Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dental plaque, gingival inflammation, and elevated levels of interleukin-6 and cortisol in gingival crevicular fluid from women with stress-related depression and exhaustion.

BACKGROUND The aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of stress for the development of periodontitis by comparing oral health status, proinflammatory markers, and cortisol in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva in patients with stress-related mental depression and controls. METHODS The participants consisted of 43 women with stress-related depression and exhaustion (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition [DSM-IV], with a mean age of 42.0 (+/- 9.3 SD) years, and 29 controls, with a mean age of 54.5 (+/- 2.9 SD) years. Clinical examination included the assessment of dental plaque, gingival inflammation (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and number of teeth. GCF was collected with an intracrevicular washing technique from four sites in each subject. Interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and cortisol with radioimmunoassay (125I RIA). Analysis of covariance (one-way covariance analyses) was used to remove the influence of age and smoking. RESULTS The amount of plaque was significantly higher in patients compared to controls (P<0.003). The patients had an average GI of 1.53 (+/-0.13 SD) compared to 0.89 (+/- 0.10 SD) for the controls (P< 0.001). The levels of cortisol in GCF was significantly higher in patients than in controls, 3.46 nmol/l (+/- 3.25 SD) and 0.30 nmol/l (+/- 0.25 SD), respectively (P<0.001), whereas cortisol in saliva did not differ between groups. The levels of IL-6 in GCF were significantly higher in the patients than in controls (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Women with stress-related depression and exhaustion had more plaque accumulation, GI and increased levels of IL-6 and cortisol in GCF compared to normal controls, suggesting that depression might affect immune function, which could lead to impaired periodontal health.
Dietary Patterns Are Associated with Predicted Cardiovascular Disease Risk in an Urban Mexican Adult Population.

BACKGROUND Dietary patterns may predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk more accurately than does consumption of specific nutrients or foods. OBJECTIVE We evaluated the association between Mexican adults' dietary patterns and development of a >10% risk of 10-y CVD (using the Framingham risk score) over 7 y of follow-up. METHODS This prospective cohort study included 1196 men and women aged 20-80 y with a 10-y predicted risk <10% and without a CVD diagnosis at baseline in 2004-2007. Data on sociodemographic, lifestyle, and medical history factors were collected with a self-administered questionnaire. Dietary intake was evaluated by using a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. The relations between dietary patterns and predicted CVD were analyzed by using pooled logistic regression models. RESULTS With the use of factor analysis, we identified 3 major dietary patterns in participants' dietary data. The "prudent" pattern was characterized by high positive loadings for the consumption of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. The "meat/fish" pattern showed positive loadings for the consumption of red meat, processed meat, eggs, fats, fish, and poultry. Finally, the "refined foods" pattern featured positive loadings for corn tortillas, refined grains, soft drinks, and alcohol. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with participants in the lowest quintile of the prudent pattern, those in the highest quintile had a lower RR of 10-y CVD (RR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.79; P-trend = 0.006). In contrast, participants in the highest quintile of the refined-foods pattern had a greater risk of elevated 10-y CVD (RR: 2.98; 95% CI: 1.46, 6.10; P-trend = 0.020) than did those in the lowest quintile. Finally, the meat/fish dietary pattern was not significantly associated with 10-y CVD. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that the prudent pattern is associated with a reduced risk of 10-y CVD, whereas the refined-foods pattern may increase 10-y CVD in Mexican adults.
MAPPING DIFFERENTIAL REDDENING IN THE INNER GALACTIC GLOBULAR CLUSTER SYSTEM

