Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gastric emptying is involved in Lactobacillus colonisation in mouse stomach

Lactobacilli are indigenous microbes of the stomach of rodents, with much lower numbers being present in mice fed a purified diet than in those fed a non-purified diet. We postulated that gastric emptying (GE) is responsible for the different colonisation levels of lactobacilli and tested this hypothesis in the present study. BALB/cCr Slc mice were fed either a non-purified diet or a purified diet for 2 weeks. The number of gastric tissue-associated lactobacilli was lower in mice fed the purified diet than in those fed the non-purified diet. GE, estimated by measuring the food recovered from the stomach, was higher in mice fed the purified diet than in those fed the non-purified diet and correlated negatively with the number of lactobacilli. Mice fed the non-purified diet exhibited lower GE rates even when lactobacilli were eliminated by ampicillin administration through the drinking-water, suggesting that GE is the cause but not the consequence of different Lactobacillus colonisation levels. The plasma concentrations of acylated ghrelin, a gastric hormone that promotes GE, were higher in mice fed the purified diet than in those fed the non-purified diet. There was a negative correlation between GE and the number of lactobacilli in mice fed the non-purified diet, the purified diet, and the purified diet supplemented with sugarbeet fibre (200 g/kg diet) or carboxymethyl cellulose (40 g/kg diet). We propose that a higher GE rate contributes, at least in part, to lower gastric colonisation levels of lactobacilli in mice fed a purified diet.
Anabolic Therapy with Growth Hormone Accelerates Protein Gain in Surgical Patients Requiring Nutritional Rehabilitation

ObjectiveThe authors investigated the effects of exogenous growth hormone (GH) on protein accretion and the composition of weight gain in a group of stable, nutritionally compromised postoperative patients receiving standard hypercaloric nutritional therapy. Summary Background DataA significant loss of body protein impairs normal physiologic functions and is associated with increased postoperative complications and prolonged hospitalization. Previous studies have demonstrated that standard methods of nutritional support enhance the deposition of fat and extracellular water but are ineffective in repleting body protein. MethodsFourteen patients requiring long-term nutritional support for severe gastrointestinal dysfunction received standard nutritional therapy (STD) providing approximately 50 kcal/kg/day and 2 g of protein/kg/day during an initial 7-day equilibrium period. The patients then continued on STD (n = 4) or, in addition, received GH 0.14 mg/kg/day (n = 10). On day 7 of the equilibrium period and again after 3 weeks of treatment, the components of body weight were determined; these included body fat, mineral content, lean (nonfat and nonmineral-containing tissue) mass, total body water, extracellular water (ECW), and body protein. Daily and cumulative nutrient balance and substrate oxidation studies determined the distribution, efficiency, and utilization of calories for protein, fat, and carbohydrate deposition. ResultsThe GH-treated patients gained minimal body fat but had significantly more lean mass (4.311 ± 0.6 kg vs. 1.988 ± 0.2 kg, p ≤ 0.03) and more protein (1.417 ± 0.3 kg vs. 0.086 ± 0.1 kg, p ≤ 0.03) than did the STD-treated patients. The increase in lean mass was not associated with an inappropriate expansion of ECW. In contrast, patients receiving STD therapy tended to deposit a greater proportion of body weight as ECW and significantly more fat than did GH-treated patients (1.004 ± 0.3 kg vs. 0.129 ± 0.2 kg, p < 0.05). GH administration altered substrate oxidation (respiratory quotient = 0.94 ± 0.02 GH vs. 1.17 ± 0.05 STD, p ≤ 0.0002) and the use of available energy, resulting in a 66% increase in the efficiency of protein deposition (13.37 ± 0.8 g/1000 kcal vs. 8.04 g ± 3.06 g/1000 kcal, p ± 0.04). ConclusionsGH administration accelerated protein gain in stable adult patients receiving aggressive nutritional therapy without a significant increase in body fat or a disproportionate expansion of ECW. GH therapy accelerated nutritional repletion and, therefore, may shorten the convalescence of the malnourished patient requiring a major surgical procedure.
Growth and HIV-Free Survival of HIV-Exposed Infants in Malawi: A Randomized Trial of Two Complementary Feeding Interventions in the Context of Maternal Antiretroviral Therapy

