Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Proliferation and differentiation of human adipocyte precursor cells: Differences between the preperitoneal and subcutaneous compartments

Human adipocyte precursor cells (APC) have been characterized in their proliferation and differentiation potential from subcutaneous, omental, and mesenteric depots, mostly from morbidly obese patients. Cells from the preperitoneal adipose compartment have not been characterized yet, least of all when obtained from normal weight subjects. The aim was to compare proliferation and differentiation of subcutaneous (SC) and preperitoneal (PP) APC derived from adipose tissue in healthy subjects with different body mass. SC and PP adipose tissue was obtained during surgery of inguinal hernias in five healthy non‐obese subjects and three obese otherwise healthy men. APC, obtained by collagenase digestion, were cultured. Proliferation was assayed by cell counting and differentiation by oil red O staining and flow cytometry using Nile Red staining. Proliferation of SC was higher than PP APC. Such differences between both compartments were even higher in APC obtained from obese patients. Conversely PP APC differentiated earlier in vitro compared with SC cells. These results agree with published data on fat cell proliferation. However regarding differentiation, our data show that APC from deeper depots (in this case PP) differentiate earlier than subcutaneous APC. This is different to previous studies performed in mesenteric or omental adipose tissue. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 659–664, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Apoptosis of mesenchymal stem cells induced by hydrogen peroxide concerns both endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial death pathway through regulation of caspases, p38 and JNK

Poor survival of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) compromised the efficacy of stem cell therapy for myocardial infarction. The increase of exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) in infracted heart is one of the important factors that challenged the survival of donor MSCs. In the study we aimed to evaluate the effect of oxidative stress on the cell death of MSCs and investigate its mechanisms in order to help with the identification of new biological compounds to reduce donor cells damage. Apoptosis of MSCs were evaluated with Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry analysis. The mitochondrial membrane potential of MSCs was analyzed with JC‐1 staining. Signaling pathways involved in H2O2 induced apoptosis were analyzed with Western blot. H2O2 induced apoptosis of MSCs in a dose‐ and time‐dependent manner. H2O2 induced apoptosis of MSCs via both endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial pathways rather than extrinsic apoptosis pathway. H2O2 caused transient rather than sustained activation of p38 and JNK with no effect on ERK1/2 pathway. P38 was involved in the regulation of early apoptosis of MSCs while JNK was involved in the late apoptosis. P38 directed both ER stress and mitochondria death pathway in the early apoptosis. In conclusion, exogenous ROS was a major factor to induce apoptosis of MSCs. Both ER stress and mitochondria death pathway were involved in the apoptosis of MSCs. H2O2 activated p38 that directed the above two pathways in the regulation of early apoptosis of MSCs while JNK was involved in the late apoptosis of MSCs. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 967–978, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chronic exposure of bone morphogenetic protein‐2 favors chondrogenic expression in human articular chondrocytes amplified in monolayer cultures

Articular cartilage is a specialized connective tissue containing chondrocytes embedded in a network of extracellular macromolecules such as type II collagen and presents poor capacity to self‐repair. Autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) is worldwide used for treatment of focal damage to articular cartilage. However, dedifferentiation of chondrocytes occurs during the long term culture necessary for mass cell production. The aim of this study was to investigate if addition of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐2, a strong inducer of chondrogenic expression, to human chondrocytes immediately after their isolation from cartilage, could help to maintain their chondrogenic phenotype in long‐term culture conditions. Human articular chondrocytes were cultured according to the procedure used for ACT. Real‐time PCR and Western blotting were performed to evaluate the cellular phenotype. Exogenous BMP‐2 dramatically improves the chondrogenic character of knee articular chondrocytes amplified over two passages, as assessed by the BMP‐2 stimulation on type II procollagen expression and synthesis. This study reveals that BMP‐2 could potentially serve as a therapeutic agent for supporting the chondrogenic phenotype of human articular chondrocytes expanded in the conditions generally used for ACT. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 1642–1651, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Kinship and Family Members' Psychological Distress after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Large Sample Study

