Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aerobic Training Modulates the Increase in Plasma Concentrations of Cytokines in response to a Session of Exercise

Acute physical exercise can modulate immune function. For example, acute exercise is known to increase the circulating concentration of cytokines. Exercise is also known to modulate immune function chronically. It is not known whether exercise training can result in training of the immune system. Here, we investigated the effects of six weeks of aerobic training on cytokine responses induced by acute exercise until fatigue. Twelve healthy men performed a fatiguing exercise at the anaerobic threshold (AT) intensity. After the training period, the participants performed another bout of acute exercise at the same duration and intensity of the pretraining situation. The analysis was made at the beginning, end, and at 10, 30, and 60 minutes during the recovery period. Training at AT induced a gain of 11.2% of exercise capacity. Before training, a single bout of acute exercise induced a significant increase in plasma levels of cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, sTNFR1, IL-10, CXCL10, BDNF, leptin, resistin, and adiponectin. After six weeks of aerobic training, levels of IL-6, sTNFR1, BDNF, and leptin increased to a lesser extent after an acute bout exercise at the same absolute intensity as the pretraining period. Responses to the same relative exercise intensity were similar to those observed before exercise. These results show that aerobic training is associated with training of acute immune responses to acute exercise until fatigue.
Folin-Ciocalteu Reaction Alternatives for Higher Polyphenol Quantitation in Colombian Passion Fruits

Passiflora edulis Flavicarpa, Passiflora edulis Sims, and Passiflora ligularis Juss are Colombian fruits (passion fruits) of important exportation value. They act efficiently as antioxidants, antifungal, and antimicrobial compounds due to their high polyphenol content. Polyphenols can be quantified by the Folin-Ciocalteu (F-C) reaction. Food matrices, solvent polarity, and several different reacting conditions are critical for the optimum extraction and quantification of polyphenols. Chromatographic identification and quantitation are satisfactory with access to a vast number of reference standards considering the availability of abundant phenolic compounds in crude extracts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate alternatives and specific F-C reacting conditions aiming at determining the highest total phenolic content (TPC) in three Colombian Passifloras. Among optimum reacting conditions, reduced reaction time and diluted alkali conditions yielded desirable positive results highlighting lower working time and minimum reagent waste production. For higher extraction yield, acetone 70% was the best solvent to capture more phenolics from the seedless pulp of these Colombian passion fruits.
Isolating SARS-CoV-2 Strains From Countries in the Same Meridian: Genome Evolutionary Analysis

Background COVID-19, caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2, is considered the most threatening respiratory infection in the world, with over 40 million people infected and over 0.934 million related deaths reported worldwide. It is speculated that epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19 may differ across countries or continents. Genomic comparison of 48,635 SARS-CoV-2 genomes has shown that the average number of mutations per sample was 7.23, and most SARS-CoV-2 strains belong to one of 3 clades characterized by geographic and genomic specificity: Europe, Asia, and North America. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the genomes of SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated from Italy, Sweden, and Congo, that is, 3 different countries in the same meridian (longitude) but with different climate conditions, and from Brazil (as an outgroup country), to analyze similarities or differences in patterns of possible evolutionary pressure signatures in their genomes. Methods We obtained data from the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data repository by sampling all genomes available on that date. Using HyPhy, we achieved the recombination analysis by genetic algorithm recombination detection method, trimming, removal of the stop codons, and phylogenetic tree and mixed effects model of evolution analyses. We also performed secondary structure prediction analysis for both sequences (mutated and wild-type) and “disorder” and “transmembrane” analyses of the protein. We analyzed both protein structures with an ab initio approach to predict their ontologies and 3D structures. Results Evolutionary analysis revealed that codon 9628 is under episodic selective pressure for all SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated from the 4 countries, suggesting it is a key site for virus evolution. Codon 9628 encodes the P0DTD3 (Y14_SARS2) uncharacterized protein 14. Further investigation showed that the codon mutation was responsible for helical modification in the secondary structure. The codon was positioned in the more ordered region of the gene (41-59) and near to the area acting as the transmembrane (54-67), suggesting its involvement in the attachment phase of the virus. The predicted protein structures of both wild-type and mutated P0DTD3 confirmed the importance of the codon to define the protein structure. Moreover, ontological analysis of the protein emphasized that the mutation enhances the binding probability. Conclusions Our results suggest that RNA secondary structure may be affected and, consequently, the protein product changes T (threonine) to G (glycine) in position 50 of the protein. This position is located close to the predicted transmembrane region. Mutation analysis revealed that the change from G (glycine) to D (aspartic acid) may confer a new function to the protein—binding activity, which in turn may be responsible for attaching the virus to human eukaryotic cells. These findings can help design in vitro experiments and possibly facilitate a vaccine design and successful antiviral strategies.
Inclusion of Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) Fruit Powder Enhances the Mineral Composition and Antioxidative Potential of Processed Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) Beverages