Objective:To compare the growth of HIV-exposed children receiving 1 of 2 complementary foods after prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission through maternal lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods:In rural Malawi, 280 HIV-infected pregnant women were consecutively identified and offered ART, without consideration of their CD4 counts. Mothers were supported to exclusively breast-feed and children tested for HIV status at 1.5 and 5.5 months of age. From this group, 248 HIV-exposed children were enrolled and randomized to receive micronutrients with either whole milk powder or a ready-to-use complementary food (RUF), until the child reached 12 months of age. Children were followed until 18 months of age. Results:HIV-free survival at 12 months was 90% (95% confidence interval: 87% to 94%). Exclusive breast-feeding for the first 6 months of life was practiced in 97% of the children. At 12 months of age, 89% of the children continued to be breast-fed. At 6 months of age, infants had a weight-for-height z score of 0.7 ± 1.1 (mean ± SD) and length-for-age z score of −1.3 ± 1.2. The decrease in length-for-age z score among children receiving RUF at 12 months of age was greater than that seen in those receiving milk powder (−0.3 ± 0.8 vs −0.1 ± 0.7, P = 0.04). Mean weight-for-height z score was >0 at 12 and 18 months of age in both groups. Conclusions:HIV-free survival ≥90% at 12 months was achieved with maternal ART while either milk powder or RUF as a complementary food preserved child anthropometry. Breast-feeding by mothers receiving ART was acceptable.
Early segregation of the adrenal cortex and gonad in chicken embryos

The adrenal gland is an endocrine organ that plays essential roles in stress responses. This organ consists of two types of tissues, adrenomedulla and adrenocortex, deriving from different embryonic origins. Whereas it is well accepted that the adrenomedulla derives from neural crest cells, the origin of the adrenocortex remains elusive. In addition, the adrenocortex and gonads, two major steroid hormone‐producing tissues, have been thought to share the same origin, although the experimental evidence is lacking. In this study, to identify the origin of adrenocortex and to compare it to that of gonads, we scrutinized the medial portion of the coelomic epithelium (CE) after the lateral plate mesoderm has split into two CE components with a concomitant opening of the coelomic cavity in between them. We found that early medial CE consists of a two‐cell layer‐thick band of epithelial‐like cells, the outer and inner CEs. The outer CE faces the coelomic cavity, whereas the inner CE is juxtaposed to nascent blood vessels. Combining direct cell labeling with early molecular markers, we found that outer CE was the origin of the gonad but not the adrenocortex. The adrenocortex, instead, appears to derive from inner CE. Thus, the adrenocortical and gonadal progenitors are already segregated from each other when the coelomic cavity has opened. This study provides a new basis for understanding how the adrenal gland forms and how steroid hormone‐producing tissues arise during development.
Colon Delivery of Budesonide Using Solid Dispersion in Dextran for the Treatment and Secondary Prevention of Ulcerative Colitis in Rat

Objectives: Ulcerative colitis is characterized by local inflammation. Targeting drugs directly to the site of injury has the benefit of lower adverse effects and more effective therapy. The aim of this study was colon targeted delivery of budesonide to deliver the major part of the drug to the colon. Methods: Matrix tablets of budesonide from solid dispersion of drug with dextran were prepared using different drug to polymer ratios and three molecular weights of dextran. The physical evaluation and drug release behavior were studied. In vivo efficacy of the selected formulation against acetic acid induced colitis in rats was evaluated and compared to the control (untreated) and references (mesalazine and budesonide suspensions) groups. Results: The results showed that solid dispersion of budesonide with dextran in the ratio of 1:7 using molecular weight (MW) of 10,000 dextran (SDT710) released 25% of the drug in the first 6 hours and 100% in caecal and colonic contents. It could target the drug to colon with improvement in some of the inflammatory signs of induced ulcerative colitis in rat. Treatment with SDT710 could improve not only the percent of involvement also macroscopic damage parameters. The macroscopic parameters included weight/length ratio of the colon, ulcer area, damage score, and ulcer index reduced in comparison to the control group and conventional suspension of budesonide; however, only weight/length ratio was significant. Conclusions: In the experimental model studied, the new colonic delivery system significantly improved the efficacy of budesonide in the weight/length ratio of the colon in induced colitis in rats.
Multi-view (Joint) Probability Linear Discrimination Analysis for Multi-view Feature Verification

