Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long‐term neuroplasticity of the face primary motor cortex and adjacent somatosensory cortex induced by tooth loss can be reversed following dental implant replacement in rats

Tooth loss is common, and exploring the neuroplastic capacity of the face primary motor cortex (face‐M1) and adjacent primary somatosensory cortex (face‐S1) is crucial for understanding how subjects adapt to tooth loss and their prosthetic replacement. The aim was to test if functional reorganization of jaw and tongue motor representations in the rat face‐M1 and face‐S1 occurs following tooth extraction, and if subsequent dental implant placement can reverse this neuroplasticity. Rats (n = 22) had the right maxillary molar teeth extracted under local and general anesthesia. One month later, seven rats had dental implant placement into healed extraction sites. Naive rats (n = 8) received no surgical treatment. Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) and recording of evoked jaw and tongue electromyographic responses were used to define jaw and tongue motor representations at 1 month (n = 8) or 2 months (n = 7) postextraction, 1 month postimplant placement, and at 1–2 months in naive rats. There were no significant differences across study groups in the onset latencies of the ICMS‐evoked responses (P > 0.05), but in comparison with naive rats, tooth extraction caused a significant (P < 0.05) and sustained (1–2 months) decreased number of ICMS‐defined jaw and tongue sites within face‐M1 and ‐S1, and increased thresholds of ICMS‐evoked responses in these sites. Furthermore, dental implant placement reversed the extraction‐induced changes in face‐S1, and in face‐M1 the number of jaw sites even increased as compared to naive rats. These novel findings suggest that face‐M1 and adjacent face‐S1 may play a role in adaptive mechanisms related to tooth loss and their replacement with dental implants. J. Comp. Neurol. 523:2372–2389, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Characterization of thoracic duct cells that transfer polyarthritis

Polyarthritis may result from the haematogenous distribution of arthritogenic effector lymphocytes that emerge in the efferent lymph and pass through the thoracic duct (TD) to the circulation. We therefore examined whether TD cells collected from rats in the late prodrome of adjuvant‐induced arthritis (AA) could transfer polyarthritis adoptively and whether these cells included a subpopulation of arthritogenic cells that could be identified phenotypically. Unfractionated TD cells collected from donor rats 9 days after adjuvant inoculation were injected intravenously into normal syngeneic recipients in numbers equivalent to the overnight harvest from a single donor. TD cell subpopulations, equivalent in number to proportions in the same inoculum, were prepared by negative selection. Unfractionated TD cells transferred polyarthritis without in vitro stimulation or conditioning of recipient animals. Abrogation of arthritogenicity by depletion of α/β TCR+ cells showed that the polyarthritis was transferred by T cells. Negatively selected CD4+ but not CD8+ TD cells transferred AA. An arthritogenic subpopulation of CD4+ T cells, enriched by either negative or positive selection, expressed the activation markers CD25 (IL‐2 receptor alpha), CD71 (transferrin receptor), CD134 (OX40 antigen) and MHC class II. Cells expressing these markers were more numerous in TD lymph from arthritic rats than in lymph from normal rats and they included the majority of large CD4+ T cells. Thus, arthritogenic effector T cells bearing activation markers are released into the central efferent lymph in the late prodrome of AA. Recruitment of these arthritogenic cells to synovium probably determines the polyarticular pattern of AA.
Serotype Specificity of the Neutralizing-Antibody Response Induced by the Individual Surface Proteins of Rotavirus in Natural Infections of Young Children

ABSTRACT The relative contribution of the rotavirus surface proteins, VP4 and VP7, to the induction of homotypic as well as heterotypic neutralizing antibodies (NtAbs) in natural infections was studied. The NtAb titers of paired sera from 70 infants with serologically defined primary rotavirus infections were determined with a panel of rotavirus reassortants having one surface protein from a human rotavirus (serotypes G1 to G4 for VP7 and P1A and P1B for VP4) and the other surface protein from a heterologous animal rotavirus strain. A subset of 37 children were evaluated for epitope-specific antibodies to the two proteins by an epitope-blocking assay. The infants were found to seroconvert more frequently to VP4 than to VP7 by both methods, although the titers of the seroconverters were higher to VP7 than to VP4. Both proteins induced homotypic as well as heterotypic NtAbs. G1 VP7 frequently induced a response to both G1 and G3 VP7s, while G3 VP7 and P1A VP4 induced mostly homotypic responses.
Intestinal goblet cell autoantibody associated enteropathy