The functional beverage market has recently increased due to the health benefits in addition to their nutritional and thirst-quenching functions. Tigernut is an economic crop with reported health benefits. This study evaluates the antioxidative potential of processed tigernut extracts fortified with baobab fruit pulp powder. The ferric reducing antioxidant potential, 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl were used to determine the antioxidant capacity, while the Folin-Ciocalteu method was used to measure the total phenolic content of the beverages. The inclusion of baobab fruit significantly (P<0.05) increased the total phenolic content by 18% (from 31.06 to 36.83 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 mL) and the flavonoid content by 15∼20%, while the vitamin C content peaked at 39.6 mg/100 mL. There was a significant correlation between the phenolic and vitamin C contents. Overall, the antioxidant potentials were elevated with the inclusion of baobab powder. All the beverages included in this study are good sources of Ca, P, and K; the contents of Ca, P, and K in the roasted tuber extracts with baobab peaked at 210.91, 8.70, and 93.35 μg/mL, respectively. However, the K:Na ratio was greater than 5:1. Although, baobab increased the acidity of the beverages, it did not significantly diminish the consumer acceptability, with the values ranging from 7.62 to 8.40 on a 9-point Hedonic scale. The beverages have potential for use as natural antioxidants and could be recommended for consumers with diets deficient in Ca and K, particularly in food insecure communities. They could also be used as a replacement for sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages.
Electroacupuncture in treatment of Parkinson disease

Abstract Background: Parkinson disease (PD) is a worldwide spread neurodegenerative disorder. Dopamine replacement therapy is currently the mainstream treatment, which can alleviate the symptoms but induces motor complications. Electroacupuncture (EA) is beneficial for PD as an alternative medicine. However, few reliable clinical trials or objective systematic reviews are available to give a verdict on the effectiveness of EA in the treatment of PD. Thus, we evaluate the evidence for EA in PD patients by conducting this meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Scientific and Technology Journal database, WanFang Digital Periodicals, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed) will be systematically searched for evidence by 2 authors individually. The analysis will be conducted by RevMan 5.3 software according to Cochrane Handbook. Results: The efficacy and safety of EA for PD will be comprehensively assessed from the outcomes, including the effectiveness rate, scores of Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, and Webster scale, superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxides, and dopamine content. Conclusion: This systematic review will provide evidence for whether EA can treatment PD. Registration information: PROSPERO CRD42019120956.
Chinese herbal medicine Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-decoction for knee osteoarthritis

Abstract Background: As a classic prescription for treating knee osteoarthritis, Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-decoction has been widely recognized for its clinical efficacy. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-decoction in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods: The following databases will be searched from January 2011 to December 2020: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Medical Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and Wanfang Database. Statistical analysis will be processed by RevMan V.5. 3 software. Results: This study will provide an assessment of the current state of DHJSD in the treatment of KOA, aiming to show the efficacy and safety of DHJSD. Conclusion: This study will provide evidence to judge whether DHJSD is an effective intervention for KOA.
Graded motor imagery training as a home exercise program for upper limb motor function in patients with chronic stroke

Abstract Purpose: Although several types of occupational therapy for motor recovery of the upper limb in patients with chronic stroke have been investigated, most treatments are performed in a hospital or clinic setting. We investigated the effect of graded motor imagery (GMI) training, as a home exercise program, on upper limb motor recovery and activities of daily living (ADL) in patients with stroke. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial recruited 42 subjects with chronic stroke. The intervention group received instruction regarding the GMI program and performed it at home over 8 weeks (30 minutes a day). The primary outcome measure was the change in motor function between baseline and 8 weeks, assessed the Manual Function Test (MFT) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). The secondary outcome measure was the change in ADL, assessed with the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Results: Of the 42 subjects, 37 completed the 8-week program (17 in the GMI group and 20 controls). All subjects showed significant improvements in the MFT, FMA, and MBI over time (P < .05). However, the improvements in the total scores for the MFT, FMA, and MBI did not differ between the GMI and control groups. The MFT arm motion score for the GMI group was significantly better than that of the controls (P < .05). Conclusions: The GMI program may be useful for improving upper extremity function as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation for patients with chronic stroke.
Sensor Photoresponse of Thin‐Film Oxides of Zinc and Titanium to Oxygen Gas

