Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The 13C bicarbonate method: an inverse end product method for measuring CO2 production and energy expenditure

We reconsider the principle of the 13C bicarbonate (NaH13CO3) method (13C-BM) for the determination of the CO2 production to obtain an estimate of energy expenditure (EE). Its mathematical concept based on a three-compartmental model is related to the [15N]glycine end product method. The CO2 production calculated by the 13C-BM, RaCO2(13C) is compared to the result from the indirect calorimetry, RCO2(IC). In an interspecies comparison (dog, goat, horse, cattle, children, adult human; body mass ranging from 15 to 350 kg, resting and fasting conditions) we found an excellent correlation between the results of 13C-BM and IC with RCO2(IC) = 0.703 × RaCO2(13C), (R2 = 0.99). The slope of this correlation corresponds to the fractional 13C recovery (RF(13C)) of 13C in breath CO2 after administration of NaH13CO3. Significant increase in RF(13C) was found in physically active dogs (0.95 ± 0.14; n = 5) vs. resting dogs (0.71 ± 0.10, n = 17; p = .015). The 13C recovery in young bulls was greater in blood CO2 (0.81 ± 0.05) vs. breath CO2 (0.73 ± 0.05, n = 12, p < .001) and in ponies with oral (0.76 ± 0.03, n = 8) vs. intravenous administration of NaH13CO3 (0.69 ± 0.07; n = 8; p = .026). We suggest considering the 13C-BM as a ‘stand-alone’ method to provide information on the total CO2 production as an index of EE.
Clinical and Mucosal Improvement With Specific Carbohydrate Diet in Pediatric Crohn Disease

Objective: The aim of the study was to prospectively evaluate clinical and mucosal responses to the specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) in children with Crohn disease (CD). Methods: Eligible patients with active CD (Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index [PCDAI] ≥ 15) underwent a patency capsule and, if passed intact, capsule endoscopy (CE) was performed. Patients taking SCD were monitored for 52 weeks while maintaining all prescribed medications. Demographic, dietary, and clinical information, PCDAI, Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI), and Lewis score (LS) were collected at 0, 12, and 52 weeks. CEs were evaluated by an experienced reader blinded to patient clinical information and timing. Results: Sixteen patients were screened; 10 enrolled; and 9 completed the initial 12-week trial—receiving 85% of estimated caloric needs before, and 101% on the SCD. HB significantly decreased from 3.3 ± 2.0 to 0.6 ± 1.3 (P = 0.007) as did PCDAI (21.1 ± 5.9 to 7.8 ± 7.1, P = 0.011). LS declined significantly from 2153 ± 732 to 960 ± 433 (P = 0.012). Seven patients continued the SCD up to 52 weeks; HB (0.1 ± 0.4) and PCDAI (5.4 ± 5.5) remained improved (P = 0.016 and 0.027 compared to baseline), with mean LS at 1046 ± 372 and 2 patients showed sustained mucosal healing. Conclusions: Clinical and mucosal improvements were seen in children with CD, who used SCD for 12 and 52 weeks. In addition, CE can monitor mucosal improvement in treatment trials for pediatric CD. Further studies are critically needed to understand the mechanisms underlying SCD's effectiveness in children with CD.
The Joy of Giving

Jyoti has always been a good student and aspires to become a doctor to treat underprivileged people like her mother who suffers from pneumonia. Hailing from an extremely poor family, she goes to school run by an NGO called Bal Jyoti for other such destitute kids. At the start of the new school year, these kids did not even have books till the employees from Madura Fashion & Lifestyle intervened. Touched by Jyoti's story, the employees ran a very successful Jyoti Campaign in the Madura office and raised enough funds to buy books for Jyoti and her classmates.
Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Prolonged Disease-Free Survival After Primary Treatment in Advanced Ovarian Cancer: A Brief Report