Multi-view feature has been proved to be very effective in many multimedia applications. However, the current back-end classifiers cannot make full use of such features. In this paper, we propose a method to model the multi-faceted information in the multi-view features explicitly and jointly. In our approach, the feature was modeled as a result derived by a generative multi-view (joint\footnotemark[1]) Probability Linear Discriminant Analysis (PLDA) model, which contains multiple kinds of latent variables. The usual PLDA model only considers one single label. However, in practical use, when using multi-task learned network as feature extractor, the extracted feature are always attached to several labels. This type of feature is called multi-view feature. With multi-view (joint) PLDA, we are able to explicitly build a model that can combine multiple heterogeneous information from the multi-view features. In verification step, we calculated the likelihood to describe whether the two features having consistent labels or not. This likelihood are used in the following decision-making. Experiments have been conducted on large scale verification task. On the public RSR2015 data corpus, the results showed that our approach can achieve 0.02\% EER and 0.09\% EER for impostor wrong and impostor correct cases respectively.
Gingival Mesenchymal Stem Cell (GMSC) Delivery System Based on RGD-Coupled Alginate Hydrogel with Antimicrobial Properties: A Novel Treatment Modality for Peri-Implantitis.

PURPOSE Peri-implantitis is one of the most common inflammatory complications in dental implantology. Similar to periodontitis, in peri-implantitis, destructive inflammatory changes take place in the tissues surrounding a dental implant. Bacterial flora at the failing implant sites resemble the pathogens in periodontal disease and consist of Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). Here we demonstrate the effectiveness of a silver lactate (SL)-containing RGD-coupled alginate hydrogel scaffold as a promising stem cell delivery vehicle with antimicrobial properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS Gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) or human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs) were encapsulated in SL-loaded alginate hydrogel microspheres. Stem cell viability, proliferation, and osteo-differentiation capacity were analyzed. RESULTS Our results showed that SL exhibited antimicrobial properties against Aa in a dose-dependent manner, with 0.50 mg/ml showing the greatest antimicrobial properties while still maintaining cell viability. At this concentration, SL-containing alginate hydrogel was able to inhibit Aa growth on the surface of Ti discs and significantly reduce the bacterial load in Aa suspensions. Silver ions were effectively released from the SL-loaded alginate microspheres for up to 2 weeks. Osteogenic differentiation of GMSCs and hBMMSCs encapsulated in the SL-loaded alginate microspheres were confirmed by the intense mineral matrix deposition and high expression of osteogenesis-related genes. CONCLUSION Taken together, our findings confirm that GMSCs encapsulated in RGD-modified alginate hydrogel containing SL show promise for bone tissue engineering with antimicrobial properties against Aa bacteria in vitro.
The association between phospholipase C epsilon gene (PLCE1) polymorphisms and colorectal cancer risk in a Chinese Han population: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND Heritable factors contribute to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). We investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) and CRC susceptibility. METHODS We selected eight tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) and investigated whether they were associated with CRC in Chinese Han population. In this study, we used Sequenom MassARRAY technology and genotyped 276 CRC cases and 385 controls. The effects of the polymorphisms on the risk of CRC were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), evaluated by different genetic models using unconditional logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender. We also analyzed the risk of the eight PLCE1 tSNPs in different histology of CRC. RESULTS Based on x(2) tests, rs753724 (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.10-2.03, P = 0.010) and rs10882424 (OR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.02-1.70, P = 0.037) in PLCE1 were associated with CRC. In genetic model analyses, we found that rs753724 in PLCE1 may increase CRC risk (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09-2.03, P = 0.013) in the log-additive model, and rs11187842 in PLCE1 may increase CRC risk (OR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.17-8.14, P = 0.018) in the recessive model. Rs753724 TT (OR = 4.31, P = 0.010), rs11187842 TT (OR = 5.78, P = 0.003), and rs10882424 GG (OR = 2.64, P = 0.022) in PLCE1 may increase rectal cancer in a recessive model. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that PLCE1 may be associated with CRC in Han Chinese population.
Neuropsychological Findings in Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Previous research investigating whether combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is associated with impaired neuropsychological functioning has yielded inconsistent findings. The present study addressed many methodological limitations of previous research. Neuropsychological measures of intellectual ability, learning, memory, attention, visuospatial ability, executive functioning, language, and psychomotor speed were compared in four groups of early middle-aged community dwelling veterans. The four demographically comparable groups were: (a) those with current PTSD symptoms (n =80); (b) those with a prior history of PTSD but not currently experiencing active PTSD symptoms (n =80); (c) a non-PTSD psychiatrically matched control group (n =80); and (d) a normal control group (n =80). Results indicated that the four groups did not statistically differ on the neuropsychological measures and that veterans with PTSD perform similarly to demographically matched controls. Results further suggested that the cognitive difficulties previously linked to PTSD may actually have been secondary to preexisting individual differences or other clinical conditions coexisting with PTSD.
On the possible effects of nanoparticles on neuronal feedback circuits: A modeling study

