Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of glycogen synthesis in hepatocytes by added amino acids is related to the total intracellular content of amino acids.

Katz et al. [Katz, J., Golden, S. & Wals, P.A. (1976) Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 73, 3433-3437] were the first to report that in hepatocytes isolated from fasted rats and incubated with either dihydroxyacetone, glucose or other sugars, glycogen synthesis was greatly accelerated by addition of amino acids. We have looked for possible mediators responsible for this effect and have tested the effect of alanine, proline, asparagine, glutamine or a combination of ammonia with either pyruvate or lactate in activating glycogen synthesis from dihydroxyacetone. The following observations were made. 1. Stimulation of glycogen synthesis by alanine, proline or asparagine does not require production of glutamine since the effect also occurs in periportal hepatocytes which lack glutamine synthetase. 2. Under various conditions, stimulation of glycogen synthesis by added amino acids directly correlated with increases in the intracellular content of amino acids, expressed in osmotic equivalents. 3. 3-Mercaptopicolinic acid, the inhibitor of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, further enhances stimulation of glycogen synthesis by amino acids because it increases the intracellular accumulation of aspartate and glutamate. 4. The previously reported enhancement by leucine of the stimulation of glycogen synthesis by glutamine [Chen. K. S. & Lardy, H. A. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 14683-14688] can be ascribed to inhibition of urea synthesis by leucine which results in accumulation of glutamate and of ammonia, the essential activator of glutaminase. It is concluded that activation of glycogen synthesis by added amino acids is due to an increase in intracellular osmolarity following their uptake and the accumulation of intracellular catabolites. This results in an increase in hepatic volume which stimulates glycogen synthesis [Baquet, A. , Hue, L. , Meijer, A. J., van Woerkom, G. M. & Plomp, P. J. A. M. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 955-959].
Homophone meaning generation: A new test of verbal switching for the detection of frontal lobe dysfunction

Executive functions in their broadest sense may be impaired in patients with frontal lobe lesions. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, perhaps the most robust test sensitive to frontal lobe dysfunction, requires the flexibility to switch a response pattern to meet the change in task demands. However this task has only two category switches and normal respondents tend to score at ceiling. Verbal fluency tasks also incorporate a switching component and it was hypothesized that a word generation task that maximized a switching requirement might provide a more satisfactory verbal measure of frontal lobe dysfunction. A new test of homophone meaning generation that requires multiple switches between verbal concepts (e.g., tick = insect, correct, etc.) was devised. Normative data was obtained from a sample of 170 control participants. Seventy-one patients with unilateral anterior or posterior cerebral lesions were also tested. A normal distribution of scores was obtained in the standardization sample. The anterior lesion groups were more impaired than the posterior groups. There were no significant differences due to laterality. This homophone meaning generation task is a measure of frontal lobe dysfunction that has the advantage of psychometric properties that permit measurement of the degree of impairment. (JINS, 2000, 6, 643–648.)
State of the evidence

Purpose of reviewThis review focuses on recent studies of osteoarthritis epidemiology, including research on prevalence, incidence, and a broad array of potential risk factors at the person level and joint level. Recent findingsStudies continue to illustrate the high impact of osteoarthritis worldwide, with increasing incidence. Person-level risk factors with strong evidence regarding osteoarthritis incidence and/or progression include age, sex, socioeconomic status, family history, and obesity. Joint-level risk factors with strong evidence for incident osteoarthritis risk include injury and occupational joint loading; the associations of injury and joint alignment with osteoarthritis progression are compelling. Moderate levels of physical activity have not been linked to increased osteoarthritis risk. Some topics of high recent interest or emerging evidence for association with osteoarthritis include metabolic pathways, vitamins, joint shape, bone density, limb length inequality, muscle strength and mass, and early structural damage. SummaryOsteoarthritis is a complex, multifactorial disease, and there is still much to learn regarding mechanisms underlying incidence and progression. However, there are several known modifiable and preventable risk factors, including obesity and joint injury; efforts to mitigate these risks can help to lessen the impact of osteoarthritis.
Access and use of specific dental services in HIV disease.

