Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are Aerobic Programs Similar in Design to Cardiac Rehabilitation Beneficial for Survivors of Stroke? A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

Background Survivors of stroke face movement disability and increased cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. Treatment includes rehabilitation focused on functional movement with less emphasis on aerobic capacity. After rehabilitation, survivors of stroke must self‐manage activity with limited appropriate community programs. Lack of structured activity contributes to sedentary behavior. The objective of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to review aerobic programs for stroke survivors similar in activity and dosage to cardiac rehabilitation programs to determine their efficacy for improving aerobic and walking capacity. Methods and Results Preferred Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to review 5 databases. Group interventions for survivors of stroke with a primary aerobic component and dosage from 18 to 36 visits over 8 to 18 weeks (matching cardiac rehabilitation requirements in the United States) were included. The 6‐minute walk test, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2) peak, and walking speed were included as measures of aerobic capacity. Summary effect sizes and outcome measure mean differences were calculated for preintervention to postintervention, and summary effect sizes were calculated for preintervention to follow‐up. Activity type and initial 6‐minute walk test moderator analyses were performed. Nineteen studies with 23 eligible groups were selected. Survivors of stroke improved their composite aerobic capacity with an effect size of 0.38 (95% CI, 0.27–0.49). Studies including 6‐minute walk test demonstrated a pooled difference in means of 53.3 m (95% CI, 36.8–69.8 m). Follow‐up data were inconclusive. Conclusions Survivors of stroke benefit from aerobic programs with similar dosing to cardiac rehabilitation in the United States. The potential integration into existing programs could expand the community exercise options.
Detection and quantification of nitric oxide–derived oxidants in biological systems

The free radical nitric oxide (NO•) exerts biological effects through the direct and reversible interaction with specific targets (e.g. soluble guanylate cyclase) or through the generation of secondary species, many of which can oxidize, nitrosate or nitrate biomolecules. The NO•-derived reactive species are typically short-lived, and their preferential fates depend on kinetic and compartmentalization aspects. Their detection and quantification are technically challenging. In general, the strategies employed are based either on the detection of relatively stable end products or on the use of synthetic probes, and they are not always selective for a particular species. In this study, we describe the biologically relevant characteristics of the reactive species formed downstream from NO•, and we discuss the approaches currently available for the analysis of NO•, nitrogen dioxide (NO2•), dinitrogen trioxide (N2O3), nitroxyl (HNO), and peroxynitrite (ONOO−/ONOOH), as well as peroxynitrite-derived hydroxyl (HO•) and carbonate anion (CO3•−) radicals. We also discuss the biological origins of and analytical tools for detecting nitrite (NO2−), nitrate (NO3−), nitrosyl–metal complexes, S-nitrosothiols, and 3-nitrotyrosine. Moreover, we highlight state–of–the–art methods, alert readers to caveats of widely used techniques, and encourage retirement of approaches that have been supplanted by more reliable and selective tools for detecting and measuring NO•-derived oxidants. We emphasize that the use of appropriate analytical methods needs to be strongly grounded in a chemical and biochemical understanding of the species and mechanistic pathways involved.
Financial Distress Is Associated With Delay in Seeking Care for Hand Conditions