Nanotechnology is more and more attracting worldwide attention and is deemed to be one of the major future technologies, especially in medical sciences. For medical use, Nanoparticles (NPs) offer a wide spectrum of applications since they seem to be able to move through organic tissue without barriers. This can be beneficial on the one hand and can bear risks on the other. Nanotoxicity research has already set in, but there are still many open questions that have to be addressed. Based on our previous study of investigating some electrophysi-ological effects of NPs on neuronal cells, in this article we now integrate our results to possible effects of NPs on network dynamics: a theoretical model of thalamocortical interactions is used to detect changes in resonance processes due to NPs ”in silico”. The mathematical model is based on the Llinas model of cortico-subcortical neurodynamics. For this particular purpose, each single neuron model within a simplified thalamocortical circuit is described by an extended Hodgkin-Huxley type formalism (in which all ionic currents are considered to reproduce the main firing patterns observable in these neurons). We found differences of NP induced firing patterns in cortical pyramidal cells and interneurons by simulating NP interference in thalamic cells. Our simulation results suggest that NP in neuronal feedback circuits influence synchronization processes across multiple cortical areas and thus hindering the integration of multimodal information into a single cognitive event.
Polarimetric response of magnetodielectric core–shell nanoparticles: an analysis of scattering directionality and sensing

The influence of increasing the core size of Ag–Si core–shell nanoparticles has been investigated by using the values of the linear polarization degree at a right-angle scattering configuration, P L ( 90 ° ) . Changes in dipolar resonances and scattering directionality conditions as a function of the core radius (Rint) for a fixed shell size ( R ext = 230 nm) have been analysed. An empirical formula to obtain the ratio R int / R ext by monitoring the influence of the magnetic dipolar resonance in P L ( 90 ° ) has been found. The effect of the refractive index of the surrounding medium, mmed, in the zero backward and almost-zero forward scattering conditions has also been studied. We have weighed up the sensitivity of P L ( 90 ° ) to mmed. It has been demonstrated that multipolar contributions strongly influence P L ( 90 ° ) . This influence can be used as a fast mmed estimate. In all cases, the results show that the bigger the cores, the higher the sensitivity to mmed.
Expression of the gene for NAD-dependent glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides cloned in Escherichia coli K-12

