Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
B7H1 Expression and Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition Phenotypes on Colorectal Cancer Stem-Like Cells

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) can invade and metastasize by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, how they escape immune surveillance is unclear. B7H1 is crucial negative co-stimulatory molecule but little information about whether it works in CSCs. Therefore, we determined the expression of B7H1 and EMT-associated markers in colorectal cancer stem-like cells to investigate a possible immunoevasion way of CSCs. We enriched CD133+ colorectal cancer cells which manifested the CSCs-like properties such as higher levels of other stem cell markers Oct-4 and Sox-2, tumor sphere forming ability and more tumorigenic in NOD/SCID mice. These CD133+ cells possess EMT gene expression profile including higher level of Snail, Twist, vimentin, fibronectin and lower level of E-cadherin. Moreover, CD133+ cells in both cell line and colorectal cancer tissues expressed high level of negative co-stimulate molecule B7H1. Furthermore, some B7H1+ cancer cells also showed the characteristic of EMT, indicating EMT cells could escape immune attack during metastasis. B7H1 expression and EMT phenotypes on CSCs indicates a possible immunoevasion way.
The bioflavonoid galangin blocks aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced pre-B cell apoptosis.

Bioflavonoids are plant compounds touted for their potential to treat or prevent several diseases including cancers induced by common environmental chemicals. Much of the biologic activity of one such class of pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), is mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor/transcription factor (AhR). For example, the AhR regulates PAH immunotoxicity that manifests as pre-B cell apoptosis in models of B cell development. Because bioflavonoids block PAH-induced cell transformation and are structurally similar to AhR ligands, it was postulated that some of them would suppress PAH-induced, AhR-dependent immunotoxicity, possibly through a direct AhR blockade. This hypothesis was tested using a model of B cell development in which pre-B cells are cultured with and are dependent on bone marrow stromal or hepatic parenchymal cell monolayers. Of seven bioflavonoids screened, galangin (3,5,7-trihydroxyflavone) blocked PAH-induced but not C(2)-ceramide- or H(2)O(2)-induced pre-B cell apoptosis. Because galangin blocked AhR-dependent reporter gene expression, AhR complex-DNA binding, and AhR nuclear translocation, inhibition of a relatively early step in AhR signaling was implicated. This hypothesis was supported by the ability of galangin to bind the AhR and stabilize AhR-90-kDa heat shock protein complexes in the presence of AhR agonists. These studies demonstrate the utility of pre-B cell culture systems in identifying compounds capable of blocking PAH immunotoxicity, define at least one mechanism of galangin activity (i.e., repression of AhR activation), and motivate the use of this and similar dietary bioflavonoids as relatively nontoxic inhibitors of AhR agonist activity and as pharmacologic agents with which to dissect AhR signaling pathways.
Childhood abuse and familial violence and the risk of panic attacks and panic disorder in young adulthood

Background. The objectives of the study were to examine linkages between exposure to childhood abuse and interparental violence and the subsequent development of panic attacks and panic disorder using data gathered on a birth cohort of 1265 New Zealand young people studied to the age of 21 years. Method. Data on: (a) exposure to child abuse and interparental violence; (b) the development of panic attacks and panic disorder; and (c) other childhood and related factors were gathered over the course of a 21-year longitudinal study. Results. After adjustment for childhood and related factors, exposure to childhood physical abuse was associated with a significantly increased risk of later panic attack (OR 2·3, 95% CI 1·1–4·9) and panic disorder (OR 3·0, 95% CI 1·1–7·9); childhood sexual abuse was associated with a significantly increased risk of panic attack (OR 4·1, 95% CI 2·3–7·2) and a marginally significant increase risk of panic disorder (OR 2·2; 95% CI 0·98–5·0). Exposure to interparental violence was unrelated to later panic attack or disorder after adjustment. Conclusions. Exposure to childhood sexual and physical abuse was associated with increased risks of later panic attack/disorder even after adjustment for prospectively assessed confounding factors. However, exposure to interparental violence during childhood was not related to increased risk of later panic attack/disorder after adjustment. These data suggest the need for clinicians to be aware that patients with histories of childhood physical and sexual abuse may be at increased risk for panic during young adulthood.
Assessing psychopathy in the UK: concerns about cross-cultural generalisability

