Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Screening for acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity of selected plants from Croatia

The methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of selected Croatian plants were tested for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and antioxidant activity. Assessment of AChE inhibition was carried out using microplate reader at 1 mg mL−1. Antioxidant capacities were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Total phenol content (TPC) of extracts were determined using Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric method. Out of 48 extracts, only methanolic extract of the Salix alba L. cortex exerted modest activity towards AChE, reaching 50.80% inhibition at concentration of 1 mg mL−1. All the other samples tested had activity below 20%. The same extract performed the best antioxidative activity using DPPH and FRAP method, too. In essence, among all extracts used in the screening, methanolic extracts showed the best antioxidative activity as well as highest TPC.
Autonomic recovery following sprint interval exercise

The autonomic nervous activity was assessed following supramaximal exercise through heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) variability (HRV and BPV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). The beat‐to‐beat HR and BP were recorded during the supine and standing states before (PRE) and at 60 (R60) and 120 min (R120) following single (one Wingate, 1W) and multiple sprint intervals (four Wingates interspersed with 4 min of light cycling, 4W). The supine low frequency (LF) component was increased (P<0.001) and the high frequency (HF) was reduced (P<0.01) at R60 (LF, 178.1 ± 11.0; HF, 74.8 ± 10.5) compared with PRE (LF, 140.2 ± 7.4; HF, 110.4 ± 7.2) after both exercises. Supine systolic BPV LF:HF was higher at R60 (4.6 ± 1.4) compared with PRE (6.8 ± 2.4) only after 4W (P=0.035). Supine BRS was lower (P<0.001) at R60 (6.8 ± 1.1) than at PRE (15.3 ± 1.8) and R120 (11.3 ± 1.3). BRS at R120 remained lower after 4W (P=0.02). Standing BRS was less (P<0.001) at R60 (2.3 ± 0.5) than at PRE (5.6 ± 0.8) or R120 (3.7 ± 0.6) and returned to PRE values only after 1W. We concluded that (a) autonomic balance is shifted to a greater sympathetic and less parasympathetic activation following both types of exercise, (b) it takes longer than 1 h to recover following supramaximal exercise and (c) the recovery is longer after 4W than 1W.
Relationship between quadriceps femoris muscle volume and muscle torque at least 18 months after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate motor unit recruitment in the quadriceps femoris (QF) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture and repair. Subjects included 24 patients at ≥18 months after ACL reconstruction and 22 control subjects with no history of knee injury. A series of cross‐sectional magnetic resonance images were obtained to compare the QF of patients' injured side with that of their uninjured sides and that of uninjured control subjects. Muscle torque per muscle volume was calculated as isokinetic peak torque divided by QF muscle volume (cm3). The mean muscle torque per unit volume of the injured side of patients was not significantly different from that of the uninjured side or control subjects (one‐way ANOVA) Results of the present study were contrary to the results of a previous study that evaluated patients at ≤12 months after ACL reconstruction. The present study found that high‐threshold motor unit recruitment was restored at ≥18 months after ACL reconstruction. Thus, clinicians must develop techniques that increase the recruitment of high‐threshold motor units in the QF from the period immediately after the injury until approximately 18 months after ACL reconstruction.
Befriending carers of people with dementia: a cost utility analysis

There is very little evidence on the cost‐effectiveness of social care interventions for people with dementia or their carers. The BEfriending and Costs of CAring trial (BECCA, ISRCTN08130075) aimed to establish whether a structured befriending service improved the quality of life of carers of people with dementia, and at what cost.
Salzburg Skiing for the Elderly Study: influence of alpine skiing on aerobic capacity, strength, power, and balance

