Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hemoglobin Polymerization in Red Blood Cells of Marine Fishes: A Case of Adaptive Phenotypic Plasticity?

We investigated the occurrence of the unusual phenomenon of hemoglobin polymerization in a 10-year survey of 47 species of fishes. Similar to human sickle cell disease, hemoglobin polymers in fish red blood cells can cause distortion or sickling under low oxygen and low pH. We sampled fish from three geographic areas, including the east and west coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Fifteen species spanning five orders and nine families exhibited hemoglobin polymerization in vitro, with a majority in or related to Gadiformes, as well as species within Notocanthiformes, Perciformes, and Scorpianiformes. Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, also showed the trait in vivo. Light and transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of hemoglobin polymers at the cellular level, but the morphology of hemoglobin polymers and rates of polymerization varied across species. Hemoglobin polymerization in red blood cells in vitro was pH dependent and reversible. For two species, G. morhua and Opsanus tau, >60% and >40% of all red blood cells contained hemoglobin polymers at pH 7.6, while 100% and 90% of red blood cells polymerized at pH 6.96, respectively. In both species, recovery of 60%–70% of red blood cells occurred within 45 minutes when pH increased from 6.96 to 7.99. From these results we conclude that hemoglobin polymerization is present in a broad range of fish taxa occupying wide biogeographical ranges and habitats and that it is oxygen and pH sensitive. The physiology and adaptive significance of hemoglobin polymerization in fishes remain unclear, but as oceans and coastal environments become more hypoxic and hypercapnic, this trait may have the potential to affect fish survival.
Production , Manufacturing and Logistics The pyramidal capacitated vehicle routing problem

0377-2217/$ see front matter 2009 Elsevier B.V. A doi:10.1016/j.ejor. 2009.11. 029 * Tel. : +45 89486319; fax: +45 89486125. E-mail address: lys@asb.dk This paper introduces the pyramidal capacitated vehicle routing problem (PCVRP) as a restricted version of the capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP). In the PCVRP each route is required to be pyramidal in a sense generalized from the pyramidal traveling salesman problem (PTSP). A pyramidal route is defined as a route on which the vehicle first visits customers in increasing order of customer index, and on the remaining part of the route visits customers in decreasing order of customer index. Moreover, this paper develops an exact branch-and-cut-and-price (BCP) algorithm for the PCVRP. A main feature of the algorithm is that exact pricing over elementary routes are done in pseudo-polynomial time. Computational results suggest that PCVRP solutions are highly useful for obtaining near-optimal solutions to the CVRP. Furthermore, pricing of pyramidal routes may prove to be very useful in column generation for the CVRP. 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Paeonol reverses promoting effect of the HOTAIR/miR‐124/Notch1 axis on renal interstitial fibrosis in a rat model

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a common manifestation of inflammatory and noninflammatory renal diseases, which correlates to renal excretory dysfunction. Recently, the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be involved in the development of various renal diseases. Here, we aim to determine whether paeonol (PAE) affects RIF with involvement of the lncRNA HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR)/microRNA‐124 (miR‐124)/Notch1 axis. RIF rat models were established by performing unilateral ureteral occlusion (UUO), in which interactions between HOTAIR, Notch1, and miR‐124 were determined. To identify the roles of PAE and HOTAIR in RIF, rats were injected with HOTAIR or PAE. Subsequently, to further investigate the underlying mechanism of PAE in RIF, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐ and migration‐related genes in NRK‐49F cells were measured. Next, rats were further treated with IMR‐1 (inhibitor of the Notch1/Jagged1 signaling pathway) to determine how PAE influences the Notch1/Jagged1 signaling pathway. HOTAIR interacted with miR‐124, and miR‐124 directly targeted Notch1, and HOTAIR was observed to be upregulated in RIF rats. PAE was found to decrease HOTAIR and Notch1 expression but to increase the miR‐124 expression in RIF rats. PAE inhibited EMT and migration of NRK‐49F cells facilitated by HOTAIR. HOTAIR activated the Notch1/Jagged1 signaling pathway by downregulating miR‐124, while PAE reversed these effects of HOTAIR on the Notch1/Jagged1 signaling pathway. Overall, our study demonstrates the contributory effect of lncRNA HOTAIR on RIF by activating the Notch1/Jagged1 signaling pathway via inhibition of miR‐124, whereas administration of PAE can alleviate the effects of HOTAIR on RIF.
Comparison of Parent and Child Ratings of Fruit and Vegetable Liking to Assess Parent Accuracy as Proxy Reporters