Objective Optimal cytoreduction and response to chemotherapy have been associated with prolonged disease-free survival (DFS), but there are limited data regarding the clinical characteristics of those patients with optimal 5-year DFS (5YrDFS) outcomes. Methods A case-control study was performed on 32 patients who were progression-free and alive at 5 years with advanced ovarian cancer 5YrDFS from 1993 to 2005 for this institutional review board-approved study. Matching controls were identified from the subset of patients who died or experienced disease progression before 5 years. Results One hundred sixty patients were evaluated. There was no statistical difference between cases and controls in regard to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, grade, race, preoperative cancer antigen-125 level, optimal cytoreduction, operating room time, length of hospital stay, or total chemotherapy cycles in regard to 5YrDFS. If a patient achieved complete response after primary treatment, the likelihood of progression-free survival 5 years or longer is 7 times more likely, (odds ratio = 7.2 [95% confidence interval = 2.3-22.4]; P = 0.0006). Conclusion In this matched case-control analysis, complete response after primary treatment was the only significant factor associated with 5YrDFS. Further study is needed in patient and tumor characteristics to identify those patients who may have poor or favorable outcomes before treatment completion.
Management of Medical Students' Health Problems

(Dickstein et al, 1990). An unknown number of students may be ill but do not seek help they soldier on through classes and clinics not realising that their sleep disturbance, worry, vague pains, flagging spirits, failing grades or increasing use of alcohol represent symptoms of strain and possible psychiatric disorder. Some suspect or know that they are ill but the stigma of accepting mental illness or seeking professional help is so profound that they suffer silently. My purpose here is to describe common causes of stress and illnesses in today's medical students,
Serum HE4 Profile During Primary Chemotherapy of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Objective Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is a promising novel serum biomarker for the detection of early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and for the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. The objective of the present study was to determine the value of HE4 for monitoring the response to primary therapy in patients with advanced disease. Methods Serum HE4 and cancer antigen (CA) 125 levels of 10 patients with advanced EOC and one patient with adenocarcinoma of unknown origin were measured preoperatively and during first-line chemotherapy. Seven patients were treated with primary surgery and six cycles of chemotherapy. Response to treatment was evaluated 4 weeks after the completion of chemotherapy using computed tomography. Four patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) before surgery. To evaluate the early response to chemotherapy, changes in serum biomarker levels were compared with metabolic changes of tumors during NACT as detected by positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Results The profile of HE4 during primary chemotherapy was in line with radiologic and clinical responses. In the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group, HE4 correlated better with the radiologic response than CA 125. Conclusion Assessment of serum HE4 may improve the reliability of response evaluation during chemotherapy for serous epithelial ovarian cancer.
Neurturin regulates postnatal differentiation of parasympathetic pelvic ganglion neurons, initial axonal projections, and maintenance of terminal fields in male urogenital organs

We have investigated the development of autonomic nerves in the urogenital tract of male mice and the effect of neurturin gene deletion on this process. At birth, autonomic innervation of the reproductive organs was sparse, but urinary bladder smooth muscle was well innervated. Further innervation of reproductive tissues occurred until P21, but noradrenergic axons established their complete terminal field later than nitrergic cholinergic axons: in adults the former are more prevalent, yet this became apparent only at P7 (vas deferens, seminal vesicles), P14 (prostate) or after P14 (penis). Neurturin was essential for initial projection of axons (mucosa of vas deferens), maintenance of terminal fields (prostate and seminal vesicles), or both functions (cavernosum of penis). In contrast, some targets (e.g., bladder muscle and suburothelium, vas deferens smooth muscle) were unaffected by neurturin gene deletion. Pelvic ganglion neurons more than doubled between birth and adulthood, probably as aresult of continued maturation of p75‐positive undifferentiated neuronal precursors rather than cell division. The adult number of neurons was achieved by P7 (sympathetic) or P21 (parasympathetic). In adult neurturin knockout mice, there were ∼25% fewer parasympathetic neurons compared with wild types, because of failure of differentiation after P14. This study revealed the complexity of postnatal maturation of urogenital innervation, with each organ showing a distinct chronology of innervation and different requirement for neurturin. Our results also indicate that in adults there will be distinct differences in neurturin dependence between organs, such that proregenerative therapies may have to be tailored specifically for the nerve pathway of interest. J. Comp. Neurol. 507:1169–1183, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Optical coherence tomography in pulmonary imaging: feasibility study

