Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease among Children in Poland

Background/Aims: The incidence of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Western countries is on the rise. No prospective studies have been conducted on the epidemiology of pediatric IBD in Poland. The aim of the study was to define the characteristics of new pediatric IBD and assess the incidence of new IBD among children in Poland between 2002 and 2004. Methods: Patient records from 24 pediatric gastroenterology centers servicing the whole population of Poland were collected. IBD diagnosis was based on clinical, radiological, endoscopic and histological features. Results: There were 491 new IBD patients, representing an overall incidence of IBD of 2.7 cases/100,000 children/year. The incidence of Crohn’s disease (CD) was 0.6, ulcerative colitis (UC) 1.3, and indeterminate colitis (IC) 0.8. The age-related incidence of IBD was 1.8 in the 0- to 10-year-old age group, rising to 3.7 for the 11- to 18-year age group. Conclusions: The overall incidence of IBD (as well as CD, UC and IC) in Poland is lower than that in Western countries. The relative contribution of UC and IC to the overall IBD incidence is higher in Poland than in most Western countries. These findings may suggest a tendency towards under- or misdiagnosis.
Swingsia samuiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an osmotolerant acetic acid bacterium in the α-Proteobacteria.

The genus Saccharibacter Jojima et al. 2004 was taxonomically unique from the osmophilic point of view: no growth is found on 1.0% D-glucose w/v, differing from any other acetic acid bacteria, the oxidation of acetate is negative, the lactate oxidation is weakly positive, and growth is not found in the presence of 0.35% acetic acid v/v (Jojima et al., 2004). In a previous study, the present authors proposed the new genus Neokomagataea Yukphan et al. 2011 with the descriptions of Neokomagataea thailandica Yukphan et al. 2011 and Neokomagataea tanensis Yukphan et al. 2011, for the two isolates that were related phylogenetically to strains of Saccharibacter floricola Jojima et al. 2004 (Yukphan et al., 2011). However, the two isolates were not osmophilic but osmotolerant, being different from strains of Saccharibacter floricola, and seemed likely to phylogenetically and phenotypically constitute an intermediary taxon between the genus Saccharibacter and the genus Gluconobacter. The present paper describes Swingsia samuiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., as an additional intermediary taxon, for two isolates, of which isolate AH83T (=BCC 25779T=NBRC 107927T) was obtained in Samui Island, Surathani, Thailand on March 14, 2007 and isolate Ai15 (=BCC 26070=NBRC 107928) in Tan Island, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand on May 4, 2007. The two isolates were obtained by the enrichment culture approach. Isolate AH83T was from a flower of J. Gen. Appl. Microbiol. , 59, 375‒384 (2013)
Evidence for positive selection and population structure at the human MAO-A gene

We report the analysis of human nucleotide diversity at a genetic locus known to be involved in a behavioral phenotype, the monoamine oxidase A gene. Sequencing of five regions totaling 18.8 kb and spanning 90 kb of the monoamine oxidase A gene was carried out in 56 male individuals from seven different ethnogeographic groups. We uncovered 41 segregating sites, which formed 46 distinct haplotypes. A permutation test detected substantial population structure in these samples. Consistent with differentiation between populations, linkage disequilibrium is higher than expected under panmixia, with no evidence of a decay with distance. The extent of linkage disequilibrium is not typical of nuclear loci and suggests that the underlying population structure may have been accentuated by a selective sweep that fixed different haplotypes in different populations, or by local adaptation. In support of this suggestion, we find both a reduction in levels of diversity (as measured by a Hudson–Kreitman–Aguade test with the DMD44 locus) and an excess of high frequency-derived variants, as expected after a recent episode of positive selection.
Are rehabilitation and/or care co-ordination interventions delivered in the community effective in reducing depression, facilitating participation and improving quality of life after stroke?

