrees C (both in mosquito cells and in SW13 cells) and viruses grown at this temperature were capable of infecting mammalian cells at 37 degrees C. These results strongly suggest that RGD-mediated integrin binding does not play a major role in YFV-17D entry, since the RGD to RAD mutation, as well as many or all of the other mutations studied, should disrupt all RGD-dependent integrin binding. However, the RGD to RAD or RAE mutations (as well as TAD and TAE) severely destabilized the envelope protein at 37 degrees C, providing an explanation for the observed phenotype. Implications of these findings are discussed in light of the fact that mutations that alter tropism or virulence in different flaviviruses are often found within the loop containing the RGD motif.
Drosophila and human FHOD family formin proteins nucleate actin filaments

Formins are a conserved group of proteins that nucleate and processively elongate actin filaments. Among them, the formin homology domain–containing protein (FHOD) family of formins contributes to contractility of striated muscle and cell motility in several contexts. However, the mechanisms by which they carry out these functions remain poorly understood. Mammalian FHOD proteins were reported not to accelerate actin assembly in vitro; instead, they were proposed to act as barbed end cappers or filament bundlers. Here, we show that purified Drosophila Fhod and human FHOD1 both accelerate actin assembly by nucleation. The nucleation activity of FHOD1 is restricted to cytoplasmic actin, whereas Drosophila Fhod potently nucleates both cytoplasmic and sarcomeric actin isoforms. Drosophila Fhod binds tightly to barbed ends, where it slows elongation in the absence of profilin and allows, but does not accelerate, elongation in the presence of profilin. Fhod antagonizes capping protein but dissociates from barbed ends relatively quickly. Finally, we determined that Fhod binds the sides of and bundles actin filaments. This work establishes that Fhod shares the capacity of other formins to nucleate and bundle actin filaments but is notably less effective at processively elongating barbed ends than most well studied formins.
Slow release somatotropin in dairy heifers and cows fed two levels of energy concentrate. 1. Performance and body condition.

Fifty-two Holstein dairy cows (27 primiparous) were used in a 2 x 2 factorial design during wk 9 to 39 of lactation to assess the effects of slow release recombinant bST (500 mg injected at 14-d intervals) and the effects of the level of energy concentrate in the diet on dairy performance. After a winter period, cows were turned out to pasture at wk 24 of lactation. During winter, cows given low concentrate (2.5 vs. 5.4 kg DM/d) ate significantly more corn silage (13.9 vs. 11.9 kg DM/d), so that treatment had no significant effect on any measured parameter. The milk yield of bST-supplemented cows increased by 2.1 kg/d (11.0%) throughout the total experimental period. The response did not differ according to parity. Milk fat content and SCC were not altered, but milk protein was lower (.8 g/kg) from cows receiving bST during winter, and lactose increased (.5 g/kg). Lactation curves of bST-supplemented cows showed a cyclic response in milk production. Gross efficiency of milk yield was improved (.18 units) by bST administration without change in diet digestibility. No difference due to bST was found in the health or reproduction of cows. Live weight change did not differ among the groups. Multiparous cows gained body condition (bST-supplemented animals gained less than controls: .1 vs. .7 point on a five-point scale; NS). Control primiparous cows gained body condition (.1 point) but bST-supplemented cows significantly lost body condition (1.4 point).
Loss of phospholipid membrane asymmetry and sialylated glycoconjugates from erythrocyte surface in haemoglobin E β‐thalassaemia

This study aimed to investigate any correlation between the extent of phosphatidylserine (PS) asymmetry and sialylated glycoconjugate levels with the faster clearance of circulating erythrocytes in haemoglobin E (HbE) β‐thalassaemia. Erythrocytes from peripheral blood samples of different HbEβ‐thalassaemia patients showed loss of PS asymmetry measured by annexin V binding using flow cytometry. Maximum PS exposure was found when HbE was 50–60% and HbF was <20% indicating a possible correlation with severity of the disease. Separation of erythrocytes into aged and younger cells showed higher loss of PS asymmetry in the younger erythrocytes of HbEβ‐thalassaemia patients when compared with normal blood, where PS asymmetry was lost only in the older cells. Sialylated glycoconjugate measurement using the lectins wheatgerm agglutinin and pokeweed mitogen showed loss of sialic acid and N‐acetyl‐d‐glucosamine‐bearing glycoproteins in the order normal
[Effect of six edible plants on the development of AFB1-induced gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive hepatocyte foci in rats].

Six edible plants, green tea (GT), black tea (BT), Lentinus edodes (berk) Sing (LE), Hericium erinaceus (Bull. ex Fr.) Pers. (HE), Mixture of Ganoderma Lucidum (Ley ss ex Fr.) Karst et Ganoderma Japanium (Fr.) Lloyd (MGLJ) and mung bean (MB), were tested for the effect on the development of AFB1-induced gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase positive hepatocyte foci (gamma-GT foci) using an in vivo short-term test model in rats. The rats received intraperitoneally 12 doses of initiator AFB1, 400 micrograms/kg per dose for 2 successive weeks. Two weeks after the initiation, the rats were submitted to a modified "Solt-Farber promotion program", i.e., a two weeks' feeding of a diet containing 0.015% acetylaminofluorene plus a two-third partial hepatectomy (PH) on day 7. The rats were sacrificed 10 days after PH and the livers were processed to gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase staining. The tested substances were powdered and mixed with the basal diet at the concentration level of 30% for MB and 5% for the others. The rats were fed with the diet-containing tested substances from 10 days before the AFB1 initiation to 3 days after the AFB1 conclusion. Consequently, the liver of the rats which had consumed GT showed significantly less and smaller gamma-GT foci, and those which had consumed BT, HE and LE showed somewhat less and significantly smaller foci than the control groups. It is indicated that the four diets have an inhibiting effect on AFB1-induced gamma-GT foci in different degrees. MB and MGLJ show no significant influence on the foci.