A serious limitation in the study of many globular clusters—especially those located near the Galactic center—has been the existence of large and differential extinction by foreground dust. In a series of papers, we intend to map the differential extinction and remove its effects, using a new dereddening technique, in a sample of clusters in the direction of the inner Galaxy, observed using the Magellan 6.5 m telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope. These observations and their analysis will let us produce high-quality color–magnitude diagrams of these poorly studied clusters that will allow us to determine these clusters’ relative ages, distances, and chemistry and to address important questions about the formation and the evolution of the inner Galaxy. We also intend to use the maps of the differential extinction to sample and characterize the interstellar medium along the numerous low-latitude lines of sight where the clusters in our sample lie. In this first paper, we describe in detail our dereddening method along with the powerful statistics tools that allow us to apply it, and we show the kind of results that we can expect, applying the method to M62, one of the clusters in our sample. The width of the main sequence and lower red giant branch narrows by a factor of two after applying our dereddening technique, which will significantly help to constrain the age, distance, and metallicity of the cluster.
Total and high molecular weight adiponectin are elevated in patients with Laron syndrome despite marked obesity.

OBJECTIVE Patients with Laron syndrome (LS; primary GH insensitivity) caused by molecular defects of the GH receptor gene, are characterized by dwarfism, profound obesity, and hyperlipidemia. The aim of the current study was to evaluate adiponectin levels in LS, as obesity is known to be associated with low adiponectin. DESIGN AND METHODS We studied nine untreated LS adult patients (5 males, 4 females) and six girls with LS receiving once-daily treatment by IGF1. Total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin levels, adiponectin multimers distribution, and metabolic indices were analyzed in serum samples obtained during several years of follow-up. RESULTS Adiponectin levels in the severely obese adult LS patients (percent body fat; females 61.0+/-2.5%, males 40.6+/-8.1%) were two- to three-fold higher than those reported for subjects of corresponding age, gender and degree of adiposity. Total adiponectin was significantly higher in females compared with males (21.4+/-3.5 vs 10.2+/-4.6 microg/ml, P<0.001). The elevated adiponectin in LS subjects was associated with an increased abundance of the HMW isoform, and positively correlated with body fat percentage (r=0.65, P=0.017) and leptin (r=0.65, P=0.012). There was no correlation between adiponectin levels (total and HMW) and the degree of insulin resistance in LS subjects or their blood lipids levels. Adiponectin was also high in young girls with LS (22.9+/-7.4 microg/ml) and did not change during long-term IGF1 replacement therapy. CONCLUSION Adiponectin hypersecretion in LS, despite profound obesity, suggests that GH activity may negatively impact adiponectin secretion from adipocytes.
Inspiratory Fraction Correlates With Exercise Capacity in Patients With Stable Moderate to Severe COPD

BACKGROUND: Exercise intolerance is the hallmark of COPD. Static lung hyperinflation and increased dynamic hyperinflation during exercise are associated with reduced functional capacity in COPD patients. Inspiratory capacity correction for the total lung capacity, defined as inspiratory fraction (IF), may be functionally more representative than other traditional indices in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between IF and exercise capacity in patients with stable, moderate to severe COPD. METHODS: Fifty COPD subjects and 34 healthy volunteers constituted the study cohort. Pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary exercise testing were performed, and ventilation and gas exchange parameters were measured. RESULTS: IF was significantly correlated with percent-of-predicted peak oxygen consumption (V̇O2) in the subjects with COPD (r = 0.52, P < .001). IF was an independent predictor of reduced exercise capacity in the COPD subjects, and was more sensitive and specific than percent-of-predicted FEV1. Statistical analysis generated the equation: percent-of-predicted peak V̇O2 = 65.9 IF + 0.45 percent-of-predicted FEV1 + 35.8 (RC2 = 0.39, P < .001). The subjects with IF < 0.23 had more severe lung hyperinflation and less exercise capacity than the subjects with IF > 0.23. At peak exercise, the breathing frequencies of the 2 groups were similar, whereas the low-IF subjects had reduced peak minute ventilation and peak tidal volume, relative to the high-IF subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to FEV1, IF is a robust factor to reflect lung hyperinflation and to estimate the exercise capacity of subjects with stable moderate to severe COPD.
Durability of serologic response after lamivudine treatment of chronic hepatitis B