This report describes a case of refractory enteropathy with circulating intestinal goblet cell autoantibodies (IGA). A 19 year old man with hyperthyroidism had suffered from protracted diarrhoea for nearly 10 years. Histological examination showed evidence of collagenous enterocolitis. The diarrhoea did not improve despite fasting under total parenteral nutrition. An immunofluorescence assay demonstrated IGA without anti-enterocyte autoantibodies, the hallmark of autoimmune enteropathy, although other criteria were fulfilled. None of 109 controls, including 55 cases of inflammatory bowel disease and one of lymphocytic colitis, had IGA. This case is considered to be a variant of autoimmune enteropathy, and might be a distinct entity.
An Online Means of Testing Asymmetries in Seating Preference Reveals a Bias for Airplanes and Theaters

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate asymmetrical interactions between humans and their environment using online seat booking sites. Background: Functional differences between the cerebral hemispheres affect the choices people make. For example, when asked to imagine going to a cinema, people preferentially select seats to the right. We investigated whether this experimental research generalizes to online booking sites for aircraft and theaters. Method: Occupancy rates for seats taken on the left and right sides were assessed for 100 airline flights with 12,762 available seats and 37 theater performances with 34,456 seats. On the basis of previous research, a rightward bias was predicted for aircraft and theaters. Results: For aircraft, contrary to expectation, occupancy rate was higher for left-compared with right-side seats. For theaters, a rightward bias was observed when the theater was less than half full. The bias was not affected by the orientation of the map. Conclusion: For aircraft, the leftward preference could be attributable to a rightward turning bias or a “feeling” that the port seats are closer to the exit, even though they are not. For theaters, the data demonstrate that the rightward preference observed in earlier studies exists only when the theater is relatively empty. Application: Asymmetrical seating may play an important role in the efficient assimilation of information from the environment, and this role should take this into account when designing effective human–environment interfaces. The online method of assessing seating used in the current study provides an informative and potentially powerful means of assessing asymmetries in human perception and action.
InGaN/GaN light emitting diodes activated in O/sub 2/ ambient

Mg-doped GaN epitaxial layers were annealed in pure O/sub 2/ and pure N/sub 2/. It was found that we could achieve a low-resistive p-type GaN by pure O/sub 2/ annealing at a temperature as low as 400/spl deg/C. With a 500/spl deg/C annealing temperature, it was found that the forward voltage and dynamic resistance of the InGaN/GaN light emitting diode (LED) annealed in pure O/sub 2/ were both smaller than those values observed from InGaN/GaN LED annealed in pure N/sub 2/. It was also found that an incomplete activation of Mg will result in a shorter LED lifetime.
Limiting the power of p 53 through the ubiquitin proteasome pathway

The ubiquitin proteasome pathway is critical in restraining the activities of the p53 tumor suppressor. Numerous E3 and E4 ligases regulate p53 levels. Additionally, deubquitinating enzymes that modify p53 directly or indirectly also impact p53 function. When alterations of these proteins result in increased p53 activity, cells arrest in the cell cycle, senesce, or apoptose. On the other hand, alterations that result in decreased p53 levels yield tumor-prone phenotypes. This review focuses on the physiological relevance of these important regulators of p53 and their therapeutic implications.
Therapeutics , Targets , and Chemical Biology Acquired Resistance to Tamoxifen Is Associatedwith Loss of the Type I Insulin-like Growth Factor Receptor : Implications for Breast Cancer Treatment

