Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circulating MicroRNA223 is a New Biomarker for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract Endoscopy is an important tool in screening and monitoring inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, it is invasive, costly, and associated with risks to the patients. Recently, circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising noninvasive biomarkers. We proposed that the expression of serum microRNA223 (miR-223) could be a biomarker for IBD. Studies were conducted using serum samples from 100 patients with IBD (50 with Crohn's disease [CD] and 50 with ulcerative colitis [UC]) and 50 healthy controls. The expression of serum miR-223 was measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The clinical disease activity was assessed by measurement of the Crohn's disease activity index for CD and the Mayo score for UC. Endoscopies were performed and graded according to the simple endoscopic score for CD and the ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity scores for UC. Blood samples for the measurement of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were taken within 1 week before or after endoscopy. Serum miR-223 expression increased 2.2 times in patients with CD and 2.8 times in patients with UC compared with the control group. Most importantly, the level of serum miR-223 was correlated with several indicators of disease activity both in CD and UC. Serum miR-223 demonstrated a higher Spearman r value than ESR and hs-CRP in detecting the disease activity of patients with IBD. Serum miR-223 might be a promising biomarker for monitoring disease activity in IBD patients.
Knowledge of the Disease, Perceived Social Support, and Cognitive Appraisals in Women with Urinary Incontinence

Social support and knowledge of the disease have been shown to facilitate adaptation to a chronic disease. However, the adaptation process is not fully understood. We hypothesized that these factors can contribute to better adaptation to the disease through their impact on disease-related cognitive appraisal. To analyze the links between social support and the knowledge of the disease, on one hand, and disease-related appraisals, on the other hand, one hundred fifty-eight women with stress UI, aged 32 to 79, took part in the study. Questionnaire measures of knowledge of UI, social support, and disease-related appraisals were used in the study. The level of knowledge correlated significantly negatively with the appraisal of the disease as Harm. The global level of social support correlated significantly positively with three disease-related appraisals: Profit, Challenge, and Value. Four subgroups of patients with different constellations of social support and knowledge of the disease were identified in cluster analysis and were demonstrated to differ significantly on four disease-related appraisals: Profit, Challenge, Harm, and Value. Different cognitive appraisals of UI may be specifically related to social support and knowledge of the disease, with social support affective positive disease-related appraisals, and the knowledge affecting the appraisal of Harm.
Immunosenescence in some but not all immune components in a free-living vertebrate, the tree swallow

A wide diversity of free-living organisms show increases in mortality rates and/or decreases in reproductive success with advancing age. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying these demographic patterns of senescence are poorly understood. Immunosenescence, the age-related deterioration of immune function, is well documented in humans and laboratory models, and often leads to increased morbidity and mortality due to disease. However, we know very little about immunosenescence in free-living organisms. Here, we studied immunosenescence in a free-living population of tree swallows, Tachycineta bicolor, assessing three components of the immune system and using both in vivo and in vitro immunological tests. Immune function in tree swallow females showed a complex pattern with age; acquired T-cell mediated immunity declined with age, but neither acquired nor innate humoral immunity did. In vitro lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by T-cell mitogens decreased with age, suggesting that reduced T-cell function might be one mechanism underlying the immunosenescence pattern of in vivo cell-mediated response recently described for this same population. Our results provide the most thorough description of immunosenescence patterns and mechanisms in a free-living vertebrate population to date. Future research should focus on the ecological implications of immunosenescence and the potential causes of variation in patterns among species.
Unmethylated CpG motifs in the L. donovani DNA regulate TLR9‐dependent delay of programmed cell death in macrophages

