Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
METABOLIC BONE DISEASE IN JUVENILE HUMBOLDT PENGUINS (SPHENISCUS HUMBOLDTI): INVESTIGATION OF IONIZED CALCIUM, PARATHYROID HORMONE, AND VITAMIN D3 AS DIAGNOSTIC PARAMETERS

Abstract Three cases of metabolic bone disease (MBD) were identified in juvenile Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in a zoological collection. Diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment were challenging, in part because radiographs and traditional serum biochemistries did not provide adequate information to guide appropriate clinical management. Normal values for ionized calcium (iCa), 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25-(OH) D3], and parathyroid hormone (PTH) have not been reported for any species in the order Sphenisciformes. This study aimed to establish reference ranges for these parameters to provide a method for assessing clinical cases of MBD and other disease processes. iCa was measured in 33 healthy adult birds from two zoological collections by using a portable clinical analyzer. iCa also was measured from 14 of these birds at a commercial laboratory. Mean and standard deviation were determined to be 1.21 ± 0.09 and 1.29 ± 0.10 mmol/L, respectively. Limited data exist on iCa in avian species, but these results are consistent with other reports and provide a useful clinical parameter. Analysis of PTH and 25-(OH) D3 was performed at a commercial laboratory on samples from 14 healthy adult penguins in one collection. Means and standard deviations for PTH and 25-(OH) D3 were 0.8 ± 0.3 pmol/L and 3.7 ± 2.4 nmol/L, respectively. These results are near the minimal functional detectable limits of the assays; raising uncertainty about the validity and usefulness of currently available PTH and 25-(OH) D3 tests in this species.
Induction of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells by tumor exosomes

Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) promote tumor progression. The mechanisms of MDSC development during tumor growth remain unknown. Tumor exosomes (T‐exosomes) have been implicated to play a role in immune regulation, however the role of exosomes in the induction of MDSCs is unclear. Our previous work demonstrated that exosomes isolated from tumor cells are taken up by bone marrow myeloid cells. Here, we extend those findings showing that exosomes isolated from T‐exosomes switch the differentiation pathway of these myeloid cells to the MDSC pathway (CD11b+Gr‐1+). The resulting cells exhibit MDSC phenotypic and functional characteristics including promotion of tumor growth. Furthermore, we demonstrated that in vivo MDSC mediated promotion of tumor progression is dependent on T‐exosome prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and TGF‐β molecules. T‐exosomes can induce the accumulation of MDSCs expressing Cox2, IL‐6, VEGF, and arginase‐1. Antibodies against exosomal PGE2 and TGF‐β block the activity of these exosomes on MDSC induction and therefore attenuate MDSC‐mediated tumor‐promoting ability. Exosomal PGE2 and TGF‐β are enriched in T‐exosomes when compared with exosomes isolated from the supernatants of cultured tumor cells (C‐exosomes). The tumor microenvironment has an effect on the potency of T‐exosome mediated induction of MDSCs by regulating the sorting and the amount of exosomal PGE2 and TGF‐β available. Together, these findings lend themselves to developing specific targetable therapeutic strategies to reduce or eliminate MDSC‐induced immunosuppression and hence enhance host antitumor immunotherapy efficacy. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The ZbYME2 gene from the food spoilage yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii confers not only YME2 functions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but also the capacity for catabolism of sorbate and benzoate, two major weak organic acid preservatives

