Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IL‐1 and TNF‐α Play a Pivotal Role in the Host Immune Response in a Mouse Model of Staphylococcus aureus‐Induced Experimental Brain Abscess

Brain abscesses represent a significant medical problem despite recent advances made in detection and therapy. Using an established Staphylococcus aureus-induced brain abscess model, we have sought to define the functional importance of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and IL-6 in the host anti-bacterial immune response using cytokine gene knockout (KO) mice. Previous studies from our laboratory revealed that these cytokines are among the main proinflammatory mediators produced during the acute stage of brain abscess development. The results presented here demonstrate that although they share many redundant activities, IL-1 and TNF-α are important for containing bacterial infection in evolving brain abscesses as evident by increased mortality and bacterial burdens in IL-1 and TNF-α KO mice compared to wild type (WT) animals. In contrast, IL-6 was not found to be a major contributor to the host anti-bacterial immune response. Microarray analysis was used to evaluate the downstream consequences originating from the lack of IL-1 on subsequent proinflammatory mediator expression in brain abscesses from IL-1 KO and WT animals. Although numerous genes were significantly induced following S. aureus infection, only IL-1β and 2 chemokines, CCL9 (macrophage inflammatory protein-1 gamma/MIP-1γ) and CXCL13 (B lymphocyte chemoattractant/BLC), were differentially regulated in IL-1 KO versus WT animals. These results suggest that IL-1 and TNF-α play a pivotal role during the acute stage of brain abscess development through regulating the ensuing anti-bacterial inflammatory response.
Postwar intestinal parasitism in symptomatic patients from a university community, Evanston, Illinois, 1946-47.

T present report is essentially a continuation of the survey of intestinal parasitism in this community by Snorf, Foltz and Howard (1) which covered the twelve months immediately preceding. The original problem, namely, the effect of the influx of a presumably heavily parasitized group of military returnees (2, 3) into the civilian population as a whole, was not conclusively answered by the 1945-46 st.udy. Since the influx of such a group may be of considerable epidemiological significance (4, 5), owing to the possible int.roduct. ion of parasitic diseases commonly considered to be tropical or sub-tropical, it was decided to continue our survey at least of symptomatic patients. In the present paper we are concerned chiefly with the actual incidence of infestation, but shall comment briefly on certain other problems which interested us as they relate directly to the survey itself. In general we feel that competent stool examinations are all too infrequently done; and this paper purports to show again the importance of such an examination.
The health-promoting lifestyles of undergraduate nurses in Hong Kong.

Based on Pender's health promotion model in 1987, this descriptive study of 169 undergraduate nurses in Hong Kong was undertaken to determine any differences in their health-promoting lifestyles, as measured by the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) among different age groups, gender, income, employment status, and levels in undergraduate nursing education. The student nurses performed best in interpersonal relations but worst in physical activity. There were significant differences among the various classes in stress management and spiritual growth, with senior classes (Years 3 and 4) reporting worse in both areas. This was particularly remarkable among the students of the final year, who would soon be graduating as staff nurses and were expected to inspire patients to practice health-promotive behaviors by their example. The older age group also had lower scores in stress management and exercise practice. Because most of the students in the senior classes were older, the findings further reinforce the earlier results. It was also identified that more than half of the students were supported on low parental income with many of them working a part-time job. These outcomes were explored with future recommendations made to improve the weaknesses in the students' health-promoting lifestyles.
A Five Year Review of Youth Suicide in Manitoba

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescents. The suicide rate in the 15 to 24 year old age group has increased at a faster rate than in any other age group. This study is a descriptive and retrospective investigation of 204 files from the Chief Medical Examiner's office of all youths aged 24 years and less in the province of Manitoba who committed suicide between 1984 and 1988. The study found a high male to female ratio, a large number of younger adolescents and a suicide rate in the Native population which was ten times that of non-Natives. The method of suicide varied by gender and race. Males more often used hanging and guns; females were more likely to overdose. Natives tended to hang themselves more than non-Natives, while non-Natives more often used guns. The highest percentage of Native suicides occurred in urban areas. Depression and substance abuse were identified as risk factors. A number of recommendations regarding information gathering post-suicide, as well as prevention and intervention programs are proposed.
Chronic neocortical epileptogenesis in vitro.