Regulation of macrophage PCD plays an important role in pathogenesis of leishmaniasis. However, the precise involvement of any parasite molecule in this process remains uncertain. In the current study, in silico wide analysis demonstrated that genes in the Leishmania donovani genome are highly enriched for CpG motifs, with sequence frequency of 8.7%. Here, we show that unmethylated species‐specific CpG motifs in LdDNA significantly (P = 0.01) delay macrophage PCD by endosomal interaction with TLR9 via the adaptor protein MyD88. Importantly, LdDNA triggered high levels of luciferase activity (P = 0.001) under NF‐κB‐dependent transcription in HEK‐TLR9 cells. Furthermore, the activation of caspases in macrophages was inhibited (P = 0.001) in the presence of LdDNA. Notably, the delay of PCD was mediated by modulation of the antiapoptotic proteins, Mcl‐1 and Bfl‐1, and impairment of loss of Δψm in macrophages through the neutralization of oxidative and nitrosative stress. The inhibition of caspase activation and up‐regulation of Mcl‐1 by LdDNA were TLR9 dependent. Analysis of the targets of LdDNA identified an early activation of the TLR9‐dependent PI3K/Akt and SFK pathways, which were required for the observation of the antiapoptotic effects in macrophages. Moreover, we demonstrate that LdDNA modulates the TLR9–IκB‐α pathway by promoting the tyrosine phosphorylation of TLR9 and the TLR9‐mediated recruitment of Syk kinase. The results have identified a novel, TLR9‐dependent antiapoptotic function of LdDNA, which will provide new opportunities for discovering and evaluating molecular targets for drug and vaccine designing against VL.
Modeling and computation of propagating waves from coronary stenoses

Abstract : The ability to reliably detect coronary artery disease based on the acoustic noises produced by a stenosis can provide a simple, non-invasive technique. Current research exploits the shear wave fields in body tissue to detect and analyze coronary stenosis. A mathematical model of this system couples the generation of these acoustic noises with the propagation of the sound and shear waves through the chest cavity. In our initial investigations we consider a one-dimensional homogeneous viscoelastic model. A quasi-linear viscoelastic stress-strain relationship was proposed by Eung for a variety of biological tissues. Though an effective model, this formulation presents significant computational difficulties in dynamic situations. We present several alternate constitutive relations based on an internal variable formulation that approximate Fung's constitutive relation well when optimized. More importantly, results from the corresponding dynamic models match well with simulated data of wave propagation through a homogeneous soft tissue-like gel.
A MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE LATERAL GENICULATE BODY

* connections, the thalamic connections, the cortico-pontine connections and the ponto-cerebellar connections. The important point which, alone, can justify my dwelling so much on these complex and, in part, conjectural anatomical descriptions is to show in how many different ways the labyrinthine impulses can reach and affect the oculo-motor controls and how intimately they are linked up with other muscular controls of head, neck, trunk and limbs. It is unnecessary, for my immediate purpose, to discuss the further controls in which a gnostic or more fully epicritic element is involved.
CD 4 + CD 7-CD 57 + T Cells : A New T-Lymphocyte Subset Expanded During Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

CD7 and CD57 are two cell surface molecules related to the differentiation or functional stages of CD4+ T cells. The CD4+CD7T cells represent a minor subset of CD4+ cells in normal individuals and are considered to contain the normal counterpart of SBzary T cells; the CD4+CD57+ peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) are detectable in long-term renal allograft recipients. We compared the cell surface expression of these CD7 and CD57 markers on CD4+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood and lymphoid organs from normal individuals and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Our results indicate that CD4TD7T cells in normal PBL do not express CD57 and were poorly responsive to anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MoAb), the activation being
Effects of early exercise on the development of lymphedema in patients with breast cancer treated with axillary lymph node dissection.

