Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cochlear nerve of the alligator lizard

The innervation of the auditory organ of the alligator lizard is described. Patterns of distribution of the nerve fibers were studied at the light microscopic level with the horseradish peroxidase technique, and the types of synaptic contacts with hair cells were studied at the transmission electron microscopic level with standard techniques. The innervation of the two regions of the basilar papilla differs in the following ways. In the apical region, some fibers send branches along the length of the basilar papilla, and both afferent (non‐vesiculated) and efferent (vesiculated) nerve endings are present. In the basal region, all fibers terminate in the immediate area where they enter the papilla without sending branches along the length of the papilla; efferent endings are lacking, and nerve fibers are of a smaller average diameter. The punctate nature of the innervation of hair cells in the basal region is consistent with the hypothesis that the systematic organization according to frequency sensitivity observed in electrophysiological recordings from basal nerve fibers may be related to the length of the stereocilia on the hair cells with which the nerve synapses.
The Retinal G Protein-coupled Receptor (RGR) Enhances Isomerohydrolase Activity Independent of Light*[boxs]

Rod and cone visual pigments use 11-cis-retinal, a vitamin A derivative, as their chromophore. Light isomerizes 11-cis- into all-trans-retinal, triggering a conformational transition of the opsin molecule that initiates phototransduction. After bleaching all-trans-retinal leaves the opsin, and light sensitivity must be restored by regeneration of 11-cis-retinal. Under bright light conditions the retinal G protein-coupled receptor (RGR) was reported to support this regeneration by acting as a photoisomerase in a proposed photic visual cycle. We analyzed the contribution of RGR to rhodopsin regeneration under different light regimes and show that regeneration, during light exposure and in darkness, is slowed about 3-fold in Rgr-/- mice. These findings are not in line with the proposed function of RGR as a photoisomerase. Instead, RGR, independent of light, accelerates the conversion of retinyl esters to 11-cis-retinal by positively modulating isomerohydrolase activity, a key step in the “classical” visual cycle. Furthermore, we find that light accelerates rhodopsin regeneration, independent of RGR.
Pregnancy outcomes of multiple repeated cesarean sections in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in women with history of at least one previous cesarean section and to compare the pregnancy outcome of the women with the history of one previous cesarean section to the women with the history of two or more previous cesarean section. MATERIAL AND METHOD We performed a retrospective study of 458 patients undergoing repeated cesarean section from 1998 to 2005. Various factors that may be associated with repeated cesarean sections and pregnancy outcomes were assessed and analyzed. RESULTS Maternal morbidity rate was 18.6%, including operative complications (17.5%) and post operative complications (1.7%). The operative complications included intraperitoneal adhesion 45 cases (9.8%), excessive blood loss (> 1000 ml) 29 cases (6.3%), placenta previa 5 cases (1.1%), placenta adherens 6 cases (1.3%) and requirement of blood transfusion 10 cases (2.2%). Postoperative complications included postpartum hemorrhage 4 cases (0.9%). No maternal mortality was found in this study. Neonatal morbidity rate was 20.5%, including neonatal jaundice 33 case (7.20), large for gestational age 37 cases (8.1%), and preterm babies 20 cases (4.4%). There were no statistically significant differences of maternal morbidity and neonatal morbidity between the pregnant women with the history of one previous cesarean section and the women with the history of two or more previous cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS Maternal and neonatal morbidity in repeated cesarean section were low.
Poussée de maladie de Kaposi et élévation du CA 19-9: penser à la tuberculose!