Background: As medical costs continue to rise, financial distress due to these costs has led to poorer health outcomes and patient cost-coping behavior. Here, we test the null hypothesis that financial distress is not associated with delay of seeking care for hand conditions. Methods: Eighty-seven new patients presenting to the hand clinic for nontraumatic conditions completed our study. Patients completed validated instruments for measuring financial distress, pain catastrophizing, and pain. Questions regarding delay of care were included. The primary outcome was self-reported delay of the current hand clinic visit. Results: Patients who experience high financial distress differed significantly from those who experience low financial distress with respect to age, race, annual household income, and employment status. Those experiencing high financial distress were more likely to report having delayed their visit to the hand clinic (57% vs 30%), higher pain catastrophizing scores (17.7 vs 7.6), and higher average pain in the preceding week (4.5 vs 2.3). After adjusting for age, sex, and pain, high financial distress (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 4.90) and pain catastrophizing score (adjusted OR = 0.96) were found to be independent predictors of delay. Financial distress was highly associated with annual household income in a multivariable linear regression model. Conclusions: Patients with nontraumatic hand conditions who experience higher financial distress are more likely to delay their visit to the hand clinic. Within health care systems, identification of patients with high financial distress and targeted interventions (eg, social or financial services) may help prevent unnecessary delays in care.
Effect of Supplementation with Trimethylglycine (Betaine) and/or Vitamins on Semen Quality, Fertility, Antioxidant Status, DNA Repair and Welfare of Roosters Exposed to Chronic Heat Stress

Simple Summary Semen, reproductive traits, and the welfare of males are negatively affected by environmental stressors. Stress-alleviating agents, such as vitamins and osmoregulators, may improve semen quality, seminal and blood plasma constituents, antioxidants’ status, and the welfare of roosters exposed to chronic heat stress (CHS). It has been shown that betaine (Bet) may be a useful tool for improving the reproductive traits of roosters exposed to CHS, and may have comparable effects to vitamin C and/or E, thus improving the breeding strategy. Abstract In this study, we investigated the influence of betaine (Bet, 1000 mg/kg), with or without vitamin C (VC, 200 mg/kg ascorbic acid) and/or vitamin E (VE, 150 mg/kg α-tocopherol acetate) on semen quality, seminal and blood plasma constituents, antioxidants’ status, DNA repair, and the welfare of chronic heat stress (CHS)-exposed roosters. A total of 54 roosters were divided into six groups of nine replicates. One group was kept under thermoneutral conditions, whereas the other five were kept under CHS. One of the five groups served as an unsupplemented CHS group, and was fed with a basal diet. The other four CHS groups were supplemented with Bet, Bet + VC, Bet + VE, and Bet + VC + VE, respectively. Our data indicate that supplementation with Bet, Bet + VC, Bet + VE, and Bet + VC + VE, resulted in complete recovery of the CHS effect on sperm concentration and livability, semen pH, and fertility compared to the thermoneutral group. Seminal plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was significantly (p < 0.05) increased with Bet, with or without vitamins, compared to the thermoneutral and CHS groups. Urea and blood plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) were totally recovered with Bet, with or without vitamin treatments. Both the jejunum and ileum DNA were partially recovered following Bet, with or without vitamin supplementation. In conclusion, Bet, at 1000 mg/kg feed, may be a useful agent for increasing semen quality, fertility, welfare, and to improve the breeding strategy of breeder males in hot climates.
Systematic Review of Community- and Home-Based Interventions to Support Parenting and Reduce Risk of Child Maltreatment Among Families With Substance-Exposed Newborns

Substance-exposed newborns (SENs) are at increased risk of child maltreatment, out-of-home placement, and poor health and developmental outcomes. The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize existing research on community- and home-based interventions designed to improve parenting and reduce risk of maltreatment for families with SENs, applying a program logic framework. The review includes studies that used preexperimental, quasi-experimental, and experimental designs. Twelve interventions were identified. Of the nine studies that used more rigorous experimental or quasi-experimental designs, five showed positive effects on at least one parenting or child maltreatment outcome, although some studies showed high risk of bias. Full coherence among the intended participants, theory of change, and program components was observed for only two interventions. The findings suggest a need for more rigorous research to develop and test interventions that are grounded in theory and prior research and that address the unique needs of families with SENs.
Polar Lipids in Starch-Rich Commodities to be Analyzed with LC-MS-Based Metabolomics—Optimization of Ionization Parameters and High-Throughput Extraction Protocols