Objective:To describe the level and type of psychological distress experienced by live-in relatives of people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to compare the distress of spouses with that of other relatives. Design:A 2 x 3 x 4 cross-sectional design was used, with two levels of kinship (parent/spouse); three categories of duration of coma (no coma, coma <1 week, coma >1 week); and three categories of time since injury (10-24 months; 25-48 months; >48 months). Multivariate analysis of variance ascertained differences in psychological distress among spouses and relatives. Regression analysis identified the psychiatric symptoms that accounted for ratings of perceived stress. Setting and Participants:Family members (N=116) of a sample of outpatients with TBI, drawn from a database at a large urban medical center. Main Outcome Measures:The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and a perceived stress measure. Results:Over 40% of the relatives had clinically elevated scores on the BSI. The Obsessive Compulsive, Psychoticism, Paranoid Ideation and Hostility subscales were the most elevated. The BSI's Global Severity Index (GSI) correlated moderately with perceived stress. Spouses reported significantly more distress than other relatives (who were mostly parents) on all but three subscales. Male caregivers of female relatives with TBI displayed more distress on the GSI than other gender combinations. Time since injury and patients' days in coma did not affect relatives' levels of distress. Conclusions:Standardized measures of psychological distress confirm the clinical impression that family caregivers of people with TBI feel alienated, isolated, overwhelmed, and mentally preoccupied. Spouses experience more distress, which suggests that earlier marital intervention may be useful. Further research should address the needs of male caregivers and “cross-gender” caregiving.
Metformin sensitizes insulin signaling through AMPK‐mediated pten down‐regulation in preadipocyte 3T3‐L1 cells

Insulin resistance is the primary cause responsible for type 2 diabetes. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) plays a negative role in insulin signaling and its inhibition improves insulin sensitivity. Metformin is a widely used insulin‐sensitizing drug; however, the mechanism by which metformin acts is poorly understood. To gain insight into the role of PTEN, we examined the effect of metformin on PTEN expression. Metformin suppressed the expression of PTEN in an AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)‐dependent manner in preadipocyte 3T3‐L1 cells. Knock‐down of PTEN potentiated the increase in insulin‐mediated phosphorylation of Akt/ERK. Metformin also increased the phosphorylation of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK)‐c‐Jun and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)‐p70S6 kinase pathways. Both pharmacologic inhibition and knock‐down of AMPK blocked metformin‐induced phosphorylation of JNK and mTOR. Knock‐down of AMPK recovered the metformin‐induced PTEN down‐regulation, suggesting the involvement of AMPK in PTEN regulation. PTEN promoter activity was suppressed by metformin and inhibition of mTOR and JNK by pharmacologic inhibitors blocked metformin‐induced PTEN promoter activity suppression. These findings provide evidence for a novel role of AMPK on PTEN expression and thus suggest a possible mechanism by which metformin may contribute to its beneficial effects on insulin signaling. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 1259–1267, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Wnt10b activates the wnt, notch, and NFκB pathways in u2os osteosarcoma cells

Although osteosarcoma represents the most common bone malignancy, the molecular and cellular mechanisms influencing its pathogenesis have remained elusive. Recent evidence has suggested that the Wnt signaling pathway may play a crucial role in osteosarcoma. This study employed a microarray approach to discover novel genes and pathways involved in Wnt signaling in osteosarcoma. We developed a Wnt10b‐expressing cell line using the human U2OS osteosarcoma model (U2OS‐Wnt10b) and performed microarray and pathway analyses using parental U2OS cells as control. Differential expression of 1,003 genes encompassing 28 pathways was noted. The Wnt, NFκB, and Notch pathways were chosen for further study based on their known importance in bone biology. Known Wnt‐responsive genes Axin‐2 (4.9‐fold), CD44 (2.1‐fold), endothelin‐1 (4.2‐fold) and sclerostin domain containing‐1 (43‐fold) were regulated by Wnt10b. The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐1α and tumor necrosis factor‐α, known inducers of NFκB, were upregulated both at the transcript and protein level, and NFκB reporter activity was stimulated 3.8‐fold, confirming NFκB activation. Interestingly, genes involved in Notch signaling [Notch‐1 (2.4‐fold) and Jagged‐1 (3.1‐fold)] were upregulated, whereas the Notch inhibitor, lunatic fringe, was downregulated (8.2‐fold). This resulted in the activation of the classic Notch‐responsive genes, hairy and enhancer of split‐1 (Hes‐1; 2.2‐fold) and hairy/enhancer‐of‐split related with YRPW motif‐1 (Hey‐1; 2.5‐fold). A Hey‐1 reporter construct was regulated 9.1‐fold in U2OS‐Wnt10b cells, confirming Notch activation. Interestingly, Wnt3a failed to induce the Notch and NFκB pathways, demonstrating Wnt‐specificity. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Wnt10b, but not Wnt3a, stimulates the NFκB and Notch pathways in U2OS osteosarcoma cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 1392–1402, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tensor-based dictionary learning for dynamic tomographic reconstruction

In dynamic computed tomography (CT) reconstruction, the data acquisition speed limits the spatio-temporal resolution. Recently, compressed sensing theory has been instrumental in improving CT reconstruction from far few-view projections. In this paper, we present an adaptive method to train a tensor-based spatio-temporal dictionary for sparse representation of an image sequence during the reconstruction process. The correlations among atoms and across phases are considered to capture the characteristics of an object. The reconstruction problem is solved by the alternating direction method of multipliers. To recover fine or sharp structures such as edges, the nonlocal total variation is incorporated into the algorithmic framework. Preclinical examples including a sheep lung perfusion study and a dynamic mouse cardiac imaging demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms the vectorized dictionary-based CT reconstruction in the case of few-view reconstruction.
THE CLASSIC: Evolution of Mould Arthroplasty of the Hip Joint