ABSTRACT This study examined the accuracy of parent-report child fruit/vegetable (FV) liking. Child/parent dyads (n = 24) were recruited from six Head Start preschools in North Carolina. Liking for 10 FVs was assessed using a validated pictorial tool for children; a similar scale was used for parents. Negative relationships were observed between parent/child for one fruit (grapes) and one vegetable (broccoli). Positive relationships were observed among oranges, grapes, and overall fruit rankings. Parents tended to rank children’s liking of fruits higher than their children, while children ranked liking vegetables higher. Findings suggest parents may not be accurate respondents for preschool children’s FV liking.
Clearance of molluscum contagiosum virus infection in patients with atopic eczema treated with dupilumab

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) infection in the setting of atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema molluscatum, can represent a significant treatment challenge to the dermatologist. We report four patients with severe AD and disseminated MCV infection who experienced clearance of their MCV infection following treatment with dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody against interleukin(IL)-4 receptor alpha licenced for the treatment of moderate to severe AD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Inhibition of acid-sensing ion channel 1a attenuates acid-induced activation of autophagy via a calcium signaling pathway in articular chondrocytes

Acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a), member of the degenerin/epithelial sodium channel protein superfamily, serves a critical role in various physiological and pathological processes. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of ASIC1a in the autophagy of rat articular chondrocytes. Autophagy was induced by acidic stimulation in rat articular chondrocytes and the extent of autophagy was evaluated via the expression levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3II, Beclin1 and uncoordinated-51 like kinase1. Suppression of ASIC1a was achieved using small interfering RNA technology and/or inhibitor psalmotoxin-1. The expression levels of autophagy markers were measured by western blot analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction methods. Intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) was analyzed using a Ca2+-imaging method. Additionally, protein expression levels of the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ)/5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway were measured by western blot analysis. The results showed that autophagy was increased in a pH-and time-dependent manner with exposure to an acidic environment. In addition, silencing ASIC1a significantly decreased the expression levels of autophagy makers, accompanied by abrogation of the acid-induced [Ca2+]i increase. Furthermore, silencing of ASIC1a downregulated the levels of CaMKKβ/β-actin and phosphorylated (p-) AMPK/AMPK, and upregulated the levels of p-mTOR/mTOR. These results indicated that ASIC1a is a potent regulator of autophagy in chondrocytes, which may be associated with decreased Ca2+ influx and the CaMKKβ/AMPK/mTOR pathway.
Outcomes of in-hospital paediatric cardiac arrest from a tertiary hospital in a low-income African country

ABSTRACT Background: There are scarce data on outcomes of in-hospital paediatric cardiac arrest (CA) in resource-poor settings and none for World Bank-defined low-income countries. Aim: To report the outcomes of in-hospital paediatric CA from a university-affiliated referral hospital in Malawi. Methods: Data were collected prospectively on patients aged 30 days to 13 years who experienced CA and underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi from January through June 2017. Utstein-style reporting guidelines for CAs were used to define outcomes; the primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. A data collection form was used to record patient, arrest and resuscitation characteristics. Results: A total of 135 patients fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the study. Resuscitation outcomes are presented in Figure 1 using a modified Utstein template. In-hospital CA was associated with 100% mortality. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was obtained in 6% of patients and sustained ROSC in 4%; 24-h survival was zero. The most common admission diagnosis was malaria (51%). Most arrests occurred on the paediatric ward (90%) rather than critical care units. Most resuscitations were led by trainees and mid-level providers (58%) rather than paediatricians (23%). Conclusion: Survival following in-hospital paediatric CA was zero, suggesting that CPR may have no benefit in this tertiary hospital. Future efforts to improve outcomes should focus on advocating better pre-arrest care and research interventions aimed to identify and treat children at risk of CA within the resource constraints of this setting.
A 400 GΩ Input-Impedance Active Electrode for Non-Contact Capacitively Coupled ECG Acquisition With Large Linear-Input-Range and High CM-Interference-Tolerance

