Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Ca2+ concentration on the clearance and circulating levels of intact and carboxy‐terminal iPTH in pentobarbital‐anesthetized dogs

The role of hormone secretion and hormone clearance in the differential control of circulating levels of intact (I‐) and carboxy‐terminal (C‐) immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) was evaluated in 18 pentobarbital‐anesthetized dogs. Catheters were installed in the aorta, left renal, and hepatic veins for sampling. Hepatic and renal blood flows were calculated from sulfobromophtalein (BSP) and p‐aminohippuric acid (PAH) extraction and clearance. I‐ and C‐iPTH were measured during a 1 h of infusion of CaCl2 or Na2EDTA. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiles of I‐ and C‐iPTH in and out of the liver and kidney were also obtained. Data on two dogs (one CaCl2 and one Na2EDTA infusion) were pooled for the analysis of one parathyroid function using a four‐parameter mathematical model. Results obtained in the basal state and during analysis of the parathyroid function were also compared with those of 24 awakened dogs. Results are means ± SD. Anesthetized dogs had lower levels of Ca2+ (1.29 ± 0.03 vs. 1.34 ± 0.04 mmol/l; p < 0.001) and higher levels of I‐ (11.5 ± 5.7 vs. 3.0 ± 1.9 pmol/l, p < 0.001) and C‐iPTH (52 ± 20.9 vs. 22.8 ± 10.5 pmol/l; p < 0.001) than awakened dogs. Their stimulated (S) and nonsuppressible (NS) I‐iPTH levels were increased 2‐ and 4‐fold, respectively, while similar C‐iPTH levels rose only 1.35‐ and 1.75‐fold; this caused their S (4.4 ± 0.7 vs. 6.8 ± 1.9; p < 0.001) and NS (24.6 ± 11.8 vs. 49.8 ± 27.5; p < 0.05) C‐iPTH/I‐iPTH ratios to decrease. This was not explained by different renal clearance rates of I‐ and C‐iPTH since both were similar at ∼10 ml/kg/minute and unaffected by Ca2+ concentration. Clearance of all I‐ and C‐iPTH HPLC molecular forms by the kidney appeared equal. A 50% decrease in the hepatic clearance of I‐iPTH to ∼12 ml/kg/minute in pentobarbital‐anesthetized dogs, related to a lower hepatic blood flow, explained the higher levels of S and NS I‐iPTH in these animals. I‐iPTH hepatic clearance was unaffected by Ca2+ concentration. C‐iPTH hepatic clearance was much lower at ∼5 ml/kg/minute, abolished by hypercalcemia, and reduced by the influence of anesthesia on hepatic blood flow. This also explained the higher S C‐iPTH levels in anesthetized animals. I‐PTH(1–84) detected by the C‐iPTH assay explained only 37.6% of the hepatic C‐iPTH clearance in hypocalcemia and 73.3% in hypercalcemia. Overall, our results indicate that total C‐iPTH clearance is about 40.2% that of I‐iPTH in hypocalcemia and 41.3% in hypercalcemia. This would only explain a 2.4‐ to 2.5‐fold difference in circulating levels of I‐ and C‐iPTH if secretion rates were equal; the larger difference observed in S and NS C‐iPTH/ I‐iPTH ratio values is thus mainly explained by different production rates.
Molecular and Morphological Heterogeneity of Neural Precursors in the Mouse Neocortical Proliferative Zones

The proliferative ventricular zone (VZ) is the main source of projection neurons for the overlying cerebral neocortex. The number and diversity of neocortical neurons is determined, in part, by factors controlling the proliferation and specification of VZ cells during embryonic development. We used a variety of methods, including in utero electroporation with specific cellular markers, computer-assisted serial EM cell reconstruction, and time-lapse multiphoton imaging to characterize the molecular and morphological characteristics of the VZ constituents and to capture their behavior during cell division. Our analyses reveal at least two types of dividing cells in the VZ: (1) radial glial cells (RGCs) that span the entire neocortical wall and maintain contact both at the ventricular and pial surfaces throughout mitotic division, and (2) short neural precursors (SNPs) that possess a ventricular endfoot and a basal process of variable length that is retracted during mitotic division. These two precursor cell classes are present concomitantly in the VZ, but their relative number changes over the course of cortical neurogenesis. Moreover, the SNPs are morphologically, ultrastructurally and molecularly distinct from dividing RGCs. For example, SNPs are marked by their preferential expression of the tubulin α-1 promoter whereas RGCs instead express the glutamate–aspartate transporter and brain lipid binding protein promoters. In contrast to recent studies that suggest that RGCs are the sole type of VZ precursor, the present study indicates that the VZ in murine dorsal telencephalon is similar to that in human and nonhuman primates, because it contains multiple types of neuronal precursors.
Cultivation of soybean expanded from China to Korea and Japan about 2000