PURPOSE Despite advances in the treatment of breast cancer, there is little research examining the prevention of lymphedema after breast and/or axillary surgery. Currently, there are no national guidelines for activity restrictions; however, many medical providers recommend restricting activity of the surgically affected arm, which can create quality-of-life issues as well as future medical issues for patients with breast cancer. METHODS A literature review of several current research articles was performed. This report reviews four studies evaluating the effects of restricted activity versus progressive exercise and stretching activities on development of lymphedema. RESULTS The results show that there is no difference in the risk of developing lymphedema when following activity guidelines. All four of the studies reviewed report results of either a decrease in the development of lymphedema or no increased risk of development of lymphedema when early exercise regimens are incorporated into postoperative care. CONCLUSION The four research articles show promising results that support future change in practice guidelines. However, none of the studies report follow-up results beyond 2 years. Additionl evaluation to monitor long-term effects is warranted.
Plant Growth Promotion Activity of Keratinolytic Fungi Growing on a Recalcitrant Waste Known as “Hair Waste”

Purpureocillium lilacinum (Thom) Samsom is one of the most studied fungi in the control of plant parasitic nematodes. However, there is not specific information on its ability to inhibit some pathogenic bacteria, fungi, or yeast. This work reports the production of several antifungal hydrolytic enzymes by a strain of P. lilacinum when it is grown in a medium containing hair waste. The growth of several plant-pathogenic fungi, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium culmorum, was considerably affected by the presence of P. lilacinum's supernatant. Besides antifungal activity, P. lilacinum demonstrates the capability to produce indoleacetic acid and ammonia during time cultivation on hair waste medium. Plant growth-promoting activity by cell-free supernatant was evidenced through the increase of the percentage of tomato seed germination from 71 to 85% after 48 hours. A 21-day plant growth assay using tomato plants indicates that crude supernatant promotes the growth of the plants similar to a reference fertilizer (p > 0.05). These results suggest that both strain and the supernatant may have potential to be considered as a potent biocontrol agent with multiple plant growth-promoting properties. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the antifungal, IAA production and tomato growth enhancing compounds produced by P. lilacinum LPSC #876.
Radiation Effects in Si-NW GAA FET and CMOS Inverter: A TCAD Simulation Study

In this brief, we have analyzed the response of silicon-nanowire (Si-NW) gate-all-around (GAA) field-effect transistor to total ionizing dose (TID) effects and assessed the impact of single-event effects (SEEs) in simple inverter circuit built from such devices. The analysis of radiation effects is carried out with 3-D technology computer-aided design simulations. Reliability of n-channel and p-channel Si-NW MOSFET is investigated for TID effects with gamma ray exposure. The transient effects at the device level are studied for alpha particle and heavy-ion strikes. It is found that Si-NW MOSFET is inherently hardened to TID effects. This result is in concordance with the earlier reported experimental results. However, we found that Si-NW CMOS inverter is not as tolerant to SEE, as Si-NW MOSFET is to TID. This study highlights the need for radiation-hardened Si-NW FET circuits against SEE.
Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Repair Necrotic Pancreatic Tissue and Promote Angiogenesis by Secreting Cellular Growth Factors Involved in the SDF-1α/CXCR4 Axis in Rats