1. We used an in vitro model to explore critical aspects of chronic epileptogenesis. Partial neocortical isolations having intact blood supply were made in rat and guinea pig from postnatal day 7 to 34 and then examined 1 to 150 days later in standard brain slice preparations. 2. The epileptogenic potential of several different types of lesions was assessed. Slices containing transcortical (i.e., gray matter) lesions, with or without a contiguous white matter injury (i.e., "undercut"), developed chronic epileptogenesis after a latency of approximately 1-2 wk, manifested by evoked and spontaneous "interictal" discharges and evoked "ictal" events. The region of hyperexcitability did not extend beyond approximately 2 mm from the chronic transcortical lesion and was rarely observed in slices having only an apparent white matter injury. 3. Multiple recordings and current source density (CSD) analysis identified layer V as the source of the interictal discharge. 4. Significant differences in CSD profiles of the evoked interictal discharge occurred between chronically epileptogenic slices and control (noninjured) slices bathed in the convulsant, bicuculline methiodide, suggesting that mechanisms other than disinhibition must be involved in posttraumatic epileptogenesis. 5. Interictal events were blocked in most but not all chronically injured slices by application of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (D-AP5), suggesting that non-NMDA receptors were predominantly involved in some preparations. 6. This model of chronic epileptogenesis in vitro will be useful in studies relevant to mechanisms of posttraumatic epilepsy in man.
Search for the Exit: Voyager 1 at Heliosphere’s Border with the Galaxy

Unexpected Magnetic Highway The heliopause is thought to separate the heliosphere (the bubble of plasma and magnetic field originating at the Sun) from interstellar plasma and magnetic field. In August last year, the Voyager 1 spacecraft, which was launched 35 years ago, was 18.5 billion kilometers away from the Sun, close to the expected location of the heliopause. Krimigis et al. (p. 144, published online 27 June) report observations of energetic ions and electrons by Voyager 1 that suggest that a sharp and distinct boundary was crossed five times over ∼30 days. Burlaga et al. (p. 147, published online 27 June) found that the magnetic field direction did not change across any of the boundary crossings, indicating that Voyager 1 had not crossed the heliopause but had entered a region in the heliosphere that serves as a magnetic highway along which low-energy ions from inside stream away and galactic cosmic rays flow in from interstellar space. Stone et al. (p. 150, published online 27 June) report the spectra of low-energy galactic cosmic rays in this unexpected region. The Voyager 1 spacecraft entered an unexpected region of the heliosphere at the boundary with interstellar space. We report measurements of energetic (>40 kiloelectron volts) charged particles on Voyager 1 from the interface region between the heliosheath, dominated by heated solar plasma, and the local interstellar medium, which is expected to contain cold nonsolar plasma and the galactic magnetic field. Particles of solar origin at Voyager 1, located at 18.5 billion kilometers (123 astronomical units) from the Sun, decreased by a factor of >103 on 25 August 2012, while those of galactic origin (cosmic rays) increased by 9.3% at the same time. Intensity changes appeared first for particles moving in the azimuthal direction and were followed by those moving in the radial and antiradial directions with respect to the solar radius vector. This unexpected heliospheric “depletion region” may form part of the interface between solar plasma and the galaxy.
Mathematics Student Teaching in Japan: A Multi-Case Study

MATHEMATICS STUDENT TEACHING IN JAPAN: A MULTI-CASE STUDY Allison Turley Shwalb Department of Mathematics Education Master of Arts Nearly all research that seeks to assist in reforming mathematics student teaching in the United States has been limited in that it (1) does not consider student teaching models in non-Western cultures, and (2) has not sufficiently studied the unique context of mathematics in student teacher-cooperating teacher interactions. This multi-case study addresses these issues by analyzing the interactions between three cooperating teachers and two student teachers in the mathematics student teaching setting in Japan. Four conclusions are presented to generate a coherent picture of the principles of teaching and learning to teach that are emphasized during this Japanese student teaching experience.
Consistent t(1;10) with rearrangements of TGFBR3 and MGEA5 in both myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma and hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor

Despite their shared predilection for superficial soft tissue of distal extremities and frequent local recurrences, myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS) and hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor (HFLT) have distinct morphologic appearances. Recent studies have identified an identical t(1;10)(p22;q24) in five cases of MIFS and two of HFLT, as well as common amplifications on 3p11‐12. To investigate further their potential relationship and to determine the incidence of t(1;10) in a larger cohort, we subjected seven MIFS, 14 HFLT, and three cases with mixed morphology, to molecular and cytogenetic analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis for rearrangements of TGFBR3 on 1p22 and of MGEA5 on 10q24 was performed in all cases, whereas the status of VGLL3 gene amplification on 3p12.1 was investigated in 12 cases. Conventional karyotyping was performed in one HFLT and two cases with mixed MIFS/HFLT histology. Overall 83% of cases showed rearrangements in both TGFBR3 and MGEA5. All three cases with mixed features of MIFS and HFLT were positive. Cytogenetic analysis performed in three cases confirmed an unbalanced der(10)t(1;10)(p22;q24). VGLL3 gene amplification was noted in 10/12 cases of both histologies. The high incidence of t(1;10) in MIFS and HFLT reinforces a shared pathogenetic relationship. Furthermore, the co‐existence of both components either synchronously or metachronously in a primary or subsequent recurrence, suggest either different morphologic variants or different levels of tumor progression of a single biologic entity. FISH analysis for TGFBR3 and MGEA5 rearrangements can be applied as a reliable diagnostic molecular test when confronted with limited material or a challenging diagnosis. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Are there still effects on Indian Subcontinent ethnic tuberculosis of return visits?: a longitudinal study 1978-97.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether return visits to the Indian Subcontinent (ISC) are associated with increased risks of developing clinical tuberculosis. METHODS Descriptive analysis of epidemiological records over a period of 1978-97 inclusive in Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley for individuals of ISC ethnic origin notified with tuberculosis. Those cases diagnosed through local contact tracing exercises were excluded. RESULTS Of 1032 eligible individuals notified with tuberculosis, 228 (22.1%) reported prior visits to the ISC. Of these 151 (66%) reported having visits within 3 years of that notification, including 60% of the United Kingdom (U.K.) born without prior exposure to the ISC. CONCLUSION The clinical observations are consistent with the hypothesis that return visits to the ISC carry a risk of acquiring tuberculosis. This cannot be confirmed, however, without information about the return visits in the ISC population as a whole. A case-control study may be required to confirm the hypothesis.
Immunoglobulin and complement deposition in glomeruli of 756 subjects who had committed suicide or met with a violent death.

AIMS--To study immune deposits in renal glomeruli. METHODS--Tissue was obtained from 756 necropsy cases from people who had committed suicide or met with a violent death. Glomerular immune deposits were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy and a light microscopy. The clinical histories of all the decreased were studied to ascertain reasons for the deposits. RESULTS--Immune deposits were found in glomeruli in 91 (12%) cases. In 52 (6.8%) cases mesangial IgA was observed as a solitary finding in 34 (4.5%), and was accompanied by other immunoglobulins in 18 (2.4%). Mesangial IgM was present in 19 (2.5%) and IgG in 11 cases (1.5%). Two cases had capillary IgG (0.3%). Light microscopic examination showed mesangial enlargement in eight of the cases with mesangial IgA. These included one with IgA glomerulonephritis diagnosed before death. Two cases with normal glomerular morphology and mesangial IgA deposits had clinical laboratory evidence of renal disease. In two subjects with normal glomerular morphology, mesangial IgM and microscopic haematuria were present. In one case with capillary IgG membranous glomerulonephritis was detected. CONCLUSIONS--Ten cases had mesangial IgA together with morphological or clinical laboratory findings suggestive of renal disease. If all these are regarded as IgA glomerulonephritis, then its prevalence can be estimated at 1.3%. For IgM glomerulonephritis, a prevalence of 0.3% was deduced.
New Interspinous Implant Evaluation Using an In Vitro Biomechanical Study Combined With a Finite-Element Analysis

