Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
p38 Mitogen–activated Protein Kinase Activation by Nerve Growth Factor in Primary Sensory Neurons Upregulates &mgr;-Opioid Receptors to Enhance Opioid Responsiveness Toward Better Pain Control

Background: Sensory neuron opioid receptors are targets for spinal, epidural, and peripheral opioid application. Although local nerve growth factor (NGF) has been identified as a mediator of sensory neuron &mgr;-opioid receptor (MOR) up-regulation, the signaling pathways involved have not been yet identified. Methods: Wistar rats were treated with intraplantar vehicle, Freund's complete adjuvant, NGF, NGF plus intrathecal p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors, or NGF plus extracellular signal–regulated kinase–1/2 MAPK inhibitors. After 4 days of treatment, paw pressure thresholds of an intraplantar full (fentanyl) or partial (buprenorphine) opioid agonist were determined by algesiometry. Tissue samples from rat dorsal root ganglia were subjected to radiolabeled ligand binding, Western blot analysis, and confocal immunofluorescence. Results: Exogenous and endogenous NGF resulting from Freund's complete adjuvant inflammation produced significant potentiation and enhanced efficacy in fentanyl- and buprenorphine-induced dose-dependent antinociception, respectively. Furthermore, in the ipsilateral dorsal root ganglia, NGF produced a significant increase in MOR binding sites, proteins, and immunoreactive neurons. In parallel, phosphorylated p38-MAPK protein, the number of phosphorylated p38–MAPK immunoreactive neurons expressing MOR in dorsal root ganglia, and the peripherally directed axonal transport of MOR significantly increased. Finally, NGF-induced effects occurring in dorsal root ganglia, on axonal transport, and on the potentiation or enhanced efficacy of opioid antinociception were abrogated by inhibition of p38, but not extracellular signal–regulated kinase–1/2, MAPK. Conclusions: Local NGF through activation of the p38-MAPK pathway leads to adaptive changes in sensory neuron MOR toward enhanced susceptibility to local opioids. This effect may act as a counter-regulatory response to p38-MAPK–induced pain (e.g., inflammatory pain) to facilitate opioid-mediated antinociception.
Comparison of tetrapolar injection-measurement techniques for coplanar affinity-based impedimetric immunosensors

This paper focuses on tetrapolar coplanar-electrode affinity-based sensors. In a tetrapolar electrode systems there are different ways with which signals can be injected and measured. These injection and measurement methods, namely the Wenner, Dipole-Dipole and Cross techniques, are investigated in this paper by analyzing their sensitivity distribution. This is conducted with the use of FEM modeling. The results indicate that the Dipole-Dipole technique provides only a small negative sensitivity region near the electrode surface plane. On the other hand, regions of positive sensitivity dominate in the Wenner while regions of negative sensitivity dominate in the Cross techniques.
Reactive Transport of Nutrients and Bioclogging During Dynamic Disconnection Process of Stream and Groundwater

Biofilm‐induced dynamic evolution of streambed permeability commonly concurs with the transition from connection to disconnection between surface water and groundwater in arid regions. However, in most previous studies, static streambeds were assumed to examine the evolution of disconnection, or despite dynamic streambeds being considered, the feedbacks between nutrients transport and microbial growth were ignored. In this study, we developed an innovative coupled variably saturated flow, microbial growth, biogeochemical reactions, and bioclogging model. We applied this model to investigate the feedbacks between nutrients transport and microbial growth and their controls on infiltration evolution. Our results showed that a new clogging layer can naturally develop due to these feedbacks and does not require prior clogging. The development of the new clogging layer promotes the occurrence of disconnection. These results illustrate that as bioclogging is a dominant process, previous static disconnection conditions cannot be used as criteria to predict whether disconnection can occur in a stream‐aquifer system. Furthermore, different from the previous assumption of constant specific microbial growth rates, biomass growth, and streambed permeability evolution are self‐limiting. Accordingly, due to initial low growth rate, infiltration increases when the water table declines, and it then decreases and reaches a minimum while a stable biofilm is developed. These trends coincide with the infiltration variations reported in previous field investigations. After reaching the minimum, infiltration increases again with decline of the water table until achieving a constant at the moment of disconnection. This stage was missing in previous studies because constant specific growth rates were assumed.
Prevalence and long-term course of lifetime eating disorders in an adult Australian twin cohort.

