Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association between paraoxonase 1 activity and the susceptibilities of diabetes mellitus, diabetic macroangiopathy and diabetic microangiopathy

We carried out this meta‐analysis to explore the influence of paraoxonase 1 activity on the susceptibility of diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetic macroangiopathy and diabetic microangiopathy. Relevant studies were identified from PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI without language limitation, following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Statistical analyses were implemented with the STATA 12.0 statistical software. Thirty‐six case‐control studies were included in the meta‐analyses, in which 35 for the association between paraoxonase 1 activity and DM risk, 8 for diabetic macroangiopathy and 7 for diabetic microangiopathy. Paraoxonase 1 activity was significantly associated with the susceptibility of DM in pooled population (SMD = −1.37, 95% CI = −1.79 ∼ −0.96, P = .000), and Asians (SMD = −2.00, 95% CI = −2.56 ∼ −1.44, P = .000), but not in non‐Asians (SMD = −0.44, 95% CI = −0.91 ∼ 0.03, P = .069). However, marked heterogeneity was existed (I2 = 98.10%, P = .000) and subgroup analyses failed to investigate the sources of heterogeneity. Then, meta‐regression was performed and found that ethnicity could explain the observed between‐study heterogeneity (P = .002). Meanwhile, significant associations were found between paraoxonase 1 activity and diabetic macroangiopathy (SMD = −1.06, 95% CI = −1.63 ∼ −0.48, P = .000) and diabetic microangiopathy (SMD = −0.72, 95% CI = −1.32 ∼ −0.13, P = .018). In conclusion, paraoxonase 1 activity plays important roles in the risk of DM, diabetic macroangiopathy and microangiopathy with ethnicity differences. Further studies with large sample and well design are needed to confirm these results.
Effects of virtual reality high heights exposure during beam-walking on physiological stress and cognitive loading

Virtual reality has been increasingly used in research on balance rehabilitation because it provides robust and novel sensory experiences in controlled environments. We studied 19 healthy young subjects performing a balance beam walking task in two virtual reality conditions and with unaltered view (15 minutes each) to determine if virtual reality high heights exposure induced stress. We recorded number of steps off the beam, heart rate, electrodermal activity, response time to an auditory cue, and high-density electroencephalography (EEG). We hypothesized that virtual high heights exposure would increase measures of physiological stress compared to unaltered viewing at low heights. We found that the virtual high height condition increased heart rate variability and heart rate frequency power relative to virtual low heights. Virtual reality use resulted in increased number of step-offs, heart rate, electrodermal activity, and response time compared to the unaltered viewing at low heights condition. Our results indicated that virtual reality decreased dynamic balance performance and increased physical and cognitive loading compared to unaltered viewing at low heights. In virtual reality, we found significant decreases in source-localized EEG peak amplitude relative to unaltered viewing in the anterior cingulate, which is considered important in sensing loss of balance. Our findings indicate that virtual reality provides realistic experiences that can induce physiological stress in humans during dynamic balance tasks, but virtual reality use impairs physical and cognitive performance during balance.
The UVR 8 UV-B Photoreceptor : Perception , Signaling and Response TILBROOK , Kimberley

Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) is an intrinsic part of sunlight that is accompanied by significant biological effects. Plants are able to perceive UV-B using the UV-B photoreceptor UVR8 which is linked to a specific molecular signaling pathway and leads to UV-B acclimation. Herein we review the biological process in plants from initial UV-B perception and signal transduction through to the known UV-B responses that promote survival in sunlight. The UVR8 UV-B photoreceptor exists as a homodimer that instantly monomerises upon UV-B absorption via specific intrinsic tryptophans which act as UV-B chromophores. The UVR8 monomer interacts with COP1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, initiating a molecular signaling pathway that leads to gene expression changes. This signaling output leads to UVR8-dependent responses including UV-B-induced photomorphogenesis and the accumulation of UV-B-absorbing flavonols. Negative feedback regulation of the pathway is provided by the WD40-repeat proteins RUP1 and RUP2, which facilitate UVR8 redimerization, disrupting the UVR8-COP1 interaction. Despite rapid advancements in the field of recent years, [. ] TILBROOK, Kimberley, et al. The UVR8 UV-B Photoreceptor: Perception, Signaling and Response. Arabidopsis Book, 2013, vol. 11, p. e0164 DOI : 10.1199/tab.0164
The Cultural Interaction Between Fashion and Customs——the folk customs analysis of the grand triangle structure of Chinese culture among Beijing, Shanghai and Henan