Response of steady-state photoconductivity to changes in oxygen partial pressure (10{sup {minus}3} to 1 atm) has been quantitatively studied in thin-film polycrystalline TiO{sub 2}:Nb and ZnO at 80--120 C. The magnitude of photoconductivity varied as a square root of illumination intensity regardless of oxygen pressure. Both materials showed fast response to oxygen, although in different pressure ranges. Zinc oxide was more sensitive to lower oxygen pressures while titanium dioxide worked better at pressures close to 1 atm.
Retinal Ganglion Cell Degeneration in a Rat Magnetic Bead Model of Ocular Hypertensive Glaucoma

Purpose Glaucoma remains a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Animal glaucoma models replicate high intraocular pressure, a risk factor for glaucoma, to induce retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration. We describe an inducible, magnetic bead model in the Brown Norway rat in which we are able to determine degeneration across multiple RGC compartments at a time point that is appropriate for investigating neurodegenerative events and potential treatment effects. Methods We induced ocular hypertension through injection of magnetic microspheres into the anterior chamber of Brown Norway rats; un-operated (naïve) rats served as controls. Intraocular pressure was recorded, and eye diameter measurements were taken before surgery and at the terminal end points. We assessed RGC degeneration and vascular changes through immunofluorescence, and axon transport to terminal brain thalami through intravitreal injection of fluorophore-conjugated cholera toxin subunit β. Results We observed clinically relevant features of disease accompanying RGC cell somal, axonal, and dendritic loss. RGC axonal dysfunction persisted along the trajectory of the cell into the terminal brain thalami, with clear disruption at the optic nerve head. We also observed vascular compromise consistent with human disease, as well as an expansion of global eye size with ocular hypertension. Conclusions The magnetic bead model in the Brown Norway rat recapitulates many clinically relevant disease features of human glaucoma, including degeneration across multiple RGC compartments. Eye expansion is likely a result of rodent scleral elasticity, and we caution that this should be considered when assessing retinal density measurements. Translational Relevance This model offers a disease-relevant platform that will allow for assessment of glaucoma-relevant therapeutics.
Comparative efficacy and safety of wenxin granule combined with antiarrhythmic drugs for atrial fibrillation

Abstract Background: The combination of Chinese patent medicine Wenxin Granules (WXG) and antiarrhythmic drugs has been widely used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the results are controversial. This study will conduct a network meta-analysis (NMA) based on data from randomized controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of WXG combined with ADDs (amiodarone, metoprolol, propafenone, bisoprolol, or other antiarrhythmic drugs) in the treatment of AF, which will perform comparisons or rankings of efficacy among the currently available therapeutic schemes in order to provide evidence to determine the optimal threshold and treatment regimen to AF patients. Methods and analysis: A comprehensive systematic literature search will be conducted in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFang database for randomized controlled trials about the WXG with ADDs. The NMA will be conducted following the PRISMA-NMA guidelines. Statistical analyses will be conducted by using Stata software (version 14.0) and RevMan software (version 5.3). Results: The results of this NMA will provide a high-quality evidence for the efficacy of WXG combined with ADDs in the treatment of AF, and a ranking of the therapeutic classes will also be presented. Conclusion: The protocol will provide updated evidence for the application of WXG for AF.
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: This study aimed to quantitatively analyze the available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and investigate whether early tracheotomy can improve clinical endpoints compared with late tracheotomy in critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Methods: The electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched in August 2019. The investigated outcomes were calculated using relative risks (RRs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) through the random-effects model for categories and continuous data, respectively. Results: The electronic searches yielded 2289 records, including 15 RCTs comprising a total of 3003 patients and found to be relevant for the final quantitative analysis. The summary RRs that indicated early versus late tracheotomywere not associated with the risk of short-term mortality (RR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.74–1.03; P= .114) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (RR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.78– 1.04; P= .156). Moreover, early tracheotomy was associated with shorter intensive care unit (ICU) stay (SMD: –1.81; 95% CI: –2.64 to –0.99; P< .001) and mechanical ventilation duration (SMD: –1.17; 95% CI: –2.10 to –0.24; P= .014). Finally, no significant difference was observed between early and late tracheotomy for hospital stay (SMD: –0.42; 95% CI: –1.36–0.52; P= .377). Conclusions: The present meta-analysis suggests that early tracheotomy can reduce the length of ICU stay and mechanical ventilation duration, but the timing of the tracheotomy was not associated with the short-term clinical endpoints in critically ill patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Abbreviations: CIs = confidence intervals, ICU = intensive care unit, RCTs = randomized controlled trials, RRs = relative risks, SMDs = standardized mean differences.
Silk derived formulations for accelerated wound healing in diabetic mice