Forty subjects with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion following lamivudine therapy in previous trials were monitored after treatment to assess the durability of serologic responses. Patient follow‐up began a median of 4.3 months after completion of therapy in previous trials. At months 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 of year 1, and every 6 months thereafter, we tested for HBeAg and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). After a median (range) of 36.6 (4.8‐45.6) months of follow‐up monitoring, HBeAg seroconversion was demonstrated at the last visit by 77% (30 of 39) of patients. In a post hoc analysis of a slightly different population of all 65 patients with HBeAg seroconversion in previous trials, the 3‐year durability of HBeAg seroconversion measured from the time immediately after discontinuing lamivudine therapy was 64%. Nine (9 of 40, 23%) patients were HBsAg negative at the last assessment. Seventy‐four percent (17 of 23) of patients with baseline undetectable HBV DNA and normal ALT maintained these responses at the last visit. Eight patients (8 of 40, 20%) initiated retreatment for reappearance of HBV markers, and 7 showed biochemical and/or virologic improvement (including regained HBeAg seroconversion in 2). No safety issues of concern emerged. In conclusion, most HBeAg responses achieved during lamivudine therapy were durable, and most responders experienced prolonged clinical benefit after HBeAg seroconversion and subsequent discontinuation of lamivudine. Lamivudine retreatment for reappearance of hepatitis B markers can achieve resumption of viral suppression. (Hepatology 2003;37:748‐755.)
Characterization, lung targeting profile and therapeutic efficiency of dipyridamole liposomes

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe form of acute lung injury (ALI). Its pathogenesis is closely linked with reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidation has been considered as an efficient treatment. Besides, liposomes are widely investigated as potential drug carriers due to their ability to protect and carry drug molecules to the target organ such as the lung. The present study was undertaken to investigate whether dipyridamole (DIP), delivered as a liposomal preparation, can ameliorate the lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced ALI due to the changes of its biodistribution. First, the liposomes entrapping DIP were prepared by film hydration for treating ARDS. Subsequently, the characterizations including entrapment efficiency, size, span and micrograph of DIP liposomes were measured. The concentration change of DIP in tissues and plasma of mice after intravenous administration of DIP injection and DIP liposomes was determined by RP-HPLC and calculated to lung targeting parameters. To prove the therapeutic efficiency, the effects of DIP liposomes on LPS-induced ALI were studied compared with DIP injection. The results showed DIP liposomes have the relative high entrapment efficiency and satisfying particle size. Compared with DIP injection, the liposomes increased the accumulation of DIP in the lung on a vast scale. Furthermore, DIP liposomes alleviated the ALI induced by LPS significantly. All of the results suggested that DIP liposomes have the potential efficacy in treating ALI/ARDS due to their obvious lung targeting.
Vitamin requirements of very low birth weight infants: a review.

This review of the nutritional needs of very low birth weight infants (VLBW) concluded that vitamin supplementation was indicated for vitamins A, D, C, and folic acid. With breast feeding or other circumstances, there may be marginal needs for vitamin E, K, B1, B2, and B6. Supplementation of VLBW depends upon the gestation age, which is related to the placental transfer and body stores at birth, and vitamin content of breast milk or formula (feeds), and volume and micronutrient composition of feeds. The infant's vitamin stores at birth are dependent on the nutritional status of the mother, particularly lipid soluble vitamins, which have been found to be higher in fetal cord blood than in maternal blood. The exception is B6, which crosses the placental barrier with difficulty. Preterm infants and infants of undernourished mothers usually have reduced levels of water soluble vitamins at birth. There is some variability in nutrients of feeds. Breast milk, for instance, has lower levels of vitamins D and K than recommended levels. Needs will also very with the presence of particular nutrients. For example, B6 requirements will vary with protein intake. Vitamin E requirements will depend on the amount of linoleic acid or polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet. Tryptophan in the presence of B6 allows the synthesis of niacin. Volume of feeding affects nutritional needs. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of specific nutrients for an infant up to 6 month of age and weighing 3-8 kg requires consumption of 500-1000 ml of breast milk or formula per day. A full term infant can receive sufficient nutrients with 450-750 ml, but below 400 would result in a deficit of vitamins. Unfortunately, the volume of feeds for VLBWs is too low in the first two weeks of life or until the body weight of 2000 g is reached; thus supplementation was recommended. Late anemia due to vitamin E deficiency may be prevented when the alpha tocopherol per gram of polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio is equal to or higher than the recommended levels. When intake of vitamin K at birth is insufficient, deficiencies may appear later; the recommendation was . 2 to 1.0 mg at birth as a preventive regimen. Vitamin D was also recommended for both breast and formula fed infants. Pyridoxine/ g protein intake, folic acid, and vitamin C should be provided VLBW infants as indicated.
Intégration d'un indicateur de proximité dans les mesures de contacts