The role of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in breast cancer is well defined, and inhibitors of this pathway are currently in clinical trials. Themajority of anti-IGF1R clinical trials are in estrogen receptor–positive patients who have progressed on prior endocrine therapy; early reports show no benefit for addition of IGF1R inhibitors to endocrine therapy in this setting. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of IGF1R inhibitors in vitro by generating tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) cells. We found that TamR cells had diminished levels of IGF1R with unchanged levels of insulin receptor (IR), and failed to respond to IGF-I–induced Akt activation, proliferation, and anchorage-independent growth while retaining responsiveness to both insulin and IGF-II. The IGF1R antibody dalotuzumab inhibited IGF-I–mediated Akt phosphorylation, proliferation, and anchorageindependent growth in parental cells, but had no effect on TamR cells. An IGF1R tyrosine kinase inhibitor, AEW541, with equal potency for the IGF1R and IR, inhibited IGF-I-, IGF-II-, and insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation, proliferation, and anchorage-independent growth in parental cells. Interestingly, AEW541 also inhibited insulinand IGF-II–stimulated effects in TamR cells. Tamoxifen-treated xenografts also had reduced levels of IGF1R, and dalotuzumab did not enhance the effect of tamoxifen. We conclude that cells selected for tamoxifen resistance in vitro have downregulated IGF1R making antibodies directed against this receptor ineffective. Inhibition of IR may be necessary to manage tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer. Cancer Res; 72(13);
On directivity constraints and their influence on the lower Q-factor bound for embedded small antennas

Constraints on the directivity reduce the available bandwidth of antennas. We develop here a formulation that determines the smallest Q-factor for an arbitrary shaped embedded antenna for a given partial or total directivity. An embedded antenna is an antenna that is located within a device often as part of a circuit board, where the main volume of the device is dedicated to non-antenna functions. We show that semi-definite relaxation can be used to predict the lowest Q-factor in an embedded antenna for a partial or a total directivity in a given direction, and that the bound is tight. The paper ends with an example.
Descriptive analysis of blood pressure control among treated hypertensive patients in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Blood pressure (BP) is poorly controlled in sub-Saharan Africa and this is due to poor utilization of antihypertensive drugs among other factors. Evaluation BP control will provide basis for recommendation for appropriate therapeutic measures for achieving target BP. AIM To determine the pattern of BP control as a measure of impact of antihypertensive usage among treated hypertensive patients in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY This is a descriptive-analytical study of 605 treated adult hypertensive patients who have been attending our specialist clinics for at least one year. Definition of blood pressure control was according to the World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS The results showed that the mean age was 58.48 +/- 11.65 with 211 (34.9%) males (M:F =1:1.87). Median duration of follow up was 4(1-27) years. 152 (25%) were diabetic, 381 (63%) were taking antiplatelet aspirin and 213 (35.2%) had cardiovascular events. There was a significant difference between the first visit BP (initial BP) and last BP observed during the study (SBP[initial])=154 +/- 28mmHg, SBP(last)=133 +/- 21 mmHg (p<0.01); DBP[initial]=95 +/- 17mmHg, DBP[last]=80 +/- 12mmHg (p<0.001)). The pattern of BP control was: SBP+DBP controlled 322(53.3%); SBP+DBP uncontrolled 149 (24.6%); SBP controlled/DBP uncontrolled 39 (6.4%); DBP controlled/SBP uncontrolled 95 (15.7%). The control rate among the diabetic subgroup was 23.7%. CONCLUSION BP control rate among treated hypertensive patients in our institution is significantly higher than reports from similar patient populations in similar healthcare centres in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa which reflects an improved and appropriate usage of antihypertensive drugs recently observed in our institution. The rate of control among diabetics is still very poor.
Impairment of gastrointestinal quality of life in severely obese patients.

