Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GLP 1 and Macrovascular Complications

Type two diabetes remains to be one of the most challenging chronic diseases affecting 26 million people in the United States. Despite advances in the management of this illness, a large number of diabetics suffer from disease related complications. Heart disease and stroke account for a significant percentage of death in diabetics. Advancing treatment options for diabetics beyond glycemic control and Hba1c levels to prevent macrovascular complications should be the target of our management. GLP1, a member of the pro-glucagon incretin family, and GLP1 analogues seems to have beneficial effects on the macrovascular levels, in addition to their established effect on the glycemic control. This article reviews the potential effect of GLP1 family on the macrovascular complications including cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular diseases. Diabetic Cardiovascular Complications J o u r na l o f D iabetes & Mabol i s m ISSN: 2155-6156 Journal of Diabetes and Metabolism Citation: Sleiman D, Azar ST (2012) GLP 1 and Macrovascular Complications. J Diabetes Metab S4:007. doi:10.4172/2155-6156.S4-007
Relationship between Circulating Protein p53 and High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Central Obesity Men with Inflammaging

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of aging goes along with age, one of which is characterized by cellular senescent, which occurs mostly in adipose tissue. Adipose tissue is the site of accumulation of large cell senescent, in the regulation of obesity and aging. Proteins p53 is marker for cell senescent, which are also known to induce inflammation. This study was aimed to determine the relationship between circulating protein p53 and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in central obese men with inflammaging.METHODS: The study design is an observational study with cross-sectional approach. The subjects were 75 central obese men (waist circumference/WC > 90 cm), aged ≥ 45 years old. Subjects were divided into 2 age groups, those are middle age group: 45-59 years old (50.7%) and elderly group: ≥ 60 years old (49.3%). Examination of circulating p53 was done using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method, and the hsCRP examination was done by chemiluminescent method.RESULTS: It was found that there was a correlation between circulating p53 and hsCRP in elderly (r=-0.414; p<0.05) but not in middle age (r=-0.127; p=0.449). CONCLUSION: From this study, it is assumed that more senescence cells in elderly are resulting in increased chronic inflammation.KEYWORDS: aging, senescent, inflammaging, protein p53, hsCRP
Metabolic syndrome and CKD in a general Japanese population: the Hisayama Study.

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome has been linked with various atherosclerotic diseases, but has not been evaluated sufficiently as a risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population. METHODS We followed up 1,440 community-dwelling individuals without CKD aged 40 years or older for 5 years and examined the effects of metabolic syndrome, defined by the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, on the development of CKD. RESULTS During follow-up, 88 subjects experienced CKD. The age- and sex-adjusted 5-year cumulative incidence of CKD was significantly greater in subjects with than without metabolic syndrome (10.6% versus 4.8%; P < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, even after adjustment for other confounding factors, including insulinemia, metabolic syndrome remained an independent risk factor for the occurrence of CKD (odds ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23 to 3.52). Compared with subjects with 1 or fewer metabolic syndrome component, multivariate-adjusted odd ratios for CKD in subjects with 2, 3, and 4 or more metabolic syndrome components were 1.13 (95% CI, 0.60 to 2.12), 1.90 (95% CI, 0.98 to 3.69), and 2.79 (95% CI, 1.32 to 5.90), respectively. The rate of change in kidney function during 5 years decreased significantly in subjects with 4 or more metabolic syndrome components compared with those with 1 or fewer component in the age group of 40 to 59 years, whereas it also was significantly low in subjects with 3 metabolic syndrome components in the group aged 60 years or older. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that metabolic syndrome is a significant risk factor for the development of CKD in the general population.
DNA analogues with nonphosphodiester backbones.