Study Design. A combined in vitro and finite-element analysis was completed to assess the biomechanical effect of a new interspinous implant on the lumbar spine. Objective. The aim was to investigate the effect of an interspinous implant on the biomechanical behavior of a vertebral segment. Methods. An in vitro study on L3–L5 segments from fresh human cadavers was conducted combined with a 3-dimensional finite-element analysis. Intact, injured, and instrumented states of L4–L5 were compared loaded in flexion-extension, lateral-bending, and torsion. The evaluated implant is an interspinous spacer fixed to the spine by 2 polyester braids looped around the proximal and distal spinous. Results. The effect of the implant appeared mainly in flexion-extension: experimental results showed reduced range of motion of the instrumented spine regarding the injured and intact one; and finite-element analysis indicated a decrease of disc stresses and increase of loads transmitted to the spinous processes. Conclusion. In this in vitro and finite-element analysis, the role of the new interspinous implant appeared to reduce motion without suppressing it and to lower stress in the disc fibers and anulus matrix. Further in vivo investigations are necessary to draw definitive conclusions.
KIN‐BASED RECOGNITION AND SOCIAL AGGREGATION IN A CILIATE

Aggregative groups entail costs that must be overcome for the evolution of complex social interactions. Understanding the mechanisms that allow aggregations to form and restrict costs of cheating can provide a resolution to the instability of social evolution. Aggregation in Tetrahymena thermophila is associated with costs of reduced growth and benefits of improved survival through “growth factor” exchange. We investigated what mechanisms contribute to stable cooperative aggregation in the face of potential exploitation by less‐cooperative lines using experimental microcosms. We found that kin recognition modulates aggregative behavior to exclude cheaters from social interactions. Long‐distance kin recognition across patches modulates social structure by allowing recruitment of kin in aggregative lines and repulsion in asocial lines. Although previous studies have shown a clear benefit to social aggregation at low population densities, we found that social aggregation has very different effects at higher densities. Lower growth rates are a cost of aggregation, but also present potential benefits when restricted to kin aggregations: slow growth and crowd tolerance allow aggregations to form and permit longer persistence on ephemeral resources. Thus in highly dynamic metapopulations, kin recognition plays an important role in the formation and stability of social groups that increase persistence through cooperative consumptive restraint.
Heparanase as a molecular target of cancer chemotherapy

Cancer cells require the ability to degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) in order to turn into invasive and metastatic cancer cells. Many proteases and glycosidases are essential in the process of dissolving the components of the ECM. An endo‐β‐D‐glucuronidase, heparanase, is capable of specifically degrading one of the ECM components, heparan sulfate, and this activity is associated with the metastatic potential of tumor cells. Since heparanase mRNA is overexpressed in many human tumors (e.g., hepatomas, head and neck tumors, and esophageal carcinomas), the mechanisms regulating the activity of heparanase should be clarified; considering the possible role of heparanase in cancer, the development of heparanase inhibitors would appear to be advantageous. This review will focus on recent findings that have contributed to the characterization of heparanase and to the elucidation of the transcriptional regulation of heparanase mRNA expression, as well as the development of heparanase inhibitors.
Covalent Modifications of the Ebola Virus Glycoprotein