Background The diagnosis of psychopathy is important for violence risk assessment. Aims To investigate whether the syndromal structure of psychopathy, as measured by the Psychopathy Checklist – Revised (PCL–R), is the same in the UK and North America, and whether this measure yields scores that are equivalent in these two regions. Method Confirmatory factor analytic and item response theory methods were applied to large samples of PCL–R ratings. Results The syndromal structure of psychopathy was invariant across cultures, three distinct factors underpinning the superordinate syndrome of psychopathy. However, PCL–R scores were not equivalent across cultures: the same level of psychopathy was associated with lower PCL–R scores in the UK. Items that reflected affective symptoms had the highest cross-cultural stability. Conclusions Scores on the PCL–R obtained in the UK are not directly comparable with those obtained in North America. Care must be exercised when the PCL–R is used to make important clinical decisions in the UK.
RLIP76 Protein Knockdown Attenuates Obesity Due to a High-fat Diet*

Background: RLIP76 homozygous knock-out mice (RLIP76−/−) display a partially anti-metabolic syndrome phenotype characterized by insulin sensitivity, hypoglycemia, and hypolipidemia. Results: RLIP76−/− mice are highly resistant to obesity as well as these other features of metabolic syndrome (MetS) caused by a high-fat diet. Conclusion: Our findings confirm a fundamental role of RLIP76 in regulating the function of obesity-promoting pro-inflammatory cytokines. Significance: Present studies provide a novel mechanism for targeted therapy of obesity and MetS. Feeding a Western high-fat diet (HFD) to C57BL/6 mice induces obesity, associated with a chronic inflammatory state, lipid transport, and metabolic derangements, and organ system effects that particularly prominent in the kidneys. Here, we report that RLIP76 homozygous knock-out (RLIP76−/−) mice are highly resistant to obesity as well as these other features of metabolic syndrome caused by HFD. The normal increase in pro-inflammatory and fibrotic markers associated with HFD induced obesity in wild-type C57B mice was broadly and nearly completely abrogated in RLIP76−/− mice. This is a particularly striking finding because chemical markers of oxidative stress including lipid hydroperoxides and alkenals were significantly higher in RLIP76−/− mice. Whereas HFD caused marked suppression of AMPK in wild-type C57B mice, RLIP76−/− mice had baseline activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, which was not further affected by HFD. The baseline renal function was reduced in RLIP76−/− mice as compared with wild-type, but was unaffected by HFD, in marked contrast to severe renal impairment and glomerulopathy in the wild-type mice given HFD. Our findings confirm a fundamental role of RLIP76 in regulating the function of obesity-promoting pro-inflammatory cytokines, and provide a novel mechanism for targeted therapy of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Suppression of glomerulonephritis in lupus-prone NZB × NZW mice by RN486, a selective inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase.