La maladie de Kaposi (MK) est une entité pathologique qui peut survenir chez les patients VIH positifs et dans le cadre d'une immunodépression, d'origine tuberculeuse très rarement. On décrit le cas d'une MK chez un patient VIH négatif au décours d'une tuberculose. Nous rapportons le cas d'un patient âgé de 81 ans, VIH négatif, ayant présenté deux nodules angiomateux de l'avant bras gauche dont la biopsie cutanée était en faveur d'une MK. L’évolution était marquée 2 mois plus tard, par l'apparition de placards angiomateux extensifs des deux membres supérieurs et d'adénopathies cervicales jugulo-carotidiennes bilatérales. La biopsie ganglionnaire était en faveur d'une tuberculose ganglionnaire. Par ailleurs, il avait un taux sérique élevé des CA 19-9. La régression de l’étendue des lésions au niveau des membres supérieurs et la normalisation du taux sérique des CA 19-9 ont été obtenues sous traitement anti-tuberculeux. Chez les patients atteints d'une MK avec une élévation des CA 19-9, il faut penser à la tuberculose.
Heterogeneous intracellular expression of B‐cell receptor components in B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B‐CLL) cells and effects of CD79b gene transfer on surface immunoglobulin levels in a B‐CLL‐derived cell line

B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B‐CLL) cells display low amounts of surface immunoglobulins (sIg). To investigate the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, we performed a thorough study of surface and intracellular expression of the B‐cell receptor (BCR) components in B‐CLL cells using flow cytometry. There was an heterogeneous pattern of expression. Overall, 20 of 22 samples showed reduced sIgM levels, compared with normal B cells. Among them, three (15%) had very low to undetectable intracellular IgM levels and variable amounts of CD79a and CD79b; nine (45%) had low intracellular CD79b levels but appreciable levels of IgM and CD79a; and eight (40%) had relatively normal intracellular levels of all BCR components. To investigate whether surface BCR levels could be controlled by the rate of CD79b synthesis, adenoviral vectors encoding CD79b were generated and used for gene transfer experiments. Delivery of CD79b to non‐B cells transfected with IgM and CD79a lead to high‐level expression of a functional BCR. Moreover, CD79b gene transfer in a B cell line derived from a B‐CLL patient and characterised by low intracellular levels of endogenous CD79b consistently increased sIgM levels. These findings indicate that the phenotype of B‐CLL cells in a subset of patients may depend primarily on poor CD79b expression, and suggest that upregulation of CD79b expression may correct the phenotype of these cells.
Relationship between peripheral blood dopamine level and internet addiction disorder in adolescents: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES To explore the association between peripheral blood dopamine level and internet addiction disorder (IAD) in adolescents, this could be used to explain the neurobiological mechanism of Internet addiction disorder. METHODS 33 adolescents with IAD diagnosed by Young's Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and 33 healthy controls matched by gender and age were investigated in the present study. Peripheral blood dopamine levels of the all subjects were determined by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). RESULTS The difference of peripheral blood dopamine level between adolescents with IAD and their controls had reached significant level (t = 2.722, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the plasma dopamine level was significantly correlated with the Internet Addiction Test score (r = 0.457, P < 0.001). The result of rank correlation analysis showed a significant positive correlation between the plasma dopamine level and the weekly online time (r = 0.380, P < 0.01) and there was no significant correlation between the duration of Internet use and the plasma dopamine level (r = 0.222, P > 0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that DA level and weekly online time were significant variables which contribute to internet addiction. CONCLUSIONS The peripheral blood dopamine level is associated with adolescents' internet addiction. The present study provided new evidence in favor of the hypothesis that dopamine played an important role in IAD.
A Molecular Model of Plasmic Degradation of Crosslinked Fibrin