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] was domesticated in China, and cultivated landraces were initially distributed throughout Asia and more recently extended to Europe and America. Previous studies of genetic diversity suggest a strong genetic bottleneck between Asian and North American soybean genetic pools. However, little is known about the potentially useful genetic diversity present in European soybean germplasm. We evaluated genetic diversity by phenotypic characterization and by comparing nuclear and cytoplasmic microsatellites in 301 genotypes of an INRA soybean collection with those of 31 European breeding lines and 17 ancestors from American cultivars (representing 83% of the North America diversity). We showed that the INRA collection contains 14 and 8% more diversity than the European breeding lines and American ancestors, respectively, based on Nei diversity (He). The genetic structure of this INRA collection does not correlate with either geographic origin or phenotypic differentiation. We generated a core collection composed of 50 accessions from the INRA collection and European breeding lines. This core collection contains 203 of the 226 microsatellite marker alleles available for this germplasm and is also representative of the diversity of morphological traits in temperate regions (maturity 000 to III), which will be useful for future breeding programs. M. Tavaud-Pirra, P. Sartre, N. Texier, and P. Roumet, INRA-UMR DIAPC, Domaine de Melgueil, 34 130 Mauguio, France; R. Nelson, USDA-ARS, Soybean/Maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research Unit, Dep. of Crop Sciences, 1101 W. Peabody Dr., Univ. of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801; S. Santoni, INRA-UMR DIAPC, 2 place Viala, 34 060 Montpellier Cedex 1, France. Received 15 May 2008. *Corresponding author (Muriel.Tavaud@supagro.inra.fr). Abbreviations: Fst, F-statistics; He, Nei diversity; PCA, principal component analysis; RAPD, random amplifi ed polymorphic DNA; SSR, simple sequence repeat. Published in Crop Sci. 49:895–902 (2009). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2008.05. 0266 © Crop Science Society of America 677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher.
Pericyte‐specific expression of Rgs5: implications for PDGF and EDG receptor signaling during vascular maturation

RGS proteins finely tune heterotrimeric G‐protein signaling. Implying the need for such fine‐tuning in the developing vascular system, in situ hybridization revealed a striking and extensive expression pattern of Rgs5 in the arterial walls of E12.5–E17.5 mouse embryos. The distribution and location of the Rgs5‐positive cells typified that of pericytes and strikingly overlapped the known expression pattern of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)‐β. Both E14.5 PDGFR‐β‐ and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF)‐B‐deficient mice exhibited markedly reduced levels of Rgs5 in their vascular plexa and small arteries. This likely reflects the loss of pericytes in the mutant mice. RGS5 acts as a potent GTPase activating protein for Giα and Gqα and it attenuated angiotensin II‐, endothelin‐1‐, sphingosine‐1‐phosphate‐, and PDGF‐induced ERK‐2 phosphorylation. Together these results indicate that RGS5 exerts control over PDGFR‐β and GPCR‐mediated signaling pathways active during fetal vascular maturation.
Alveolar soft part sarcoma. An ultrastructural and lmmunocytochemical investigation of its histogenesis