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is one of the major physiological vital signs and an effective monitoring method for patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, existing ECG recordings require a galvanic body contact, which is unpractical in daily life. This paper presents the design of an ECG chip that facilitates non-contact ECG recording through capacitive coupling. With the input impedance boosting techniques, as well as an active driven-right-leg (DRL) which boosts common-mode rejection ratio to 70 dB, the single-ended capacitive feedback active electrode (AE) achieves ultra-high input impedance of 400 GΩ (< 0.5 Hz), a large common-mode interference tolerance (2.8 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\rm V}_{PP}$</tex-math></inline-formula>), and a high linear-input-range (220 m<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\rm V}_{PP}$</tex-math></inline-formula>). Implemented in 0.18 <italic>μ</italic>m 5V CMOS process, the prototype occupies an area of 1.23 mm<sup>2</sup>, and consumes 18 <italic>μ</italic>A and 13 <italic>μ</italic>A for the AE and DRL, respectively. Real life non-contact capacitively coupled ECG acquisition has been demonstrated, obtaining ECG waves and heart rate in the presence of motion artifacts as well as ambient interference.
The utility of droperidol in the treatment of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome

Abstract Introduction: Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) can be characterized by recurrent paroxysmal episodes of intractable nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and compulsive hot showers/baths with symptom relief, on the background of chronic cannabis use. We reported the use of droperidol in the management of CHS. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of electronic medical records of Emergency Department presentations to a single tertiary level metropolitan hospital between January 2006 and December 2016 using search keywords: “cannabis”, “cannabinoid”, “cannabis”, “hyperemesis”, and “droperidol”. A secondary search of pharmacy droperidol dispensing records was cross matched with electronic medical record data. We reviewed each record to determine if the presentation met previously published diagnostic criteria for CHS. Data were dichotomised into presentations with droperidol administered or not administered. The primary outcome was defined as the total length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes measures included time until discharge following last drug administration, and the total number of antiemetic dosages administered. Results: Six-hundred and eighty-nine records were identified and 76 met CHS diagnostic criteria. Thirty-seven presentations were treated with droperidol and 39 were not. Droperidol treatment group median length of stay was significantly lower compared to the no droperidol treatment group (6.7 vs. 13.9 hours, p = .014). Median time to discharge after final drug administration in the droperidol treatment group was 137 minutes (IQR 65, 203) vs. the no droperidol treatment group of 185 minutes (IQR 149, 403). The most frequent dosage of droperidol used was 0.625mg intravenously. The frequency of ondansetron (n = 100) and metoclopramide (n = 27) in the no droperidol treatment group was double that of the droperidol group. Conclusions: Use of droperidol to treat CHS associated nausea and vomiting resulted in less overall use of antiemetics and reduced length of stay.
Polyubiquitylation of α-tubulin at K304 is required for flagellar disassembly in Chlamydomonas