Purpose. To conduct a systematic review to explore the effectiveness of community-based rehabilitation interventions delivered by allied health professionals and/or nursing staff in reducing depression, facilitating participation and improving health-related quality of life (HRQoL) post-inpatient stroke rehabilitation. Method. A search was conducted in the databases of MEDLINE, PEDro, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library. Publications were classified into categories based on the type of the interventions. Best evidence synthesis and meta-analysis were utilised to determine the level of evidence. Results. Fifty-four studies were included in the review, and divided into nine broad intervention categories. Meta-analysis demonstrated significant reduction in depression with exercise interventions (n == 137; effect estimate SMD: −2.03, 95%%CI: −3.22, −0.85). Community-based interventions targeting participation and leisure domains showed moderate evidence for improvement in global participation measures and HRQoL. Comprehensive rehabilitation demonstrated limited evidence for depression and participation, and strong evidence for HRQoL Conclusions. There is limited to moderate evidence supporting some rehabilitation interventions in affecting the outcomes of depression, participation and HRQoL post-stroke. Heterogeneity of the studies made evidence synthesis difficult. Further consideration needs to be given to the type and timing of outcome measures selected to represent the domains of participation and HRQoL.
Thick beryllium target as an epithermal neutron source for neutron capture therapy.

Accelerator-based intense epithermal neutron sources for Neutron Capture Therapy (NCT) have been considered as an alternative to nuclear reactors. Lithium (Li) has generally received the widest attention for this application, since the threshold energy is low and neutron yield is high. Because of the poor thermal and chemical properties of Li and the need for heat removal in the target, the design of Li targets has been quite difficult. Beryllium (Be) has been thought of as an alternative target because of its good thermal and chemical properties and reasonable neutron yield. However, in order to have a neutron yield comparable to that of a thick Li target bombarded with 2.5 MeV protons, the proton energy required for a thick Be target must be approaching 4 MeV. Consequently, the neutrons emitted are more energetic. In addition, a significant amount of high-energy gamma rays, which is undesirable, will occur when Be is bombarded with low-energy protons. Regardless of the more energetic neutrons and additional gamma rays, in this paper it is shown that it is possible to develop a high-quality and high-intensity epithermal neutron beam based on a thick Be target for NCT treatment. For a fixed proton current, the optimal Be-target-based beam (with 4-MeV protons) can produce a neutron beam, with both quality and intensity slightly better than those produced by the optimal Li-target-based beam (with 2.5-MeV protons). The single-session NCT treatment time for the optimal Be-target-based beam is estimated to be 88 min for a proton current of 50 mA. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
[Evaluation of expression of polymorphonuclear neutrophil surface receptors in patients with type 1 diabetes].

UNLABELLED Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic microvascular complications. Stimulation of these cells is associated with the appearance of specific receptors on their surface. The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of the receptors specific for PMN: CD 11b, CD 18. The study was performed in a group of 23 type 1 diabetic patients, aged from 19 to 47 years (mean 30.7 +/- 8.6 years), including 15 females and 8 males (mean diabetes duration time 13.7 +/- 7.5 years; mean HbA1c 7.9 +/- 2.5%). The expression of PMN surface receptors was measured by flow cytometry using a ORTHO DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM cytofluorimeter. The results were presented as a PMN percentage indicating expression of CD 11b and CD 18. In comparison to healthy controls, there was a significant increase in the number of PMN, both with CD 11b and CD 18 receptors present--(CD 11b: 93.2 +/- 3.4 vs 98.0 +/- 1.9% p < 0.05), (CD 18: 98.5 +/- 0.47 vs 99.4 +/- 0.7%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION In patients with type 1 diabetes, PMNs demonstrate a pronounced expression of surface receptors which may indicate an enhanced activity of these cells. The increase of expression of surface receptors is independent of diabetes duration time and HbA1c.
Development and initial testing of a measure of public and self-stigma in the military.

