Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What childhood obesity prevention programmes work? A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Previous reviews of childhood obesity prevention have focused largely on schools and findings have been inconsistent. Funded by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Institutes of Health, we systematically evaluated the effectiveness of childhood obesity prevention programmes conducted in high‐income countries and implemented in various settings. We searched MEDLINE®, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL®, ClinicalTrials.gov and the Cochrane Library from inception through 22 April 2013 for relevant studies, including randomized controlled trials, quasi‐experimental studies and natural experiments, targeting diet, physical activity or both, and conducted in children aged 2–18 in high‐income countries. Two reviewers independently abstracted the data. The strength of evidence (SOE) supporting interventions was graded for each study setting (e.g. home, school). Meta‐analyses were performed on studies judged sufficiently similar and appropriate to pool using random effect models. This paper reported our findings on various adiposity‐related outcomes. We identified 147 articles (139 intervention studies) of which 115 studies were primarily school based, although other settings could have been involved. Most were conducted in the United States and within the past decade. SOE was high for physical activity‐only interventions delivered in schools with home involvement or combined diet–physical activity interventions delivered in schools with both home and community components. SOE was moderate for school‐based interventions targeting either diet or physical activity, combined interventions delivered in schools with home or community components or combined interventions delivered in the community with a school component. SOE was low for combined interventions in childcare or home settings. Evidence was insufficient for other interventions. In conclusion, at least moderately strong evidence supports the effectiveness of school‐based interventions for preventing childhood obesity. More research is needed to evaluate programmes in other settings or of other design types, especially environmental, policy and consumer health informatics‐oriented interventions.
Active vitamin D (1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D) is associated with chronic pain in older Australian men: the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project.

BACKGROUND Although there is a conflicting evidence for an association between low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) levels and pain, the relationship between pain and the active vitamin D metabolite, 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D (1,25D), has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between serum vitamin D metabolites: 25D and 1,25D with intrusive or chronic pain in community-living men aged ≥70 years. METHODS Population-based, cross-sectional analysis of the baseline phase of the Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project, a large epidemiological study conducted in Sydney between January 2005 and May 2007. Participants included 1,659 community dwelling men aged ≥70 years, taking part in Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project. Main outcome measurements were symptoms of chronic or intrusive pain. Covariates included 25D and 1,25D, parathyroid hormone, estimated glomerular filtration rate as well as age, country of birth, season of blood collection, body mass index, health conditions, and medication, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and statins. RESULTS The prevalence of intrusive pain was 22.9% and of chronic pain was 29.7%. Low serum 25D concentrations were associated with intrusive and chronic pain in unadjusted analysis, but after adjustment, the associations were no longer significant. Low 1,25D levels (<62.0 pmol/L) remained independently associated with chronic pain (odds ratio: 1.53 [1.05, 2.21, p = .02]), even after adjustment for a wide range of potential confounders and covariates of clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS Low serum 1,25D concentrations are associated with chronic pain in older men. This raises the question whether vitamin D metabolites may influence pain states, mediated through different biological mechanisms and pathways.
Chemical and antioxidant evaluation of Indian gooseberry (emblica officinalis gaertn., syn. phyllanthus emblica L.) supplements

Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) (Euphorbiaceae) has a distinguished history in Ayurveda medicine and is ascribed a number of medicinal properties and as a dietary supplement, its use is increasing in Western countries. It is thought that its beneficial properties are a function of its antioxidant potency. The study investigated the chemistry and antioxidant properties of four commercial E. officinalis fruit extracts in order to determine if there are any qualitative–quantitative differences. All extracts produced positive responses in the total phenol, total flavonoid and total tannin assays. The presence of predominantly (poly)phenolic analytes, e.g. ellagic and gallic acids and corilagin, was confirmed by RP‐HPLC coupled with photodiode array detection. Despite ascorbic acid being a major constituent of E. officinalis fruits, the furanolactone could not be identified in one of the samples. The extracts demonstrated varying degrees of antioxidative efficacy. The extract designated IG‐3 was consistently amongst the most effective extracts in the iron(III) reduction and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays while the extract designated IG‐1 demonstrated the best hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. All extracts appeared to be incapable of chelating iron(II) at realistic concentrations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
C-Reactive Protein Accelerates the Progression of Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Background—Plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration is a strong predictor of atherosclerosis. However, to date, there is no in vivo evidence that CRP is proatherogenic. Methods and Results—We studied the effect of human CRP transgene (tg) expression, under basal and turpentine-stimulated conditions, on atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein (apo) E−/− mice. Aortic atherosclerotic lesions in 29-week-old male mice were 48% larger (P <0.02) in turpentine-treated mice and 34% larger (P <0.05) in untreated CRPtg+/0/apoE−/− mice. Turpentine treatment per se did not affect the extent of atherosclerosis in CRP transgenic or nontransgenic apoE−/− mice. Transgenic mice exhibited lower plasma complement C3 but increased deposition of CRP and C3 in the lesions, which suggests that CRP stimulated activation of complement within the lesion. There was more intense and widespread vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and collagen staining in the lesions of CRPtg+/0/apoE−/− mice than in CRPtg0/0/apoE−/− littermates. Lesions of CRPtg+/0/apoE−/− mice contained increased angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1-R) transcripts and displayed increased AT1-R immunostaining compared with those of CRPtg0/0/apoE−/− mice. There was no difference in blood pressure in the 2 types of mice, which indicates that the proatherogenic effect of CRP-associated AT1-R overexpression is local and not mediated by its hypertensive properties. Conclusions—Human CRP transgene expression causes accelerated aortic atherosclerosis in apoE−/− mice. CRP was detected in the lesion, which was associated with increased C3 deposition and increased AT1-R, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and collagen expression. These data document a proatherogenic role for CRP in vivo.
Feasibility of a Modified Biopsy Needle for Irreversible Electroporation Ablation and Periprocedural Tissue Sampling

Objectives: To test the feasibility of modified biopsy needles as probes for irreversible electroporation ablation and periprocedural biopsy. Methods: Core biopsy needles of 16-G/9-cm were customized to serve as experimental ablation probes. Computed tomography-guided percutaneous irreversible electroporation was performed in in vivo porcine kidneys with pairs of experimental (n = 10) or standard probes (n = 10) using a single parameter set (1667 V/cm, ninety 100 µs pulses). Two biopsy samples were taken immediately following ablation using the experimental probes (n = 20). Ablation outcomes were compared using computed tomography, simulation, and histology. Biopsy and necropsy histology were compared. Results: Simulation-suggested ablations with experimental probes were smaller than that with standard electrodes (455.23 vs 543.16 mm2), although both exhibited similar shape. Computed tomography (standard: 556 ± 61 mm2, experimental: 515 ± 67 mm2; P = .25) and histology (standard: 313 ± 77 mm2, experimental: 275 ± 75 mm2; P = .29) indicated ablations with experimental probes were not significantly different from the standard. Histopathology indicated similar morphological changes in both groups. Biopsies from the ablation zone yielded at least 1 core with sufficient tissue for analysis (11 of the 20). Conclusions: A combined probe for irreversible electroporation ablation and periprocedural tissue sampling from the ablation zone is feasible. Ablation outcomes are comparable to those of standard electrodes.
Suppression of GABAA receptor responses by NMDA application in hippocampal neurones acutely isolated from the adult guinea‐pig.