Fashion and customs are interactive, which is a topic that is worth our attention in the development of modern culture. Beijing is typical of upper class culture, Shanghai is typical of urban fashion culture and Henan is typical of folk culture. They all have their respective features in their interaction. It should be stressed in particular that the cultural conflfct between south and north is not utterly brought about by factors such as geography and climate but because of the key role played by psychological establishments of historical culture. The cultural difference should encourage exchange, communication, merging and interaction among different cultures rather than resulting in cultural barrier or even spiritual barrier. The southern culture and northern culture, as well as the eastern culture and western culture are complementary and are merging and developing, which is worth our special attention at present. 
Distinctions and associations between the microbiota of saliva and supragingival plaque of permanent and deciduous teeth

Background Using salivary microbiota as an accurate proxy for monitoring supragingival microbiota remains controversial because their relationship remains unclear. The eruption of permanent teeth and the exfoliation of primary teeth in mixed dentition greatly alter microbial habitats, which may cause compositional shifts of oral microbiota from childhood to adults. Objective This study’s purpose was to assess whether saliva represents a suitable sample for monitoring supragingival microbiota in healthy people, and to explore how the replacement process of deciduous teeth with permanent teeth in mixed dentition influences microbiota within the oral cavity. Design Samples of saliva and of supragingival plaque from permanent and deciduous teeth were collected separately from 20 healthy children with mixed dentition. To characterize their microbial communities, we used the V3–V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequence. Results Saliva harbored a less even and less diverse community than did the plaque. Discriminating genera, namely Rothia and Streptococcus, contributed to the saliva and plaque differentiation. About half of predicted KEGG pathways varied between the plaque and saliva communities. Oral bacteria showed significantly associations between their supragingival and salivary states. We identified 20 supragingival plaque-related genera in saliva, such as Corynebacterium, Capnocytophaga, Fusobacterium, and Neisseria. Additionally, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria peaked in the permanent teeth plaque but subsided in deciduous teeth plaque and saliva. The exfoliation of deciduous teeth and eruption of permanent teeth might be related to the reported fluctuation in the relative abundance of Actinobacteria from primary dentition to permanent dentition within the oral cavity. The variation between PT and DT was due mainly to permanent teeth being enriched in Actinomyces and deciduous teeth in Treponema. Conclusion These results suggested that the supragingival plaque-related bacteria could be suitable candidates when sampling saliva for monitoring supragingival microbiota. The replacement process of deciduous teeth with permanent teeth in mixed dentition might be related to the reported age-maturation of phylum Actinobacteria in the oral cavity.
Correlation of Crystallin Expression and RGC Susceptibility in Experimental Glaucoma Rats of Different Ages

ABSTRACT Purpose: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide with age being an important risk factor. However, the pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Aim of this study was to focus on age-dependent molecular changes in an experimental animal model of glaucoma. Methods: Intraocular pressure was elevated in Sprague-Dawley rats aged 3, 14, and 47 weeks for a period of 7 weeks by episcleral vein cauterization. Ganglion cell loss was monitored by an immunohistochemical staining of the Brain-specific homeobox/POU (Pit-1, Oct-2, Unc-86) domain protein 3A positive cells in retinal flat-mounts and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography measuring the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Molecular protein alterations were analyzed using a comprehensive mass spectrometric proteomics approach of the retina and vitreous body. Results: While juvenile animals did not show a significant loss of retinal ganglion cells due to intraocular pressure elevation, adolescent animals showed a decrease up to 26% (p < 0.05). A shift of retinal crystallin protein expression levels within all protein-family subclasses (α, β, γ) could be observed in the youngest animal group (p < 0.05), while the upregulation of crystallin proteins in older animals was less striking. In addition, numerous crystallin proteins were also detected in the vitreous body. Conclusion: These results provide insights of a potential correlation of age-related glaucomatous damage and the absence of crystallin proteins in the retina.
Serum of Patients with Psoriasis Modulates the Production of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in Cells of Monocytic Lineage

ABSTRACT Psoriasis is triggered by several stimuli that share a systemic production of interferon (IFN)-γ and other inflammatory mediators, which are key to regulate the production of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and its inhibitor (TIMP)-1 by cells of monocytic lineage. This study evaluates the effect of the sera of 55 patients with psoriasis and 41 non-psoriatic individuals on the production of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in cultured monocytes from a single healthy blood donor and in U937 cells. The effect of IFN-γ stimulation was also evaluated. Serum and supernatant concentrations of IFN-γ, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassays, and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratios were calculated. In monocytes, incubation with psoriasis’ sera increased the production of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in comparison with both baseline and monocytes incubated with non-psoriatic sera. Although the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio was significantly higher compared to the baseline, no differences between groups were observed. In contrast, IFN-γ stimulation in monocytes previously exposed to psoriasis’ sera increased MMP-9 levels and decreased TIMP-1 levels, whereas stimulation in monocytes exposed to non-psoriatic sera did not further modify the levels of MMP-9 or TIMP-1. Consequently, the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in cells exposed to psoriatic serum was significantly higher than in cells exposed to non-psoriatic sera (24.5 versus 16.7; P < 0.05). Similar results were observed in U937 cells. Therefore, our results suggest that soluble mediators in psoriatic sera may enhance the proteolytic phenotype of monocytes when stimulated with IFN-γ, which supports the existence of a primed state in the inflammatory cells of patients with psoriasis.
CMV encephalitis in an immune-competent patient