OBJECTIVE Few studies exist that have examined the spectrum and natural long-term course of eating disturbance in the community. We examine the lifetime prevalence and long-term course of anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS) in an adult female twin population. METHOD Female twins (n = 1002) from the Australian Twin Registry, aged 28-39 years, were assessed using the Eating Disorder Examination, revised to yield lifetime diagnostic information. For women with lifetime eating disorders, the assessment occurred, on average, 14.52 years (SD = 5.65) after onset of their disorder. RESULTS In accordance with other community studies, we found a 1.9% lifetime prevalence of AN, with an additional 2.4% who met the criteria for 'partial AN' (absence of amenorrhea). Criteria for BN were met by 2.9% of the women, an additional 2.9% of women met criteria for binge eating disorder, while 5.3% met criteria for purging disorder unaccompanied by binge eating (EDNOS-p). Eleven (7%) of the women with lifetime eating disorders had a current eating disorder. Each diagnostic group continued to be differentiated by current eating pathology from women without lifetime eating disorders. Although approximately 75% of the women had a good outcome, less than 50% of each diagnostic group was asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS Eating disorders tend to improve over time often reaching subdiagnostic levels of severity, but only a minority of sufferers becomes asymptomatic. The DSM-IV diagnosis EDNOS needs to be considered in studies of the prevalence and course of eating disorders.
A Novel Delivery System of Probiotic Drop and Its Effect on Dental Caries Risk Factors in Cleft Lip/Palate Children

Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus reuteri on the levels of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in children with cleft lip/palate who used the novel drop containing L. reuteri. Material and Methods The study group consisted of 19 operated cleft lip/palate children aged 4 to 12 years. The study had a double-blind, randomized crossover design, and the experimental period consisted of four consecutive time periods. During periods 2 and 4, consisting of 25 days each, parents were instructed that their children should consume 5 drops per day (0.15 to 0.20 g) of probiotic or placebo drops produced by the same manufacturer. The probiotic drop, BioGaia Reuteri drops, contained L. reuteri DSM 17938 and L. reuteri ATCC PTA 5289 (≥1 x 108 CFU/5 drops). The counts of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli were evaluated using the CRT tests. The data were processed with NCSS 2007 software using chi-square and McNemar tests. Results There was no statistically significant (p > .05) reduction of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli after 25 days of consumption of both drops. Conclusions The novel drop containing L. reuteri may not reduce the levels of salivary mutans streptococci and lactobacilli in cleft lip/palate children.
Phenotypic and mtDNA variation in Philippine Kappaphycus cottonii (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta)

Abstract Members of the carrageenan-producing seaweeds of the genus Kappapphycus have a complicated taxonomic history particularly with regard to species identification. Many taxonomic challenges in this group have been currently addressed with the use of mtDNA sequences. The phylogenetic status and genetic diversity of one of the lesser known species, Kappaphycus cottonii, have repeatedly come into question. This study explored the genetic variation in Philippine K. cottonii using the mtDNA COI-5P gene and cox2-3 spacer sequences. The six phenotypic forms in K. cottonii did not correspond to the observed genetic variability; hinting at the greater involvement of environmental factors in determining changes to the morphology of this alga. Our results revealed that the Philippine K. cottonii has the richest number of haplotypes that have been detected, so far, for any Kappaphycus species. Our inferred phylogenetic trees suggested two lineages: a lineage, which exclusively includes K. cottonii and another lineage comprising the four known Kappaphycus species: K. alvarezii, K. inermis, K. malesianus, and K. striatus. The dichotomy supports the apparent synamorphy for each of these lineages (the strictly terete thalli, lack of protuberances, and the presence of a hyphal central core in the latter group, while the opposite of these morphologies in K. cottonii). These findings shed new light on understanding the evolutionary history of the genus. Assessing the breadth of the phenotypic and genetic variation in K. cottonii has implications for the conservation and management of the overall Kappaphycus genetic resources, especially in the Philippines.
Iron‐free neoplastic nodules and hepatocellular carcinoma without cirrhosis in Wistar rats fed a diet high in iron