Marius Nygaard Smith-Petersen was born in Grimstad, Norway, November 14, 1886. At age 16 he immigrated to the U.S. and attended the Universities of Chicago and Wisconsin, receiving a B.S. from Wisconsin in 1910. At Wisconsin, he worked as a laboratory assistant to the great physiologist Erlanger. Smith-Petersen graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1914 and served a surgical internship at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital under Harvey Cushing. During World War I he served with the First Harvard Medical Unit at the American Ambulance Hospital in Paris. After the war Smith-Petersen spent 2 years training in orthopedic surgery at the Massachusetts General Hospital under Elliott G. Brackett, with whom he was associated in practice from 1918 to 1923. From 1923 until his death in 1953 he carried on an active orthopedic surgery practice while successively serving as Instructor, Assistant Clinical Professor, and Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Harvard. In 1929 he was appointed Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at the MGH. In 1925 he designed the classic 3 phlanged nail which in 1931 was reported to prevent rotation of the femoral head. As innovator of the anterior iliofemoral approach to the hip, the vitallium cup hip arthroplasty, and osteotomy of the spine for ankylosing spondylitis, he was the most creative orthopedic surgeon of his time (1886–1953).
Time-resolved versus time-integrated portal dosimetry: the role of an object’s position with respect to the isocenter in volumetric modulated arc therapy

The aim of this work is to compare time-resolved (TR) and time-integrated (TI) portal dosimetry, focussing on the role of an object’s position with respect to the isocenter in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Portal dose images (PDIs) are simulated and measured for different cases: a sphere (1), a bovine bone (2) and a patient geometry (3). For the simulated case (1) and the experimental case (2), several transformations are applied at different off-axis positions. In the patient case (3), three simple plans with different isocenters are created and pleural effusion is simulated in the patient. The PDIs before and after the sphere transformations, as well as the PDIs with and without simulated pleural effusion, are compared using a TI and TR gamma analysis. In addition, the performance of the TI and TR gamma analyses for the detection of real geometric changes in patients treated with clinical plans is investigated and a correlation analysis is performed between gamma fail rates and differences in dose volume histogram (DVH) metrics. The TI gamma analysis can show large differences in gamma fail rates for the same transformation at different off-axis positions (or for different plan isocenters). The TR gamma analysis, however, shows consistent gamma fail rates. For the detection of real geometric changes in patients treated with clinical plans, the TR gamma analysis has a higher sensitivity than the TI gamma analysis. However, the specificity for the TR gamma analysis is lower than for the TI gamma analysis. Both the TI and TR gamma fail rates show no correlation with changes in DVH metrics. This work shows that TR portal dosimetry is fundamentally superior to TI portal dosimetry, because it removes the strong dependence of the gamma fail rate on the off-axis position/plan isocenter. However, for 2D TR portal dosimetry, it is still difficult to interpret gamma fail rates in terms of changes in DVH metrics for patients treated with VMAT.
Improving Quality of Life Outcomes in Supported Accommodation for People with Intellectual Disability: What Makes a Difference?

BACKGROUND The quality of life (QOL) of people with intellectual disability living in supported accommodation services is variable, influenced by many possible factors. Various frameworks have attempted to identify these factors without assigning value, direction of influence or relative impact on outcomes. METHODS A realist review of the literature aimed to expose different propositions about variables influencing QOL outcomes and review the strength of supporting evidence for these, to identify their relative influence. Evidence was reviewed for and against each of five clusters. RESULTS Evidence was strongest for the presence of staff practices (use of Active Support), front-line management practice (use of practice leadership), culture (enabling and motivating), human resources policies and practice (that support front-line leaders and recruitment of staff with the right values), adequate resources, and small, dispersed and homelike settings. CONCLUSIONS The evidence informs policy and practice but in some clusters remains limited, warranting further research which measures outcomes on all QOL domains.
The Pain of Dying

SUMMARY Dying can be a painful and difficult business. Fears, hopes, losses, questions, and uncertainty result in a form of pain that lies beyond the therapeutic reach of science and pharmacology. Efforts to preserve and prolong life or to make things better can sometimes result in this pain being overlooked or remaining unheard. To search the deepest part of oneself is the journey that beckons us all as we are dying. Within this space resides the source of our own suffering but also the seeds for healing. This exploration has a momentum of its own but requires conditions not often found within the biomedical paradigm. If this model of care remains the only source of hope for those with a life-threatening illness, ‘the pain of dying’ may not be addressed.
Characteristics of Male Family Caregivers in Japan and Their Sense of Care Burden, Capacity to Deal with Stress, and Subjective Sense of Well-Being

