Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anti-inflammatory effects of omega 3 and omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome

ABSTRACT A lipid excess produces a systemic inflammation process due to tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein synthesis. Simultaneously, this fat excess promotes the appearance of insulin resistance. All this contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). On the other hand, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (omega 3), and arachidonic acid (omega 6) have shown anti-inflammatory properties. Lately, an inverse relationship between omega-3 fatty acids, inflammation, obesity and CVDs has been demonstrated. To check fatty acids effect, the levels of some inflammation biomarkers have been analyzed. Leptin, adiponectin and resistin represent a group of hormones associated with the development of CVDs, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance and are modified in obese/overweight people comparing to normal weight people. Omega-3 PUFAs have been shown to decrease the production of inflammatory mediators, having a positive effect in obesity and diabetes mellitus type-2. Moreover, they significantly decrease the appearance of CVD risk factors. Regarding omega-6 PUFA, there is controversy whether their effects are pro- or anti-inflammatory. The aim of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive overview about the role of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs in CVDs and metabolic syndrome.
Predictors of renal function following lung or heart-lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND Renal failure is a common complication following non-renal solid organ transplantation. The purpose of our study was to define the rate of decline in renal function and to identify independent risk factors associated with renal failure following lung or heart-lung transplantation. METHODS Between May 1986 and December 1998, 219 patients underwent lung or heart-lung transplantation at the University of Minnesota and survived at least six months (33 heart-lung, 66 bilateral single lung, and 120 unilateral single lung transplants). The mean age at the time of transplant was 45.9 +/- 11.6 years (mean +/- SD; range, 15 to 65 years), and the mean pre-transplant serum creatinine level was 0.88 +/- 0.19 mg/dL. All patients were treated with a calcineurin inhibitor (164 cyclosporine, 55 tacrolimus). RESULTS During the follow-up period (median 44 months, range 6.8 to 163 months), 16 patients (7.3%) developed end-stage renal disease. The cumulative incidence of doubling of serum creatinine was 34% at one year, 43% at two years and 53% by five years. Factors associated with the primary end point of the time to doubling of the baseline serum creatinine by proportional hazards regression were cumulative periods with diastolic blood pressure greater than 90 mm Hg [relative risk (RR) 1.30, P = 0.02] and the serum creatinine value at one month post-transplantation (RR 1.28, P = 0.03). Use of tacrolimus during the first six months after transplantation was associated with a significant decrease in the risk for time to doubling of serum creatinine (RR 0.38, P = 0.009) and a lower rate of acute rejection. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that potential renoprotective strategies following lung or heart-lung transplantation include avoidance of peri-transplant renal injury, diligent blood pressure control, and preferential use of tacrolimus over cyclosporine.
Toward the Optimization of D-Shaped Coils for the Use in an Open Magnetic Particle Imaging Scanner

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is a novel medical imaging modality that allows for the quantitative detection of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles using static and oscillating magnetic fields. Essential aspects in the coil optimization for MPI include the magnetic field generated per unit current and the magnetic field homogeneity. For a set of D-shaped coils, which can be used in an open MPI scanner with lateral patient access to enable multidimensional imaging, these quantities were analyzed for a range of configurations. The results were compared with the situation in a four-wire-model and a four-wire-model with return paths (called eight-wire-model). It was found that for large coil radii, the effects of the D-coil set resemble those of the eight-wire-model; however, the local minimum in the magnetic field inhomogeneity is less pronounced.
Effects of blood transfusions on some hematological variables in endurance athletes.