We suggest that Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a potential imaging modality capable of assisting diagnosis in pulmonary medicines. OCT can provide extremely high resolution imaging and be performed with flexible fiber-optic bronchoscopy with small diameter endoscopic probes. In this study, animal models of trachea, and lung surface were to investigate utility of OCT in pulmonary. Normal, malignant, and infectious disease animal model samples measured by OCT were compared to standard histologic H&E light microscopic imaging of the same sites.
Identification of Differentially Expressed MicroRNAs in Endometrial Cancer Cells After Progesterone Treatment

Introduction The main methods of treatment of endometrial carcinoma are hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy with lymphadenectomy. However, another option for hormonal treatment of endometrial carcinoma, the use of progesterone in young patients to preserve childbearing capacity, has been reported, and a high remission rate has been described in well-selected stage I, grade 1 endometrial cancer. Although it is intriguing that hormonal therapy alone can treat endometrial carcinoma without surgery or cytotoxic chemotherapy, the molecular basis for the effects of progesterone on endometrial carcinoma is not clearly known. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of naturally occurring small, noncoding RNA molecules that control cellular function and are known to function as both tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Thus, in the present study, changes in the miRNA profile of endometrial carcinoma cells on progesterone treatment were studied. Method To elucidate the mechanism of hormonal treatment in endometrial carcinoma cells, we studied the changes in miRNA expression in endometrial carcinoma cells on treatment with progesterone using the Hec1A endometrial carcinoma cell line as a model system. Hec1A cells were treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate, and total RNA was extracted. The changes in the miRNA profile after progesterone treatment were determined using a microarray containing 868 miRNAs. Results Of 868 miRNAs, the expression levels of miR-625*, -21, -142-5p, and 146b-5p were increased by more than 400%, whereas the expression levels of miR-633, -29c, -29*, and -193b were decreased by 50%. To validate the array results, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions were performed. Conclusions MiRNA expression was modulated by progesterone treatment in endometrial carcinoma cells, implying a possible critical role of miRNAs in regulating posttranscriptional gene expression on progesterone treatment. Further studies are required to clarify the mechanism involved in the hormonal treatment of endometrial carcinoma.
Ion transport peptide splice forms in central and peripheral neurons throughout postembryogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster

Ion transport peptides (ITPs) belong to a large arthropod neuropeptide family including crustacean hyperglycaemic hormones and are antidiuretic hormones in locusts. Because long and short ITP isoforms are generated by alternative splicing from a single gene in locusts and moths, we investigated whether similarly spliced gene products occur in the nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster throughout postembryogenesis. The itp gene CG13586 was reanalyzed, and we found three instead of the two previously annotated alternatively spliced mRNAs. These give rise to three different neuropeptides, two long C‐terminally carboxylated isoforms (DrmITPL1 and DrmITPL2, both 87 amino acids) and one short amidated DrmITP (73 amino acids), which were partially identified biochemically. Immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization reveal nine larval and 14 adult identified neurons: four pars lateralis neurosecretory neurons, three hindgut‐innervating neurons in abdominal ganglia, and a stage‐specific number of interneurons and peripheral bipolar neurons. The neurosecretory neurons persist throughout postembryogenesis, form release sites in corpora cardiaca, and invade corpora allata. One type of ITP‐expressing interneuron exists only in the larval and prepupal subesophageal ganglia, whereas three types of interneurons in the adult brain arise in late pupae and invade circumscribed neuropils in superior median and lateral brain areas. One peripheral bipolar and putative sensory neuron type occurs in the larval, pupal, and adult preterminal abdominal segments. Although the neurosecretory neurons may release DrmITP and DrmITPL2 into the haemolymph, possible physiological roles of the hindgut‐innervating and peripheral neurons as well as the interneurons are yet to be identified. J. Comp. Neurol. 509:23–41, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Distribution and neurochemical identification of pancreatic afferents in the mouse