Metabolomics-based approaches are still receiving growing attention with regard to food authenticity testing. Such studies require enormous sample numbers with negligible experimental or analytical variations to obtain statistically reliable results. In this context, an extraction protocol in line with optimized ionization parameters was developed in consideration of potential starch-derived matrix effects focusing on the polar lipids of potatoes. Therefore, well-known extractions (Bligh and Dyer, Folch, Matyash, and a n-hexane-based procedure) were compared in a non-targeted and a targeted approach regarding the extractability of their lipids such as phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, galacto- and glucocerebrosides, di- and triglycerides, and acylated steryl glucosides. The selected Folch method was also scrutinized in view of its ability to remove the matrix’s starch and consequently improved by substituting trichlormethane with ethyl acetate as a “greener” Folch approach. Moreover, the challenge of starch-derived contamination and imminent ion suppression in the electrospray ionization source (ESI) was addressed by an optimization of ionization parameters varying desolvation settings, removing injection peaks, and increasing the angles and distances of the ESI-device. Long-term stability tests over five days were performed successfully with a combination of appropriate extraction and decreased desolvation settings during ionization. In conclusion, the present methodology provided the basis for on-going large-scale metabolomic studies with respect to the botanical origin of potatoes using UPLC-IMS-QToF (ultra-high performance liquid chromatography ion mobility spectroscopy quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer).
Obesity and muscle‐macrophage crosstalk in humans and mice: A systematic review

Obesity is associated with the production of inflammatory cytokines that are implicated in insulin resistance (IR), and if not addressed, can lead to type 2 diabetes (T2D). The role of the immune system in skeletal muscle (SM) inflammation and insulin sensitivity is not yet well characterized. As SM IR is an important determinant of glycaemia, it is critical that the muscle‐immune phenotype is mapped to help design interventions to target T2D. This systematic review synthesized the evidence for SM macrophage content and phenotype in humans and murine models of obesity, and the association of muscle macrophage content and phenotype with IR. Results were synthesized narratively, as we were unable to conduct a meta‐analysis. We included 28 studies (n=10 human, n=18 murine), and all studies detected macrophage markers in SM. Macrophage content was positively associated with IR. In humans and mice, there was variability in muscle macrophage content and phenotype in obesity. Overall certainty in the evidence was low due to heterogeneity in detection methods and incompleteness of data reporting. Macrophages are detected in human and murine SM in obesity and a positive association between macrophage content and IR is noted; however, the standardization of markers, detection methods, and reporting of study details is warranted to accurately characterize macrophages and improve the potential for creating specific and targeted immune‐based therapies in obesity.
MULTIPLE DOSES OF STEM CELLS MAINTAIN URETHRAL FUNCTION IN A MODEL OF NEUROMUSCULAR INJURY RESULTING IN STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is more prevalent among women who deliver vaginally than women who have had a caesarean section, suggesting that tissue repair after vaginal delivery is insufficient. A single dose of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to partially restore urethral function in a model of SUI. The aim of this study was to determine if increasing the number of doses of MSCs improves urethral and pudendal nerve function and anatomy. We hypothesized that increasing the number of MSC doses would accelerate recovery from SUI compared to vehicle treatment. Rats underwent pudendal nerve crush and vaginal distension or a sham injury and were treated intravenously with vehicle or one, two or three intravenous doses of 2 million MSCs 1 hour, 7 days and 14 days after injury. Urethral leak point pressure (LPP) testing with simultaneous external urethral sphincter electromyography and pudendal nerve electroneurography were performed 21 days after injury, followed by harvesting the urethrovaginal complex and the pudendal nerve for semiquantitative morphometry of the external urethral sphincter (EUS), urethral elastin, and the pudendal nerve. Two and three doses of MSCs significantly improved peak pressure, however a single dose of MSCs did not. Single, as well as repeated, treatments with MSCs improve urethral integrity by restoring urethral connective tissue composition and restoration of neuromuscular structures. MSC treatment improved elastogenesis, prevented disruption of the EUS, and enhanced pudendal nerve morphology. These results suggest that MSC therapy for postpartum incontinence and SUI can be enhanced with multiple doses.
Identification of the active site residues in ATP‐citrate lyase's carboxy‐terminal portion