Fourteen alveolar soft part sarcomas were studied using electron microscopic analysis and a battery of immunocytochemical procedures in order to critically assess the extent to which these methods could explain the histogenesis of the tumor. All the tumors were stained with antibodies against keratin, vimentin, S‐100 protein, Leu‐7, neuron‐specific enolase, desmin, muscle‐specific actin, myoglobin, smooth muscle myosin, and fast and slow myosins. Eight tumors stained for vimentin, eight for desmin, eight for neuronspecific enolase, two for muscle‐specific actin, and one for fast myosin. No reactivity was detected with the other antibodies. Electron microscopic study showed a consistent pattern of fine structure and clarified the mode of formation of the distinctive cytoplasmic crystals which were detected in all 14 tumors. Intermediate filaments were sparse and specific myofilaments were not detected. Alveolar soft part sarcoma has a myogenic phenotype and the cells show skeletal muscle differentiation but do not closely resemble any known prototypic normal cell.
Constraining properties of GRB magnetar central engines using the observed plateau luminosity and duration correlation

An intrinsic correlation has been identified between the luminosity and duration of plateaus in the X-ray afterglows of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs; Dainotti et al. 2008), suggesting a central engine origin. The magnetar central engine model predicts an observable plateau phase, with plateau durations and luminosities being determined by the magnetic fields and spin periods of the newly formed magnetar. This paper analytically shows that the magnetar central engine model can explain, within the 1σ uncertainties, the correlation between plateau luminosity and duration. The observed scatter in the correlation most likely originates in the spread of initial spin periods of the newly formed magnetar and provides an estimate of the maximum spin period of ∼35 ms (assuming a constant mass, efficiency and beaming across the GRB sample). Additionally, by combining the observed data and simulations, we show that the magnetar emission is most likely narrowly beamed and has ≲20 per cent efficiency in conversion of rotational energy from the magnetar into the observed plateau luminosity. The beaming angles and efficiencies obtained by this method are fully consistent with both predicted and observed values. We find that short GRBs and short GRBs with extended emission lie on the same correlation but are statistically inconsistent with being drawn from the same distribution as long GRBs, this is consistent with them having a wider beaming angle than long GRBs.
Sexual size dimorphism and determination of sex in Atlantic yellow-legged gulls Larus michahellis lusitanius from Northern Spain

Aims: We evaluate sexual size dimorphism in Atlantic yellow-legged gulls Larus michahellis lusitanius and provide a discriminant function to sex gulls in hand. Location: Two islands of the Basque Country (Northern Spain). Methods: Incubating gulls were trapped, banded, weighted and measured. A drop of blood was extracted for molecular sexing. After testing for sex differences in body size and weight, discriminant function analyses were performed to identify the best traits for sexing. Results: Body measurements in males were significantly larger than in females. Within each pair, males had larger head length, bill depth, long bill length and body mass. Discriminant analysis indicated than the combination of three measurements (head length, bill depth and wing length) predicted correctly the sex of 98.5 % of individuals. Conclusions: The discriminant function described by Bosch (1996) cannot be used to identify sex properly in Atlantic Iberian yellow-legged gulls because they are significantly smaller than their Mediterranean counterparts. No significant differences were found with yellow-legged gull populations from Western extreme of Cantabrian coast (Galicia). Therefore, we conclude that the developed discriminant function can be applied to other Atlantic yellow-legged gull populations from Northern Iberian Peninsula, thus, providing a highly accurate, inexpensive and fast method for sexing in hand this Iberian gull subspecies.
Helical CT of prostate cancer: early clinical experience.

OBJECTIVE [corrected] This study was undertaken to determine whether helical CT can reveal carcinoma of the prostate detected at transrectal sonographically guided biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Helical CT of the prostate was performed in 35 patients: 25 with proven prostate cancer (group I) and 10 without cancer detected at biopsy (group II). All patients in group I had cancer in the peripheral zone, and three of these showed foci of cancer in the transitional zone. All patients of group II had undergone at least two sets of biopsy before CT. In group I, areas of contrast enhancement in the peripheral zone of the prostate were defined as suggestive of cancer and correlated with the histopathologic findings. RESULTS Helical CT revealed cancer in 22 (88%) of 25 patients with proven prostate cancer. Transrectal sonographically guided biopsy detected 102 cancer sites in the peripheral zone and three in the transitional zone in these 25 patients. Helical CT accurately revealed 59 peripheral zone cancer sites (58%) but did not reveal 43 cancer sites (42%). Abnormal contrast enhancement in the peripheral zone that was not caused by cancer was seen in 10% of suspicious lesions. The three cancer sites in the transitional zone were indistinguishable from benign nodular changes. CONCLUSION Prostate cancer detected at transrectal sonographically guided biopsy appears on helical CT of the prostate as focal or diffuse areas of contrast enhancement in the peripheral zone. A prospective study has been initiated to determine the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity.
Medical Staff Attitudes Toward Family Presence During Pediatric Procedures