Dysfunction of primary afferents innervating the pancreas has been shown to contribute to the development of painful symptoms during acute and chronic pancreatitis. To investigate the distribution and neurochemical phenotype of pancreatic afferents, Alexa Fluor‐conjugated cholera toxin B (CTB) was injected into the pancreatic head (CTB‐488) and tail (CTB‐555) of adult male mice to label neurons retrogradely in both the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and nodose ganglia (NG). The NG and DRG (T5–T13) were processed for fluorescent immunohistochemistry and visualized by using confocal microscopy. Spinal pancreatic afferents were observed from T5 to T13, with the greatest contribution coming from T9–T12. The pancreatic afferents were equally distributed between right and left spinal ganglia; however, the innervation from the left NG was significantly greater than from the right. For both spinal and vagal afferents there was significantly greater innervation of the pancreatic head relative to the tail. The total number of retrogradely labeled afferents in the nodose was very similar to the total number of DRG afferents. The neurochemical phenotype of DRG neurons was dominated by transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)‐positive neurons (75%), GDNF family receptor alpha‐3 (GFRα3)‐positive neurons (67%), and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP)‐positive neurons(65%) neurons. In the NG, TRPV1‐, GFRα3‐, and CGRP‐positive neurons constituted only 35%, 1%, and 15% of labeled afferents, respectively. The disparity in peptide and receptor expression between pancreatic afferents in the NG and DRG suggests that even though they contribute a similar number of primary afferents to the pancreas, these two populations may differ in regard to their nociceptive properties and growth factor dependency. J. Comp. Neurol. 509:42–52, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Risk Factors for Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infection and High-Grade Intraepithelial Lesion in Women Aged 20 to 31 Years in Germany

Background Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) can lead to cervical intraepithelial lesion and cervical cancer. Sexual behavior and smoking have been identified as risk factors for HPV infection. However, it is unclear which factors account for the persistence of HPV infection and for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). Therefore, we conducted a study to identify epidemiological risk factors for the following: (1) the presence of HPV among women without a recent diagnosis of HSIL and (2) HSIL. Materials and Methods Participants aged 20 to 31 years were recruited at 2 study sites. All women received a cervical Papanicolaou test, were tested for HPV, and categorized into 1 of 3 different groups: The women of the first group had negative cytological test results and a negative HPV test result (HPV-negative group), and the women of the second group had negative cytological test result but positive HPV test result (HPV-positive group). The third group consisted of women with a diagnosis of HSIL (HSIL group). We first compared the HPV-negative group with the HPV-positive group, and then the HPV-positive group with the HSIL group. Results One hundred forty-seven women were included: 53 women in the HPV-negative group, 46 women in the HPV-positive group, and 48 women in the HSIL group. Comparing the HPV-negative with the HPV-positive group, we found that more than 5 sexual partners during a lifetime were independently associated with cervical HPV infection, whereas the chance of being infected decreased with older age. Irregular condom use during one-night stands or smoking was associated with HPV infection only in univariable but not multivariable analysis. In contrast, older age and having had genital warts were independently associated with an HSIL diagnosis when comparing the HPV-positive group with the HSIL group. Discussion Although the study was hampered by its relatively small sample size, our data suggest that main risk factors for the acquisition of HPV infection are a higher number of sexual partners and younger age, whereas older age and genital warts may be epidemiological cofactors in the development of HSIL.
Evaluating an initiative: clinical supervision in a community health trust