OBJECTIVE Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) plays a critical role in B cell development and function. We recently described a selective BTK inhibitor, RN486, that blocks B cell receptor (BCR) and Fcγ receptor signaling and is efficacious in animal models of arthritis. The aim of this study was to examine the potential efficacy of BTK in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), using an NZB × NZW mouse model of spontaneous SLE. METHODS Mice received RN486 or its vehicle (administered in chow) at a final concentration of 30 mg/kg for 8 weeks, starting at 32 weeks of age. RESULTS The administration of RN486 completely stopped disease progression, as determined by histologic and functional analyses of glomerular nephritis. The efficacy was associated with striking inhibition of B cell activation, as demonstrated by a significant reduction in CD69 expression in response to BCR crosslinking. RN486 markedly reduced the secretion of IgG anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) secretion, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent and enzyme-linked immunospot assays. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated depletion of CD138(high) B220(low) plasma cells in the spleen. RN486 inhibited secretion of IgG anti-dsDNA but not IgM anti-dsDNA, suggesting that pharmacologic blockade of BTK resembles the reported transgenic expression of low levels of endogenous BTK in B cells. In addition, RN486 may also impact the effector function of autoantibodies, as evidenced by a significant reduction in immune complex-mediated activation of human monocytes in vitro and down-regulation of the expression of macrophage-related and interferon-inducible genes in both the kidneys and spleens of treated mice. CONCLUSION Collectively, our data suggest that BTK inhibitors may simultaneously target autoantibody-producing and effector cells in SLE, thus constituting a promising therapeutic alternative for this disease.
Effects of emotion perception training on mood in undergraduate students: randomised controlled trial

Summary We investigated the effects of emotion perception training on depressive symptoms and mood in young adults reporting high levels of depressive symptoms (trial registration: ISRCTN02532638). Participants were randomised to an intervention procedure designed to increase the perception of happiness over sadness in ambiguous facial expressions or a control procedure, and completed self-report measures of depressive symptoms and mood. Those in the intervention condition had lower depressive symptoms and negative mood at 2-week follow-up, but there was no statistical evidence for a difference. There was some evidence for increased positive mood. Modification of emotional perception may lead to an increase in positive affect.
The Effect of Six Months of Aerobic training on Renal Function Markers in Untrained Middle-Aged Women

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of six months of aerobic training on some renal function markers in untrained middle-aged women. Methods: Nineteen healthy female middle-aged were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly divided into two experimental (n=11) and control (n=8) groups. The exercise protocol included aerobic exercise training lasted for 6 months and 3 sessions per week and every session lasted for 60 minutes and with intensity of 55-65 percent of maximum heart rate reserve (MHR). Blood samples were taken to measure uric acid, creatinine and BUN before and after aerobic training program . Also, eGFR and BUN-to-creatinine ratio was measured with formula. A general linear-repeated measure was used to comparing of within, interactive and between means groups. The level of significance was set at P< 0.05. Results: Our results showed the changes of weight, BMI, body fat percent, WHR was not significantly. However, findings showed that Uric Acid in the experimental group increased significantly (P<0/05), but the levels of Creatinine, BUN, and eGFR did not change significant. Conclusion: Results showed that six months of aerobic training does not induce significant change in estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate and blood Urea Nitrogen, however, if the aerobic exercise training performs in adequate time and intensity and cause the loss of weight and fat percentage, probably can improve the renal function.
A Robot and Control Algorithm That Can Synchronously Assist in Naturalistic Motion During Body-Weight-Supported Gait Training Following Neurologic Injury

Locomotor training using body weight support on a treadmill and manual assistance is a promising rehabilitation technique following neurological injuries, such as spinal cord injury (SCI) and stroke. Previous robots that automate this technique impose constraints on naturalistic walking due to their kinematic structure, and are typically operated in a stiff mode, limiting the ability of the patient or human trainer to influence the stepping pattern. We developed a pneumatic gait training robot that allows for a full range of natural motion of the legs and pelvis during treadmill walking, and provides compliant assistance. However, we observed an unexpected consequence of the devices compliance: unimpaired and SCI individuals invariably began walking out-of-phase with the device. Thus, the robot perturbed rather than assisted stepping. To address this problem, we developed a novel algorithm that synchronizes the device in real-time to the actual motion of the individual by sensing the state error and adjusting the replay timing to reduce this error. This paper describes data from experiments with individuals with SCI that demonstrate the effectiveness of the synchronization algorithm, and the potential of the device for relieving the trainers of strenuous work while maintaining naturalistic stepping.
Preoperative biliary drainage by plastic or self-expandable metal stents in patients with periampullary tumors: results of a randomized clinical study