Acute pancreatitis (AP), a common acute abdominal disease, 10%–20% of which can evolve into severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), is of significant morbidity and mortality. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have been reported to have a potential therapeutic role on SAP, but the specific mechanism is unclear. Therefore, we conducted this experiment to shed light on the probable mechanism. We validated that SDF-1α significantly stimulated the expressions of VEGF, ANG-1, HGF, TGF-β, and CXCR4 in BMSCs, which were inhibited by its receptor agonist, AMD3100. The capacities of proliferation, migration, and repair of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were enhanced by BMSCs supernatant. Meanwhile, BMSCs supernatant could also promote angiogenesis, especially after the stimulation with SDF-1α. In vivo, the migration of BMSCs was regulated by SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis. Moreover, transplanted BMSCs could significantly alleviate SAP, reduce the systematic inflammation (TNF-α↓, IL-1β↓, IL-6↓, IL-4↑, IL-10↑, and TGF-β↑), and promote tissue repair and angiogenesis (VEGF↑, ANG-1↑, HGF↑, TGF-β↑, and CD31↑), compared with the SAP and anti-CXCR4 groups. Taken together, the results showed that BMSCs ameliorated SAP and the SDF-1α/CXCR4 axis was involved in the repair and regeneration process.
Coil embolization for the treatment of ruptured dissecting vertebral aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Proximal occlusion of the parent artery has been widely used for treatment of vertebral dissecting ruptured aneurysms, but this does not always completely prevent rerupture. We retrospectively studied 24 consecutive patients for clinical characteristics and/or for efficacy of occlusion with detachable coils at the site of dissection. METHODS During a 45-month period, 24 of 242 patients with aneurysms associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage had dissecting vertebral aneurysms identified at angiography. Eighteen of the 24 patients were treated with platinum coil occlusion at the affected site as early as possible after diagnosis, two patients were treated conservatively, and four others were not eligible for treatment owing to intractable elevation of intracerebral pressure and severe brain stem dysfunction. RESULTS The rate of aneurysmal rupture in the posterior fossa was high, at 56 (23%) of the 242 aneurysms, including 24 (10%) vertebral dissecting aneurysms. Subsequent rupture occurred in 14 (58%) of the patients, all within 24 hours after the first attack and three during transportation to the hospital. In all 18 patients, coil embolization at the affected site was successful, with no complications. Radiologic findings showed complete occlusion of the dissection site and patency of the unaffected artery (mean follow-up, 9 months). Among the six patients who did not undergo embolization, only one survived with a good outcome, the others died of repeat hemorrhage. CONCLUSION A high rate of vertebral artery dissecting aneurysms may be expected in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, especially in those with early repeat hemorrhage. Detachable platinum coil embolization may be more effective than proximal occlusion for treatment of ruptured vertebral dissecting aneurysms because of immediate cessation of blood flow to the dissection site; however, in patients with bilateral dissections or hypoplastic contralateral vertebral arteries, prior bypass surgery orstent placement to preserve the artery will be needed.
Surgical Variables Affect the Mechanics of a Hip Resurfacing System

Recent clinical studies have linked failure to surgical variables of stemmed hip resurfacing systems. We used finite element analysis to investigate the effects of implant position, stem orientation, and extent of fixation both on the local stresses and strains associated with implant loosening, neck fracture, and stem fracture, as well as on the load transfer distribution in the bone-implant system. The range of peak stress in the cement was reduced from 11 to 13 MPa for the varus stem to 3.2 to 4.2 MPa for the valgus stem. The range of peak strain in the bone was also reduced from −0.35% to −0.45% strain for the varus stem to −0.19% to −0.27% strain for the valgus stem, but only when reamed cancellous bone remained exposed. Peak stresses in the stem were low for all cases. Additionally, the implant's load transfer distribution was generally insensitive to all variables examined and the femoral head was substantially unloaded. Our data indicate the local stresses and strains associated with implant loosening and neck fracture were reduced by placing the implant in a valgus orientation and covering reamed cancellous bone, but unloading of the femoral head, found for all variables examined, may lead to adverse bone remodeling.
Structure of a two-G-tetrad intramolecular G-quadruplex formed by a variant human telomeric sequence in K+ solution: insights into the interconversion of human telomeric G-quadruplex structures

Human telomeric DNA G-quadruplex has been considered as an attractive target for cancer therapeutic intervention. The telomeric sequence shows intrinsic structure polymorphism. Here we report a novel intramolecular G-quadruplex structure formed by a variant human telomeric sequence in K+ solution. This sequence forms a basket-type intramolecular G-quadruplex with only two G-tetrads but multiple-layer capping structures formed by loop residues. While it is shown that this structure can only be detected in the specifically truncated telomeric sequences without any 5′-flanking residues, our results suggest that this two-G-tetrad conformation is likely to be an intermediate form of the interconversion of different telomeric G-quadruplex conformations.
Material flow behavior during friction stir welding of aluminum