Alpine skiing is a recreational sport with high demands on the cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems. It is assumed that skiing could have positive effects on the decline in aerobic capacity, strength, and balance ability of older individuals. In a 12‐week intervention study, 47 elderly subjects (age 60–76 years) were randomized into an intervention group (IG) and a control group (CG). The IG averaged 28.5 days of guided skiing during 12 weeks. Aerobic capacity, leg power, and strength as well as postural stability were tested before, immediately after, and 10 weeks after the intervention phase. VO2max improved by 7.2% from Pre to Post for the IG, without any change in the CG. Jump height increased on average by 6% over the 12 weeks for the IG, while jump height for the CG deteriorated by −11.7%. Dynamic maximal strength measured in both legs increased by 16% in the IG during the 12 weeks of skiing. In the CG, it increased by 7%, without being significant. In postural ability, no differences between groups or over time were noted. It appears that, in older individuals, 12 weeks of skiing leads to a significant increase in aerobic capacity, leg muscle power, and strength.
M04 European huntington's disease network registry: current status

Background The European Huntington's disease Network's (EHDN) REGISTRY is an observational, prospective, longitudinal, multi-national, multi-centre cohort study of Huntington's disease (HD). It is the largest study of HD to date, and collects valuable phenotypical data and biospecimens on individuals who are at risk of, premanifest or manifest for HD, and includes control participants and non-expansion mutation carriers. Aims Registry aims to establish a well-characterised European-based HD population to expedite high-quality research to improve our knowledge of this disease and to work towards discovering and developing therapies to delay or slow HD. Methods/techniques Registry follows a prospective study design, with participants attending annual visits. Pseudonymised clinical data are stored centrally on a customised webportal (http://www.euro-hd.net/Registry). Biospecimens are processed and stored centrally at BioRep, Milan, Italy. All data are captured online and are subject to regular quality control checks for plausibility and accuracy. Three Registry sub-studies (Juvenile HD, Physiotherapy and Lifestyle) have been active in multiple study sites since 2011. Results/outcome Registry data have been collected from 17 European countries. Over 9000 participants have contributed phenotypical data, and of those, more than 6000 participants have contributed biosamples for further use in large-scale genetic modifier and biomarker HD studies. On average, 100 participants are enrolled into Registry each month, and approximately 250 biospecimens (including resubmissions from existing participants) are submitted. A summary of the key study metrics including demographics and disease stage of the Registry cohort and an overview of substudy enrolment figures are presented. Conclusions Registry has been successful in establishing a well-characterised European-based HD cohort. The study protocol was amended in 2009 to include retrospective data collection (pre-enrolment to Registry), video-recording, and the development and validation of novel/additional endpoints for therapeutic interventions. To date, a total of 60 data mining proposals have been approved access to the Registry database. The study has expedited the coordination and implementation of clinical trials of promising compounds and has proven successful in expediting substudies and regular data collection.
MODELING OF CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITED ZIRCONIA FOR THERMAL BARRIER AND ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER COATINGS

Thermal and environmental barrier coatings are important components of current and future energy systems. Such coatings--applied to hot, metallic surfaces in combustors, heat exchanger and turbines--increase the allowable operating temperature and increase the efficiency of the energy system. Because of its low thermal conductivity and high thermal expansion yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) is the material of choice for protection of structural components in many high temperature applications. Current coating application methods have their drawbacks, however. Air plasma spray (APS) is a relatively low-cost process and is suitable for large and relatively complex shapes. It is difficult to produce uniform, relatively thin coatings with this process, however, and the coatings do not exhibit the columnar microstructure that is needed for reliable, long-term performance. The electron-beam physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) process does produce the desirable microstructure, however, the capital cost of these systems is very high and the line-of-sight nature of the process limits coating uniformity and the ability to coat large and complex shapes. The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process also produces the desirable columnar microstructure and--under proper conditions--can produce uniform coatings over complex shapes. The overall goal of this project--a joint effort of the University of Louisville and Oak Ridge Nationalmore » Laboratory (ORNL)--is to develop the YSZ CVD process for application of thermal barrier coatings for fossil energy systems. Last year's report described our initial efforts toward developing a model for the process and for ORNL's bench-scale reactor. This model provides an understanding of the transport and kinetics phenomena that control the deposition process and ultimately will provide a tool for fullscale reactor design and optimization. Our overall research approach is: validate the 3-D computer model using experimental results at ORNL, use the model to identify and evaluate potential process improvements and design a reactor for large and complex substrates. This report describes the modeling effort at the University of Louisville which supports the experimental work at ORNL. « less
HLA class I antibody-mediated endothelial and smooth muscle cell activation