ATP‐citrate lyase (ACLY) catalyzes production of acetyl‐CoA and oxaloacetate from CoA and citrate using ATP. In humans, this cytoplasmic enzyme connects energy metabolism from carbohydrates to the production of lipids. In certain bacteria, ACLY is used to fix carbon in the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle. The carboxy(C)‐terminal portion of ACLY shows sequence similarity to citrate synthase of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. To investigate the roles of residues of ACLY equivalent to active site residues of citrate synthase, these residues in ACLY from Chlorobium limicola were mutated, and the proteins were investigated using kinetics assays and biophysical techniques. To obtain the crystal structure of the C‐terminal portion of ACLY, full‐length C. limicola ACLY was cleaved, first non‐specifically with chymotrypsin and subsequently with Tobacco Etch Virus protease. Crystals of the C‐terminal portion diffracted to high resolution, providing structures that show the positions of active site residues and how ACLY tetramerizes.
Treatable traits in acute exacerbations of chronic airway diseases

Acute exacerbations of chronic airway disease are common occurrences that cause a major burden of illness. Acute exacerbations are associated with impaired health status, increased lung function decline, hospitalization and increased risk of death. Exacerbation avoidance is a major priority. Despite this goal, exacerbations continue to occur and the need for effective models of care that optimize patient outcomes are urgently needed. ‘Treatable Traits’ is an approach to personalized medicine that has been proposed for the management of airway diseases. The treatable traits approach allows for the recognition of clinically important, identifiable and treatable disease characteristics, followed by targeted and individualized treatment interventions to address each trait. We review the literature relating to treatable traits in airway diseases; in particular, those traits that can predict exacerbations and approaches to management that aim to prevent exacerbations by using a treatable traits model of care. We propose this approach as a potentially useful model of care to both prevent and manage acute exacerbations.
DNA polymerase ζ in DNA replication and repair

Abstract Here, we survey the diverse functions of DNA polymerase ζ (pol ζ) in eukaryotes. In mammalian cells, REV3L (3130 residues) is the largest catalytic subunit of the DNA polymerases. The orthologous subunit in yeast is Rev3p. Pol ζ also includes REV7 subunits (encoded by Rev7 in yeast and MAD2L2 in mammalian cells) and two subunits shared with the replicative DNA polymerase, pol δ. Pol ζ is used in response to circumstances that stall DNA replication forks in both yeast and mammalian cells. The best-examined situation is translesion synthesis at sites of covalent DNA lesions such as UV radiation-induced photoproducts. We also highlight recent evidence that uncovers various roles of pol ζ that extend beyond translesion synthesis. For instance, pol ζ is also employed when the replisome operates sub-optimally or at difficult-to-replicate DNA sequences. Pol ζ also participates in repair by microhomology mediated break-induced replication. A rev3 deletion is tolerated in yeast but Rev3l disruption results in embryonic lethality in mice. Inactivation of mammalian Rev3l results in genomic instability and invokes cell death and senescence programs. Targeting of pol ζ function may be a useful strategy in cancer therapy, although chromosomal instability associated with pol ζ deficiency must be considered.
Syringocele: a retrospective study and review of the literature