Friction stir welding (FSW) is a new technique for joining aluminum alloys. Invented in 1991 at The Welding Institute (Ref. 1), this technique results in low distortion and high joint strength compared with other techniques, and is capable of joining all aluminum alloys. To date, the majority of research has concentrated on developing the tools and procedures for making reliable welds in a variety of alloys, on characterizing the properties of welds and on developing design allowables (Refs. 2-7). However, very little is known about material flow behavior during welding. The purpose of the current study is to document the movement of material during friction stir welding as a means of developing a conceptual model of the deformation process. In this paper, two new techniques for visualizing material flow patterns in friction stir welds are presented. Based on measured results in welds of 6061 and 7075 aluminum, material movement within friction stir welds is by either simple extrusion or chaotic mixing, depending on where within the weld zone the material originates. These results impact the development of welding procedures and suggest ways to model the process for predicting welding tool performance.
PCR-DGGE Analysis of Caecal Microflora of NatustatTM-Supplemented Turkeys Challenged with Histomonas meleagridis

Histomoniasis is a disease of turkeys on litter or range caused by the fragile protozoan Histomonas meleagridis, a parasite of worms, primarily spread in faeces, in Heterakis gallinarum (caecal worm) eggs or in Eisenia foetita (earthworms). Symptoms include poor feed conversion ratio (FCR), decreased body weight (BW), diarrhea, caecal and liver lesions, darkening of the facial regions and sometimes death. Nitarsone can be used as an aid in the prevention of histomoniasis. Natustat (Alltech, TM Inc., Nicholasville, KY), a proprietary plant derived product, is a natural alternative for the prevention of histomoniasis disease in poultry. In this trial, Natustat , was used at 1.925kg/Tonne and compared with TM nitarsone at 0.1875kg/Tonne in male Hybrid turkey diets to 42 d of age on histomonad infected litter from broiler breeders. Infected and uninfected, non-supplemented control groups were also included. On d 28, 35 and 42 of the trial, 16 birds from each group were euthanized. Caecal contents were removed, lyophilized and pooled by group for each sampling day. These samples were subjected to a molecular cultureindependent methodology; polymerase chain reaction combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), to identify shifts in caecal microbial populations between the different dietary supplemented groups. The similarity index, Sorenson’s pairwise similarity coefficient was used to compare caecal PCR-DGGE profiles to each other. In addition sequence analysis was performed on PCR-DGGE bands of interest. Resultant sequences were analyzed using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) sequence analysis package online at the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) homepage http://www.ncbi. nlm.nih. gov. Notable shifts in the PCR-DGGE profiles were observed between the controls and the supplemented groups. It was concluded that PCR-DGGE profiles could be used to monitor bacterial constituents of caecal contents, indicating that Natustat has the ability to manipulate the composition of TM the intestinal microflora.
Sox2 is the faithful marker for pluripotency in pig: Evidence from embryonic studies

Background: Mammalian first lineage segregation generates trophectoderm (TE) and pluripotent inner cell mass (ICM), which provides an ideal model for studying the mechanisms of maintenance and loss of pluripotency. In mouse, the transcription factor OCT4 restricts to ICM and plays a key role in TE/ICM specification and pluripotent regulatory networks. However, in pig, OCT4 does not restrict to ICM cells, suggesting a different molecular basis in TE/ICM specification and pluripotent regulatory networks. Results: To explore molecular basis of porcine TE/ICM specification and pluripotent regulatory networks, we examined expression pattern of pluripotency factors, including SOX2, REX1, SALL4, ESG1, NANOG, TBX3, LIN28, KLF2, and KLF5, in porcine blastocysts. We found that SOX2 is a faithful pluripotent marker that anchored to the pluripotent cells including embryonic part cells, ICM cells and newly EPI cells along with developmental progress, whereas OCT4 expressed in almost all the cells at the same time. Consistently, analysis of spatiotemporal distribution of SOX2 and the TE marker CDX2 revealed an exclusive expression pattern in D6 blastocysts, whereas no correlation was observed between OCT4 and CDX2 at the same stage. Conclusions: Our results provide a molecular basis in porcine embryonic patterning and a clue for further studying porcine pluripotent regulatory networks. Developmental Dynamics 244:619–627, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.