Purpose of reviewAdvances in immunosuppression and patient management have successfully improved 1-year transplant outcome. Unfortunately, antibody-mediated rejection is a major barrier to long-term graft survival. This study summarizes the effects of antibodies on endothelial cell and smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration, proliferation and leukocyte recruitment, emphasizing the intracellular signaling pathways that orchestrate these distinct functional outcomes. Recent findingsSeveral studies have provided further insight into the effects of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antibodies on vascular cells. We found that HLA I molecules partner with integrin &bgr;4 to transduce proliferative signaling, and identified proteins that associate with the cytoskeleton after HLA class I crosslinking. Natural killer cells have been strongly implicated in a murine model of donor-specific major histocompatibility complex I antibody-triggered neointimal thickening. A recently developed human arterial graft model revealed the role of matrix metalloproteinases in SMC mitogenesis by HLA class I antibodies. Using a donor transgenic for HLA-A2, Fukami et al. investigated the mechanisms of accommodation induced by low titers of HLA class I antibodies. SummaryLigation of HLA class I molecules with antibodies leads to the activation of intracellular signals in endothelial cells and SMCs, which in turn promote actin cytoskeletal remodeling, survival, proliferation, and recruitment of leukocytes.
Prevention and treatment of coronary artery vasculopathy

Purpose of reviewCardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is still one of the major causes of death following heart transplantation. Here, we review the recent advances in its prevention and treatment. Recent findingsPreventive measures comprise control of classical risk factors, prophylaxis against cytomegalovirus, avoidance of graft endothelial damage during heart transplantation, and prevention of acute rejection. These measures can be effective if begun early. The treatment options for established CAV are limited, percutaneous revascularization and coronary artery bypass graft only being viable for a minority of patients because of the diffuse nature of CAV. Retransplantation is the only definitive therapy for CAV and may be considered for suitable patients with advanced CAV and allograft dysfunction. One of the most promising developments in the recent years is the use of mTOR inhibitors, which can now be regarded as effective in preventing CAV in de novo patients; their role in the treatment of established CAV is still uncertain despite some encouraging recent findings. SummaryThe implementation of measures and lifestyles that help prevent CAV should be a priority of postheart transplantation management. Research should urgently evaluate mTOR inhibitors for the treatment of established CAV.
Seborrheic keratosis or verruca plana? A pilot study with confocal laser scanning microscopy

Background: Differentiation of some seborrheic keratosis (SK) and verruca plana (VP) lesions is a challenge. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) has been proved to be useful in the diagnosis of skin diseases; however, to date, there is no report on the differential study of the two diseases with CLSM.
Psychrophilin E, a new cyclotripeptide, from co-fermentation of two marine alga-derived fungi of the genus Aspergillus

Chemical investigation of the mycelial extract of a mixed culture of two marine alga-derived fungal strains of the genus Aspergillus has yielded one new cyclotripeptide, psychrophilin E (1), the recently reported oxepin-containing alkaloids, protuboxepin A (2) and oxepinamide E (3), together with three other polyketide derivatives (4–6). The chemical structure and relative and absolute configurations of psychrophilin E (1) were unambiguously established based on HRMS, 1D, 2D NMR and chiral-phase HPLC analysis of its hydrolysate. All the isolated compounds were assessed for their anti-proliferative activity against four different human cancer cell lines and some of them revealed selective activities.
Nematicidal activity of microbial pigment from Serratia marcescens

Ineffectiveness of available nematicides and the high damage caused by plant-parasitic nematodes result in the urgent need to find some natural remedy for their control. Bioactivity of the pigment extracted from Serratia marcescens was screened for controlling nematodes at their juvenile stage. Test pigment was found effective against juvenile stages of Radopholus similis and Meloidogyne javanica at low concentrations (LC50 values, 83 and 79 μg/mL, respectively) as compared with positive control of copper sulphate (LC50 values, 380 and 280 μg/mL, respectively). The pigment also exhibited inhibition on nematode egg-hatching ability. Characterisation of extracted pigment with TLC, FTIR, HPLC, HPTLC and spectroscopic analysis confirmed the presence of prodigiosin as a bioactive metabolite. Considering the sensory mechanism of pathogen recognition by nematodes, the use of microbial secondary metabolites can be effective for nematode control rather than using whole organism.
Peroxisome Fission in Hansenula polymorpha Requires Mdv1 and Fis1, Two Proteins Also Involved in Mitochondrial Fission