This review discusses the recent developments of DNA analogues with nonphosphodiester backbones in terms of DNA structure and antisense and antigene potential. A larger number of derivatives are now available in which the phosphodiester linkage has been replaced but the deoxyribose retained. However, only a few of these (e.g. the ones having a thioformacetal or a carboxamide linkage) appear to be good structural DNA mimics. Two successful attempts to replace the entire deoxyribose phosphate backbone have been reported, the morpholino derivatives and the peptide nucleic acids (PNA), which contain an N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine-based pseudopeptide backbone. Most information is available on the PNA, which is a very promising DNA mimic. In conclusion, the deoxyribose phosphate backbone is not essential for a potent structural DNA mimic and not even required for a helical duplex structure.
Postoperative adjuvant arterial chemoembolization improves survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with risk factors for residual tumor: a retrospective control study.

AIM To evaluate the effect of postoperative adjuvant transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with or without risk factors for the residual tumor. METHODS From January 1995 to December 1998, 549 consecutive HCC patients undergoing surgical resection were included in this research. There were 185 patients who underwent surgical resection with adjuvant TACE and 364 patients who underwent surgical resection only. Tumors with a diameter more than 5 cm, multiple nodules, and vascular invasion were defined as risk factors for residual tumor and used for patient stratification. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze survival curve and Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the prognostic significance of adjuvant TACE. RESULTS In the patients without any risk factors for the residual tumor, the 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 93.48%, 75.85%, 62.39% in the control group and 97.39%, 70.37%, 50.85% in the adjuvant TACE group, respectively. There was no significant difference in the survival between two groups (P = 0.3956). However, in the patients with risk factors for residual tumor, postoperative adjuvant TACE significantly prolonged the patients' survival. There was a statistically significant difference in survival between two groups (P = 0.0216). The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 69.95%, 49.86%, 37.40% in the control group and 89.67%, 61.28%, 44.36% in the adjuvant TACE group, respectively. Cox proportional hazard model showed that tumor diameter and cirrhosis, but not the adjuvant TACE, were the significantly independent prognostic factors in the patients without risk factors for residual tumor. However, in the patients with risk factors for residual tumor adjuvant TACE, and also tumor diameter, AFP level, vascular invasion, were the significantly independent factors associated with the decreasing risk for patients' death from HCC. CONCLUSION Postoperative adjuvant TACE can prolong the survival of patients with risk factors for residual tumor, but can not prolong the survival of patients without risk factors for residual tumor.
Development of a More Efficient Algorithm for Identifying False-Positive Reactivity Results in a Dengue Virus Immunoglobulin M Screening Assay

ABSTRACT Of 2,692 sera screened for dengue virus immunoglobulin M by using a μ-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 954 had equivocal (index from 0.90 to 1.10) or positive (index of >1.10) results and were retested using a background subtraction (BS) ELISA that identifies screen false positives. No false positives were found among 427 sera with screen ELISA indices of >6.00; thus, retesting this specimen subset by BS ELISA is unnecessary.
Sistem Antena Array Paralel untuk Menghasilkan Lobe Radiasi Utama dalam Arah Bervariasi

Antena array adalah suatu antena yang dibentuk oleh susunan sejumlah elemen antena tunggal yang biasanya berupa antena dipol dimana setiap elemen tersebut diberi arus. Antena ini merupakan cikal bakal pengembangan sistem antena cerdas. Salah satu kelebihan antena array adalah dapat menghasilkan variasi arah lobe radiasi utama dengan mengatur beda fasa pengumpanan arus tiap elemennya. Antena array berikut ini dirancang dengan menggunakan 4 elemen antena dipol tunggal pada frekuensi operasi 2 GHz dan memiliki penguatan antena 3.39 dBd. Beda fasa pengumpanan arus diatur secara manual melalui beda panjang saluran transmisi antara tiap elemen array. Melalui pengujian dengan menggunakan generator sinyal dan spektrum analyzer, diperoleh daya radiasi yang kemudian digambarkan dalam bentuk pola radiasi. Berdasarkan pola radiasi tersebut terlihat adanya variasi arah lobe radiasi utama dengan 4 beda fasa pengumpanan arus yang berbeda dan hasil ini telah memenuhi spesifikasi dan mencapai tujuan dari perancangan.
Multilevel Clustering via Wasserstein Means