OBJECTIVE This research developed and tested the Military Stigma Scale (MSS), a 26-item scale, designed to measure public and self-stigma, two theorized core components of mental health stigma. METHOD The sample comprised 1,038 active duty soldiers recruited from a large Army installation. Soldiers' mean age was 26.7 (standard deviation = 5.9) years, and 93.6% were male. The sample was randomly split into a scale development group (n = 520) and a confirmatory group (n = 518). RESULTS Factor analysis conducted with the scale development group resulted in the adoption of two factors, named public and self-stigma, accounting for 52.1% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis conducted with the confirmatory group indicated good fit for the two-factor model. Both factors were components of a higher order stigma factor. The public and self-stigma scales for the exploratory and confirmatory groups demonstrated good internal consistency (α = .94 and .89; α = .95 and .87, respectively). Demographic differences in stigma were consistent with theory and previous empirical research: Soldiers who had seen a mental health provider scored lower in self-stigma than those who had not. CONCLUSIONS The MSS comprises two internally consistent dimensions that appear to capture the constructs of public and self-stigma. The overall results indicate that public and self-stigma are dimensions of stigma that are relevant to active duty soldiers and suggest the need to assess these dimensions in future military stigma research.
Protective effects of amifostine on ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat kidneys

Objectives: Amifostine is a drug which can eliminate free oxygen radicals that appear in the body after radiation or chemotherapeutic agent exposure. It is used to decrease the renal toxicity of cisplatin. The aim of this study was to determine the role of amifostine in warm ischemia kidney model for prevention of ischemia/reperfusion injury and also to find out the mechanism for prevention from ischemia/reperfusion injury if such an effect does exist. Materials and Methods: Adult female rats (n = 40) that used in our study were divided into three groups. Group 1: Control (n = 8), group 2: Ischemia-control (n = 16), group 3: Amifostine treated (n = 16). The effect of amifostine on ischemia/reperfusion injury investigated in rat kidneys. Results: At the 7th day, blood urea nitrogen level was statistically significantly higher in ischemia-control group than all groups (P = 0.001) and mean serum creatinine levels were found to be the highest in ischemia-control group (P = 0.091). Mean malondialdehyde levels in left kidneys removed on the 7th day were not significantly different (P = 0.105) at all three groups. Between ischemia-control group and amifostine group, there was a significant difference in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels (P = 0.001). In amifostine group, grade 4 necrosis was not detected neither on 7th day nor day 0. Conclusion: Amifostine could decrease the degree and severity of necrosis after reperfusion. Amifostine could not prevent membrane lipid peroxidation caused by superoxide anion radicals in kidney but they could protect tissues from the harmful effects of ischemia/reperfusion injury by increasing the level of reduced GSH which is a well-known oxygen radical eliminator.
Low Dietary Protein is Associated with an Increase in Food Intake and a Decrease in the In Vitro Release of Radiolabeled Glutamate and GABA from the Lateral Hypothalamus

Abstract Moderately low-protein diets lead to a rapid increase in food intake and body fat. The increase in feeding is associated with a decrease in the concentration of serum urea nitrogen, suggesting that the low-protein-induced increase in food intake may be related to the decreased metabolism of nitrogen from amino acids. We hypothesized that low dietary protein would be associated with a decrease in the synaptic release of two nitrogen-containing neurotransmitters, GABA and glutamate, whose nitrogen can be derived from amino acids. In this study, we examined the effects of a low-protein diet (10% casein) in Sprague-Dawley rats on the in vitro release of 3H-GABA and 14C-glutamate from the lateral and medial hypothalamus. The low-protein diet increased food intake by about 25% after one day. After four days, the in vitro release of radiolabeled GABA and glutamate was assessed. The calcium-dependent, potassium-stimulated release of radiolabeled GABA and glutamate from the lateral hypothalamus was decreased in rats fed the low-protein diet. The magnitude of neurotransmitter release from the lateral hypothalamus inversely correlated with food intake. No dietary differences in the release of neurotransmitters from the medial hypothalamus were observed. These results support the contention that alterations in nitrogen metabolism are associated with low-protein-induced feeding.
Déterminants génétiques du métabolisme des monocarbones : approche gène candidat dans deux populations ambulatoires et étude d'association avec la maladie de Crohn