ABSTRACT Cilia/flagella are structurally conserved and dynamic organelles; their assembly and disassembly are coordinated with the cell cycle and cell differentiation. Several post-translational modifications, including acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation and ubiquitylation, participate in ciliary disassembly. However, the detailed mechanism and the role of ubiquitylation in ciliary disassembly are unclear. This study identified 20 proteins that were ubiquitylated in shortening flagella of Chlamydomonas. α-Tubulin was the most abundant ubiquitylated protein and it was labeled with K63 polyubiquitin chains primarily at K304. Expression of an α-tubulin mutant (K304R), which could not be ubiquitylated, decreased the rate of flagellar disassembly and resulted in an enrichment of the mutant form in the axoneme, suggesting that ubiquitylation of α-tubulin is required for the normal kinetics of axonemal disassembly. Immunoprecipitation and glutathione-S-transferase pulldown assays demonstrated that the retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT) protein, IFT139, interacted with a variety of ubiquitylated proteins, including α-tubulin, suggesting that IFT-A was responsible for transporting ubiquitylated proteins out of the flagella. Our data suggest an important role for ubiquitylation and retrograde IFT in ciliary disassembly. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: In Chlamydomonas, ciliary α-tubulin is labeled with K63 polyubiquitin chains at K304 during ciliary disassembly and transported to cell body by retrograde intraflagellar transport.
The Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in the Bay of Naples: New Insights on Oogenic Cycle and Its Hormonal Control

The aim of the present article was to investigate the oogenic cycle of Mytilus galloprovincialis sampled in the Bay of Naples, and to immunolocalize 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β‐HSD), 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β‐HSD), and P450 aromatase, enzymes involved in the synthesis of two sex hormones: testosterone and 17β‐estradiol. We demonstrate that the oogenic cycle starts in late summer‐early fall and continues in early winter when the first event of spawning occurs; other spawning events take place until June, when the ovary is spent and contains a few empty ovarian follicles and numerous somatic cells, that is, adipogranular cells and vesicular connective tissue cells. During the oogenic cycle, apoptotic events occur at the level of oogonia, previtellogenic oocytes, as well as follicle cells; by contrast, necrosis events probably take place in vitellogenic oocytes, which, once degenerated, transfer their content to healthy oocytes. Finally, the present data demonstrate that 3β‐HSD, 17β‐HSD, and P450 aromatase are present in the ovary both during the reproductive and nonreproductive phases. The possible role of these enzymes during the Mytilus galloprovincialis reproductive cycle is discussed. Anat Rec, 302:1039–1049, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Similar burden of type 2 diabetes among adult patients with sickle cell disease relative to African Americans in the U.S. population: a six‐year population‐based cohort analysis

Conflicting evidence exists on the epidemiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). This study measured the prevalence, incidence and clinical outcomes associated with T2DM in a large US population of commercially‐insured adults aged ≥20 years with SCD between 2009 and 2014. Among 7070 patients with SCD, the mean age (median) was 39 (37) years and 60·8% were female. The standardized prevalence of T2DM among patients with SCD showed a modest increase, from 15·7% to 16·5% (P trend = 0·026), and was comparable to African‐American respondents to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (18·2%). Over 17 024 person‐years, the crude incidence rate for T2DM was 25·4 per 1000 person‐years. Incident T2DM was associated with comorbid hypertension (hazard ratio [HR] = 1·45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1·14–1·83), and dyslipidaemia (HR = 1·43, 95%CI 1·04–1·96). Compared to SCD patients without T2DM, more SCD patients with T2DM had diagnoses of nephropathy (28·0% vs. 9·5%; P < 0·001), neuropathy (17·7% vs. 5·2%; P < 0·001) and stroke (24·1% vs. 9·2%; P < 0·001). Prevalence of T2DM in SCD patients is similar to the general African American population with an increasing trend in recent years. These trends support routine screening for T2DM in aging patients with SCD, especially those with comorbid hypertension and/or dyslipidaemia.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Can Inhibit Growth of Streptococcal Species via Siderophore Production