Objective: Investigate health care providers' perceived advantages and disadvantages of family member presence (FMP) for a wide spectrum of procedures in the pediatric emergency department. Setting: Urban tertiary care children's hospital. Participants: Pediatric emergency department faculty and nurses, pediatric residents. Methods: In a written survey, participants rated approval of FMP for 9 procedures: intravenous (IV) placement, urinary catheterization, suturing, lumbar puncture, fracture reduction, chest tube placement, endotracheal intubation, medical resuscitation, and trauma resuscitation. Respondents listed advantages and disadvantages of FMP for patients, families, and staff. Results: 71% (104/146) of the surveys were completed. Attending physicians and nurses provided similarly high approval rating for less invasive procedures, with a decrement in approval for more invasive or life-threatening situations. Attending physicians and nurses were more likely than residents to approve FMP for all procedures except IV placement, suturing, and urinary catheterization, which had similar approval rates for all respondents. Commonly expressed potential advantages were ability to calm the patient, decreased parental "helplessness," and increased parental knowledge that everything was done. Disadvantages included higher anxiety in room, disturbing parental memories, and detriment to success of the procedure. Medical-legal concerns, mistrust of providers, and more difficult teaching environment were uncommonly listed as disadvantages. Conclusions: Emergency department staff support FMP for minor procedures, yet express concern regarding the effects of this practice on the family and the success of the procedure. Most attending physicians and nurses support FMP during highly invasive procedures and resuscitations, whereas residents do not. This information provides insight into the educational and systematic requirements of implementation of FMP.
Reasons for Non-Use of Condoms by Homosexually Active Men during Anal Intercourse

Sixty-eight homosexually active men attending an STD clinic were questioned to ascertain the percentage of the time they did not use condoms during anal intercourse, and the reasons for this. Data indicated that the reasons most commonly given were being in a steady relationship (32.8%), being unprepared (19.4%), couldn't be bothered (19.4%), use of alcohol or drugs (7.5%), being bisexual (4.5%), attractiveness of partner or partner attitude toward sex, and knowing the partner (3% each). These data suggest that both trust and situational variables are barriers to consistent condom use in homosexually active men.
Course of mental fatigue and motivation in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to determine the course of fatigue referring to cognitive symptoms (scale 'mental fatigue') as well as the motivation to start any activity (scale 'reduced motivation'), as a function of chemotherapy, in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS In a prospective cohort study a sample of 157 patients with breast cancer was interviewed at the first, third and fifth cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy as well as 4 and 12 weeks after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were treated with standard adjuvant chemotherapy, either a doxorubicin containing schedule or CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil). The psychological dimensions of fatigue were measured by the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. A linear multilevel model was used for analysing the courses. RESULTS The course of mental fatigue and motivation were not affected by the type of chemotherapy. The course of mental fatigue and motivation varied, but seemed to be stable during the treatment of chemotherapy. After the completion of chemotherapy, a weak improvement was seen. Relatively many patients experienced depressive symptoms during the study. These symptoms were correlated with both dimensions of fatigue. At all measurements mental fatigue was influenced by type of operation where women with a mastectomy were significantly more mentally fatigued than women that had undergone a lumpectomy, but nevertheless they were significantly more motivated to start any activity. Age, marital status, number of treatments and the interval between the operation and the first treatment of chemotherapy also seemed to be important determinants. CONCLUSIONS An unequivocal pattern of mental fatigue and reduced motivation during as well as after adjuvant chemotherapy was not found. Depressive symptoms were definitely related to these variables. Type of operation had a significant impact on mental fatigue and motivation to start any activity. Health care providers should be aware of the high rate of patients who experience depressive symptoms during and after the treatment of chemotherapy. Further research should include the trajectory preceding adjuvant chemotherapy and a longer study period afterwards. Moreover, the exact influence of the variables 'age', 'marital status', 'number of treatments' and 'the interval between the operation and the first treatment of chemotherapy' on fatigue is unclear and needs further study.
Widespread Distribution and Muscle Differentiation of Human Fetal Mesenchymal Stem Cells After Intrauterine Transplantation in Dystrophic mdx Mouse