1. In acutely isolated hippocampal cells, NMDA and glutamate application suppressed GABAA receptor‐mediated responses. We studied the cellular events underlying the interaction between the two classes of receptors by using a whole‐cell voltage‐clamp approach. 2. Following an NMDA application, an outward current mediated by GABAA receptor activation (GABA response) was suppressed for up to 12 s. The suppression of the GABA response was reduced when Ca2+ in the extracellular solution was replaced by Ba2+ or when intracellular BAPTA (1,2‐bis(O‐aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N',N'‐tetraacetic acid) was increased from 1 to 10 mM. 3. Replacing ATP in the intracellular solution by adenosine‐5'‐O‐3‐thiotriphosphate reduced the suppressive effect of NMDA application on the GABA response. Okadaic acid, a phosphatase inhibitor, also prevented the NMDA‐induced suppression of the GABA response. In addition, when the intracellular perfusing solution contained the calcineurin autoinhibitory fragment (50 microM), suppression of the GABA response by the NMDA current was also reduced. 4. Intracellular perfusion of an activated form of the Ca(2+)‐dependent phosphatase, calcineurin, suppressed GABA responses. 5. The results show that NMDA responses elicited in hippocampal neurones transiently suppressed GABA responses. The data suggest that the functional linkage of the NMDA response with the GABA response was established via a Ca(2+)‐dependent dephosphorylation process.
Automated diagnosis of epilepsy using EEG power spectrum

Interictal electroencephalography (EEG) has clinically meaningful limitations in its sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of epilepsy because of its dependence on the occurrence of epileptiform discharges. We have developed a computer‐aided diagnostic (CAD) tool that operates on the absolute spectral energy of the routine EEG and has both substantially higher sensitivity and negative predictive value than the identification of interictal epileptiform discharges. Our approach used a multilayer perceptron to classify 156 patients admitted for video‐EEG monitoring. The patient population was diagnostically diverse; 87 were diagnosed with either generalized or focal seizures. The remainder of the patients were diagnosed with nonepileptic seizures. The sensitivity was 92% (95% confidence interval [CI] 85–97%) and the negative predictive value was 82% (95% CI 67–92%). We discuss how these findings suggest that this CAD can be used to supplement event‐based analysis by trained epileptologists.
Relationships between learning difficulties and psychological problems in preadolescent children from a longitudinal sample.

OBJECTIVES To examine the relationships between learning difficulties and behavior problems in preadolescent children both concurrently and longitudinally, using data from the Australian Temperament Project, and to examine associations between DSM-diagnosed disorders and types of learning difficulties. METHOD Clinical and comparison groups of 11- to 12-year-old children were assessed on behavioral and learning indices and completed a structured diagnostic interview. Longitudinal data were available from earlier surveys of the development of these children. RESULTS Children in the clinical group were disadvantaged on all learning and behavioral indices, and their problems in many cases had been evident from 7 to 8 years of age. There were specific associations between types of learning difficulties and both internalizing and externalizing disorders. Numeracy difficulties were strongly associated with DSM diagnoses for both boys and girls, and externalizing problems tended to co-occur with a combination of learning problems. CONCLUSIONS Behavioral maladjustment in many domains is strongly associated with learning difficulties even after intelligence and socioeconomic factors are controlled. The odds ratios for persistence of difficulties throughout elementary school are extremely high for children with clinical problems.
SpO2 Sensor Embedded in a Finger Ring: design and implementation

A novel concept of Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) sensor embedded in a finger ring is presented in this paper. Due to the mechanical conception of the probe, the sensor fits any finger topology and assures a constant force applied to the phalanx. Ambient light artifacts are rejected at the analog electronics level. Finally, an innovative distribution of light sources and detectors and a dedicated signal processing procedure resolve the anatomical heterogeneity of different phalanx topologies, compensate low perfusion indexes due to the phalanx anatomy and estimates equivalent pulse oximetry SpO2 indexes. First in-vivo validation results of the novel sensor are discussed at the end of the paper
The Squid-Vibrio Symbioses: From Demes to Genes1

