Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Antioxidant Properties of Dehydrolutein with Lutein and Zeaxanthin, and their Effects on Cultured Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells

Dehydrolutein accumulates in substantial concentrations in the retina. The aim of this study was to compare antioxidant properties of dehydrolutein with other retinal carotenoids, lutein, and zeaxanthin, and their effects on ARPE-19 cells. The time-resolved detection of characteristic singlet oxygen phosphorescence was used to compare the singlet oxygen quenching rate constants of dehydrolutein, lutein, and zeaxanthin. The effects of these carotenoids on photosensitized oxidation were tested in liposomes, where photo-oxidation was induced by light in the presence of photosensitizers, and monitored by oximetry. To compare the uptake of dehydrolutein, lutein, and zeaxanthin, ARPE-19 cells were incubated with carotenoids for up to 19 days, and carotenoid contents were determined by spectrophotometry in cell extracts. To investigate the effects of carotenoids on photocytotoxicity, cells were exposed to light in the presence of rose bengal or all-trans-retinal. The results demonstrate that the rate constants for singlet oxygen quenching are 0.77 × 1010, 0.55 × 1010, and 1.23 × 1010 M−1s−1 for dehydrolutein, lutein, and zeaxanthin, respectively. Overall, dehydrolutein is similar to lutein or zeaxanthin in the protection of lipids against photosensitized oxidation. ARPE-19 cells accumulate substantial amounts of both zeaxanthin and lutein, but no detectable amounts of dehydrolutein. Cells pre-incubated with carotenoids are equally susceptible to photosensitized damage as cells without carotenoids. Carotenoids provided to cells together with the extracellular photosensitizers offer partial protection against photodamage. In conclusion, the antioxidant properties of dehydrolutein are similar to lutein and zeaxanthin. The mechanism responsible for its lack of accumulation in ARPE-19 cells deserves further investigation.
Implications of Oxidative and Nitrosative Post-Translational Modifications in Therapeutic Strategies against Reperfusion Damage

Post-translational modifications based on redox reactions “switch on-off” the biological activity of different downstream targets, modifying a myriad of processes and providing an efficient mechanism for signaling regulation in physiological and pathological conditions. Such modifications depend on the generation of redox components, such as reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. Therefore, as the oxidative or nitrosative milieu prevailing in the reperfused heart is determinant for protective signaling, in this review we defined the impact of redox-based post-translational modifications resulting from either oxidative/nitrosative signaling or oxidative/nitrosative stress that occurs during reperfusion damage. The role that cardioprotective conditioning strategies have had to establish that such changes occur at different subcellular levels, particularly in mitochondria, is also presented. Another section is devoted to the possible mechanism of signal delivering of modified proteins. Finally, we discuss the possible efficacy of redox-based therapeutic strategies against reperfusion damage.
Assessment of Patient Safety Culture in a Pediatric Department

Background An assessment of the prevalent culture needs to be the first step when building patient safety programs in healthcare organizations to achieve high-quality health care. Objective To conduct a baseline assessment of patient safety culture, to provide insight into the factors that contribute to patient safety, and to use the information to make improvements. Methods The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (PSC) questionnaire was conducted from October through December 2020 at the Brookdale Hospital Medical Center (BHMC) Pediatric departments (Pediatric Inpatient Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [NICU], Pediatric Intensive Care Unit [PICU], and Pediatric Emergency Department) and four community-based ambulatory pediatric practices (Brookdale Family Care Centers [BFCC]). The percentages of positive responses on the 12 patient-safety dimensions and the summation of PSC and two outcomes (overall patient safety grade and adverse events reported in the past year) were assessed. Factors associated with PSC aggregate score were analyzed. Results From the 385 emails that were sent, 136 surveys were considered for analysis. This gives us a response rate of 35.3%. Most of the participants were nurses (58%) with direct contact with patients (94.2%). Most respondents did not report any events (60.7%), whereas 30.3% reported 1-2 events in the past year. The patient safety composites with the highest positive scores were teamwork within units (78%), supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting patient safety (71.2%), and organizational learning--continuous improvement (66.8%). The composites with the lowest scores were non-punitive response to error (35.9%) and staffing (38%). Conclusions All of our composite measures, with the exception of teamwork within units, appear to be low, which means that all the other composite measures require interventions for improvement of overall safety culture. In order for healthcare leaders and policymakers to establish a culture of safety and improvement, they must create a climate of open communication, continuous learning, and eliminate the fear of blame and punitive feedback.
Impact of Three Strengthening Exercises on Dynamic Knee Valgus and Balance with Poor Knee Control among Young Football Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The observed dynamic knee valgus and the limited dynamic balance described in the literature are modifiable risk factors for injuries in athletes. Therefore, identification and appropriate prevention are crucial in managing the development of young athletes. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of three exercises strengthening the muscles: gluteal medius, popliteal and tibialis posterior to reduce dynamic knee valgus and improve the dynamic balance of the lower limbs in young football players with poor knee control. A total of 134 footballers were assessed for eligibility, and finally 45 participants (age 12–15) met the inclusion criteria. Participants were assessed with 2D video kinematic analysis during single-leg squats to assess the knee valgus angles and the dynamic balance (Y-Balance Test). No significant interactions between groups (Control and Exercise) and time (baseline and after 6 week) were noted for dynamic valgus for the left and right knee (p > 0.05). For the dynamic balance, there were statistically significant results, but not clinically relevant for anterior, posteromedial, and composite direction for the right lower limbs and for the anterior direction for left lower limbs in the exercise group. However, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in all of the YBT scores for both lower limbs between groups. This study demonstrated that there were no statistically significant differences in dynamic knee valgus angles and dynamic balance values after 6 weeks of exercise program in young footballers with poor knee control. Future randomized trials should focus on more comprehensive exercises, where possible using biofeedback methods to improve knee kinematics.
Classification of Chronic Kidney Disease in Sonography Using the GLCM and Artificial Neural Network