This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of Japanese male family caregivers in terms of their sense of care burden, their capacity to deal with stress, and their subjective sense of well-being. A survey consisting of questionnaires and interviews was conducted from March to May 2014 in the subjects’ homes. Subjects were 27 Japanese males (the age range: 54 - 85) who provided home care for their family member. Caregivers who were good at relieving stress or who had a subjective sense of well-being were found to have a low care burden. The types and seriousness of diseases of the care recipients were not related to the caregivers’ sense of burden, capacity to deal with stress, or subjective sense of well-being. Based on the interview results, caregivers were found to have the following characteristics: they were particular about methods of care; they learned how to provide home care by themselves; they used their social intelligence in home care; they always provided home care while keeping the future in mind; and most notably, they considered home care to be their primary occupation. On the whole, male caregivers were found to alleviate the burdens of home care by making use of the nursing-care service systems that enabled them to relieve stress and enjoy their leisure time. Caregivers considered home care to be their occupation and used their past social experiences. The workforce helped them deal with the care recipients’ health conditions or day-to-day changes so that they could overcome the care burden.
Effects of detraining on anthropometry, aerobic capacity and functional ability in adults with Down syndrome

BACKGROUND Structured exercise has shown to improve parameters of functional fitness in adults with Down syndrome (DS). However, few, if any, continue to exercise after exercise intervention studies. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of detraining on anthropometry, aerobic capacity and functional ability of adults with DS. METHODS In a previous study, forty-two participants either performed 12 weeks of interval training, continuous aerobic training or no training (CON). After 3 months of detraining, the same participants were tested again for anthropometry, aerobic capacity, leg strength and functional ability. RESULTS Significant reductions in maximal aerobic capacity, time to exhaustion and both functional test items were reported for both exercise groups compared to CON (p < .05). No significant differences were reported between the exercise groups concerning aerobic and functional capacity reductions. CONCLUSION Detraining occurred significantly in both exercise groups regarding parameters associated with aerobic and functional capacity.
Highlighting the role of FDG PET scan in early response assessment of gastrointestinal stromal tumor treated with imatinib mesylate.

A 55-year-old man presented with a progressively increasing mass in the abdomen. The biopsy on debulking surgery demonstrated a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) with immunopositivity for c-kit. A CT scan done before the initiation of imatinib mesylate therapy demonstrated a generalized solid heterogeneous mass occupying the entire omentum and paracolic gutters and peritoneal spaces with encasement of the entire liver and spleen with peritoneal deposits. An F-18 FDG PET scan was done before the initiation of therapy. The scan demonstrated intense and nonhomogeneous uptake involving almost the entire abdomen. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the mass was 9.59. The FDG PET scan was repeated 24 hours after a single dose of 400 mg of imatinib (approximately 48 hours after the baseline scan), which demonstrated significant reduction in the metabolic activity, observed in the preimatinib scan. The SUVmax was now 2.47. The present case highlights the role of FDG PET scan in assessment of tumor response to imatinib as early as 24 hours.
Proteína p53 em nefroblastomas

A imunoexpressao do antigeno p53 foi estudada em 35 pacientes com idade media de 38± 29 meses. Todos foram tratados com nefrectomia e quimioterapia, em 17 se associou tambem a radioterapia. O tempo medio de seguimento foi de 69± 66 meses. Em 5 deles a histologia era defavoravel. Em 10 casos (28,5%) a marcacao foi positiva, com ordem crescente de positividade para epitelio, blastema e estroma. Cinco pacientes faleceram da doenca, nenhum deles com histologia desfavoravel. Nao se encontrou relacao significante entre o padrao imunohistoquimico e os paremetros seguintes: sobrevida dos pacientes, estadio e grau do tumor.
Health professionals working effectively with support workers to enhance the quality of support for adults with intellectual disabilities: A meta‐ethnography

BACKGROUND Paid support workers are often central to the quality of life of adults with intellectual disabilities. Health and social care professionals increasingly carry out interventions indirectly through those support workers and therefore need to understand how best to collaborate. METHODS This article synthesizes findings from the qualitative research of others investigating health professionals' work with support staff. From sixty-two articles retrieved from a database and journal search, seven met inclusion criteria and a meta-ethnographic synthesis allowed construction of an interpretive line-of-argument. RESULTS Thirteen themes within the articles were synthesized into three over-archingconstructs, suggesting that professionals should collaborate by providing effective leadership, working in partnership with support workers and managers and recognizing the influence of organizational structures and context. CONCLUSIONS As these constructs seem reflective of important components of teamwork, a "line-of-argument" is proposed that it could be helpful for professionals to view themselves as part of a "team" with support workers.