We propose a novel approach to the problem of multilevel clustering, which aims to simultaneously partition data in each group and discover grouping patterns among groups in a potentially large hierarchically structured corpus of data. Our method involves a joint optimization formulation over several spaces of discrete probability measures, which are endowed with Wasserstein distance metrics. We propose a number of variants of this problem, which admit fast optimization algorithms, by exploiting the connection to the problem of finding Wasserstein barycenters. Consistency properties are established for the estimates of both local and global clusters. Finally, experiment results with both synthetic and real data are presented to demonstrate the flexibility and scalability of the proposed approach.
ralGDS family members interact with the effector loop of ras p21

Using a yeast two-hybrid system, we identified a novel protein which interacts with ras p21. This protein shares 69% amino acid homology with ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator (ralGDS), a GDP/GTP exchange protein for ral p24. We designated this protein RGL, for ralGDS-like. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we found that an effector loop mutant of ras p21 was defective in interacting with the ras p21-interacting domain of RGL, suggesting that this domain binds to ras p21 through the effector loop of ras p21. Since ralGDS contained a region highly homologous with the ras p21-interacting domain of RGL, we examined whether ralGDS could interact with ras p21. In the yeast two-hybrid system, ralGDS failed to interact with an effector loop mutant of ras p21. In insect cells, ralGDS made a complex with v-ras p21 but not with a dominant negative mutant of ras p21. ralGDS interacted with the GTP-bound form of ras p21 but not with the GDP-bound form in vitro. ralGDS inhibited both the GTPase-activating activity of the neurofibromatosis gene product (NF1) for ras p21 and the interaction of Raf with ras p21 in vitro. These results demonstrate that ralGDS specifically interacts with the active form of ras p21 and that ralGDS can compete with NF1 and Raf for binding to the effector loop of ras p21. Therefore, ralGDS family members may be effector proteins of ras p21 or may inhibit interactions between ras p21 and its effectors.
Orthorexia Nervosa in Dieticians

obese. Overweight dieticians had signifi cantly more frequently dieted than had normal-weight and underweight dieticians (25 vs. 14 vs. 4%). Of the whole sample, 236 (83.4%) dieticians felt they could make a major contribution to their own health. More than one third (n = 102) of the dieticians had changed eating behavior in recent years, 60% of them to a generally more healthy eating pattern and about 10% to healthy foods only. The change to healthy eating was prompted by a diminished physical ability to cope with stress, emotional crisis, a serious physical or an emotional disorder. Of the entire sample, 13 (4.6%) dieticians reported having had anorexia nervosa, 10 (3.5%) bulimia nervosa and 3 (1.1%) a bingeeating disorder in the past.
Cone Ratios in Myopia and Emmetropia: A Pilot Study

Purpose There is a suggestion that the long wavelength–sensitive (LWS)-to-middle wavelength–sensitive (MWS) cone ratio in the retina is associated with myopia. The aim was to measure the LWS/MWS amplitude modulation ratio, an estimate of the LWS/MWS cone ratio, in young adult emmetropes and myopes. Methods Multifocal visual evoked potentials were measured when the LWS and MWS cone systems were excited separately using the method of silent substitution. The 30 young adult participants (22 to 33 years) included 10 emmetropes (mean [±SD] refraction, +0.3 [±0.4] diopters [D]) and 20 myopes (mean [±SD] refraction, −3.4 [±1.7] D). Results The LWS/MWS amplitude modulation ratios ranged from 0.56 to 1.80 in the central 3- to 13-degree diameter ring and from 0.94 to 1.91 in the peripheral 13- to 30-degree diameter ring. Within the central ring, the mean (±SD) ratios were 1.20 (±0.26) and 1.20 (±0.33) for the emmetropic and the myopic groups, respectively. For the peripheral ring, the mean (±SD) ratios were 1.48 (±0.27) and 1.30 (±0.27), respectively. There were no significant differences in the ratios between the emmetropic and myopic groups for either the central (p = 0.99) or peripheral (p = 0.08) rings. For the latter, more myopic refractive error was associated with lower LWS/MWS amplitude modulation ratio; the refraction explained 16% (p = 0.02) of variation in ratio. Conclusions The relationship between the LWS/MWS amplitude modulation ratios and refraction at 13 to 30 degrees indicates that a large longitudinal study of changes in refraction in persons with known cone ratio is required to determine if a low LWS/MWS cone ratio is associated with myopia development.
In Vitro Pharmacodynamic Properties of Colistin and Colistin Methanesulfonate against Pseudomonas aeruginosaIsolates from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