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be treated if it is detected early, but as the disease progresses, recovery becomes impossible. Eventually, renal replacement therapy such as transplantation or dialysis is necessary. Ultrasound is a test method with which to diagnose kidney cancer, inflammatory disease, nodular disease, chronic kidney disease, etc. It is used to determine the degree of inflammation using information such as the kidney size and internal echo characteristics. The degree of the progression of chronic kidney disease in the current clinical trial is based on the value of the glomerular filtration rate. However, changes in the degree of inflammation and disease can even be observed with ultrasound. In this study, from a total of 741 images, 251 normal kidney images, 328 mild and moderate CKD images, and 162 severe CKD images were tested. In order to diagnose CKD in clinical practice, three ROIs were set: the cortex of the kidney, the boundary between the cortex and medulla, and the medulla, which are areas examined to obtain information from ultrasound images. Parameters were extracted from each ROI using the GLCM algorithm, which is widely used in ultrasound image analysis. When each parameter was extracted from the three areas, a total of 57 GLCM parameters were extracted. Finally, a total of 58 parameters were used by adding information on the size of the kidney, which is important for the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. The artificial neural network (ANN) was composed of 58 input parameters, 10 hidden layers, and 3 output layers (normal, mild and moderate CKD, and severe CKD). Using the ANN model, the final classification rate was 95.4%, the epoch needed for training was 38 times, and the misclassification rate was 4.6%.
The Influence of Chemical Contaminants on the Physicochemical Properties of Unifloral and Multifloral Honey

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of antibiotic and pesticide residues on the physicochemical properties of unifloral and multifloral honey. The mineral elements content of honey was analyzed and correlated with antibiotic and pesticide residues, and a positive correlation was found between manganese and neonicotinoids. Potassium was found to be the most abundant mineral compound. Correlations were found between mineral content, color, and the content of antibiotic and pesticide residues of honey. In meadow honey, residues of antibiotics and pesticides were undetectable. In some of the other types of honey, the maximum residue limits regulated by European legislation were exceeded. Endosulfan residue was found in mint and rapeseed, honey with 0.42 and 5.14 ng/g, respectively. Neonicotinoids were found in 27% of the analyzed honey samples. Chloramphenicol was identified only in rapeseed honey, with concentrations ranging from 0.2 ng/g to 0.8 ng/g. Nitrofurans were found in 14%, and nitroimidazoles were found in 6% of the analyzed samples. According to EU legislation that is in force, the use of antibiotics in beekeeping is not allowed. The MRLs for neonicotinoids are 50 ng/g, and for coumaphos, the maximum limit is 100 ng/g. For the other pesticide residues, the maximum limit is 10 ng/g. The results of statistical analysis obtained using principal component analysis (PCA) showed a major difference in the levels of contamination of raspberry and meadow honey and the other types of honey.
Far from Health: The Bone Marrow Microenvironment in AML, A Leukemia Supportive Shelter