After being admitted to hospital with atypical chest pain, a 61-year-old woman was noted to become lethargic and confused. She also developed global dysphasia. MRI was suggestive of encephalitis, and lumbar puncture was positive for cytomegalovirus (CMV) PCR. The patient was treated with intravenous ganciclovir and subsequent oral valganciclovir and she gradually made a reasonable recovery. While this infection is usually closely linked to immunosuppression, the patient was found to be HIV negative, and was not on any immunosuppressive therapy. Going through the patient’s medical history revealed two possible risk factors which might have led to the development of CMV encephalitis: immunosuppression secondary to underlying poorly controlled diabetes mellitus; and previous admission to the intensive care unit which might have lead to CMV reactivation.
Role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma, pathogenesis, and clinical significance

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common primary hepatic malignancies and one of the fastest-growing causes of cancer-related mortality in the United States. The molecular basis of HCC carcinogenesis has not been clearly identified. Among the molecular signaling pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of HCC, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the most frequently activated. A great effort is under way to clearly understand the role of this pathway in the pathogenesis of HCC and its role in the transition from chronic liver diseases, including viral hepatitis, to hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) and HCCs and its targetability in novel therapies. In this article, we review the role of the β-catenin pathway in hepatocarcinogenesis and progression from chronic inflammation to HCC, the novel potential treatments targeting the pathway and its prognostic role in HCC patients, as well as the imaging features of HCC and their association with aberrant activation of the pathway.
Adoption, Ratification and Entry Into Force

The provision relating to the adoption, ratification and entry into force of the Treaty establishing the Constitution for Europe is probably one of the most difficult ones, both in legal and political terms. It is supposed to define the legal nature and quality of the entire EU process in its present and future phase. There is an inherent ambiguity about the legal nature of the treaty, which is already apparent in the title, and there are profound political implications as well. Is the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe a treaty or a constitution? Can it be both or neither? These are hard questions indeed.
The efficiency-frontier approach for health economic evaluation versus cost-effectiveness thresholds and internal reference pricing: combining the best of both worlds?

ABSTRACT Introduction: The efficiency-frontier approach (EFA) to health economic evaluation aims to benchmark the relative efficiency of new drugs with the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of non-dominated comparators. By explicitly considering any differences in health outcomes and costs, it enhances the internal reference pricing (IRP) policy that was officially endorsed by Germany as the first country worldwide in 1989. However, the EFA has been repeatedly criticized since its official endorsement in 2009. Areas covered: This perspective aims to stimulate the debate by discussing whether the main objections to the EFA are technically valid, irrespective of national contextual factors in Germany with reservations towards using cost-per-quality-adjusted life year (QALY) thresholds. Moreover, we comparatively assessed whether the objections are truly unique to the EFA or apply equally to IRP and cost-effectiveness thresholds. Expert commentary: The plethora of objections to the EFA (n = 20) has obscured that many objections are neither technically valid nor unique to the EFA. Compared with cost-effectiveness thresholds, only two objections apply uniquely to the EFA and concern intended key properties: (1) no external thresholds are needed and (2) the EFA is sensitive to price changes of comparators. Combining these policies and developing them further are under-utilized research areas.
Level of Faecal Coliform Contamination of Drinking Water Sources and Its Associated Risk Factors in Rural Settings of North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Community Based Study

Background Today, close to a billion people mostl living in the developing world do not have access to safe and adequate water. Several studies in Ethiopia indicate that the majority of the drinking water sources had coliform count beyond the WHO standard. Therefore, Regular quality control mechanisms need to be in place. The objective of this study is therefore to determine the level of faecal coliform contamination of drinking water and its associated factors in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in rural parts of North Gondar Zone from April to July, 2016. Water samples were taken from water sources using standardized water sampling techniques. Face-to-face interview with structured questionnaires were used to collect socio-economic and behavioral data. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done using logistic regression models. Results A total of 736 households participated in the study. The prevalence of positive faecal coliform at water sources in North Gondar Zone was found to be 56.5% (n=416) with [95% CI (53–60)]. In multivariate analysis, educational status [(AOR): 0.28, 95% CI (0.1–0.8], sanitary risk of contamination [AOR): 513, 95%CI (51–511)] and water shortage experience [AOR: 0.25, 95% CI (0.12–0.5)] are variables identified as predictors for faecal coliform contamination of water in the source. Conclusion In this study, the prevalence of positive faecal coliform at water source was high. Educational status, sanitary Risk of contamination at the water source, water shortage experience had significant associations with the presence of faecal coliform in drinking water sources.
Transplantation in foreign nationals: Lower rates of waitlist mortality and higher rates of lost to follow‐up posttransplant