Based on structural studies of both degrading insoluble crosslinked fibrin and of soluble derivatives, we have developed a model to explain the principal structural and physical features of plasmic degradation for crosslinked fibrin in vitro from the completely intact matrix to terminally degraded soluble derivatives. Plasmic digestion is viewed as a continuous process of proteolytic attack on accessible, enzyme-susceptible sites; but the process is separated into four phases based on solubility characteristics of the degrading fibrin matrix and on the structures of the soluble derivatives. The critical event of solubilization occurs only as the result of coincident cleavages at complementary sites in the basic two-stranded half-staggered overlap fibrin structure, resulting in the release of two-stranded complexes held together by noncovalent forces. The four smallest complexes which are released into solution have structures corresponding to DD/E, DY/YD, YY/DXD, and YXD/DXY. The protein initially solubilized has a constant composition with a predominance of large derivatives which are composed of at least on fragment from each of the two strands of the protofibril. Following their release into solution the larger complexes are converted in vitro to smaller ones by the continued action of plasmin, so that the complex found following prolonged digestion is DD/E. It is proposed that this newly defined group of complexes [11] represents the major form of circulating plasmic derivatives of crosslinked fibrin.
Alpha-2,3 sialylation differentiate the limbal and corneal epithelial cell phenotypes.

PURPOSE The initial differentiation event for the corneal epithelial cell lineage occurs as the limbally localized stem cells yield, through mitosis, the highly proliferative, transiently amplifying corneal peripheral cells. This differentiation is characterized by the expression of tissue-specific cytokeratins, as well as the loss of alpha-enolase and pigmentation. All these are intracellular events. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize, through lectin analysis, changes in cell surface properties associated with differentiation. METHODS Cryostat sections of the limbo-corneal area from freshly dissected pigmented rabbit corneas were stained with fluorescent lectins. RESULTS Peanut lectin (PNA; binds to Ser/Threo-GalNAc-beta-1,3-Gal, if the Gal residue is not sialylated) stained the plasma membrane of all layers of the conjunctiva and limbus but was excluded from corneal cell membranes. Maakia amurensis agglutinin (MAA; binds to sialic acid attached to galactose through alpha-2,3 bonds in either N-glycans or O-glycans) stained exclusively corneal cell plasma membrane. After complete tissue desialylation, all corneal plasma membranes became PNA positive with equal stain intensity across both sides of the limbo-corneal margin. The binding of the agglutinins from Limax flavus (binds unselectively to sialic acid) and Sambucus nigra (binds to sialic acid attached through alpha-2,6 bonds) to the basement membrane displayed a large increase at the corneal side of limbo-corneal demarcation. CONCLUSIONS Limbal (stem) cells express on the cell surface unsialylated galactose residues that are recognized by PNA and that lack any sialic acid bound through alpha-2,3 bonds. The initial differentiation involves sialylation of these residues and the concurrent appearance of alpha-2,3 sialic acid residues, suggesting expression or activation of alpha-2-3 sialytransferase. Changes in basement membrane composition, charge, or both may underpin this expression.
Bovine Brain Coated Vesicles Contain Adenosine A1 Receptors. Presence of Adenylate Cyclase Coupled to the Receptor

Abstract: Clathrin‐coated vesicles purified from bovine brain express adenosine A1 receptor binding activity. N6‐Cyclohexyl[3H]adenosine ([3H]CHA), an agonist for the A1 receptor, binds specifically to coated vesicles. High and low agonist affinity states of the receptor for the radioligand [3H]CHA with KD values of 0.18 and 4.4 nM, respectively, were detected. The high purity of coated vesicles was established by assays for biochemical markers and by electron microscopy. Binding competition experiments using agonists N6CHA, N‐cyclopentyladenosine, 5′‐(N‐ethylcarboxamido)adenosine, and N6‐[(R)‐ and N6‐[(S)‐phenylisopropyl]adenosine and antagonists (theophylline, 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine, and caffeine) confirmed the typical adenosine A1 nature of the binding site. This binding site presents stereospecificity for N6‐phenylisopropyladenosine, showing 33 times more affinity for N6‐[(R)‐ than for N6‐[(S)‐phenylisopropyl]adenosine. The specific binding of [3H]CHA in coated vesicles is regulated by guanine nucleotides. [3H]CHA specific binding was decreased by 70% in the presence of the hydrolysis‐resistant GTP analogue guanyl‐5‐ylimidodiphosphate. Bovine brain coated vesicles present adenylate cyclase activity. This activity was modulated by forskolin and CHA. The results of this study support the evidence that adenosine A1 receptors present in coated vesicles are coupled to adenylate cyclase activity through a Gi protein.
C-fibre function in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently involves the central nervous system (CNS), but to a considerably lesser degree leads to peripheral neuropathy as measured by conventional nerve conduction velocity studies. Neuropathic symptoms are, however, frequently reported. Abnorm alities of other nerve fibers than the large myelinated nerves might thus be responsible for such phenomena. Three age matched groups of 44 patients with SLE, 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 45 healthy controls were investigated with quantitative sensory thermotesting. Warm detection thresholds (WDT) and heat pain detection thresholds (HPDT) were found significantly higher in SLE compared to RA and controls. There were no differences between the RA and the control group. In the SLE group no association to disease duration, medication or CNS abnormalities were found. Neuropathic symptoms and vibration thresholds showed weak associations to WDT. These findings imply that there is an impairment of C-fibre function in SLE. This small fibre neuropathy is probably not part of a generalized diffuse polyneuropathy also affecting large fibres, although this can not be ruled out completely by this study.
Significance of Ultrasonography in Evaluation of Vitreoretinal Conditions