ABSTRACT The role of covalent modifications of the Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP) and the significance of the sequence identity between filovirus and avian retrovirus GPs were investigated through biochemical and functional analyses of mutant GPs. The expression and processing of mutant GPs with altered N-linked glycosylation, substitutions for conserved cysteine residues, or a deletion in the region of O-linked glycosylation were analyzed, and virus entry capacities were assayed through the use of pseudotyped retroviruses. Cys-53 was the only GP1 (∼130 kDa) cysteine residue whose replacement resulted in the efficient secretion of GP1, and it is therefore proposed that it participates in the formation of the only disulfide bond linking GP1 to GP2 (∼24 kDa). We propose a complete cystine bridge map for the filovirus GPs based upon our analysis of mutant Ebola virus GPs. The effect of replacement of the conserved cysteines in the membrane-spanning region of GP2 was found to depend on the nature of the substitution. Mutations in conserved N-linked glycosylation sites proved generally, with a few exceptions, innocuous. Deletion of the O-linked glycosylation region increased GP processing, incorporation into retrovirus particles, and viral transduction. Our data support a common evolutionary origin for the GPs of Ebola virus and avian retroviruses and have implications for gene transfer mediated by Ebola virus GP-pseudotyped retroviruses.
MyD88 Mediates Instructive Signaling in Dendritic Cells and Protective Inflammatory Response during Rickettsial Infection

ABSTRACT Spotted fever group rickettsiae cause potentially life-threatening infections throughout the world. Several members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family are involved in host response to rickettsiae, and yet the mechanisms by which these TLRs mediate host immunity remain incompletely understood. In the present study, we found that host susceptibility of MyD88−/− mice to infection with Rickettsia conorii or Rickettsia australis was significantly greater than in wild-type (WT) mice, in association with severely impaired bacterial clearance in vivo. R. australis-infected MyD88−/− mice showed significantly lower expression levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β, accompanied by significantly fewer inflammatory infiltrates of macrophages and neutrophils in infected tissues, than WT mice. The serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-6, and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor were significantly reduced, while monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, macrophage inflammatory protein 1α, and RANTES were significantly increased in infected MyD88−/− mice compared to WT mice. Strikingly, R. australis infection was incapable of promoting increased expression of MHC-IIhigh and production of IL-12p40 in MyD88−/− bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) compared to WT BMDCs, although costimulatory molecules were upregulated in both types of BMDCs. Furthermore, the secretion levels of IL-1β by Rickettsia-infected BMDCs and in the sera of infected mice were significantly reduced in MyD88−/− mice compared to WT controls, suggesting that in vitro and in vivo production of IL-1β is MyD88 dependent. Taken together, our results suggest that MyD88 signaling mediates instructive signals in DCs and secretion of IL-1β and type 1 immune cytokines, which may account for the protective inflammatory response during rickettsial infection.
Motility in the isolated mouse colon: migrating motor complexes, myoelectric complexes and pressure waves

This study has used mechanical, together with pressure/volume recordings or electrophysiological recordings, to investigate the spontaneous activity in isolated preparations of mouse colon. In the former preparations, when not distended with fluid, spontaneous colonic migrating motor complexes (CMMCs) were observed using isotonic transducers. When the colons were distended with fluid, CMMCs continued at an increased frequency and in addition were associated temporally, with rises in intraluminal pressure and pulses of distally ejected fluid. 5‐Hydroxytryptamine (1 μmol L−1) or NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine (100 μmol L−1) increased the frequency of propulsive activity and this activity was abolished by hexamethonium (500 μmol L−1). In a second preparation, myoelectric complexes recorded from circular muscle cells in colons using intracellular microelectrodes, were found to correlate in frequency and phase with CMMCs. The experiments indicate that CMMCs are intimately related to pressure waves in the fluid‐filled viscus and the muscle membrane potential changes that have been recorded during myoelectric complexes are likely to be analogous to those occurring during fluid‐filled propulsive activity.
A clue to the basis of allelic enhancement: occurrence of the Ax subgroup in the offspring of blood group O parents

summary. Apparent deviation from Mendelian rules of blood group inheritance is rarely observed. Blood group O parents with children expressing weak A subgroups have occasionally been described but not explained. A detailed serological investigation of such a family is described here. The ABO locus was analysed by PCR‐ASP/restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping and DNA sequencing.