OBJECTIVES This study examined factors associated with the use of specific dental services by persons with HIV disease. METHODS The data were derived from 1,588 adults who participated in a series of up to six interviews as part of the AIDS Cost and Service Utilization Surveys. Use of dental services such as examinations, x-rays, cleaning, fillings, extractions, root canals, crown and bridge or dentures, and periodontal procedures were evaluated using logistic regression and generalized estimating equations were applied. RESULTS Multivariate analyses showed that medical insurance, an education beyond high school, income higher than $1,300 per month, high ambulatory visits, and receipt of psychological counseling were generally associated with higher service use. Blacks, those with an inpatient admission, and CD4+ cell counts less than 500 cells/microL were significantly less likely to use most types of dental services. CONCLUSIONS The study concludes that disparities exist in the use of several dental services similar to those seen in the general population.
Effect of preoperative instruction on postoperative outcomes: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was performed on 68 studies to examine the effect of preoperative instruction on postoperative outcomes. The 68 studies represented 2,413 experimental subjects and 1,605 control group subjects and yielded 423 individual effect sizes. The 423 individual effect sizes had a mean effect size of 0.44 and a variance of 2.43. The mean effect size indicated that, in terms of postoperative outcomes, an average patient who received preoperative instruction was at the 66th percentile of a similar group of patients who did not receive preoperative instruction. The accompanying large variance indicated this finding was not consistent across subject-studies. Substantive characteristics of subject-studies used to categorize effect size were: type of content, method of organization, type of presentation, level of patients' fear/anxiety, and types of outcomes measured. All categories analyzed had positive effect sizes. Within categories of content, psychological and mixed forms of content produced the lowest variances. Categories of organization and presentation did not produce data to demonstrate a clear difference in the levels analyzed. Categories of patient fear/anxiety indicated that the greatest effects were achieved with patients who had high levels of fear/anxiety, followed by moderate levels and low levels. The most consistent results were found with moderate levels of fear/anxiety. When categorized by types of outcomes measured, all effect sizes remained positive. The variances accompanying each effect size remained relatively substantial at all levels of aggregation, with small variances found only at the greatest level of specificity. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Catalytic Synthesis of a New Series of Alkyl Uronates and Evaluation of Their Physicochemical Properties

Large quantities (>3 g) of a new series of alkyl uronates were synthesized in two steps from commercial methyl hexopyranosides. Firstly, several tens of grams of free methyl α-d-glucopyranoside were selectively and quantitatively oxidized into corresponding sodium uronate using 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy free radical (TEMPO)-catalyzed oxidation. Hydrophobic chains of different length were then introduced by acid-mediated esterification with fatty alcohols (ethyl to lauryl alcohol) leading to the desired alkyl glucuronates with moderate to good yields (49%–72%). The methodology was successfully applied to methyl α-d-mannopyranoside and methyl β-d-galactopyranoside. Physicochemical properties, such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), equilibrium surface tension at CMC (γcmc), solubility, and Krafft temperature were measured, and the effect of structural modifications on surface active properties and micelle formation was discussed.
Improved Quality of Life Outcomes After Laparoscopy-Assisted Distal Gastrectomy for Early Gastric Cancer: Results of a Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) after laparoscopy-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) compared with open distal gastrectomy (ODG) in patients with early gastric cancer. Summary Background Data:LADG has been beneficial in terms of pain, recovery, and morbidity when compared with open surgery with equal oncologic outcome. There has been no clinical study on QOL. Methods:From July 2003 to November 2005, 164 patients with newly diagnosed cT1N0M0 and cT1N1M0 distal gastric cancer were randomly assigned either to LADG or ODG. All patients were asked to complete the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-STO22 questionnaires preoperatively and postoperatively on regular follow-up visits. Results:Statistically significant differences were observed with a more favorable outcome noted in the LADG group with respect to intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.001), total amount of analgesics used (P = 0.019), the size of the wound (P < 0.0001), postoperative hospital stay (P < 0.0001), and QOL parameters of global health (P < 0.0001). Most of the scales on patient functioning including physical (P < 0.0005), role (P = 0.0011), emotional (P < 0.0001), social (P < 0.0001), and symptom scales such as fatigue (P < 0.0001), pain (P < 0.0001), appetite loss (P = 0.031), sleep disturbance (P = 0.003), dysphasia (P = 0.0024), gastro-esophageal reflux (P = 0.0127), dietary restriction (P = 0.0004), anxiety (P = 0.0036), dry mouth (P = 0.0007), and body image (P < 0.0001) were also significantly better in the LADG group compared with the ODG group. Conclusions:Comparison of LADG to ODG in patients with early gastric cancer resulted in improved QOL outcomes in the patients followed for up to 3 months in the LADG group.
EMDR treatment for children with PTSD: Results of a randomized controlled trial

The objective of the study was to examine the efficacy of EMDR treatment for children with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared with untreated children in a waiting list control group (WLC) participating in a randomized controlled superiority trial (RCT). Thirty-three 6–16-year-old children with a DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD were randomly assigned to eight weekly EMDR sessions or the WLC group. The Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Scale for Children (PTSS-C scale) was used in interviews with children to evaluate their symptoms and outcome. Post-treatment scores of the EMDR group were significantly lower than the WLC indicating improvement in total PTSS-C scores, PTSD-related symptom scale, and the subscales re-experiencing and avoidance among subjects in the EMDR group, while untreated children improved in PTSD-non-related symptom scale. The improvement in re-experiencing symptoms proved to be the most significant between-group difference over time. The results of the present exploratory study including a limited number of children with PTSD are encouraging and warrant further controlled studies of larger samples of children suffering from PTSD.
Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Parameters After an Ironman Race