We read with interest the excellent article by Parchand et al. regarding the reliability of ocular ultrasonography (USG) for pre-surgical evaluation in various vitreoretinal conditions. We would like to comment that results and conclusions of Parchand et al. coincide with those presented by Zvorničanin et al., who compared the clinical findings and preoperative USG with intraoperative findings of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) in order to determine the diagnostic value of preoperative USG. In our study, final clinical diagnosis confirmed the USG findings in 142 out of 146 eyes (97.3%), similar to Parchand et al., who reported overall sensitivity of 97.7% in identifying the anatomical position of the retina. In patients with tractional retinal detachment, agreement between the USG data and the surgical findings ranges from 77.1% to 92.2%. The main cause of misdiagnosis could be defined as the presence of multiple complicated echoes in eyes with tractional retinal detachment. Despite the fact that all patients had complete ophthalmic examinations prior to USG, preoperative USG established a completely new diagnosis—changed initial treatment plan in 4.8% and subclassified diagnosis—which helped further operative planning in 13% of patients planned for PPV. When taking into account only patients with poor posterior eye segment visualization, this percentage is even higher, 9% and 20%, respectively. These outcomes are consistent with previous studies, which reported that USG established or changed the management plan in 8% and subclassified the diagnosis in 13% of patients with various posterior segment pathologies, including cataract and chorioidal detachment. Overall, we agree with Parchand et al. that USG of the eye remains a useful part of an ophthalmic examination for detection and evaluation of different vitreoretinal conditions, if properly interpreted.
Pharmacological activities of Areca catechu Linn. - a review.

Areca catechu Linn. is a commonly used herb in Ayurvedic medicine. This review supports all updated information on its phytochemical and pharmacological activities, traditional uses and scientific approach. The plant extracts and its chemical marker or target molecule Arecoline, have been widely used for the treatment of a large number of human ailments. The chemical entities of this plant has been used as an antidiabetic, blood pressure regulating activity, antiulceogenic, antioxidant activity, anticonvulsant activity, C.N. S. stimulant activity, oxytocic activity, antifertility, anthelmintic and antiviral activity etc. Scientifically proved activities are related with traditional concept. Scientific evidence exists with respect to their major and minor constituents. Areca catechu Linn. is one of the most important controversial and effective natural origin that has a tremendous future for research. The novelty and applicability of Areca catechu Linn. are hidden. Such things should be overcome through modern scientific concept.
Comparison of three different combination therapies in the treatment of human brucellosis