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second most common leukemia among children. Although significant progress in AML therapy has been achieved, treatment failure is still associated with poor prognosis, emphasizing the need for novel, innovative therapeutic approaches. To address this major obstacle, extensive knowledge about leukemogenesis and the complex interplay between leukemic cells and their microenvironment is required. The tremendous role of this bone marrow microenvironment in providing a supportive and protective shelter for leukemic cells, leading to disease development, progression, and relapse, has been emphasized by recent research. It has been revealed that the interplay between leukemic cells and surrounding cellular as well as non-cellular components is critical in the process of leukemogenesis. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of recently gained knowledge about the importance of the microenvironment in AML whilst focusing on promising future therapeutic targets. In this context, we describe ongoing clinical trials and future challenges for the development of targeted therapies for AML.
Chemical Composition, Nutrient Quality and Acceptability of Edible Insects Are Affected by Species, Developmental Stage, Gender, Diet, and Processing Method

Edible insects have been considered as either nutritious food itemsper se, or as wholesome ingredients to various dishes and components of traditional subsistence. Protein, fat, mineral and vitamin contents in insects generally satisfy the requirements of healthy food, although there is considerable variation associated with insect species, collection site, processing method, insect life stage, rearing technology and insect feed. A comparison of available data(based on dry weight) showed that processing can improve the nutrient content, taste, flavour, appearance and palatability of insects, but that there are additional factors, which can impact the content and composition of insect species that have been recommended for consumption by humans. This review focuses on factors that have received little attention in connection with the task to improve acceptability or choice of edible insects and suggests ways to guarantee food security in countries where deficiencies in protein and minerals are an acute and perpetual problem. This review is meant to assist the food industry to select the most suitable species as well as processing methods for insect-based food products.
Somatic Cell Count in Goat Milk: An Indirect Quality Indicator

A high somatic cell count (SCC) impacts dairy quality to a large extent. The goal of this work was to investigate differences in goat milk composition and technological parameters according to SCC cut-off (600, 700, 800, and 1000.103/mL). Thirty-four individual milk samples of White Shorthair goats in a similar stage of lactation were investigated. The first differences in milk quality appeared already at SCC cut-off of 600.103/mL (5.58 LSCS-linear somatic cell score), yet the most striking differences were found for SCC over 1000.103/mL (6.32 LSCS), which was expressed by lowering heat stability (126 vs. 217 s, p = 0.034), increasing protein (3.41 vs. 3.04%, p = 0.009), casein (2.80 vs. 2.44%, p = 0.034) and chloride (164 vs. 147 mg/100 mL, p = 0.004) levels, as well as non-fat dry matter (8.79 vs. 8.45%, p = 0.045). It has been shown that low levels of Staphylococcus spp. bacteria (120–1600 CFU/mL) in the mammary gland correlated with decreased lactose content (4.60 vs. 4.47 g/100 g, p = 0.022). Since our results indicate that even low SCC values may significantly affect the technological properties of goat milk, SCC should therefore be routinely screened and reported to dairy manufacturers to assure the consumer of high end-product quality.
The Road to Better Management in Resistant Hypertension—Diagnostic and Therapeutic Insights

Resistant hypertension (R-HTN) implies a higher mortality and morbidity compared to non-R-HTN due to increased cardiovascular risk and associated adverse outcomes—greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease, heart failure, stroke and myocardial infarction. R-HTN is considered when failing to lower blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg despite adequate lifestyle measures and optimal treatment with at least three medications, including a diuretic, and usually a blocker of the renin-angiotensin system and a calcium channel blocker, at maximally tolerated doses. Hereby, we discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to a better management of R-HTN. Excluding pseudoresistance, secondary hypertension, white-coat hypertension and medication non-adherence is an important step when diagnosing R-HTN. Most recently different phenotypes associated to R-HTN have been described, specifically refractory and controlled R-HTN and masked uncontrolled hypertension. Optimizing the three-drug regimen, including the diuretic treatment, adding a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist as the fourth drug, a β-blocker as the fifth drug and an α1-blocker or a peripheral vasodilator as a final option when failing to achieve target blood pressure values are current recommendations regarding the correct management of R-HTN.
In Vitro Activity of Several Essential Oils Extracted from Aromatic Plants against Ascosphaera apis

The use of natural substances such as essentials oils against bee pathogens is of great interest as an alternative to traditional methods based on synthetic compounds like antibiotics and fungicides, in order to minimize the risk of having toxic residues in hive products and to prevent the development of resistance phenomena. This study evaluated the inhibitory, fungicidal and sporicidal activity of ten essential oils extracted from aromatic plants against Ascosphaera apis, the etiological agent of chalkbrood, an invasive honey bee mycosis. The most effective essential oils were Thymus herba-barona, Thymus capitatus and Cinnamomum zeylanicum, which showed values of minimum fungicidal concentration and minimum sporicidal concentration ranging from 200 to 400 ppm. Carvacrol was the main component of Thymus capitatus and Thymus herba-barona oils, whereas cinnamic aldehyde prevailed in Cinnamomum zeylanicum oil. Further in-apiary studies will allow the evaluation of side effects on bees and residues in hive products.
Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Platelet Properties of Lipid Bioactives from Apple Cider By-Products