A factor influencing resistances of food spoilage microbes to sorbate and benzoate is whether these organisms are able to catalyse the degradation of these preservative compounds. Several fungi metabolize benzoic acid by the β‐ketoadipate pathway, involving the hydroxylation of benzoate to 4‐hydroxybenzoate. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is unable to use benzoate as a sole carbon source, apparently through the lack of benzoate‐4‐hydroxylase activity. However a single gene from the food spoilage yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii, heterologously expressed in S. cerevisiae cells, can enable growth of the latter on benzoate, sorbate and phenylalanine. Although this ZbYME2 gene is essential for benzoate utilization by Z. bailii, its ZbYme2p product has little homology to other fungal benzoate‐4‐hydroxylases studied to date, all of which appear to be microsomal cytochrome P450s. Instead, ZbYme2p has strong similarity to the matrix domain of the S. cerevisiae mitochondrial protein Yme2p/Rna12p/Prp12p and, when expressed as a functional fusion to green fluorescent protein in S. cerevisiae growing on benzoate, is largely localized to mitochondria. The phenotypes associated with loss of the native Yme2p from S. cerevisiae, mostly apparent in yme1,yme2 cells, may relate to increased detrimental effects of endogenous oxidative stress. Heterologous expression of ZbYME2 complements these phenotypes, yet it also confers a potential for weak acid preservative catabolism that the native S. cerevisiae Yme2p is unable to provide. Benzoate utilization by S. cerevisiae expressing ZbYME2 requires a functional mitochondrial respiratory chain, but not the native Yme1p and Yme2p of the mitochondrion.
Momentum crash, credit risk and optionality effects in bear markets and crisis periods: evidence from the US stock market

ABSTRACT This study explores whether the credit risk anomaly exhibits option-like behaviour similar to the momentum anomaly. It finds that the inverted credit risk spread indeed displays option-like behaviour in bear market states. Unlike a momentum portfolio, which is effectively a short call option on the market, an inverted credit risk portfolio appears to be a long call option on the market.
Pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation: pharmacological principles and clinical practice

Strategies for assisting smoking cessation include behavioural counselling to enhance motivation and to support attempts to quit and pharmacological intervention to reduce nicotine reinforcement and withdrawal from nicotine. Three drugs are currently used as first line pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation, nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion and varenicline. Compared with placebo, the drug effect varies from 2.27 (95% CI 2.02, 2.55) for varenicline, 1.69 (95% CI 1.53, 1.85) for bupropion and 1.60 (95% CI 1.53, 1.68) for any form of nicotine replacement therapy. Despite some controversy regarding the safety of bupropion and varenicline, regulatory agencies consider these drugs as having a favourable benefit/risk profile. However, given the high rate of psychiatric comorbidity in dependent smokers, practitioners should closely monitor patients for neuropsychiatric symptoms. Second‐line pharmacotherapies include nortriptyline and clonidine. This review also offers an overview of pipeline developments and issues related to smoking cessation in special populations such as persons with psychiatric comorbidity and pregnant and adolescent smokers.
Parks for an Aging Population: Needs and Preferences of Low-Income Seniors in Los Angeles

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Parks provide important physiological and psychological benefi ts to seniors, improving their quality of life; they are particularly important for low-income, inner-city seniors who lack access to open and green space. However, seniors do not often use parks partly because park design and programming are not responsive to their diverse needs and values. To identify what low-income, inner-city seniors seek and value in neighborhood parks, and to provide guidance to planners on how to better design senior-friendly parks, we conducted a literature review and held focus groups with 39 low-income, ethnically diverse seniors in an inner-city neighborhood in Los Angeles (CA). We asked these seniors about their preferences as well as the challenges and barriers they encounter in using neighborhood parks. Seniors report many impediments to park use; they are not provided appropriate programming that allows opportunities for socializing, safety, and security within the park and along access routes; opportunities for exercise and walking; and aesthetic and natural elements that provide contact with nature. Takeaway for practice: Park planners and designers should seek to incorporate senior voices in park design and programming in four ways by developing appropriate programming sensitive to diverse needs, accommodating the desire for “seniors-only” parks, promoting security and safety in the park and along access routes, and offering open and green space. We also fi nd the need for additional research on seniors from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Extreme binge drinking among 12th-grade students in the United States: prevalence and predictors.