We show that Mdv1 and Caf4, two components of the mitochondrial fission machinery in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also function in peroxisome proliferation. Deletion of MDV1, CAF4 or both, however, had only a minor effect on peroxisome numbers at peroxisome‐inducing growth conditions, most likely related to the fact that Vps1 – and not Dnm1 – is the key player in peroxisome fission in this organism. In contrast, in Hansenula polymorpha, which has only a Dnm1‐dependent peroxisome fission machinery, deletion of MDV1 led to a drastic reduction of peroxisome numbers. This phenotype was accompanied by a strong defect in mitochondrial fission. The MDV1 paralog CAF4 is absent in H. polymorpha. In wild‐type H. polymorpha, cells Dnm1–mCherry and green fluorescent protein (GFP)–Mdv1 colocalize in spots that associate with both peroxisomes and mitochondria. Furthermore, Fis1 is essential to recruit Mdv1 to the peroxisomal and mitochondrial membrane. However, formation of GFP–Mdv1 spots – and related to this normal organelle fission – is strictly dependent on the presence of Dnm1. In dnm1 cells, GFP–Mdv1 is dispersed over the surface of peroxisomes and mitochondria. Also, in H. polymorpha mdv1 or fis1 cells, the number of Dnm1–GFP spots is strongly reduced. These spots still associate to organelles but are functionally inactive.
Mycobacterial Phenolic Glycolipid Inhibits Phagosome Maturation and Subverts the Pro‐inflammatory Cytokine Response

Inhibition of phagosome maturation is an important hallmark of mycobacterial pathogenesis. A variety of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic approaches have been used to pin down the molecule responsible for this pathogenic principle. We in this study characterize a glycolipid of Mycobacterium marinum identified through a screen of mutants disabled in inhibiting phagosome maturation to be phenolphthiocerol diester (phenolic glycolipid, PGL). This molecule is sufficient to impart its ability to inhibit phagosome maturation onto other microbial cells and even inert beads that are used as model pathogens. In addition, it abrogates pro‐inflammatory cytokine secretion induced by strong inducers such as heat‐killed Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette–Guérin. This strong dual agonistic effect of PGL overrides pro‐inflammatory and pro‐lysosomal delivery impulses set not only by mycobacteria but also by other pathogens and thus provides convincing evidence that this molecule is a vital mycobacterial virulence factor.
Recent Patents on Electrospun Biomedical Nanostructures: An Overview

Nanostructures in the form of tubes, wires, crystals, rods, spheres, and fibers have been fabricated and assembled into various macrostructures for a variety of high technology applications. Nanofeatures impart several amazing properties to these macrostructures including high surface area, surface functionality, and superior mechanical, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties over the parent bulk material. Polymeric nanofibers in the form of nonwoven cloth, membrane, braids and tubes are extensively used for daily needs, and in addition used as filters, protective clothing, and for a variety of industrial and biomedical applications. Electrospinning or electrostatic spinning has emerged as a very popular technique to fabricate polymeric nanofiber matrices. More than 100 different polymers of natural, synthetic origin, their blends and composites have been electrospun into different three dimensional (3-D) macrostructures. Electrospinning provides opportunities to manipulate and control surface area, fiber diameter, porosity and pore size of nanofiber matrices. These nanofiber matrices closely mimic the structure of extracellular matrix (ECM) and influence cellular activities both in vitro and in vivo. Nanofiber macrostructures have been used as a vehicle to deliver therapeutic agents, as scaffolds for engineering various tissues and also serve as an integrated part of biomedical implants. Present review will cover some of the recent important patents that use electrospun nanofiber matrices for various biomedical applications.
Infectious Adenovirus Type 2 Transport Through Early but not Late Endosomes