AIM To investigate the common gastro-intestinal symptoms and quality of life in severely obese subjects. METHODS We prospectively recruited 340 severely obese patients [mean age 30.5 ± 7.8 years; mean body mass index (BMI) 42.9 ± 6.1 kg/m(2)] and 340 healthy persons (mean BMI 23.1 ± 3.8 kg/m(2)) matched in sex, age, marriage and education. The quality of life was studied using a specific gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) questionnaire. The 36 items and four functional domains of the GIQLI were compared and analyzed between the groups. The possible correlation of GIQLI scores with specific clinical variables in severely obese patients was assessed by measuring Pearson's coefficient of correlation. RESULTS The mean GIQLI score of severely obese patients was lower than the normal control group (108.5 ± 17.1 vs 123.2 ± 14.8, P < 0.01). Severely obese patients had decreased scores in the domains of general health, including physical (17.3 ± 6.0 vs 22.4 ± 3.1, P < 0.01), emotional (12.6 ± 4.3 vs 16.6 ± 3.1, P < 0.01) and social function (14.7 ± 3.9 vs 17.9 ± 2.5, P < 0.01), and in the domain of gastrointestinal symptoms (63.9 ± 6.7 vs 66.3 ± 7.2, P < 0.05). A significantly decreased score was found in nine items, and there was an increased score in one out of the 19 items in the domain of symptoms of the GIQLI questionnaire. The decreased score in the domain of symptoms was correlated with increasing glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. CONCLUSION Severe obesity resulted in a significant impairment of the quality of life and caused specific gastrointestinal symptoms compared with normal controls. The development of gastrointestinal symptoms is correlated increasing HbA1c, suggesting that a poor control of hyperglycemia might be the etiology.
Protective Role of α-tocopherol-succinate (Provitamin-E) in Cyclophosphamide Induced Testicular Gametogenic and Steroidogenic Disorders: A Correlative Approach to Oxidative Stress

The present study was undertaken to find out the adverse effects of cyclophosphamide on testicular activities along with testicular oxidative stress at its therapeutic dose and the protective effects of f -tocopherol succinate on testicular dysfunctions induced by cyclophosphamide in mature albino rats. A significant diminution in the activities of testicular j 5 , 3 g -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) and 17 g -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD) along with significant reduction in the plasma level of testosterone and number of spermatogonia-A (ASg), preleptotene spermatocytes (pLSc), midpachytene spermatocytes (mPSc) and step 7 spermatids (7Sd) at stage VII of spermatogenic cycle were observed following cyclophosphamide treatment. Oxidative stress was also noted in testis, which was enlightened by significant elevation in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and conjugated dienes along with significant reduction in the activities of testicular peroxidase and catalase. Co-administration of f -tocopherol succinate in cyclophosphamide-treated rats resulted a significant restoration of all the above-mentioned parameters to the control level. The results of our experiment suggest that cyclophosphamide treatment at its clinical dose is associated with antigonadal activities as well as induction of oxidative stress in gonad that can be ameliorated significantly by f -tocopherol succinate co-administration. So, our data have some potential clinical implications.
Regulation of life span by the gut microbiota in the short-lived African turquoise killifish

Gut bacteria occupy the interface between the organism and the external environment, contributing to homeostasis and disease. Yet, the causal role of the gut microbiota during host aging is largely unexplored. Here, using the African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri), a naturally short-lived vertebrate, we show that the gut microbiota plays a key role in modulating vertebrate life span. Recolonizing the gut of middle-age individuals with bacteria from young donors resulted in life span extension and delayed behavioral decline. This intervention prevented the decrease in microbial diversity associated with host aging and maintained a young-like gut bacterial community, characterized by overrepresentation of the key genera Exiguobacterium, Planococcus, Propionigenium and Psychrobacter. Our findings demonstrate that the natural microbial gut community of young individuals can causally induce long-lasting beneficial systemic effects that lead to life span extension in a vertebrate model.
A Review of the Epidemiology , Prevention and Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Nigeria