Des etudes d'associations pangenomiques ont demontre une relation entre le taux plasmatique de la vitamine B12 et le polymorphisme du gene FUT2 (fucosyltransferase 2). Dans des modeles experimentaux, le statut secreteur pour FUT2 a ete implique dans la susceptibilite a l'infection par Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). Nous avons evalue l'influence du polymorphisme FUT2 461 G>A sur les marqueurs du metabolisme des monocarbones dans deux populations ambulatoires en Europe et en Afrique de l'Ouest ainsi que la possible association entre l'infection par H. pylori et le polymorphisme de FUT2. Nous avons mis en evidence une influence de FUT2 461 G>A sur le taux plasmatique de la vitamine B12 mais n'avons pas retrouve d'influence du statut serologique pour H. pylori sur cette association, du moins chez les sujets ambulatoires en Europe et en Afrique de l'Ouest. L'hyperhomocysteinemie est un marqueur de carence en donneurs de methyle. Plusieurs travaux ont evalue le taux plasmatique de l'homocysteine au cours des maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l'intestin (MICI) et ont abouti a des resultats mitiges. Par ailleurs, l'ampleur de l'association entre le metabolisme de l'homocysteine et les MICI reste meconnue. Nous avons realise une meta-analyse afin : (i) d'evaluer l'association entre le metabolisme de l'homocysteine et les MICI et (ii) d'etudier le risque de thrombose lie a l'hyperhomocysteinemie au cours des MICI. Le risque d'hyperhomocysteinemie etait significativement plus eleve chez les patients avec une MICI en comparaison aux sujets controles. L'evaluation du risque de thrombose associe a l'hyperhomocysteinemie au cours des MICI requiert des etudes complementaires. Un statut carence en folates etait associe a un impact plus fort du polymorphisme MTHFR C677T sur le risque primaire de MICI. L'hyperhomocysteinemie et plusieurs polymorphismes sur les genes du metabolisme des monocarbones sont associes au risque primaire et a la severite de la maladie de Crohn (MC). L'hyperhomocysteinemie augmente l'activite de la superoxyde dismutase (SOD), un marqueur fiable et valide du stress oxydatif. A l'aide d'un SNP array Illumina exhaustif du metabolisme des monocarbones, nous avons (i) etudie les determinants genetiques (single nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) associes au taux plasmatique de l'homocysteine et de la SOD chez des patients suivis pour une MC et (ii) recherche les SNPs associes a l'âge du diagnostic de la MC. Deux SNPs etaient independamment associes au taux plasmatique de l'homocysteine (MTHFR, AHCY). Cinq SNPs etaient independamment associes au taux plasmatique de la SOD. Parmi ces cinq SNPs, trois sont lies a la vitamine B12 (FUT2, CUBN, et TCN2), un aux folates (GGH), et un dernier a la synthese cellulaire de l'homocysteine (AHCY). Par ailleurs, nous avons mis en evidence deux SNPs associes a un âge precoce du diagnostic de la MC (CHDH, ABCB1).
Iron acquisition and its control in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: many roads lead to Rome.

Iron plays an important role in the pathogenesis and rhizosphere competence of the fluorescent group of pseudomonads and it is, thus, fitting that the characteristic fluorescence of these organisms is attributable to an iron-chelating molecule, pyoverdine. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is likely the best-studied member of this group, and while it synthesizes two siderophores, pyochelin and pyoverdine, it is also able to use a number of heterologous siderophores of fungal and bacterial origin and its genome is rich with homologues of iron-siderophore receptor genes, reflecting the enormous flexibility of the organism vis-a-vis iron carriers that it can use in nature. The ability to utilize a variety of heterologous siderophores is shared by other fluorescent pseudomonads and likely reflects both the importance of this vital nutrient for growth and survival and the need to compete with other microorganisms in the aquatic and terrestrial environments that they inhabit. Expression of the various receptors is, however, regulated, with receptor production responding positively to available siderophores only, and selection from multiple available siderophores based on their successful chelation of iron and subsequent transport. Thus, the superior siderophore in a given environment will upregulate the cognate receptor at the expense of other receptors. Such siderophore-dependent regulation of receptor gene expression is common in bacteria, particularly the fluorescent pseudomonads, and typically requires a signal transduction cascade that involves the receptor itself, whose binding to the siderophore initiates the cascade, as well as a regulatory protein pair that includes an environmentally-responsive so-called extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factor, which activates receptor gene expression, and an anti-sigma factor that controls sigma factor activity. Despite the plethora of ferric siderophore receptors in P. aeruginosa, its genome sequence reveals a striking lack of obvious periplasmic and cytoplasmic membrane transport components capable of accommodating these molecules. Unlike e.g. Escherichia coli, then, where ferric siderophore permeases providing transport to the cytoplasm are clearly in evidence, iron-siderophore complexes in P. aeruginosa may be dissociated in the periplasm, with a common iron carrier then responsible for iron uptake into the cell interior.
Safety, Patient’s Tolerance, and Efficacy of a 2-Liter Vitamin C-Enriched Macrogol Bowel Preparation: A Randomized, Endoscopist-Blinded Prospective Comparison With a 4-Liter Macrogol Solution