Selected hematological variables (blood hemoglobin concentration [Hb], serum (s-) iron, s-bilirubin, s-ferritin, blood lactate, and s-erythropoietin [Epo]) were analyzed before and for 4 wk after autologous blood transfusions. A group of well-trained (8 male and 4 female) former endurance athletes was phlebotomized and 3-4 months later reinfused with the freezer-stored autologous red blood cells (RBC) from 1350 ml of blood. The [Hb] increased significantly (P less than 0.001 for both sexes) from 146.7 +/- 5.31 and 131.7 +/- 11.20 g. l-1 immediately before reinfusion to maximum values of 163.5 +/- 7.47 and 155.9 +/- 11.43 g.l-1 (mean +/- SD) in males and females, respectively, 2 d after reinfusion. S-iron increased transiently 5 h after reinfusion. S-bilirubin remained unchanged throughout the study. S-ferritin increased gradually (P less than 0.02) from 48 +/- 32.91 mmol.l-1 before reinfusion to a maximum of 80.8 +/- 39.52 mmol.l-1 2 wk after reinfusion. S-[Epo] increased transiently (P less than 0.01) from 8.83 +/- 2.51 (mean +/- SD) to 12.36 +/- 5.64 U.l-1, (mean +/- SD) 5 h after reinfusion. Subsequently, there was a significant marked decrease in s-[Epo] to 5.85 +/- 1.32 U.l-1, (mean +/- SD) 1 d after reinfusion (P less than 000.1, as compared to before reinfusion). Thereafter, s-[Epo] remained low throughout the study. Blood lactate was significantly decreased only the first 2 d after reinfusion (P less than 0.05). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Managing Policy: Executive Agencies of the European Commission

‘Agencification’ in the European Union has emerged as an important research topic at the intersection between political science and organizational studies. This Working Paper focuses on a group of six agencies under the wings of the European Commission that is often overlooked in the literature, despite the fact that these agencies are now set up for more than a decade, and despite the fact that their portfolio is growing. It sheds light on the historical context of their establishment and their legal foundation, looks at their organizational structure, and investigates the fields of action in which they are tasked to operate.
Hormonal regulation of stearoyl coenzyme-A desaturase 1 activity and gene expression in primary cultures of chicken hepatocytes.

Previous studies have provided evidence for the important role of liver stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) in excessive adiposity in the chicken and suggest that the difference in SCD activity between fat and lean chickens could be explained by a difference in SCD1 gene expression. In the present study, the regulation of SCD1 gene expression was analyzed as the result of insulin and glucagon action, using primary cultures of 6-week-old chicken hepatocytes. Insulin increased SCD1 activity and mRNA levels, whereas glucagon decreased dramatically both the enzyme activity and the mRNA levels. Nuclear run-on transcription assays and mRNA stability investigations demonstrated that insulin and glucagon effects on SCD1 gene expression was primarily transcriptional. Furthermore, the results indicated that the glucagon-mediated inhibition of SCD1 gene transcription was more potent than just counteracting the insulin-mediated effect. These data represent the first demonstration that the glucagon effect on the SCD1 gene expression is primarily transcriptional. Moreover, among hepatic genes involved in lipid metabolism in chicken, SCD1 is the first gene shown to be regulated at the transcriptional level by insulin, in the absence of triiodothyronine. These data point out the potency of the growing chicken hepatocyte culture model in contrast with the embryonic cell culture model as regards the investigations of the insulin effect on gene expression.
The North–South Divergence in Italy During the Great Recession

The economic recession that followed the 2007 crisis has widened the economic gaps between the wealthiest and the relatively poorer regions in Italy. The Great Recession has changed the importance of local economic strengths and hindered the possibilities of economic recovery, especially in the Mezzogiorno of Italy. We seek the local strengths present in Italian regions in the post‐crisis period by comparing two macro areas to observe strong and weak points for intervention. A first analysis using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) is used to filter the relevant determinants in a large dataset, and a panel data analysis serves to obtain group‐specific results. Some effects of the prolonged recession are confirmed in all regions, while some weaknesses of the South, such as financial markets, play an increasing role in the regional development scenarios.
The analysis of borders effects in intra-African trade