In order to amalgamate research findings on HIV/AIDS in Nigeria as well as the trend of the infection in a concise manner, we reviewed published articles on the HIV/AIDS situation in Nigeria. We categorized this review into several subheadings. The HIV prevalence rate has continued to rise steadily from less than 0.1% in 1987, to 5.8% in 2001, with a slight decrease in 2003 to 5.0%. Although the knowledge about HIV and its mode of transmission is widespread, it is however disheartening to note that this did not result into appreciable attitudinal change and behavior modification among Nigerians. Both HIV-1 and HIV-2 have been identified in Nigeria, with HIV-1 being the predominant type. Furthermore, several subtypes like subtypes A, B, C, G and J have been identified in Nigeria, with several recombinant forms like the CRF02_AG; the major ones being A, G and CRF02_AG. HIV-infected patients in Nigeria are also co-infected with other viral and bacterial infections, the commonly reported ones being co infections with hepatitis B and C. Although treatment of infected patients has increased recently, more effort is needed, especially in the area of patients monitoring, to maximize the benefits of ART in Nigeria. Finally, Nigeria has made appreciable efforts in vaccine development and candidate HIV DNA vaccines have been developed utilizing the sequences from predominant subtypes, and these candidates have been shown to be immunogenic in animal models. It is therefore clear that only the integration of prevention and antiretroviral research programmes into a coherent programme that is needed to address the public health needs that HIV/AIDS crisis represents for Nigeria. Key-Words: HIV, review, Nigeria.
Sensing at the Surface of Graphene Field‐Effect Transistors

Recent research trends now offer new opportunities for developing the next generations of label‐free biochemical sensors using graphene and other two‐dimensional materials. While the physics of graphene transistors operated in electrolyte is well grounded, important chemical challenges still remain to be addressed, namely the impact of the chemical functionalizations of graphene on the key electrical parameters and the sensing performances. In fact, graphene – at least ideal graphene – is highly chemically inert. The functionalizations and chemical alterations of the graphene surface – both covalently and non‐covalently – are crucial steps that define the sensitivity of graphene. The presence, reactivity, adsorption of gas and ions, proteins, DNA, cells and tissues on graphene have been successfully monitored with graphene. This review aims to unify most of the work done so far on biochemical sensing at the surface of a (chemically functionalized) graphene field‐effect transistor and the challenges that lie ahead. The authors are convinced that graphene biochemical sensors hold great promise to meet the ever‐increasing demand for sensitivity, especially looking at the recent progresses suggesting that the obstacle of Debye screening can be overcome.
Effect of cessation of anticoagulant therapy on the course of ischaemic heart disease.

While fierce arguments have raged round the place of anticoagulants in the management of ischaemic heart disease, evidence has been brought forward that, such treatment having been started, cessation may be hazardous (B.M.7., 1962). A number of reviews suggesting that the stopping of anticoagulant therapy may be followed by an increased thrombotic tendency have been published (Dinon and Vander Veer, 1960; Kuhn et al., 1961 ; Sise et al., 1961) and a possible theoretical basis has been suggested by Poller and Thomson (1964). Dinon and Vander Veer (1960) reported a series of 20 patients who sustained a myocardial infarction (the first infarction in 18 cases) and reinfarcted within one month of stopping anticoagulant therapy. Anticoagulants had been given for an average period of 40 days (range 24 to 82 days) and in most cases, therefore, the new infarction occurred at a time when the chances of such a relapse were still high. Kuhn et al. (1961), in a study of long-term anticoagulants in patients who had suffered myocardial infarction, noted a reinfarction rate of 5 % in the month following cessation of anticoagulants-this was higher than in any other month. However, the numbers involved-five reinfarctions (four of which were fatal)-were rather small and could be regarded only as suggestive. Sise et al. (1961), in a study of a large series of patients who had stopped anticoagulants, noted that among 45 instances where anticoagulants were stopped because of bleeding (and the patient was given vitamin K or a blood transfusion) there were 20 " relapses " (10 fatal and 10 non-fatal) in the following year, the largest proportion occurring in the first month. By contrast, in 53 instances when anticoagulants were given up because of difficulties in cooperating, because of the necessity for operation and for other non-urgent reasons, there were 15 " relapses " (seven fatal and eight non-fatal) in the subsequent year, and these appeared to be fairly evenly spread. The difference in the mortality rate in the first month was at the 5% level of significance, while if all relapses were considered the difference was at the 1 % level. These observations show that stopping of anticoagulants is associated with an increased thrombotic tendency only when cessation is because of haemorrhage.