The structural gene (zwf) for Leuconostoc mesenteroides glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase has been cloned into Escherichia coli on pBR322 by selecting for complementation of a zwf mutation of E. coli which eliminates glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The gene has been subcloned on a 3.4-kilobase DNA segment. The encoded glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase displays the dual nucleotide specificity (reacting with NAD and NADP) of the L. mesenteroides enzyme and has a subunit Mr of 55,000. A second gene encoding protein of subunit Mr 24,000 is also encoded on the 3.4-kilobase DNA segment. The genes have been located by the analysis of deletions and insertions generated in vitro and by transcriptional mapping with a promoterless chloramphenicol acetyl transferase cartridge inserted at different sites in the 3.4-kilobase fragment.
Symptom clusters related to treatment for prostate cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To identify symptom clusters that include urinary and erectile dysfunction among men treated for prostate cancer. DESIGN Secondary data analysis. SETTING University-affiliated urology clinic. SAMPLE Data collected on 402 men for a longitudinal prostate cancer quality-of-life study. METHODS Data were collected from an eight-month time point. Four analytic approaches were applied to determine whether consistent clusters of symptoms were identifiable. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Pain, fatigue, emotional distress, and urinary, sexual, and bowel dysfunction. FINDINGS Thirty-three percent of patients reported scores on three or more quality-of-life measures falling in the lowest quartile for that measure. Although composition of the clusters was not consistent, poor mental health or poor energy was a component of any cluster made up of three or more symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Using a four-way analytic approach enabled the authors to explore how symptom clusters measuring general and disease-specific quality of life occurred in patients who have been treated for prostate cancer. When clusters occur, fatigue and emotional distress often are included. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Fatigue and emotional distress may be seen together or in combination with prostate cancer-specific symptoms. Nurses should be more alert to the possibility of additional treatment-related symptoms when fatigue or emotional distress is present.
High throughput nanoparticle tracking analysis for monitoring outer membrane vesicle production

ABSTRACT Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are spherical membrane nanoparticles released by Gram-negative bacteria. OMVs can be quantified in complex matrices by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). NTA can be performed in static mode or with continuous sample flow that results in analysis of more particles in a smaller time-frame. Flow measurements must be performed manually despite the availability of a sample changer on the NanoSight system. Here we present a method for automated measurements in flow mode. OMV quantification in flow mode results in lower variance in particle quantification (coefficient of variation (CV) of 6%, CV static measurements of 14%). Sizing of OMVs was expected to be less favorable in flow mode due to the increased movement of the particles. However, we observed a CV of 3% in flow mode and a CV of 8% in static measurements. Flow rates of up to 5 µL/min displayed correct size and particle measurements, however, particle concentration was slightly lower than in static measurements. The automated method was used to assess OMV release of batch cultures of Neisseria meningitidis. The bacteria released more OMVs in stationary growth phase, while the size of the vesicles remained constant throughout the culture. Taken together, this study shows that automated measurements in flow mode can be established with advanced scripting to reduce the workload for the user.
Sequential bilateral cochlear implantation: speech perception and localization pre- and post-second cochlear implantation.

PURPOSE In this study, the authors sought to compare speech perception and localization in subjects who wear 1 cochlear implant (unilateral CI) or 1 cochlear implant and hearing aid (CI+HA) and then receive a second cochlear implant (bilateral CI), and to evaluate the importance of the duration between implant surgeries and duration of deafness. METHOD Nine subjects were tested on speech perception in quiet, and 13 subjects were tested on speech perception and localization in noise using an array of 8 loudspeakers. All subjects were tested with unilateral CI prior to bilateral implantation and then again with bilateral CI after at least 3 months of bilateral experience. RESULTS No significant difference was found between bilateral CI and unilateral CI on averaged speech perception in quiet performance. A significant benefit was found for bilateral CI on averaged speech perception in noise and on localization. Nonsignificant correlations were found for duration between surgeries, duration of deafness, and duration of bilateral use. CONCLUSIONS Improvements for speech perception and localization played in background noise were indicated for most subjects after they received their 2nd implant. The correlations should be reassessed with a larger number of subjects to appropriately evaluate the effects of duration between surgeries, duration of deafness, and duration of bilateral use.