The study aims to analyze the border effects on intra-African trade through the use of a gravity specification based on the monopolistic competition model of trade introduced by Krugman (1980). The study used CEPII data on trade flows between African countries over the period 1980-2006. We accommodate for the significant number of zero trade flows between several African countries by using the Heckman correction method. The findings suggest that while the extent of market fragmentation is on average very high within the African continent, the border effects within SADC and ECOWAS are more in line with other international estimations. Whereas results indicate that border effects faced by intra-African trade are quite substantial: on average an African country trade 108 times more "with itself" than with another country on the continent. Border effects in SADC and ECOWAS are respectively about 5 and 3 times lower. The inclusion of the infrastructure indices contributes significantly to this result. Considering infrastructure is actually an interesting way to capture the effect of distribution networks which represent, along with imperfect information and localized tastes, relevant but generally omitted sources of resistance.
Late percutaneous coronary intervention for the totally occluded infarct‐related artery: A meta‐analysis of the effects on cardiac function and remodeling

Background: Late percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of a totally occluded infarct‐related artery (IRA) in stable patients is currently not recommended based on the lack of clear clinical benefits in randomized controlled trials. We sought to perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing PCI with optimal medical therapy in patients with IRA occlusion more than 12 hr after onset of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), focusing on left ventricular function and remodeling. Methods and Results: PubMed, CENTRAL, and mRCT were searched for eligible studies. Studies were included in the analysis if they were randomized controlled trials comparing conservative medical management with PCI performed at least 12 hr after the onset of symptoms of AMI, and data on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at baseline and follow‐up were available. Studies were excluded if randomization occurred less than 12 hr after symptom onset, or if patients were hemodynamically unstable. Change in LVEF was the primary outcome of interest, with changes in left ventricular end‐diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) and end‐systolic volume index (LVESVI) analyzed as secondary endpoints. We retrieved five studies in which baseline and follow up LVEF data were available enrolling a total of 648 patients: 342 patients randomized to PCI and 306 to medical treatment. There was a statistically significant difference in LVEF changes over time favoring PCI (+3.1%, 95% CI +1.0 to +5.2, P = 0.0004). In addition, there were statistically significant differences changes in both LVEDVI (−5.1 ml in favor of PCI, 95% CI of −9.4 to −0.8, P = 0.020) and LVESVI (−5.3 ml in favor in PCI, 95% CI of −8.3 to −2.4, P = 0.0005). Conclusions: This meta‐analysis suggests that late revascularization of an occluded IRA may improve left ventricular systolic function and remodeling, supporting the “open artery hypothesis. ” The reason why these changes have not resulted in clinical benefits in large clinical trials is subject to debate. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How much does environment pay for politicians

ln this paper we empirically explore how elections impact environmental degradation using a sample of 77 democratic countries over the period 1990-2014. Three key results emerge. First, election years are characterized by an increase in CO2 emissions, even though the effect seems to diminish over the recent years. Second, this effect is present only in established democracies, where fiscal manipulation by incumbents is done through the composition of spending rather than the level. Third, better access to information and the adoption of strict environmental policies reduce the size of this trade-off between pork-barrel spending and the public good, namely environment quality.
Invasive Analysis of Non‐invasive Indicators of Myocardial Work and Ischaemia During Anaesthesia Soon After Myocardial Infarction

Atrial pacing was used for preoperative evaluation of six patients with recent anterior myocardial infarction (MI) (e.g. within 6 weeks) scheduled for abdominal emergency surgery. Central and coronary haemodynamics were used to compare changes in myocardial work and oxygenation with alternations of the non‐invasive variables rate pressure product (RPP) (systolic blood pressure X heart rate), triple product (TP) (systolic blood pressure X heart rate X mean pulmonary arteriolar occlusion pressure) and ST‐T‐segments (lead V5).
Analysis of spontaneous and induced mutations in transgenic mice using a lambda ZAP/lacl shuttle vector