A controversial issue in the transplant community is whether or not to provide deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) to noncitizen/nonresidents (NCNRs) who travel for liver transplantation (LT). The expectation is that transplantation of NCNRs will not compromise access for US citizens/residents (USCRs), and that NCNRs would have similar post‐LT follow‐up. This has never been formally assessed. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) data from February 27, 2002 to December 31, 2016 were used to identify NCNRs and compare to USCRs, excluding Status 1 adults. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze waitlist outcomes, and competing risk analysis was used to assess rates of lost to follow‐up post‐LT. From February 27, 2002 to December 31, 2016, 1260 NCNRs were listed for LT (0.86% of listings). Adjusted probability of DDLT was not significantly different for NCNRs and USCRs (P > .5), but NCNRs were significantly less likely to be removed from the waitlist for death or clinical deterioration (aOR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69‐0.93, P = .003). In multivariable competing risk models, NCNRs had an 11‐fold higher risk of being lost to follow‐up after accounting for the competing risk of death (SHR: 11.44, 95% CI: 8.72‐15.01, P < .001), as well as lower rates of posttransplant mortality (SHR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.49‐0.91, P = .012). Our findings speak to the need to standardize practices for NCNRs and set expectations for post‐LT care.
Acid‐Hydrolyzed Gliadins Worsen Food Allergies through Early Sensitization

SCOPE Food allergies result from a complex immune response involving both innate and adaptive immune cells. Major proteins of wheat flour, gliadins, appear to be important allergens, and their characteristics can influence the allergic response. This study investigates the immune reaction when developing a food allergy to gliadins in native, deamidated, or hydrolyzed forms. METHODS The immune response after one or two intraperitoneal sensitizations and after oral challenge with each gliadin form is analyzed. RESULTS Results demonstrate that deamidated gliadins induce a stronger allergic reaction compared to native gliadins. Moreover, deamidation induces an earlier increase in intestinal permeability associated with more pronounced Th2 and Th17 polarizations together with an influx of antigen-presenting cells, especially cDC2. CONCLUSION Altogether, Results indicate that industrial processes such as deamidation or hydrolysis influences food allergenicity through immune modulation and helps us to develop tools to determine how these processes can influence this reaction and encourage or decrease allergic reactions.
Down‐regulation of acid sphingomyelinase and neutral sphingomyelinase‐2 inversely determines the cellular resistance to plasmalemmal injury by pore‐forming toxins

Bacterial pore‐forming toxins compromise plasmalemmal integrity, leading to Ca2+ influx, leakage of the cytoplasm, and cell death. Such lesions can be repaired by microvesicular shedding or by the endocytic uptake of the injured membrane sites. Cells have at their disposal an entire toolbox of repair proteins for the identification and elimination of membrane lesions. Sphingomyelinases catalyze the breakdown of sphingomyelin into ceramide and phosphocholine. Sphingomyelin is predominantly localized in the outer leaflet, where it is hydrolyzed by acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) after lysosomal fusion with the plasma membrane. The magnesium‐dependent neutral sphingomyelinase (NSM)‐2 is found at the inner leaflet of the plasmalemma. Because either sphingomyelinase has been ascribed a role in the cellular stress response, we investigated their role in plasma membrane repair and cellular survival after treatment with the pore‐forming toxins listeriolysin O (LLO) or pneumolysin (PLY). Jurkat T cells, in which ASM or NSM‐2 was down‐regulated [ASM knockdown (KD) or NSM‐2 KD cells], showed inverse reactions to toxin‐induced membrane damage: ASM KD cells displayed reduced toxin resistance, decreased viability, and defects in membrane repair. In contrast, the down‐regulation of NSM‐2 led to an increase in viability and enhanced plasmalemmal repair. Yet, in addition to the increased plasmalemmal repair, the enhanced toxin resistance of NSM‐2 KD cells also appeared to be dependent on the activation of p38/MAPK, which was constitutively activated, whereas in ASM KD cells, the p38/MAPK activation was constitutively blunted. —Schoenauer, R. , Larpin, Y. , Babiychuk, E. B. , Drücker, P., Babiychuk, V. S. , Avota, E. , Schneider‐Schaulies, S. , Schumacher, F. , Kleuser, B. , Köffel, R. , Draeger, A. Down‐regulation of acid sphingomyelinase and neutral sphingomyelinase‐2 inversely determines the cellular resistance to plasmalemmal injury by pore‐forming toxins. FASEB J. 33, 275–285 (2019). www.fasebj. org