This article describes the implementation and evaluation of a pilot project for clinical supervision in a Community Health Trust involving health visitors, district nurses and clinic nurses. The project represented collaboration between educationalists, clinicians and managers interested in establishing a working and sustainable culture of clinical supervision. The article provides an overview of a small scale study designed to chart the process of an innovation to implement clinical supervision in the practice setting. The findings demonstrate that despite some increase in negativity towards clinical supervision, overall, the participants felt that supervision was of benefit to them and their practice particularly in terms of its support function. The process of establishing clinical supervision is complex and requires careful and considered implementation.
Expression and Humoral Response of A-Kinase Anchor Protein 4 in Cervical Cancer

Background Cervical cancer is one of the major gynecologic cancers. In developing countries, because of a lack of medical support and infrastructure, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Therefore, there is a need to identify novel biomarkers for cervical cancers. In this context, cancer-testis (CT) antigens represent a unique class of tumor antigens that have been shown to be associated with various solid tumors. These antigens have restricted expression in testis and no expression in somatic tissues. Because of their restricted expression, CT antigens are novel candidate molecules for early detection and diagnosis and immunotherapy. In the present study, novel CT antigen A-kinase anchor protein 4 (AKAP4) expression and humoral response were investigated in patients with cervical cancer. Methods In this study, 74 cervical cancer tissue specimens, which included different tumor stages (stage I [n = 35], stage II [n = 39]) and histologic grades (grade 1 [n = 17], grade 2 [n = 46], and grade 3[n = 11]) and 62 adjacent noncancerous tissue specimens were investigated for AKAP4 gene expression by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and in situ RNA hybridization. Furthermore, AKAP4 protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, humoral response against purified recombinant AKAP4 protein was determined in available sera of 70 patients with cervical cancer by enzyme-linked immuno assay (ELISA). Findings Our study revealed that AKAP4 gene and protein expression was detected in 86% of total patients with cervical cancer. Based on the AKAP4 immunoreactivity score, most of stage I (n = 22/29) and stage II (n = 30/35) specimens revealed high AKAP4 expression (≥50% AKAP4-positive cells). A-kinase anchor protein 4 expression was significantly associated with early grades tumor specimens (P = 0.023). In addition, humoral response was detected in 53% of patients irrespective of stages, lymph node positivity, and grades. Conclusions Collectively, our data indicate the putative role of AKAP4 in early tumorigenesis and may be implicated as a biomarker and immunotherapeutic target for cervical cancer.
Development of glycine immunoreactivity in the brain of the sea lamprey: Comparison with γ‐aminobutyric acid immunoreactivity

The development of glycine immunoreactivity in the brain of the sea lamprey was studied by use of immunofluorescence techniques at embryonic to larval stages. Glycine distribution was also compared with that of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) by use of double immunofluorescence. The first glycine‐immunoreactive (ir) cells appeared in the caudal rhombencephalon of late embryos, diencephalon of early prolarvae, and mesencephalon of late prolarvae, in which glycine‐ir cells were observed in several prosencephalic regions (preoptic nucleus, hypothalamus, ventral thalamus, dorsal thalamus, pretectum, and nucleus of the medial longitudinal fascicle), mesencephalon (M5), isthmus, and rhombencephalon. In larvae, glycine‐ir populations were observed in the olfactory bulbs, preoptic nucleus and thalamus (prosencephalon), M5 and oculomotor nucleus (mesencephalon), dorsal isthmic gray, isthmic reticular formation, and various alar and basal plate rhombencephalic populations. No glycine‐ir cells were observed in the larval optic tectum or torus semicircularis, which contain glycine‐ir populations in adults. A wide distribution of glycine‐ir fibers was observed, which suggests involvement of glycine in the function of most lamprey brain regions. Colocalization of GABA and glycine in prolarvae was found mainly in cell groups of the diencephalon, in the ventral isthmic group, and in trigeminal populations. In larvae, colocalization of GABA and glycine was principally observed in the M5 nucleus, the reticular formation, and the dorsal column nucleus. The present results reveal for the first time the complex developmental pattern of the glycinergic system in lamprey, including early glycine‐ir populations, populations transiently expressing glycine, and late‐appearing populations, in relation to maturation changes that occur during metamorphosis. J. Comp. Neurol. 512:747–767, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.