Abstract Background: A syringocele is a cystic dilation of the ducts from the bulbourethral glands located in the bulbous part of the male urethra. It is a rare condition primarily reported in children and young adults. The objective was to evaluate the diagnostic pattern and management strategy in patients of all ages diagnosed with syringocele. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with syringocele in the period 2004–2018 was performed. Age at diagnosis, primary symptoms, the diagnostic modalities used, treatments and effects were registered. Results: In the period, 19 patients with syringoceles were identified, eight children and 11 adults. The majority of the patients presented with obstructive voiding symptoms. All patients underwent cystourethroscopy. Supplementary diagnostics as voiding cystourethrography, retrograde urethrography, uroflowmetry, magnetic resonance imaging or transrectal ultrasonography were used inconsistently. Sixteen of the patients underwent marsupialization, one child underwent open excision and two patients were managed conservatively. Three of the children were re-operated on with endoscopic marsupialization. One of the adult patients did not respond to marsupialization and was treated with and vesico-appendico-cutaneostomy. Discussion: A review of the case reports published in the period 1996–2018 was performed and compared to these results. This review found 77 cases, 50 children and 27 adults. The reported symptoms, diagnostics and treatments were in line with the findings of this study. Conclusions: Based on these findings and the literature it is recommended that syringoceles should be diagnosed by cystourethroscopy and urethrography. Patients with symptomatic syringoceles should be offered treatment. First line treatment is endoscopic marsupialization.
Atypical Receptor Kinase RINRK1 Required for Rhizobial Infection But Not Nodule Development in Lotus japonicus1[OPEN]

Nod Factor induces an atypical receptor kinase, RINRK1, which specifically regulates infection thread formation in Lotus japonicus. During the legume-rhizobium symbiotic interaction, rhizobial invasion of legumes is primarily mediated by a plant-made tubular invagination called an infection thread (IT). Here, we identify a gene in Lotus japonicus encoding a Leu-rich repeat receptor-like kinase (LRR-RLK), RINRK1 (Rhizobial Infection Receptor-like Kinase1), that is induced by Nod factors (NFs) and is involved in IT formation but not nodule organogenesis. A paralog, RINRK2, plays a relatively minor role in infection. RINRK1 is required for full induction of early infection genes, including Nodule Inception (NIN), encoding an essential nodulation transcription factor. RINRK1 displayed an infection-specific expression pattern, and NIN bound to the RINRK1 promoter, inducing its expression. RINRK1 was found to be an atypical kinase localized to the plasma membrane and did not require kinase activity for rhizobial infection. We propose RINRK1 is an infection-specific RLK, which may specifically coordinate output from NF signaling or perceive an unknown signal required for rhizobial infection.
The association between apathy and frailty in older adults: a new investigation using data from the Mapt study

Abstract Introduction Apathy is a behavioral syndrome that has been suggested to share similar neuro-physiological pathways with frailty. Objective To investigate the cross-sectional association between apathy and frailty using original data from dementia-free, community-dwelling older adults Method A cross-sectional analysis was performed to test the association between frailty (according to Fried’s frailty phenotype) and apathy (defined by three items from Geriatric Depression Scale) using data from MAPT, a 3-year, randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial among community-dwelling, dementia-free participants (1.679 individuals with mean age of 75 years). Results The ordinal logistic regression showed that apathetic individuals had a two-fold more probability to be rated as frail (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.7–2.9), when adjusting for confounders. Apathetic individuals display a two-fold more likelihood to be rated as pre-frail (RRR 2.1; 95% CI 1.5–2.8) and a three-fold higher probability to be rated as frail (RRR 3.5, 95% CI 1.8–6.9) compared to robust participants. Conclusion Although data on the associations between apathy and frailty are scarce, these conditions potentially shares physiological mechanisms and were found to be closely associated. Temporal association between frailty and apathy deserve to be further investigated.
Table Based Algorithm for Inverse-Time Overcurrent Relay

Abstract This paper presents a new table based algorithm for overcurrent relay with inverse-time characteristic. The algorithm is based on loading the adequate time vector through which inverse-time characteristic is modeled. It uses samples of the current and calculates rms value. The rms current represents an input value for the index estimation what determines corresponding element from already loaded time vector. Since the calculations used in this algorithm are based on simple mathematical operations, short processing time is achieved. Performances of the algorithm are tested by several computer-generated signals. Furthermore, comparative analyses showed indisputably that suggested procedure possesses significant advantages compared to other solutions: simplicity, high speed of operation and accuracy.