Un nombre grandissant de travaux sur les reseaux tolerants aux perturbations (DTN) se base sur des traces issues d'experimentations reelles. Dans ces traces, aucune information concernant l'environnement des contacts n'est precisee de maniere explicite, les contacts n' etant exprimes qu'en termes de duree. Dans cet article, nous proposons d'enrichir les traces DTN avec un “indicateur de proximite”. Cette nouvelle metrique permettrait entre autres de concevoir des algorithmes de routage appropries, d'identiﬁer les nœuds les plus populaires ou de mieux comprendre l'evolution du reseau. L' etude realisee sur deux traces disponibles montre une tres grande variabilite de la densite de l'environnement des contacts qui justiﬁe de les exprimer autrement qu'en termes uniques de duree.
Onset of transcription in bovine oocytes and preimplantation embryos

The transition from the maternal to embryonic control of early embryonic development (MET) in mammals is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of transcriptional activity in immature oocytes containing germinal vesicle (GV), mature metaphase II arrested oocytes (MII), 2‐, 4‐ and 8‐cell bovine embryos by labeling with 35S‐UTP followed by isolation of total RNA and autoradiography. Expression of counts per minute (CPM) per cell showed that incorporation of 35S‐UTP in GV oocytes was significantly higher than the background (P < 0.01) and decreased sharply by the time the oocytes reached MII arrest. Incorporation significantly increased during the 2‐cell stage and remained at the same level during the 4‐ and 8‐cell stages. Uptake remained constant throughout different development stages (P > 0.05) with the highest variability observed during the 2‐cell stage. When CPM were expressed per oocyte or embryo incorporation remained high at the GV stage, decreased to the background levels at the time of MII and increased again at the 2‐cell stage. It remained at the same level during the 4‐cell stage but increased significantly for the second time during the 8‐cell stage. Uptake remained at the same level until the 8‐cell stage when a significant increase was observed. The negative controls showed a significantly lower amount of incorporation compared to the positive control (P < 0.05). Similar results were observed by autoradiography. Our observations suggest that MET starts as early as the 2‐cell stage in bovine embryos. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 51:36–41, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prognostic Factors Change Over Time After Hepatectomy for Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Multi-institutional, International Analysis of 1099 Patients.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the changing impact of genetic and clinicopathologic factors on conditional overall survival (CS) over time in patients with resectable colorectal liver metastasis. BACKGROUND CS estimates account for the changing likelihood of survival over time and may reveal the changing impact of prognostic factors as time accrues from the date of surgery. METHODS CS analysis was performed in 1099 patients of an international, multi-institutional cohort. Three-year CS (CS3) estimates at the "xth" year after surgery were calculated as follows: CS3 = CS (x + 3)/CS (x). The standardized difference (d) between CS3 rates was used to estimate the changing prognostic power of selected variables over time. A d < 0.1 indicated very small differences between groups, 0.1 ≤ d < 0.3 indicated small differences, 0.3 ≤ d < 0.5 indicated moderate differences, and d ≥ 0.5 indicated strong differences. RESULTS According to OS estimates calculated at the time of surgery, the presence of BRAF and KRAS mutations, R1 margin status, resected extrahepatic disease, patient age, primary tumor lymph node metastasis, tumor number, and carcinoembryonic antigen levels independently predicted worse survival. However, when temporal changes in the prognostic impact of these variables were considered using CS3 estimates, BRAF mutation dominated prognosis during the first year (d = 0.48), whereas surgeon-related variables (ie, surgical margin and resected extrahepatic disease) determined prognosis thereafter (d ≥ 0.5). Traditional clinicopathologic factors affected survival constantly, but only to a moderate degree (0.3 ≤ d < 0.5). CONCLUSIONS The impact of genetic, surgery-related, and clinicopathologic factors on OS and CS3 changed dramatically over time. Specifically, BRAF mutation status dominated prognosis in the first year, whereas positive surgical margins and resected extrahepatic disease determined prognosis thereafter.
Border Cave revisited: a revised ESR chronology.