ABSTRACT The in vitro pharmacodynamic properties of colistin and colistin methanesulfonate were investigated by studying the MICs, time-kill kinetics, and postantibiotic effect (PAE) against mucoid and nonmucoid strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis. Twenty-three clinical strains, including multiresistant strains, and one type strain were selected for MIC determination. Eleven strains were resistant; MICs for these strains were >128 mg/liter. For the susceptible strains, MICs of colistin ranged from 1 to 4 mg/liter, while the MICs of colistin methanesulfonate were significantly higher and ranged from 4 to 16 mg/liter. The time-kill kinetics were investigated with three strains at drug concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 64 times the MIC. Colistin showed extremely rapid killing, resulting in complete elimination at the highest concentrations within 5 min, while colistin methanesulfonate killed more slowly, requiring a concentration of 16 times the MIC to achieve complete killing within 24 h. Colistin exhibited a significant PAE of 2 to 3 h at 16 times the MIC against the three strains after 15 min of exposure. For colistin methanesulfonate, PAEs were shorter at the concentrations tested. Colistin methanesulfonate had lower overall bactericidal and postantibiotic activities than colistin, even when adjusted for differences in MICs. Our data suggest that doses of colistin methanesulfonate higher than the recommended 2 to 3 mg/kg of body weight every 12 h may be required for the effective treatment ofP. aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
Albumins and Carotenoids of the Human Fetal Vitreous Body and their Morphogenetic Role during Midgestation

Albumins and Carotenoids of the Human Fetal Vitreous Body and their Morphogenetic Role during Midgestation Ina G. Panova1*, Alexander S. Tatikolov2, and Olga G. Stroeva1 1N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Vavilova 26, Moscow 119334, Russia 2N.M. Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Kosygina 4, Moscow 119334, Russia *Corresponding author: Dr. Ina G. Panova, N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Vavilov St. 26, Moscow, 119334 Russia. Tel: +7 (499) 135 55 07; Email: pinag@mail.ru Received: 09-21-2015 Accepted: 11-10-2015 Published: 11-19-2015 Copyright: © 2015 Ina Review Article
Influence of posture-cueing compression garment on overhead throwing kinematics

OBJECTIVE: Throwing is a dynamic and complex task, which requires sequential movement to sufficiently transfer energy from the lower extremity to the upper extremity. Due to the repetitive stress of the overhead throwing motion, sport medicine personnel have developed different methods to assist in alleviating pain an athlete may be experiencing. One method is the use of a posture-cueing compression garment. These garment designs aim to cue the individual in maintaining and improving alignment, specifically targeting the posterior shoulder to improve scapular positioning and therefore restore normal shoulder kinematics. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of a posture-cueing compression garment on overhead throwing kinematics. METHODS: A convenience sample of nine National Collegiate Athletic Association [NCAA] Division I Collegiate softball players [20.3 ± 1.5 years; 166.6 ± 6.3 cm; 68.0 ± 7.5 kg] volunteered to participate. Kinematic data were collected at 100 Hz using an electromagnetic tracking system synced with The Motion Monitor®. All kinematic variables of the overhead throw in both garment conditions were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Results revealed no statistically significant main effect of Garment or Garment by Throwing Event interaction of any kinematic variables for the overhead throw task. CONCLUSION: Although the current study did not reveal kinematic differences during the overhead throwing task while wearing a posturecueing compression garment further research should evaluate the use of posture-cueing compression garments, on overhead athletes suffering from upper extremity pathologies.
Molecular Cloning of cDNA for Matriptase, a Matrix-degrading Serine Protease with Trypsin-like Activity*