Background The present study aimed to prepare effective silk derived formulations in combination with plant extract (Aloe vera gel) to speed up the wound healing process in diabetic mice. Methods Diabetes was induced in albino mice by using alloxan monohydrate. After successful induction of diabetes in mice, excision wounds were created via biopsy puncture (6 mm). Wound healing effect of silk sericin (5%) and silk fibroin (5%) individually and in combination with 5% Aloe vera gel was evaluated by determining the percent wound contraction, healing time and histological analysis. Results The results indicated that the best biocompatible silk combination was of 5% silk fibroin and 5% Aloe vera gel in which wounds were healed in 13 days with wound contraction: 98.33 ± 0.80%. In contrast, the wound of the control group (polyfax) healed in 19 day shaving 98.5 ± 0.67% contraction. Histological analysis revealed that the wounds which were treated with silk formulations exhibited an increased growth of blood vessels, collagen fibers, and much reduced inflammation. Conclusion It can be concluded that a combination of Bombyx mori silk and Aloe vera gel is a natural biomaterial that can be utilized in wound dressings and to prepare more innovative silk based formulations for speedy recovery of chronic wounds.
Changes in fasting bile acid profiles after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text Abstract Background: Bile acid is an essential factor that plays a role in metabolic regulation, but how bile acid is regulated after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) remains unclear. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate changes in the levels of fasting bile acids following RYGB and SG. Methods: A systematic literature search of the PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases through July 2020 was performed in accordance with the Meta-analysis Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The concentrations of bile acids were evaluated. Results: Thirteen studies with 289 patients were included. Our results showed that patients who underwent RYGB had increased levels of fasting total bile acids, primary bile acids, secondary bile acids, conjugated bile acids, and unconjugated bile acids, but no significant differences in all these bile acid levels were observed in patients who underwent SG. Furthermore, 12a-hydroxylated bile acid levels and the 12a-hydroxylated/non-12a-hydroxylated bile acid ratio also increased following RYGB. Conclusion: In this study, we found that fasting bile acid levels, especially 12a-hydroxylated bile acids levels, were increased after RYGB. However, no differences in fasting bile acid levels were observed following SG.
Humic substance formation via the oxidative weathering of coal

Oxidative weathering of sedimentary organic matter in the Earth's surficial environment is one of the major processes in the geochemical carbon cycle on geological time scales. It has been assumed in most geochemical models that there is complete oxidation of sedimentary organic matter only to CO2. However, studies have shown that humic substances can be produced via the oxidation of coal. We have determined the aqueous oxidation kinetics of pyrite-free bituminous coal at 24 and 50 °C by using a dual-cell flow-through method. At 24 °C, dissolved carbon is removed from the coal−water system mainly in the form of CO2 and is equivalent to 30−50% of the consumed oxygen. The remaining 50−70% of the consumed oxygen is retained on the coal surface in the form of insoluble organic oxidation products. Formation of greater proportions of dissolved organic oxidation products is expected under natural conditions where water−rock contact time is much longer than in our experiments (18−25 h). FTIR analysis indicates ma.
How to construct neuroscience-informed psychiatric classification? Towards nomothetic networks psychiatry

Psychiatry remains in a permanent state of crisis, which fragmented psychiatry from the field of medicine. The crisis in psychiatry is evidenced by the many different competing approaches to psychiatric illness including psychodynamic, biological, molecular, pan-omics, precision, cognitive and phenomenological psychiatry, folk psychology, mind-brain dualism, descriptive psychopathology, and postpsychiatry. The current “gold standard” Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders/International Classification of Diseases taxonomies of mood disorders and schizophrenia are unreliable and preclude to employ a deductive reasoning approach. Therefore, it is not surprising that mood disorders and schizophrenia research was unable to revise the conventional classifications and did not provide more adequate therapeutic approaches. The aim of this paper is to explain the new nomothetic network psychiatry (NNP) approach, which uses machine learning methods to build data-driven causal models of mental illness by assembling risk-resilience, adverse outcome pathways (AOP), cognitome, brainome, staging, symptomatome, and phenomenome latent scores in a causal model. The latter may be trained, tested and validated with Partial Least Squares analysis. This approach not only allows to compute pathway-phenotypes or biosignatures, but also to construct reliable and replicable nomothetic networks, which are, therefore, generalizable as disease models. After integrating the validated feature vectors into a well-fitting nomothetic network, clustering analysis may be applied on the latent variable scores of the R/R, AOP, cognitome, brainome, and phenome latent vectors. This pattern recognition method may expose new (transdiagnostic) classes of patients which if cross-validated in independent samples may constitute new (transdiagnostic) nosological categories.