In view of a decade of progress in ESR dating we have revised the ESR chronology of Border Cave. A detailed gamma ray survey in 1994 and newly calculated beta attenuation data led to total dose rate estimations that are between 0 and 30% smaller than previously estimated. Accordingly, the resulting ESR age estimates are between 0 and 30% older. The ESR dates are now in good agreement with independent age estimates, particularly(14)C and amino acid racemization. New ESR dates for the lowermost dated sedimentary layer, 5 WA (white ash), indicate that the sedimentation of the sequence started around 200 ka ago.
The Promise of a Community-Based Approach to Managing Severe Malnutrition: A Case Study from Ethiopia

Background Community-based therapeutic care (CTC) is a new strategy in the arsenal of techniques to manage complex nutritional emergencies in rural communities. The CTC approach uses a newly developed ready-to-use therapeutic food, Plumpynut, to rehabilitate severely malnourished children in their home communities. Emerging literature has suggested the CTC strategy yielded results that were superior to those of programs limited to therapeutic feeding centers, as measured by rates of coverage and numbers of children rehabilitated. Objective To compare the effectiveness of the CTC strategy in combination with conventional treatments for acute malnutrition. The expectation was that this program would support the growing consensus on the effectiveness of CTC strategies. Methods Data from monitoring the initial phase of program implementation were reviewed to ascertain program impact. The number of children participating and the outcome of their participation were assessed. Results Families became key participants in the rehabilitation of their children, and communities became strengthened through the mobilization of local networks and the improved knowledge base of local health workers. Recovery rates were comparable with international standards, and coverage far exceeded that of traditional center-based care. Conclusions CTC is an important tool to effectively address nutritional emergencies and may be a valuable entry point for long-term development, since it fosters capacity building and improvement in local communities. CTC programs may eventually be viewed as the entry point for more sustained development-oriented interventions, thus helping make the transition from relief to development.
Histochemical changes in neonatal liver caused by vaginal instillation of magnetic nanoparticles in pregnant mice

Drug delivery through the vagina is a novel and effective approach for treating embryonic diseases. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) currently are used as drug delivery systems. The safety of MNPs for use with embryonic tissues remains unclear. We used pregnant mice to investigate the possible toxicity of MNPs toward neonatal liver at three embryonic ages using histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques. MNPs were instilled through the vaginas of pregnant mice at days 12 (E12), 15 (E15) and 17 (E17) after fertilization. We found MNPs in the neonatal liver parenchyma after delivery of the pups on day 20. We observed that MNPs caused mild apoptosis of hepatocytes, cytoplasmic vacuolation and lymphocytic infiltration in the neonatal liver after treatment at E15 compared to instillation at E12 and E17. We observed also that MNPs increased the production of caspase proteins and tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 proteins, which are indicators of apoptosis, in the neonatal liver after instillation of MNPs at E15 compared to instillation at E12 and E17. MNPs also increased the number of collagen fibers and the amounts of connective tissue growth factors in the neonatal liver parenchyma after instillation at E15 compared to instillation at E12 and E17. The general carbohydrates in the neonatal liver were decreased in a time-dependent manner after instillation at E17, E15 and E12 owing to the presence of MNPs in the parenchyma. Overall, we determined that MNPs were mildly toxic to neonatal liver.