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections are increasingly recognized for their polymicrobial nature. These polymicrobial infections may alter the biology of the organisms involved in CF-related infections, leading to changes in growth, virulence, and/or antibiotic tolerance, and could thereby affect patient health and response to treatment. In this study, we demonstrate interactions between P. aeruginosa and streptococci using a coculture model and show that one interaction between these microbes is likely competition for iron. Thus, these data indicate that one CF pathogen may influence the growth of another, and they add to our limited knowledge of polymicrobial interactions in the CF airway. ABSTRACT Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that causes patients to accumulate thick, dehydrated mucus in the lung and develop chronic, polymicrobial infections due to reduced mucociliary clearance. These chronic polymicrobial infections and subsequent decline in lung function are significant factors in the morbidity and mortality of CF. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus spp. are among the most prevalent organisms in the CF lung; the presence of P. aeruginosa correlates with lung function decline, and the Streptococcus milleri group (SMG), a subgroup of the viridans streptococci, is associated with exacerbations in patients with CF. Here we characterized the interspecies interactions that occur between these two genera. We demonstrated that multiple P. aeruginosa laboratory strains and clinical CF isolates promote the growth of multiple SMG strains and oral streptococci in an in vitro coculture system. We investigated the mechanism by which P. aeruginosa enhances growth of streptococci by screening for mutants of P. aeruginosa PA14 that are unable to enhance Streptococcus growth, and we identified the P. aeruginosa pqsL::TnM mutant, which failed to promote growth of Streptococcus constellatus and S. sanguinis. Characterization of the P. aeruginosa ΔpqsL mutant revealed that this strain cannot promote Streptococcus growth. Our genetic data and growth studies support a model whereby the P. aeruginosa ΔpqsL mutant overproduces siderophores and thus likely outcompetes Streptococcus sanguinis for limited iron. We propose a model whereby competition for iron represents one important means of interaction between P. aeruginosa and Streptococcus spp. IMPORTANCE Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung infections are increasingly recognized for their polymicrobial nature. These polymicrobial infections may alter the biology of the organisms involved in CF-related infections, leading to changes in growth, virulence, and/or antibiotic tolerance, and could thereby affect patient health and response to treatment. In this study, we demonstrate interactions between P. aeruginosa and streptococci using a coculture model and show that one interaction between these microbes is likely competition for iron. Thus, these data indicate that one CF pathogen may influence the growth of another, and they add to our limited knowledge of polymicrobial interactions in the CF airway.
Fasting hepatic de novo lipogenesis is not reliably assessed using circulating fatty acid markers

ABSTRACT Background Observational studies often infer hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) by measuring circulating fatty acid (FA) markers; however, it remains to be elucidated whether these markers accurately reflect hepatic DNL. Objectives We investigated associations between fasting hepatic DNL and proposed FA markers of DNL in subjects consuming their habitual diet. Methods Fasting hepatic DNL was assessed using 2H2O (deuterated water) in 149 nondiabetic men and women and measuring the synthesis of very low-density lipoprotein triglyceride (VLDL-TG) palmitate. FA markers of blood lipid fractions were determined by gas chromatography. Results Neither the lipogenic index (16:0/18:2n–6) nor the SCD index (16:1n–7/16:0) in VLDL-TG was associated with isotopically assessed DNL (r = 0.13, P = 0.1 and r = −0.08, P = 0.35, respectively). The relative abundances (mol%) of 14:0, 16:0, and 18:0 in VLDL-TG were weakly (r ≤ 0.35) associated with DNL, whereas the abundances of 16:1n–7, 18:1n–7, and 18:1n–9 were not associated. When the cohort was split by median DNL, only the abundances of 14:0 and 18:0 in VLDL-TG could discriminate between subjects having high (11.5%) and low (3.8%) fasting hepatic DNL. Based on a subgroup, FA markers in total plasma TG, plasma cholesteryl esters, plasma phospholipids, and red blood cell phospholipids were generally not associated with DNL. Conclusions The usefulness of circulating FAs as markers of hepatic DNL in healthy individuals consuming their habitual diet is limited due to their inability to discriminate clearly between individuals with low and high fasting hepatic DNL.