Although excess hepatic iron in hereditary haemochromatosis and dietary iron overload in the African causes hepatocellular carcinoma, it usually does so in the presence of cirrhosis. A direct hepatocarcinogenic effect of iron has not been proved. Moreover, an animal model of hepatocellular carcinoma induced by iron overload has not been available. The aim of this study was to develop such a model and to use it to ascertain whether excess hepatic iron is directly hepatocarcinogenic. Sixty Wistar albino rats were fed a chow diet and 60 the same diet supplemented initially with 2% carbonyl iron for 12 months, followed by 0.5% ferrocene for 20 months. Five rats from each group were sacrificed every 4 months for 24 months for histological and biochemical monitoring. By 16 months, hepatocytes in all the rats receiving the iron‐supplemented diet showed grade 4 iron overload, comparable in degree with that seen in patients with advanced hereditary haemochromatosis and dietary iron overload. Altered hepatic foci and pre‐neoplastic nodules were first seen at 16 months. These increased in size and number with time, were iron‐free, stained positively with placental glutathione sulphydryl transferase, and showed the same histological features as the iron‐free foci described in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma complicating hereditary haemochromatosis. At 32 months the eight surviving rats in the iron overloaded group were sacrificed. The livers of five of these rats contained pre‐neoplastic nodules and one showed, in addition, an iron‐free, well‐differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. The tumour stained positively for placental glutathione sulphydryl transferase. Neither cirrhosis nor portal fibrosis was present in this or any iron‐loaded animal. We conclude that hepatocellular carcinoma may complicate dietary hepatic iron overload in Wistar albino rats in the absence of fibrosis or cirrhosis, confirming an aetiological association between dietary iron overload and the tumour and suggesting that iron may be directly hepatocarcinogenic. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the erasure-correcting capabilities of low-complexity decoded LDPC codes with constituent Hamming codes

Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes can be constructed using constituent block codes other than single parity-check (SPC) codes. This paper considers random LDPC codes with constituent Hamming codes and investigates their asymptotic performance over the binary erasure channel. It is shown that there exist Hamming code-based LDPC codes which, when decoded with a low-complexity iterative algorithm, are capable of correcting any erasure pattern with a number of erasures that grows linearly with the code length. The number of decoding iterations, required to correct the erasures, is a logarithmic function of the code length. The fraction of correctable erasures is computed numerically for various choices of code parameters.
A Population-Based Study of Cancer Incidence in Solid Organ Transplants From Donors at Various Risk of Neoplasia

A population-based cohort study of recipients of organs from donors with a recognized history or active cancer has been conducted by linking the Italian National Registry of Transplanted Patients and the National Registry of Donors with Neoplasia Risk. Between 2002 and 2004, 8,198 solid organ transplants have been performed in Italy, 108 of them with organs from 59 cadaveric donors with various risk of neoplasia. There were two reported cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer during the follow up of the transplanted patients, which lasted 27.6±11.3 months (234 patient-years). In our study, recipients of organs from donors with various degree of neoplasia risk are exposed to a low risk of cancer transmission.
Active and widespread halogen chemistry in the tropical and subtropical free troposphere