Abstract The monospecific light organ association between the Hawaiian sepiolid squid Euprymna scolopes and the marine luminous bacterium Vibrio fischeri has been used as a model for the study of the most common type of coevolved animal-bacterial interaction; i.e., the association of Gram-negative bacteria with the extracellular apical surfaces of polarized epithelia. Analysis of the squid-vibrio symbiosis has ranged from characterizations of the harvesting mechanisms by which the host ensures colonization by the appropriate symbiont to identification of bacteria-induced changes in host gene expression that accompany the establishment and maintenance of the relationship. Studies of this model have been enhanced by extensive collaboration with microbiologists, who are able to manipulate the genetics of the bacterial symbiont. The results of our studies have indicated that initiation and persistence of the association requires a complex, reciprocal molecular dialogue between these two phylogenetically distant partners.
Tyrosine Phosphorylation of RNA Polymerase II Carboxyl-terminal Domain by the Abl-related Gene Product*

The largest subunit of RNA polymerase II contains a C-terminal repeated domain (CTD) that is the site of phosphorylation by serine (threonine) and tyrosine kinases. Phosphorylation of the CTD is correlated with transcription elongation. A number of different kinases have previously been shown to phosphorylate the CTD; among them is a nuclear tyrosine kinase encoded by the c-ablproto-oncogene. The processive and high stoichiometric phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II by c-Abl requires the tyrosine kinase, the SH2 domain, and a CTD-interacting domain (CTD-ID) in the Abl protein. The physiological tyrosine phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II by c-Abl in DNA damage response has previously been demonstrated. Basal tyrosine phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II, however, is observed in cells derived from abl-deficient mice, indicating the existence of other CTD tyrosine kinases. In this report, we show that the tyrosine kinase encoded by an Abl-relatedgene (Arg) also phosphorylates the CTD in vitroand in transfected cells. The SH2 and kinase domain of Arg are 95% identical to that of c-Abl. However, these two proteins share only 29% identity in the large C-terminal region. Interestingly, a CTD-ID is also found in the C-terminal region of Arg. Mapping studies and sequence analysis have led to the identification of the CTD-ID that is highly conserved among the divergent C-terminal regions of Abl and Arg. These results indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II CTD could be catalyzed by either c-Abl or Arg kinase.
Maintenance of Undifferentiated State and Self‐Renewal of Embryonic Neural Stem Cells by Polycomb Protein Ring1B

Cell lineages generated during development and tissue maintenance are derived from self‐renewing stem cells by differentiation of their committed progeny. Recent studies suggest that epigenetic mechanisms, and in particular the Polycomb group (PcG) of genes, play important roles in controlling stem cell self‐renewal. Here, we address PcG regulation of stem cell self‐renewal and differentiation through inactivation of Ring1B, a histone H2A E3 monoubiquitin ligase, in embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs) from the olfactory bulb of a conditional mouse mutant line. We show that neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation in vivo and in neurosphere assays is impaired, lacking Ring1B, and their self‐renewal and multipotential abilities, assessed as sphere formation and differentiation from single cells, are severely affected. We also observed unscheduled neuronal, but not glial, differentiation of mutant stem/progenitor cells under proliferating conditions, an alteration enhanced in cells also lacking Ring1A, the Ring1B paralog, some of which turned into morphologically identifiable neurons. mRNA analysis of mutant cells showed upregulation of some neuronal differentiation–related transcription factors and the cell proliferation inhibitor Cdkn1a/p21, as well as downregulation of effectors of the Notch signaling pathway, a known inhibitor of neuronal differentiation of stem/progenitor cells. In addition, differentiation studies of Ring1B‐deficient progenitors showed decreased oligodendrocyte formation in vitro and enhanced neurogenesis and reduced gliogenesis in vivo. These data suggest a role for Ring1B in maintenance of the undifferentiated state of embryonic neural stem/progenitor cells. They also suggest that Ring1B may modulate the differentiation potential of NSCs to neurons and glia. STEM CELLS 2009;27:1559–1570
Classifying the Indication for Colonoscopy Procedures: A Comparison of NLP Approaches in a Diverse National Healthcare System