A short term, in vivo mutagenesis assay has been developed utilizing a lacl target gene contained within a lambda ZAP shuttle vector which has been incorporated into transgenic mice. Following chemical exposure, the target gene was recovered from mouse genomic DNA by mixing the DNA with in vitro lambda phage packaging extract. Mutations within the lacl target were identified by infecting host E. coli with the packaged phage and plating on indicator plates containing Xgal. Phage plaques with mutations in the lacl appeared blue, while intact phage were colorless. The ratio of blue plaques to colorless plaques is a measure of the mutagenicity of the compound. This system was used to obtain significant induction (up to 74‐fold) over background levels for a variety of compounds, including N‐ethyl‐N‐nitrosourea, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), cyclophosphamide, and methylnitrosourea. Sequence analysis of selected mutant clones derived from this system was accomplished through the use of partial filamentous phage origins which allow rapid transfer of the target gene from phage to plasmid. Sequence analysis of spontaneous mutants derived from the mice primarily found of base substitutions, differing markedly from the previous data for spontaneous mutations in lacl derived from E. coli, where the preponderance of mutations were found at a single site, a repeated tetramer sequence. Upon sequence analysis of BaP derived base substitutions, only transversions were obtained, consistent with the known mechanism of BaP mutagenesis. Use of the well‐characterized lacl gene in transgenic mice should allow for extrapolation of the extensive pool of in vitro data to whole animals, as well as provide insight into the tissue specific effects of mutagenic compounds.
Predictors of relapse in patients with ulcerative colitis in remission after one-year of infliximab therapy

Abstract Background. Some of the most important questions relating to the use of biological therapy in inflammatory bowel diseases concern the duration of maintenance therapy. The RASH study revealed that previous use of biological therapy and dose intensification are associated with restarting of biological therapy in Crohn's disease. The aim of the study was to assess the disease course and frequency of relapse of ulcerative colitis (UC) following discontinuation of infliximab in patients with remission and to determine predictive factors for relapse. Patients and methods. Fifty-one UC patients who had achieved clinical remission following 1 year of infliximab therapy and for whom infliximab was then discontinued participated in this prospective observational study. 15.7% of the patients received infliximab before the 1-year period of biological therapy analyzed in the study. Biological therapy was restarted in case of recurrent clinical activity. Data were collected from four Hungarian IBD centers. Results. Thirty-five percent of the patients needed to be retreated with infliximab within 1 year after treatment cessation. Logistic regression analysis revealed that previous biological therapy (p = 0.021) was associated with the need of restarting infliximab. None of the data relating to patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, concomitant therapy and CRP level showed association with the need for restarting biological therapy. Conclusions. Biological therapy was restarted at a median of 4 months after discontinuation in more than every third UC patients who had been in clinical remission following 1 year of infliximab therapy. Response to retreatment with infliximab was favorable in the majority of the patients who relapsed.
A Pervasive Electric Field in the Heliosphere

It is a widely held belief that a large-scale electric field of any significant magnitude cannot be present in the heliosphere because of electric currents through the highly conductive plasma, present throughout the heliosphere, which would immediately neutralize any nascent electric fields. This paper questions that longstanding belief and describes a mechanism to account for such a field. Some of the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) ions lose almost all of their kinetic energy from solar modulation and, due to their short radii of gyration, are effectively deposited continuously throughout the heliosphere inside the solar wind termination shock. It is pointed out here that the deposition of these ions occurs at a greater rate than that for GCR electrons, and that a large-scale static electric field is sustained by the ions because of the time delay in the arrival of neutralizing electron currents.
Role of a paracrine action of mesenchymal stem cells in the improvement of left ventricular function after coronary artery occlusion in rats.