BACKGROUND: Optimal bowel preparation is associated with lower polyp miss rates, but patients have difficulties in complying with the usual 4-L bowel preparation. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the safety, acceptance, and efficacy of 2-L polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution enriched in vitamin C with 4-L polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution. DESIGN: This study is an endoscopist-blinded randomized controlled trial. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital. PATIENTS: Consecutive outpatients were randomly assigned to receive 4-L polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution or 2-L polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution enriched in vitamin C with 2 L of clear fluids in a single-dose or a split-dose regime. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Safety was assessed by blood sampling before and after the preparation and by a 30-day postcolonoscopy chart and complication database review. Acceptance was investigated by questionnaires, and the adequacy of bowel preparation was assessed by the Aronchick and Ottawa scales. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-eight patients, 98 in the polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution enriched in vitamin C group and 90 in the polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution group, participated. Although changes in bicarbonate blood concentrations with polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution enriched in vitamin C were seen to such an extent that the blinded investigator correctly guessed the preparation in 75.6%, no unsafe values were observed. A 30-day chart and complication database review revealed 1 severe adverse event of a myocardial infarction in the polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution enriched in vitamin C group. Patient acceptance and compliance were significantly higher with the polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution enriched in vitamin C group. The impact on sleep, daily activities, and physical complaints were similar in both groups. Polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution enriched in vitamin C was noninferior to polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution in cleansing efficacy, but the segmental rating of excellent and good preparation in right and transverse colon was significantly better for polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution, especially when taken as a split dose. LIMITATIONS: The results cannot be extrapolated to immobile inpatients with comorbidities. Another limitation of our study was the inability to determine plasma vitamin C concentrations and to assess the quality of colonoscopy performance. CONCLUSIONS: Two-liter polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution enriched in vitamin C is a safe and patient-friendly alternative to the 4-L polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution. Endoscopists slightly preferred the 4-L polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution.
Predictive Algorithm for Optimizing Power Flow in Hybrid Ultracapacitor/Battery Storage Systems for Light Electric Vehicles

This study deals with the optimal control of hybrid energy storage systems for electric vehicle applications. These storage systems can capitalize on the high specific energy of Lithium-Ion batteries and the high specific power of modern ultracapacitors. The new predictive algorithm uses a state-based approach inspired by power systems optimization, organized as a probability-weighted Markov process to predict future load demands. Decisions on power sharing are made in real time, based on the predictions and probabilities of state trajectories along with associated system losses. Detailed simulations comparing various power sharing algorithms are presented, along with converter-level simulations presenting the response characteristics of power sharing scenarios. The full hybrid storage system along with the mechanical drivetrain is implemented and validated experimentally on a 500 W, 50 V system with a programmable drive cycle having a strong regenerative component. It is experimentally shown that the hybrid energy storage system runs more efficiently and captures the excess regenerative energy that is otherwise dissipated in the mechanical brakes due to the battery's limited charge current capability.