A major protease from human breast cancer cells was previously detected by gelatin zymography and proposed to play a role in breast cancer invasion and metastasis. To structurally characterize the enzyme, we isolated a cDNA encoding the protease. Analysis of the cDNA reveals three sequence motifs: a carboxyl-terminal region with similarity to the trypsin-like serine proteases, four tandem cysteine-rich repeats homologous to the low density lipoprotein receptor, and two copies of tandem repeats originally found in the complement subcomponents C1r and C1s. By comparison with other serine proteases, the active-site triad was identified as His-484, Asp-539, and Ser-633. The protease contains a characteristic Arg-Val-Val-Gly-Gly motif that may serve as a proteolytic activation site. The bottom of the substrate specificity pocket was identified to be Asp-627 by comparison with other trypsin-like serine proteases. In addition, this protease exhibits trypsin-like activity as defined by cleavage of synthetic substrates with Arg or Lys as the P1 site. Thus, the protease is a mosaic protein with broad spectrum cleavage activity and two potential regulatory modules. Given its ability to degrade extracellular matrix and its trypsin-like activity, the name matriptase is proposed for the protease.
Social Media and the Empowering of Opponents of Medical Technologies: The Case of Anti-Vaccinationism

Social media has contributed positively to the interaction between proponents of medical products and technologies and the public by permitting more direct interaction between these two groups. However, it has also provided opponents of these products a new mechanism to organize opposition. Using the example of anti-vaccinationism, we provide recommendations for how proponents of medical products and technologies should address this new challenge.
Changes in susceptibility to posaconazole in clinical isolates of Candida albicans.

OBJECTIVES To characterize the molecular mechanisms responsible for reduced susceptibility to azoles in Candida albicans clinical isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seven sequential C. albicans isolates were cultured from an AIDS patient treated with posaconazole for refractory oropharyngeal candidiasis. Expression levels of the CDR1, CDR2 and MDR1 genes, encoding efflux pumps previously implicated in azole resistance, and ERG11, encoding the azole target site, were monitored using northern blot and real-time PCR. The ERG11 genes from all seven isolates were sequenced. RESULTS The seven closely related isolates exhibited significant decreases in susceptibility to fluconazole (MIC >or= 32 mg/L) and voriconazole (MIC >or= 2 mg/L) and progressive decreases in susceptibility to both posaconazole (isolates 1-4 MIC 0.25 mg/L, isolates 5-7 MIC 2 mg/L) and itraconazole (isolates 1-4 MIC 1 mg/L, isolates 5-7 MIC > 8 mg/L). None of the isolates exhibited any significant changes in the expression levels of ERG11 or the efflux pump genes. All seven isolates had multiple mutations in ERG11; isolates one through four each had five missense mutations; four of the resultant amino acid changes were previously associated with azole resistance. The fifth isolate had an additional novel mutation in one copy of ERG11, resulting in a Pro-230 to Leu substitution. This mutation was present in both ERG11 genes in the last two isolates. Select ERG11 genes were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the ERG11 allele with all six mutations conferred the highest level of posaconazole resistance. CONCLUSIONS Multiple mutations in ERG11 are required to confer decreased susceptibility to posaconazole.
Sleep apnoea and sympathetic nervous system activity: a review

A review was made of the literature relating sleep apnoea to sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity, as inferred from catecholamine levels or muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). Twenty‐four studies were located. Most studies reported an elevation of norepinephrine and MSNA, both during sleep and wakefulness among individuals with sleep apnoea. However, studies rarely controlled for known confounders of sympathetic activity, making the validity of the findings questionable.