Abstract Background and study aims Preoperative biliary drainage in patients with periampullary tumors and jaundice has been popularized to improve the quality of life and minimize the risks associated with subsequent radical surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible superiority of self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) over plastic stents, by comparing the amount of bacteria in intraoperatively collected bile and using this variable as a proxy for the efficacy of the respective biliary drainage modalities. Patients and methods In this randomized clinical trial, 92 patients with obstructive jaundice were enrolled; 45 were allocated to the plastic stent group and 47 to the SEMS group. The primary outcome was the extent and magnitude of biliary bacterial growth at the time of surgical exploration. Secondary outcomes were: macroscopic grading of inflammation of the stented bile ducts, occurrence of adverse events after stenting, stent dysfunction, recognized surgical complexities, and incidence of postoperative complications. Results The patients were well matched regarding clinical and disease-specific characteristics. At surgery, there were no group differences in the bacterial amount and composition of the bile cultures or the perceived difficulty of surgical dissection. During the preoperative biliary drainage period, more instances of stent dysfunction requiring stent replacement were recorded in the plastic stent group (19 % vs. 0 %; P = 0.03). Postoperative complications in patients who underwent curative surgery were more common in patients with plastic stents (72 % vs. 52 %), among which clinically significant leakage from the pancreatic anastomoses seemed to predominate (12 % vs. 3.7 %); however, none of these differences in postoperative adverse events reached statistical significance. Conclusion This randomized clinical study was unable to demonstrate any superiority of SEMS in the efficacy of preoperative bile drainage, as assessed by the amount of bacteria in the intraoperatively collected bile. However, some data in favor of SEMS were observed among the clinical secondary outcomes variables (preoperative stent exchange rates) without increases in local inflammatory reactions. Trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00501176).
Neustonic mesozooplankton abundance and distribution in the northern California Current, 2000 and 2002

Technical Memorandum NMFS series to issue informal scientific and technical publications when complete formal review and editorial processing are not appropriate or feasible due to time constraints. Documents published in this series may be referenced in the scientific and technical literature. Figure 31. Inshore-offshore distribution of five most abundant neustonic mesozooplankton taxa along six main transects from north to south in June 2000. Figure 32. Inshore-offshore distribution of five most abundant neustonic mesozooplankton taxa along six main transects from north to south in August 2000. Figure 37. Temporal variations in water temperature, salinity, neustonic mesozooplankton biovolumes, chlorophyll a, and concentrations of five most abundant taxa and total Figure 39. Temporal variations in water temperature, salinity, neustonic mesozooplankton biovolumes, chlorophyll a, and concentrations of five most abundant taxa and total Most plankton surveys off Oregon and northern California have focused along one transect off Newport, Oregon, or only on the ichthyoplankton in the water column and at the ocean surface. Therefore as part of juvenile salmonid (Oncorhynchus spp.) ocean sampling funded by U. These collections were made for comparison with stomach contents of juvenile salmonids; however this technical memorandum does not include that comparison. It contains the results of our analysis of the species composition, relative abundances, and spatial distributions of the neuston on a point-by-point basis for both years instead of using geostatistics as previously done for only 2000 by Reese et al. (2005). In addition to regular sampling we conducted two diel studies in 2002 to examine temporal variations of the neustonic mesozooplankton population. Overall 347 samples were collected, 144 taxa were identified, and 38,325 specimens were counted. Our findings show that: • Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) megalopae, Oregon cancer (C. oregonensis) and red rock crab (C. productus) megalopae (not identifiable to either species), Thysanoessa spinifera, Pacific krill (Euphausia pacifica), Hyperoche medusarum, Themisto pacifica, and Sagitta spp. were the dominant taxa. • Species diversity was higher in 2002 than in 2000, but it was not significantly different between years or seasons. • Species cluster groupings based on station assemblages included: o Dungeness crab megalopae, Oregon cancer and red rock crab megalopae, and Pacific rock crab (C. antennarius) and graceful crab (C. gracilis) megalopae (not identifiable to either species); o terrestrial insects and benthic gammarids; o pelagic euphausiids and hyperiids; o chaetognaths; and o shrimp larvae. • In the diel studies more taxa were collected at night than during the …
Catch-up Growth