IMPORTANCE The prevalence of underage alcohol use has been studied extensively, but binge drinking among youth in the United States is not yet well understood. In particular, adolescents may drink much larger amounts than the threshold (5 drinks) often used in definitions of binge drinking. Delineating various levels of binge drinking, including extreme levels, and understanding predictors of such extreme binge drinking among youth will benefit public health efforts. OBJECTIVE To examine the prevalence and predictors of 5+ (≥5 drinks) binge drinking and of 10+ (≥10 drinks) and 15+ (≥15 drinks) extreme binge drinking among 12th graders in the United States. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A nonclinical nationally representative sample of high school seniors in the annual Monitoring the Future study between 2005 and 2011. The sample included 16,332 high school seniors (modal age, 18 years) in the United States. Response rates were 79.1% to 84.7%. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Prevalence of consuming 5 or more, 10 or more, and 15 or more drinks in a row in the last 2 weeks. RESULTS Between 2005 and 2011, a total of 20.2% of high school seniors reported 5+ binge drinking, 10.5% reported 10+ extreme binge drinking, and 5.6% reported 15+ extreme binge drinking in the last 2 weeks. Rates of 5+ binge drinking and 10+ extreme binge drinking have declined since 2005, but rates of 15+ extreme binge drinking have not significantly declined. Students with college-educated parents were more likely to consume 5 or more drinks but were less likely to consume 15 or more drinks than students whose parents were not college educated. Students from more rural areas were more likely than students from large metropolitan areas to consume 15 or more drinks. Substance-related attitudes, socializing with substance-using peers, the number of evenings out with friends, and other substance use (cigarettes and marijuana) predicted all 3 levels of binge and extreme binge drinking. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Binge drinking at the traditionally defined 5+ drinking level was common among high school seniors representative of all 12th graders in the contiguous United States. A significant segment of students also reported extreme binge drinking at levels 2 and 3 times higher. These data suggest the importance of assessing multiple levels of binge drinking behavior and their predictors among youth to target effective screening and intervention efforts.
Visceral sensation and colitis: inflammation and hypersensitivity do not always go hand in hand

Abstract Visceral sensitivity and inflammation are discussed in relation to novel observations in the current issue of the Journal by Larsson and her colleagues. This paper shows that neither acute nor chronic intestinal inflammation initiated by dextran sodium sulfate is associated with an increase in visceral sensitivity to balloon distension in mice. These findings are discussed in the context of recent work highlighting the role of mast cells, the induction of endogenous antinociceptive pathways and the role of altered bacterial flora in visceral hypersensitivity.
Inflation Expectations and the Conduct of Monetary Policy in New Zealand

Inflation expectations are a key component to consider for any inflation-targeting central bank. This article outlines the importance of inflation expectations in the conduct of monetary policy, discusses some useful tools the Bank has developed to assess the policy implications of inflation expectations, highlights recent trends in inflation expectations, and draws out the implications for current monetary policy settings in New Zealand.
Evaluating readiness and treatment seeking effects in a pharmacotherapy trial for alcohol dependence.

BACKGROUND Decreases in drinking behavior prior to treatment onset often occur in pharmacotherapy trials for alcohol dependence. We propose that these decreases are associated with both trait and state factors operating before initiation of treatment to influence participants' expectation or perception of future treatment outcome. While trait factors typically include personality traits, state factors can include readiness to change and severity of drinking at screening. Understanding the characteristics of changes in drinking early in the process of entering treatment can improve clinical trials and outcomes. Our goal was to evaluate drinking behavior before initiating a randomized, double-blind pharmacotherapy clinical trial for alcohol dependence. METHODS We examined the impact of personality factors associated with gregariousness or conformity on the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale, as well as state factors measured by the Stages-of-Change Scale (based on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale) and quantity of drinking at screening, on pre-double-blind clinical outcome (i.e., drinking reduction) among 321 male and female alcoholics enrolled in a pharmacotherapy trial. RESULTS A significant reduction in alcohol consumption occurred among heavy drinkers between the baseline assessment (10.3 +/- 5.9 drinks per day) and the last week of single-blind placebo administration (5.3 +/- 5.1 drinks per day; p < 0.001). In contrast, the reduction in alcohol consumption by nonheavy drinkers over the same period was not significant (from 3.07 +/- 0.65 to 2.98 +/- 2.6 drinks per day; p > 0.05). Partial correlations indicated that the significant predictors of drinking reductions during this period were: level of drinking (-0.215) and the Stages-of-Change subscales of precontemplation (-0.152), contemplation (0.144), and maintenance (-0.284). Personality factors on the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale did not predict drinking reductions during this same period. CONCLUSIONS Participants with higher motivation levels and greater drinking severity were most likely to reduce their drinking behavior before double-blind treatment. These state factors are important to consider when randomizing participants in trials, and are more important than trait or personality factors in accounting for the initial reduction in drinking in this population during the pretreatment period.
ER network formation and membrane fusion by atlastin1/SPG3A disease variants