The valorization of food industry by-products as sources of bioactive compounds is at the forefront of research in functional foods and nutraceuticals. This study focuses on bioactives of apple cider by-products (ACBPs) with putative cardio-protective properties. Total lipids (TLs) were extracted from ACBPs of apple varieties that are low (ACBP1), medium (ACBP2), and high (ACBP3) in tannins and were further separated into polar lipids (PLs) and neutral lipids (NLs). The functionality of these lipid extracts and of their HPLC-derived lipid fractions/PL subclasses were assessed in vitro against human platelet aggregation induced by the thrombotic and inflammatory platelet agonists platelet-activating factor (PAF) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). The fatty acid profile of PLs and their most bioactive lipid fractions were evaluated by GC–MS analysis. The PL extracts exhibited higher specificity against the PAF-induced platelet aggregation compared to their anti-ADP effects, while TL and NL showed lower bioactivities in all ACBPs. HPLC analysis unveiled that the most bioactive PL from all ACBPs were those in PL fraction 3 containing phosphatidylcholines (PCs). PLs from all ACBPs and their PC bioactives were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and especially in the essential omega-6 (n-6) linoleic acid (LA) and omega-3 (n-3) alpha linolenic acid (ALA), with favorably low values of the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio, thus providing a rationale for their higher anti-inflammatory bioactivities. Within this study, highly bioactive PL compounds with strong anti-inflammatory and anti-platelet properties were identified in ACBPs, which can be potentially utilized for producing cardio-protective functional foods and/or nutraceuticals.
Association between Anticholinergic Burden and Constipation: A Systematic Review

The association between anticholinergic burden and constipation is not well defined and documented; for this reason, a systematic review was carried out in five databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Scopus), including studies assessing the correlation between anticholinergic burden, and constipation between January 2006 and December 2020. Data extraction was conducted independently by two researchers. Abstracts and titles were reviewed to determine eligibility for review with eligible articles read in full. From 2507 identified articles, 11 were selected for this review: six cross-sectional studies, four retrospective cohort studies, and a post hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial. Overall, nine studies reported at least one statistical association between anticholinergic burden and constipation, finding 13 positive results out of 24 association measurements. A total of 211,921 patients were studied. The association between constipation and anticholinergic burden could be demonstrated in studies including 207,795 patients. Most studies were not designed to find differences in constipation prevalence and did not adjust the results by confounding factors. Our findings suggest that a correlation between anticholinergic burden and constipation exists. Higher quality-evidence studies are needed, including analysis that considers confounding factors, such as other non-pharmacological causes of constipation.
The Association between Anemia and Parkinson’s Disease: A Nested Case-Control Study Using a National Health Screening Cohort

(1) Background: Controversy exists regarding the relationship between anemia and Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study aimed to evaluate the risk of PD related to anemia in the Korean population. (2) Methods: The Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort, which includes adults over 40 years of age, was assessed from 2002 to 2015. A total of 5844 PD patients were matched by age, sex, income, and region of residence with 23,376 control participants at a ratio of 1:4. The analyzed covariates included age, sex, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, obesity, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted for case-control analyses. (3) Results: The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the risk of PD associated with anemia was 1.09 after adjusting for potential confounders (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.18, p = 0.030). Among men younger than 70 years, the adjusted OR of PD was 1.34 (95% CI 1.13–1.60, p = 0.001). (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that anemia may increase the risk of PD, particularly in men younger than 70 years. Further research is required to elucidate the causal relationship between these two diseases.
Small Bowel Obstruction Induced by Concurrent Postoperative Intra-Abdominal Adhesions and Small Bowel Fecal Materials in a Young Dog

A 7-month-old neutered male poodle dog presented with general deterioration and gastrointestinal symptoms after two separate operations: a jejunotomy for small-intestinal foreign body removal and an exploratory laparotomy for diagnosis and treatment of the gastrointestinal symptoms that occurred 1 month after the first surgery. The dog was diagnosed as having small-bowel obstruction (SBO) due to intra-abdominal adhesions and small-bowel fecal material (SBFM) by using abdominal radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and laparotomy. We removed the obstructive adhesive lesion and SBFM through enterotomies and applied an autologous peritoneal graft to the released jejunum to prevent re-adhesion. After the surgical intervention, the dog recovered quickly and was healthy at 1 year after the surgery without gastrointestinal signs. To our knowledge, this study is the first report of a successful treatment of SBO induced by postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions and SBFM after laparotomies in a dog.