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate oxidative stress markers and inflammatory response in triathletes after an Ironman race (IR). Design: Descriptive research. Participants: Eighteen well-trained male triathletes (mean age, 34.7 ± 2.15 years; weight, 69.3 ± 1.9 kg; height, 1.81 ± 0.58 cm) participated in the study. Setting: Ironman Triathlon (3.8-km swim, 180-km cycle, 42.2-km run). Mean environmental conditions ranged from 20 to 25°C and from 79% to 85% relative humidity. Interventions: None. Main Outcome Measures: Before the race and up to 20 minutes after completing the full race, the weights and heights of volunteers were measured and a 10 mL blood sample was drawn from an antecubital vein. Aliquots of washed/lysed red blood cells and plasma/serum samples were stored at −80°C. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and cytokines levels [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and IL-1ra] were determined. Results: After the IR, the results showed a significant increase in TBARS levels (prerace = 1.15 ± 0.11; postrace = 1.98 ± 0.27), lipid hydroperoxide content (prerace = 0.75 ± 0.03; postrace = 1.46 ± 0.18), protein carbonylation (prerace = 0.67 ± 0.12; postrace = 2 0.15 ± 0.60), superoxide dismutase (prerace = 2.67 ± 0.62; postrace = 3.97 ± 1.48), and catalase (prerace = 1.48 ± 0.18; postrace = 2.84 ± 0.39). TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were not detected at basal conditions, but all markers were significantly increased after the IR (TNF-α: prerace = ND and postrace = 67.47 ± 10.34; IL-6: prerace = ND and postrace = 55.41 ± 3.45; IL-10: prerace = ND and postrace = 122.53 ± 9.69; IL-1ra: prerace = 127.79 ± 25.65 and postrace = 259.51 ± 32.9). Conclusions: An Ironman race provokes significant alterations in oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters. Thus, more studies with other markers and different designs are needed to elucidate the cellular alterations induced by an IR.
Lipid modification of the 17-kilodalton membrane immunogen of Treponema pallidum determines macrophage activation as well as amphiphilicity

A murine monoclonal antibody specific for a 17-kDa major membrane immunogen of Treponema pallidum was used to select recombinant Escherichia coli clones expressing the molecule from a T. pallidum genomic library. Sequence analysis of the structural gene for the immunogen (designated tpp17) revealed a 468-bp open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 156 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 16,441 Da. The deduced amino acid sequence included a putative leader peptide terminated by a consensus tetrapeptide for the modification and processing of prokaryotic lipoproteins. Immunoprecipitation of the cloned immunogen radiolabeled with [3H]palmitate confirmed that it was a lipoprotein. The amino acid sequence also predicted that the mature protein contains four cysteine residues in addition to the lipid-modified cysteine of the N terminus. The existence of disulfide-bonded multimeric forms of the native immunogen was demonstrated by immunoblotting T. pallidum solubilized in the presence and absence of 2-mercaptoethanol. Triton X-114 phase partitioning of a nonlipidated form of the 17-kDa immunogen cleaved from a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein demonstrated that lipid modification is responsible for the immunogen's hydrophobic character. The same nonlipidated form of the immunogen also was used to demonstrate that lipid modification is essential for the molecule's ability to stimulate production of tumor necrosis factor alpha by murine macrophages. We conclude that covalently attached fatty acids not only anchor T. pallidum lipoproteins to spirochetal membranes but also confer upon these molecules the ability to activate immune effector cells.
Diagnosis and Management of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancer in the United States. Although there has been a statistically significant improvement in 5-year survival, in 2005 more than 16,000 women were expected to die of this disease. To date, there is no reliable method to screen for ovarian cancer; therefore, the majority of cases are diagnosed with advanced disease. For early ovarian cancer, appropriate surgical staging and adjuvant chemotherapy for selected cases will result in survival rates of 90–95%. For advanced ovarian cancer, survival depends primarily on the success of the initial surgical procedure. Patients with complete cytoreduction to microscopic disease are often cured with adjuvant chemotherapy. There is growing evidence that these patients with microscopic residual disease are excellent candidates for intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and this mode of chemotherapy delivery may be their best opportunity for cure. Patients with optimal cytoreduction also may benefit from intraperitoneal chemotherapy, but cure is less likely. For patients with suboptimal cytoreduction, intravenous chemotherapy with a combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel is the current standard therapy. Most of these patients will experience recurrence of the cancer, with small chance of cure. Salvage chemotherapy is important in ovarian cancer because many patients respond to several salvage regimens. Because of the high response rate of ovarian cancer, even after relapse, it is probably better to consider 10-year survival as the ideal end point. Finally, new biologic agents, in combination with traditional surgery and chemotherapy, may result in further improvement in survival for patients with ovarian cancer.
Adaptive Robust Control of Linear Motor with Ripple Force Compensation