Significance Our measurements show that tropospheric halogen chemistry has a larger capacity to destroy O3 and oxidize atmospheric mercury than previously recognized. Halogen chemistry is currently missing in most global and climate models, and is effective at removing O3 at altitudes where intercontinental O3 transport occurs. It further helps explain the low O3 levels in preindustrial times. Public health concerns arise from bioaccumulation of the neurotoxin mercury in fish. Our results emphasize that bromine chemistry in the free troposphere oxidizes mercury at a faster rate, and makes water-soluble mercury available for scavenging by thunderstorms. Naturally occurring bromine in air aloft illustrates global interconnectedness between energy choices affecting mercury emissions in developing nations and mercury deposition in, e.g., Nevada, or the southeastern United States. Halogens in the troposphere are increasingly recognized as playing an important role for atmospheric chemistry, and possibly climate. Bromine and iodine react catalytically to destroy ozone (O3), oxidize mercury, and modify oxidative capacity that is relevant for the lifetime of greenhouse gases. Most of the tropospheric O3 and methane (CH4) loss occurs at tropical latitudes. Here we report simultaneous measurements of vertical profiles of bromine oxide (BrO) and iodine oxide (IO) in the tropical and subtropical free troposphere (10°N to 40°S), and show that these halogens are responsible for 34% of the column-integrated loss of tropospheric O3. The observed BrO concentrations increase strongly with altitude (∼3.4 pptv at 13.5 km), and are 2–4 times higher than predicted in the tropical free troposphere. BrO resembles model predictions more closely in stratospheric air. The largest model low bias is observed in the lower tropical transition layer (TTL) over the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, and may reflect a missing inorganic bromine source supplying an additional 2.5–6.4 pptv total inorganic bromine (Bry), or model overestimated Bry wet scavenging. Our results highlight the importance of heterogeneous chemistry on ice clouds, and imply an additional Bry source from the debromination of sea salt residue in the lower TTL. The observed levels of bromine oxidize mercury up to 3.5 times faster than models predict, possibly increasing mercury deposition to the ocean. The halogen-catalyzed loss of tropospheric O3 needs to be considered when estimating past and future ozone radiative effects.
Association between retinal vessel caliber and arterial stiffness in a population comprised of normotensive to early-stage hypertensive individuals.

BACKGROUND Although impairment of the micro- and macrocirculation is considered inherent to sustained hypertension, there is a substantial lack of studies investigating whether an association exists between micro- and macrovascular damage, especially in early-stage hypertension. METHODS We studied a meticulously selected population, free of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, of 223 individuals: 137 never-treated, newly diagnosed patients with recent onset of hypertension and 86 normotensive individuals. Nonmydriatic retinal photography was used to assess retinal microvascular diameters, including central retinal arteriolar (CRAE) and venular equivalent and arteriovenous ratio (AVR). Arterial stiffness was evaluated by measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and aortic augmentation index (AIx). RESULTS Compared with normotensive subjects, hypertensive patients exhibited significantly increased PWV (8.1 vs. 7.1 m/sec; P < 0.001) and AIx (23.86% vs. 18.8%; P = 0.01) and decreased CRAE (86.47 vs. 91.44 μm; P = 0.001) and AVR (0.74 vs. 0.78; P = 0.007). A significant inverse association was demonstrated between PWV and CRAE (r = -0.205; P = 0.002), which remained significant after multivariable analysis. Likewise, CRAE (P = 0.04) and AVR (P = 0.02) were independent predictors of AIx. CONCLUSIONS This study shows for the first time an association between quantitatively assessed retinal abnormalities and increased arterial stiffness in a sample of early-stage hypertensive and normotensive individuals, suggesting that micro- and macrocirculation impairment in hypertension is a dynamic, mutual, interdependent process present from its very early stages. Given the predictive value of both retinal arteriolar narrowing and arterial stiffness in terms of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, identification of combined micro- and macrovascular damage might be helpful in cardiovascular risk stratification of hypertensive patients.
Gray Matter Volumetric Abnormalities Associated with the Onset of Psychosis