Atlastin catalyzes GTP-dependent membrane fusion to form the ER network. Mutations in atlastin1 cause the disease hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), implying that defects in ER membrane fusion cause HSP. Surprisingly, several disease variants are functional in assays for ER network formation and membrane fusion, warranting rethinking of HSP causation by atlastin1 mutations.
Further evidence for association of polymorphisms in the CNR1 gene with cocaine addiction: confirmation in an independent sample and meta‐analysis

Genetic research on cocaine dependence (CD) may help clarify our understanding of the disorder as well as provide insights for effective treatment. As endocannabinoid signaling and dopamine neurotransmission have been shown to be involved in drug reward, genes related to these systems are plausible candidates for susceptibility to CD. The cannabinoid receptor 1 protein regulates both the endocannabinoid and dopaminergic neurobiological systems, and polymorphisms in the cannabinoid receptor gene, CNR1, have been associated previously with substance dependence. In this study, we attempt to replicate findings associating CNR1 with CD in African Americans. Cocaine‐addicted individuals (n = 860) and unaffected controls (n = 334) of African descent were genotyped for two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CNR1 (rs6454674, rs806368). We observed a significant difference in genotype frequencies between cases and controls for both SNPs (P ≤ 0.042). A meta‐analysis was also performed combining our data with that of Zuo et al. who also studied these polymorphisms in African American cocaine addicts (total n = 1253 cases versus 543 controls). When our data were combined, rs6454674 increased in significance to P = 0.027; however, rs806368 was no longer significant. This study confirms the association between rs6454674 and CD. However, because there is considerable co‐morbidity of CD with other drugs of abuse, additional studies are necessary to determine whether polymorphisms in CNR1 induce a general susceptibility to substance dependence or are specific to cocaine addiction. Furthermore, as this population consists of American individuals of African descent, the possibility of population stratification should not be excluded.
The Changing Characteristics of the Agricultural Land Use Intensity in China Based on the Production Cost

Based on the value cost databases of the main crops such as paddy,wheat,maize,cotton,flue-cured tobacco,sugarcane and beet,this paper studied the changing characteristics of the agricultural land use intensity in China during the period 1980-2002.The results showed that:(1)The degree of intensity of the agricultural land use has increased in the last two decades in China,but the degree of intensity declined three times in 1985,1993 and 1998. (2)The increase of the degree of intensity of land use was mainly resulted from the increase of the material cost,but the change of the labour force was the key factor leading to the change of the degree of intensity. (3)There was no essential difference in the intensity changes between different crops;but the characteristics of the degree of intensity of the cultivated land use changes differed from each other between different regions. (4)The increase of the land use intensity in undeveloped regions was greater than in developed regions.The increase of the land use intensity in the developed regions mainly depended on the input of the material cost,and the addition of the labour force cost is not evident.However,in the undeveloped regions the input of the labour force cost equalled the material cost,especially since 1991,the input of the labour force cost has exceeded the input of the material cost.In the period of the decline of the degree of intensity,the decline extent of land use intensity in the developed regions was greater than in the undeveloped regions.
Efficacy of oryzalin and associated histological changes in Cryptosporidium-infected neonatal rats