Catch-up growth, defined as growth velocity above the statistical limits of normality for age or maturity during a defined period of time, is distinguished from compensatory growth since it makes up for a potential loss rather than an actual loss and is seen in the whole body as opposed to specific organs. The cellular explanation for catch-up based on the work of Winick is described and a recent challenge to this explanation is briefly discussed. The mechanism of mismatch between actual size and 'planned' size suggested by Tanner is described and tested. In a series of experiments conducted in rats of different ages the degree of mismatch and the role of catch-up are compared for two different parameters, body weight and nose-rump length. It was found that the two parameters behaved differently and it is suggested that while the concept of mismatch is still acceptable the idea of a single central mechanism is not supported. It is suggested that the mismatch mechanism is a cellular phenomenon.
Reliability and Validity of the Knowledge about Depression and Mania Inventory

Background: The knowledge that patients with affective disorders have about their illness is attributed increasing importance. For a number of psychiatric disorders, the imparting of information about the illness is now standard treatment. However, the relevance of knowledge about a patient’s disorder has to date not been sufficiently studied. One reason for that is that only few psychometrically validated instruments for the assessment of illness knowledge exist. The aim of this study was the development and psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire to assess knowledge about affective disorders. Methods: The Knowledge about Depression and Mania Inventory (KDMI) was evaluated with a sample of 337 patients with major depression, relatives of patients with depression and schizophrenia, and controls. Results: With the 44-item KDMI, the 3 dimensions knowledge of symptoms, knowledge of treatment and knowledge of coping strategies were differentiated. From these 44 items two 22-item parallel tests were developed for follow-up assessment. The scales showed good internal consistency. There were numerous indicators of the validity and sensitivity to change of the scales. It was shown that older patients and patients with lower levels of education are less knowledgeable about affective disorders. There were significant differences in the scales of the KDMI before and after a psychoeducative group for relatives. Conclusions: The study showed that knowledge about affective disorders can be reliably and validly measured by a questionnaire. Because of its brevity the KDMI is suitable for everyday use in clinical practice, and it forms the basis for further investigation of the significance of illness knowledge, as well as for evaluation of the effects of psychotherapy in this area.
Distribution and Composition of Herbaceous Plants in Response to Arable Cultivation and Local Topographical Variation in the Nigerian Northern Guinea Savannah

This study examined the pattern of distribution and composition of herbaceous plant species with respect to cultivation and local topographical variation in the Nigerian northern Guinea Savannah. Data on plant species was collected using quadrats. Soil samples were collected using cores and analyzed for Total Nitrogen (%), Available Phosphorus (mg kg-1), Exchangeable Potassium (cmol (+) kg-1), pH, Organic Carbon (%) and soil textural class. Arable cultivation practices create uniquely different plant communities on contiguous plots but of different local topography in terms of species composition as shown by the Jaccard's Dissimilarity Index and dominance by the Important Value Index (IVI). Cultivation affects species attributes of plant communities in different ways on different local topography. Species diversity, species richness and their abundances were decreased by cultivation on Flat and Highlands but increased on Lowland, while species evenness was relatively unaffected by the combined impacts of cultivation and local topographical variation. The Lowland topography was the strongest local environmental force of selection of plant community composition and structure in terms of dissimilarity. Studies on the impact of the combined forces of topography and cultivation on plant communities are still very scanty to make global cross-biome comparisons and conclusion. Understanding the impacts of cultivation, topography and other edaphic variables in shaping floristic structure of plant communities will contribute not only to the understanding of the mechanisms determining plant community distribution and composition but also provides information necessary for their future prediction. This is an indispensable tool for environmental planning for biodiversity conservation, especially in the face of the current unprecedented environmental crisis, namely climatic change-induced drought and desertification.