Receptor‐mediated endocytosis is a major gate for pathogens into cells. In this study, we analyzed the trafficking of human adenovirus type 2 and 5 (Ad2/5) and the escape‐defective temperature‐sensitive Ad2‐ts1 mutant in epithelial cancer cells. Ad2/5 and Ad2‐ts1 uptake into endosomes containing transferrin, major histocompatibility antigen 1 and the Rab5 effector early endosome antigen 1 (EEA1) involved dynamin, amphiphysin, clathrin and Eps15. Cointernalization experiments showed that most of the Ad2/5 and Ad2‐ts1 visited the same EEA1‐positive endosomes. In contrast to Ad2/5, Ad2‐ts1 required functional Rab5 for endocytosis and lysosomal transport and was sensitive to the phosphatidyl‐inositol‐3 (PI3)‐kinase inhibitor wortmannin or the ubiquitin‐binding protein Hrs for sorting from early to late endosomes. Endosomal escape of Ad2 was not affected by incubation at 19°C, which blocked membrane sorting in early endosomes and inhibited Ad2‐ts1 transport to lysosomes. Unlike Semliki Forest Virus (SFV), sorting of Ad2‐ts1 to late endosomes was independent of Rab7 and Ad2/5 infection independent of EEA1. The data indicate that Ad2/5 and Ad2‐ts1 use an invariant machinery for clathrin‐mediated uptake to early endosomes. We suggest that the infectious Ad2 particles are either directly released from early endosomes to the cytosol or sorted by a temperature‐insensitive and PI3‐kinase‐independent mechanism to an escape compartment different from late endosomes or lysosomes.
Image-guided surgery in minimally invasive urology

Purpose of review Image-guided surgery (IGS) is a new type of surgery in which indirect visualization of the surgical anatomy helps the surgeon to enable minimally invasive percutaneous, laparoscopic, or robotic-aided treatment more precisely and safely, to achieve complete tumor removal and sparing of the function of critical organs. Recent findings Although 2D ultrasonography has played a main role as conventional intraoperative image guidance, image-fusion system of ultrasonography with computed tomography (CT) or MRI, 3D ultrasonography imaging, MRI-compatible navigation system, and image-overlay technology of augmented reality navigation system have emerged with computer aid. Development of augmented reality in soft tissue navigation is challenging, especially in tracking of organ motion and deformation. In IGS, the surgeon may see any angled tomogram of the patient's body, or 3D anatomies beyond the direct vision. IGS would not only provide the delivery of energy or medicines to the therapeutic target, but also monitor the precision and effectiveness of the treatment. Summary Emerging imaging technology gives surgeons a new powerful opportunity to realize where surgical pathological targets and vital healthy anatomies are located beyond the surgeon's direct vision.
The Calcium Channel Mucolipin‐3 is a Novel Regulator of Trafficking Along the Endosomal Pathway

The varitint‐waddler phenotype in mice is caused by gain‐of‐function mutations in mucolipin‐3 (MCOLN3), a member of the mucolipin family of ion channels. These mice are characterized by defects in pigmentation, hearing loss and vestibular defects, suggesting that MCOLN3 might play a role in melanosome trafficking and hair cell maturation. Recent evidence has shown that MCOLN3 is a Ca2+–permeable channel and its activity is regulated by pH. Here we show that MCOLN3 primarily localizes to early and late endosomes in human epithelial cells. This distribution at the less acidic portions of the endocytic pathway is consistent with the reported inactivation of the channel by low pH. Furthermore, overexpression of MCOLN3 causes dramatic alterations in the endosomal pathway, including enlargement of Hrs‐positive endosomes, delayed degradation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and EGF receptor (EGFR) and defective autophagosome maturation, whereas depletion of endogenous MCOLN3 enhances EGFR degradation. Finally, we found that endosomal pH is higher in cells overexpressing MCOLN3 and propose a model in which Ca2+ release from endosomes mediated by MCOLN3 might be important for efficient endosomal acidification. Therefore, MCOLN3 is a novel Ca2+ channel that plays a crucial role in the regulation of cargo trafficking along the endosomal pathway.