This paper reports the anti-cryptosporidial effects of, and concomitant amelioration of the histological changes in the gut of neonatal rats with intestinal cryptosporidiosis treated with the dinitroaniline, oryzalin. The ED50 was determined to be 7 mg/kg using twice daily doses administered for 3 consecutive days. A maximum inhibition of 85.5% was achieved at 25 mg/kg and this inhibition remained constant despite increasing the oryzalin dose to 200 mg/kg. Cryptosporidiosis significantly decreased the intestinal villus/crypt (VC) ratio by approximately 50% (duodenum = 2.3, jejunum = 2.5 and ileum = 1.7) when compared to uninfected untreated controls (duodenum = 4.3, jejunum = 5.9 and ileum = 4.5). Treatment with oryzalin doubled the VC ratio in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum following doses of 5 mg, 50 mg and 200 mg/kg respectively. Oryzalin concentrations in the small intestine contents and plasma were determined, using HPLC, at 0.5, 1 and 2 h after dosing. The much greater dose required to return VC ratios to normal in the ileum (200 mg/kg) compared to the duodenum (6.25 mg/kg) appeared to reflect the decreased concentration of the drug in the distal small intestine. Concentrations of oryzalin equivalent to the in vitro IC50 were maintained for 2 h in the first half of the small intestine following a single dose of 100 mg/kg.
Rhinovirus-induced lower respiratory illness is increased in asthma and related to virus load and Th1/2 cytokine and IL-10 production

Acute exacerbations are the major cause of asthma morbidity, mortality, and health-care costs and are difficult to treat and prevent. The majority of asthma exacerbations are associated with rhinovirus (RV) infection, but evidence supporting a causal relationship is weak and mechanisms are poorly understood. We hypothesized that in asthmatic, but not normal, subjects RV infection would induce clinical, physiologic, and pathologic lower airway responses typical of an asthma exacerbation and that these changes would be related to virus replication and impaired T helper 1 (Th1)/IL-10 or augmented Th2 immune responses. We investigated physiologic, virologic, and immunopathologic responses to experimental RV infection in blood, induced sputum, and bronchial lavage in 10 asthmatic and 15 normal volunteers. RV infection induced significantly greater lower respiratory symptoms and lung function impairment and increases in bronchial hyperreactivity and eosinophilic lower airway inflammation in asthmatic compared with normal subjects. In asthmatic, but not normal, subjects virus load was significantly related to lower respiratory symptoms, bronchial hyperreactivity, and reductions in blood total and CD8+ lymphocytes; lung function impairment was significantly related to neutrophilic and eosinophilic lower airway inflammation. The same virologic and clinical outcomes were strongly related to deficient IFN-γ and IL-10 responses and to augmented IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 responses. This study demonstrates increased RV-induced clinical illness severity in asthmatic compared with normal subjects, provides evidence of strong relationships between virus load, lower airway virus-induced inflammation and asthma exacerbation severity, and indicates augmented Th2 or impaired Th1 or IL-10 immunity are likely important mechanisms.
Apoptosis in human acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND After reopening of the infarct-related coronary artery, cardiomyocytes continue to die during reperfusion. The mechanisms of cell death have been subject to debate. We studied whether an apoptotic type of cell death occurs in human acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS AND RESULTS We studied myocardial samples of eight patients who died of AMI and had patent infarct-related arteries at autopsy. Six of the patients had received initially successful thrombolysis. Extensive formation of DNA strand breaks, the typical biochemical feature of apoptosis, was detected with the use of the in situ DNA end-labeling method. Apoptotic cardiomyocytes were observed particularly in the border zones of histologically infarcted myocardium, whereas very few apoptotic cells were present in the remote noninfarcted myocardium. Internucleosomal fragmentation was confirmed by agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA isolated from the representative myocardial areas. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that in addition to overt necrosis, a subset of myocytes undergo apoptosis during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Apoptosis may provide a new target for cardioprotection during evolving AMI in humans.