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a common X‐linked disease resulting from the absence of dystrophin in muscle. Affected boys suffer from incurable progressive muscle weakness, leading to premature death. Stem cell transplantation may be curative, but is hampered by the need for systemic delivery and immune rejection. To address these barriers to stem cell therapy in DMD, we investigated a fetal‐to‐fetal transplantation strategy. We investigated intramuscular, intravascular, and intraperitoneal delivery of human fetal mesenchymal stem cells (hfMSCs) into embryonic day (E) 14–16 MF1 mice to determine the most appropriate route for systemic delivery. Intramuscular injections resulted in local engraftment, whereas both intraperitoneal and intravascular delivery led to systemic spread. However, intravascular delivery led to unexpected demise of transplanted mice. Transplantation of hfMSCs into E14–16 mdx mice resulted in widespread long‐term engraftment (19 weeks) in multiple organs, with a predilection for muscle compared with nonmuscle tissues (0.71% vs. 0.15%, p < .01), and evidence of myogenic differentiation of hfMSCs in skeletal and myocardial muscle. This is the first report of intrauterine transplantation of ontologically relevant hfMSCs into fully immunocompetent dystrophic fetal mice, with systemic spread across endothelial barriers leading to widespread long‐term engraftment in multiple organ compartments. Although the low‐level of chimerism achieved is not curative for DMD, this approach may be useful in other severe mesenchymal or enzyme deficiency syndromes, where low‐level protein expression may ameliorate disease pathology.
The Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Basella alba L . Leaves on Lead Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Albino Wistar Rats ( Rattus norvegicus )

Basella alba L. is claimed to be used as an antidote for poisons but has not been scientific adequately explored. This work investigated the effect of ethanolic extract of Basella alba on leadinduced hepatotoxicity in male rats. 24 male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group 1 was given orally 10ml/kg normal saline while Group 2 received 50mg/kg of Lead Acetate for 4 weeks. Group 3 received 50mg/kg of Lead Acetate for first week and 250mg/kg Basella alba for 3 weeks. Group 4 received 250mg/kg of Basella alba for first week and 50mg/kg of Lead Acetate for the next 3 weeks. Then, levels of the liver enzymes in the serum were measured. The results showed that the levels of alkaline phosphatase, Aspartate aminotransferase and Alanine aminotransferase were significantly reduced while Glutathione was significantly increased in Basella alba treated Groups compared to Lead Control Group at (p < 0.05). The data suggests that Basella alba reduces lead toxicity.
Differentiation of Two Very Similar Glaucomid Ciliate Morphospecies (Ciliophora, Tetrahymenida) by Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization with 18S rRNA Targeted Oligonucleotide Probes

ABSTRACT. Conventional, morphological identification of ciliates and other protozoa needs considerable experience and often is difficult as various staining methods must be applied. New molecular techniques, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with gene probes, are powerful means to overcome this problem. As a test case, the morphology of two very similar, and thus difficult to differentiate ciliate morphospecies, Glaucoma scintillans and Glaucomides bromelicola, were compared. They were then distinguished by applying the Ciliate‐FISH technique with a set of eight 18S rRNA targeted oligonucleotide probes, four of which have been developed for specific detection of G. scintillans. The remaining four probes were designed to detect G. bromelicola in order to prove probe specificities by binding to the homologous target region of the probes mentioned before. The tests resulted in a clear and easy differentiation of the two species by fluorescence signals of three of the four tested probe pairs. Thus, FISH techniques are very useful for the identification and detection of protozoa and might be of great help studying geographical distributions of known taxa.