In order to measure the level of utilization of colonoscopy procedures, identifying the primary indication for the procedure is required. Colonoscopies may be utilized not only for screening, but also for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. To determine whether a colonoscopy was performed for screening, we created a natural language processing system to identify colonoscopy reports in the electronic medical record system and extract indications for the procedure. A rule-based model and three machine-learning models were created using 2,000 manually annotated clinical notes of patients cared for in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Performance of the models was measured and compared. Analysis of the models on a test set of 1,000 documents indicates that the rule-based system performance stays fairly constant as evaluated on training and testing sets. However, the machine learning model without feature selection showed significant decrease in performance. Therefore, rule-based classification system appears to be more robust than a machine-learning system in cases when no feature selection is performed.
Modified Pulmonary Surfactant Is a Potent Adjuvant That Stimulates the Mucosal IgA Production in Response to the Influenza Virus Antigen1

The intranasal administration of influenza hemagglutinin (HA) vaccine with Surfacten, a modified pulmonary surfactant free of antigenic c-type lectins, as a mucosal adjuvant induced the highest protective mucosal immunity in the airway. The intranasal immunization of mice with HA vaccine (0.2 μg)-Surfacten (0.2 μg) selectively induced the neutralizing anti-HA IgA, but not IgG, and conferred nearly maximal protection in the airway, without inducing a systemic response. In contrast, intranasal inoculation of vaccine with 0.2 μg of the potent mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin B* (CT-B*), prepared by adding 0.2% native CT to the B subunit of CT, induced both anti-HA IgA and IgG in the airway and in the serum. The intranasal administration of HA vaccine alone induced a limited amount of mucosal IgA against influenza virus. Although the s.c. administration of HA vaccine prominently induced serum IgG and IgA, Surfacten and CT-B* did not enhance their induction, and the concentrations of Abs leaking into the airways were insufficient to prevent viral multiplication. The intranasal administration of HA-Surfacten stimulated the expression of MHC class II, CD40, and CD86 molecules in the CD11c-positive cells isolated from the nasal mucosa, but not the expression of cells from the lungs or spleens. Lymphocytes isolated from the airway mucosa after intranasal HA-Surfacten immunization prominently induced TGF-β1 which, compared with inoculation without Surfacten, promoted an Ag-specific mucosal IgA response. Surfacten alone, however, did not induce TGF-β1. Our observations suggest that Surfacten, by mimicking the natural surfactant, is an effective mucosal adjuvant in the process of airway immunization.
Coexistence of phage and bacteria on the boundary of self-organized refuges

Bacteriophage are voracious predators of bacteria and a major determinant in shaping bacterial life strategies. Many phage species are virulent, meaning that infection leads to certain death of the host and immediate release of a large batch of phage progeny. Despite this apparent voraciousness, bacteria have stably coexisted with virulent phages for eons. Here, using individual-based stochastic spatial models, we study the conditions for achieving coexistence on the edge between two habitats, one of which is a bacterial refuge with conditions hostile to phage whereas the other is phage friendly. We show how bacterial density-dependent, or quorum-sensing, mechanisms such as the formation of biofilm can produce such refuges and edges in a self-organized manner. Coexistence on these edges exhibits the following properties, all of which are observed in real phage–bacteria ecosystems but difficult to achieve together in nonspatial ecosystem models: (i) highly efficient virulent phage with relatively long lifetimes, high infection rates and large burst sizes; (ii) large, stable, and high-density populations of phage and bacteria; (iii) a fast turnover of both phage and bacteria; and (iv) stability over evolutionary timescales despite imbalances in the rates of phage vs. bacterial evolution.
Detection and quantification of phytotoxic metabolites of Sarocladium oryzae in sheath rot‐infected grains of rice

Aims: The present study describes the detection and quantification of the Sarocladium oryzae metabolites, helvolic acid and cerulenin in extracts of rice grains collected from plants infected with sheath rot. It also describes the phytotoxicity of these metabolites on rice seedlings.