The adaptive robust control (ARC) provides a good output tracking performance. However, the common mathematical model of a linear motor usually neglects some interference terms such as the ripple force. And the common simplified mathematical model of a linear motor may weaken the tracking accuracy performance. So, in this paper, we proposed a novel form based on ARC to achieve a high performance control. First of all, the characteristics of the adaptive robust control were studied and the causes of the ripple force in the linear motor were analyzed. Secondly, the ripple force was constructed by the control input, the velocity and acceleration of the inertia load. In the end, the experiments were taken with the actual linear motor servo system using the improved mathematical model of a linear motor. The simulation and the comparative experimental results show that the adaptive robust control with ripple force compensation can inhibit the ripple force effectively. Therefore, it is effective to use the adaptive robust control with ripple force compensation in the precision positioning system.
Progress and novel strategies in vaccine development and treatment of anthrax

Summary: The lethal anthrax disease is caused by spores of the Gram‐positive Bacillus anthracis, a member of the cereus group of bacilli. Although the disease is very rare in the Western world, development of anthrax countermeasures gains increasing attention due to the potential use of B. anthracis spores as a bio‐terror weapon. Protective antigen (PA), the non‐toxic subunit of the bacterial secreted exotoxin, fulfills the role of recognizing a specific receptor and mediating the entry of the toxin into the host target cells. PA elicits a protective immune response and represents the basis for all current anthrax vaccines. Anti‐PA neutralizing antibodies are useful correlates for protection and for vaccine efficacy evaluation. Post exposure anti‐toxemic and anti‐bacteremic prophylactic treatment of anthrax requires prolonged antibiotic administration. Shorter efficient postexposure treatments may require active or passive immunization, in addition to antibiotics. Although anthrax is acknowledged as a toxinogenic disease, additional factors, other than the bacterial toxin, may be involved in the virulence of B. anthracis and may be needed for the long‐lasting protection conferred by PA immunization. The search for such novel factors is the focus of several high throughput genomic and proteomic studies that are already leading to identification of novel targets for therapeutics, for vaccine candidates, as well as biomarkers for detection and diagnosis.
Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) Promotes Hippocampus-Dependent Memory via Its Deubiquitinating Effect on TrkB

Multiple studies have established that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in the regulation of synaptic plasticity via its receptor, TrkB. In addition to being phosphorylated, TrkB has also been demonstrated to be ubiquitinated. However, the mechanisms of TrkB ubiquitination and its biological functions remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) promotes contextual fear conditioning learning and memory via the regulation of ubiquitination of TrkB. We provide evidence that UCH-L1 can deubiquitinate TrkB directly. K460 in the juxtamembane domain of TrkB is the primary ubiquitination site and is regulated by UCH-L1. By using a peptide that competitively inhibits the association between UCH-L1 and TrkB, we show that the blockade of UCH-L1-regulated TrkB deubiquitination leads to increased BDNF-induced TrkB internalization and consequently directs the internalized TrkB to the degradation pathway, resulting in increased degradation of surface TrkB and attenuation of TrkB activation and its downstream signaling pathways. Moreover, injection of the peptide into the DG region of mice impairs hippocampus-dependent memory. Together, our results suggest that the ubiquitination of TrkB is a mechanism that controls its downstream signaling pathways via the regulation of its endocytosis and postendocytic trafficking and that UCH-L1 mediates the deubiquitination of TrkB and could be a potential target for the modulation of hippocampus-dependent memory. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) has been demonstrated to play important roles in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. TrkB, the receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, has also been shown to be a potent regulator of synaptic plasticity. In this study, we demonstrate that UCH-L1 functions as a deubiquitinase for TrkB. The blockage of UCH-L1-regulated deubiquitination of TrkB eventually results in the increased degradation of surface TrkB and decreased activation of TrkB and its downstream signaling pathways. In vivo, UCH-L1-regulated TrkB deubiquitination is necessary for hippocampus-dependent memory. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms of UCH-L1-mediated neurobiological functions and suggests that ubiquitination is an important regulatory signal for TrkB functions.