PURPOSE We aimed to determine whether soluble factors released by cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improved cardiac function in an experimental model of myocardial infarction. METHODS MSCs were cultured in fresh medium. The conditioned medium, which contained factors secreted by MSCs, was collected after 4 days of culture. Fischer rats with 1-week-old myocardial infarction were divided into four groups that received: saline (n = 12); fresh medium (n = 10); conditioned medium (n = 8); or 2 million MSCs in fresh medium (n = 10) by direct intramyocardial injection. A total of 4 weeks later, left ventricular (LV) function was assessed by LV angiogram and by LV catheterization. Hearts were processed for histology. RESULTS Before treatment, LV angiogram assessment demonstrated that the baseline LV function was comparable among the four groups. At 4 weeks after treatment, LV angiogram and LV catheterization showed that LV ejection fraction was better in the fresh medium (49.5 +/- 1.0%), conditioned medium (48.5 +/- 2.1%) and MSCs groups (49.9 +/- 4.2%) than in the saline group (43.7 +/- 1.2%; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in heart rate, blood pressure, postmortem LV volume, infarct size or septum thickness among the groups. The scar thickness was similar in the saline (395 +/- 31 microm), fresh medium (404 +/- 30 microm) and conditioned medium (397 +/- 34 microm) groups, but significantly thicker in the MSCs group (560 +/- 51 microm; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Fresh medium, conditioned medium and MSC injection all improved LV function at 4 weeks after treatment compared with saline treatment in a rat myocardial infarct model; only MSCs increased wall thickness. Since the culture medium contains nutrients and bovine serum, the roles of the soluble factors released by MSCs might be masked. The effect of these nutrients needs further investigation.
Perivascular Innervation: A Multiplicity of Roles in Vasomotor Control and Myoendothelial Signaling

The control of vascular resistance and tissue perfusion reflect coordinated changes in the diameter of feed arteries and the arteriolar networks they supply. Against a background of myogenic tone and metabolic demand, vasoactive signals originating from perivascular sympathetic and sensory nerves are integrated with endothelium‐derived signals to produce vasodilation or vasoconstriction. PVNs release adrenergic, cholinergic, peptidergic, purinergic, and nitrergic neurotransmitters that lead to SMC contraction or relaxation via their actions on SMCs, ECs, or other PVNs. ECs release autacoids that can have opposing actions on SMCs. Respective cell layers are connected directly to each other through GJs at discrete sites via MEJs projecting through holes in the IEL. Whereas studies of intercellular communication in the vascular wall have centered on endothelium‐derived signals that govern SMC relaxation, attention has increasingly focused on signaling from SMCs to ECs. Thus, via MEJs, neurotransmission from PVNs can evoke distinct responses from ECs subsequent to acting on SMCs. To integrate this emerging area of investigation in light of vasomotor control, the present review synthesizes current understanding of signaling events that originate within SMCs in response to perivascular neurotransmission in light of EC feedback. Although often ignored in studies of the resistance vasculature, PVNs are integral to blood flow control and can provide a physiological stimulus for myoendothelial communication. Greater understanding of these underlying signaling events and how they may be affected by aging and disease will provide new approaches for selective therapeutic interventions.
The Role of Community College First-Year Experience Programs in Promoting Transfer Among Latino Male Students

ABSTRACT A qualitative case study approach was used to examine Latino male students and First-Year Experience (FYE) programs aimed at promoting student transfer. Two FYE programs at two community colleges in California were studied: Bridgetown Community College and Portlake Community College (pseudonyms). Study participants included four groups: Latino male FYE students, Latino male FYE alumni, FYE counselors, and FYE coordinators. Data collection strategies included semi-structured interviews, site observations, and document analysis. Analysis of data involved both deductive and inductive approaches, and resulted in identification of four findings critical to the success of FYE programs and their work with Latino males: (a) the need to support help-seeking behaviors, (b) the need to address the “long journey” to transfer, (c) the need to support students’ work burden and financial constraints, and (d) the need to incorporate approachable and culturally responsive practices. Overall, the study offers insights into how community colleges might strengthen transfer support for Latino males through FYE programs.