Patients with psychosis display structural brain abnormalities in multiple brain regions. The disorder is characterized by a putative prodromal period called ultra-high-risk (UHR) status, which precedes the onset of full-blown psychotic symptoms. Recent studies on psychosis have focused on this period. Neuroimaging studies of UHR individuals for psychosis have revealed that the structural brain changes observed during the established phases of the disorder are already evident prior to the onset of the illness. Moreover, certain brain regions show extremely dynamic changes during the transition to psychosis. These neurobiological features may be used as prognostic and predictive biomarkers for psychosis. With advances in neuroimaging techniques, neuroimaging studies focusing on gray matter abnormalities provide new insights into the pathophysiology of psychosis, as well as new treatment strategies. Some of these novel approaches involve antioxidants administration, because it is suggested that this treatment may delay the progression of UHR to a full-blown psychosis and prevent progressive structural changes. The present review includes an update on the most recent developments in early intervention strategies for psychosis and potential therapeutic treatments for schizophrenia. First, we provide the basic knowledge of the brain regions associated with structural abnormalities in individuals at UHR. Next, we discuss the feasibility on the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-biomarkers in clinical practice. Then, we describe potential etiopathological mechanisms underlying structural brain abnormalities in prodromal psychosis. Finally, we discuss the potentials and limitations related to neuroimaging studies in individuals at UHR.
Neurokinin A is the predominant tachykinin in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in normal and asthmatic subjects.

BACKGROUND Multiple sensory neuropeptides are present in human airways and may contribute to diseases such as asthma. This study quantified and characterised substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA), and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactivity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthmatic and normal subjects. METHODS Using specific radioimmunoassay (RIA), SP, NKA and CGRP were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from asthmatic subjects (n = 5), normal subjects (n = 5), atopic non-asthmatic subjects (n = 6), and asthmatic subjects four hours after allergen challenge (n = 12). Peptide immunoreactivity was characterised using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and RIA. RESULTS No SP or CGRP immunoreactivity was detected in any of the fractions from samples after extraction, HPLC, and RIA. Non-specific binding resulted in spurious SP immunoreactivity being detected in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid when no extraction process was employed. NKA was detected in significant amounts in asthmatic (median 550, range 425-625 pg/ml) and normal subjects (median 725, range 350-1425 pg/ml). The level of NKA was significantly higher in the asthmatic subjects after allergen challenge (median 750, range 350-1250 pg/ml) than in unchallenged asthmatic subjects (median 600, range 425-600 pg/ml, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Extraction and characterisation of peptides from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid must be performed to ensure that the measured immunoreactivity represents target peptide. NKA is present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in high concentrations and is the predominant tachykinin. The concentrations of NKA are similar in normal subjects and subjects with mild asthma.
Inverse eigenvalue statistics for Rayleigh and Rician MIMO channels

Recently reclaimed importance of the empirical distribution function of the eigenvalues of Wishart matrices was attached to the analysis of MIMO systems in Hochwald et al. (2001). But for the analysis of MIMO systems with signal processing at the transmitter (Jungnickel et al. (2001)) it is necessary to know the empirical distribution function of the inverse eigenvalues and the first and second moment of these distributions. We extend the results on the eigenvalue distribution and develop a method for computing the moments of the inverse eigenvalues. We show the impact of these results on MIMO system design with examples and verify our results with numerical simulations. (6 pages)
Mcl-1 Is Up Regulated by Prenylated Coumarin, Umbelliprenin in Jurkat Cells

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common B-cell malignancy in the western world and exists as subtypes with very different clinical courses. Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) is one member of Bcl-2 family proteins that has been shown to be expressed in various tissues and malignant cells, including CLL, where its expression is significantly associated with a failure to achieve complete remission following cytotoxic therapy. Induction of apoptosis by prenylated coumarin, umbelliprenin, in Jurkat cells was previously shown. We examined whether umbelliprenin can down-regulate Mcl-1 gene and protein in Jurkat cells. In this regard cells were incubated by umbelliprenin, and then down- regulation of Mcl-1 gene was studied by Real Time PCR method. Moreover, down-regulation of Mcl-1 protein was studied by western blot analysis. We showed that, expression of Mcl-1 mRNA was increased from 1 hour to 3 hours incubation٫ but this increase has a scale down pattern. Moreover umbelliprenin could inhibit Mcl-1 protein. In conclusion umbelliprenin treatment modulates Mcl-1 expression at both the transcriptional and posttranslational levels.