The efficacy and tolerability of three different combination treatment regimens in human brucellosis were compared in 118 uncomplicated patients enrolled in a prospective study between May 1997 and December 2002. Brucellosis was diagnosed using standard clinical and microbiological findings. Patients with central nervous system involvement, spondylitis, endocarditis or children under 16 years of age were excluded from the study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 400 mg of ofloxacin plus 600 mg of rifampicin (OR, n = 41), 200 mg of doxycycline plus 600 mg of rifampicin (DR, n = 45) or 1g intramuscularly streptomycin (administered for three weeks) plus 200 mg doxycycline (DS, n = 32) daily for 6 weeks. All patients were followed up at least 6 months after cessation of therapy. There was no statistical difference between the groups on relapse rates and clinical response to the treatment (P>0.05). Five patients in OR (12.8%), six patients in DR (14.3%) and three patients in DS groups (9.7%) suffered relapse. The side-effects were seen in eight (19.5%), 21 (46.7%) and eight (25.0%) patients of OR, DR and DS groups, respectively. The use of combination therapy of ofloxacin plus rifampicin for 6 weeks was found to be as effective as DR and DS. The side-effects of therapy in OR and DS groups was less severe than in the DR group.
Halotolerant Cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica Contains NapA-Type Na+/H+ Antiporters with Novel Ion Specificity That Are Involved in Salt Tolerance at Alkaline pH

ABSTRACT Aphanothece halophytica is a halotolerant alkaliphilic cyanobacterium which can grow at NaCl concentrations up to 3.0 M and at pH values up to 11. The genome sequence revealed that the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 contains five putative Na+/H+ antiporters, two of which are homologous to NhaP of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and three of which are homologous to NapA of Enterococcus hirae. The physiological and functional properties of NapA-type antiporters are largely unknown. One of NapA-type antiporters in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 has been proposed to be essential for the survival of this organism. In this study, we examined the isolation and characterization of the homologous gene in Aphanothece halophytica. Two genes encoding polypeptides of the same size, designated Ap-napA1-1 and Ap-napA1-2, were isolated. Ap-NapA1-1 exhibited a higher level of homology to the Synechocystis ortholog (Syn-NapA1) than Ap-NapA1-2 exhibited. Ap-NapA1-1, Ap-NapA1-2, and Syn-NapA1 complemented the salt-sensitive phenotypes of an Escherichia coli mutant and exhibited strongly pH-dependent Na+/H+ and Li+/H+ exchange activities (the highest activities were at alkaline pH), although the activities of Ap-NapA1-2 were significantly lower than the activities of the other polypeptides. Only one these polypeptides, Ap-NapA1-2, complemented a K+ uptake-deficient E. coli mutant and exhibited K+ uptake activity. Mutagenesis experiments suggested the importance of Glu129, Asp225, and Asp226 in the putative transmembrane segment and Glu142 in the loop region for the activity. Overexpression of Ap-NapA1-1 in the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 enhanced the salt tolerance of cells, especially at alkaline pH. These findings indicate that A. halophytica has two NapA1-type antiporters which exhibit different ion specificities and play an important role in salt tolerance at alkaline pH.
Compact single-shot hyperspectral imaging using a prism

We present a novel, compact single-shot hyperspectral imaging method. It enables capturing hyperspectral images using a conventional DSLR camera equipped with just an ordinary refractive prism in front of the camera lens. Our computational imaging method reconstructs the full spectral information of a scene from dispersion over edges. Our setup requires no coded aperture mask, no slit, and no collimating optics, which are necessary for traditional hyperspectral imaging systems. It is thus very cost-effective, while still highly accurate. We tackle two main problems: First, since we do not rely on collimation, the sensor records a projection of the dispersion information, distorted by perspective. Second, available spectral cues are sparse, present only around object edges. We formulate an image formation model that can predict the perspective projection of dispersion, and a reconstruction method that can estimate the full spectral information of a scene from sparse dispersion information. Our results show that our method compares well with other state-of-the-art hyperspectral imaging systems, both in terms of spectral accuracy and spatial resolution, while being orders of magnitude cheaper than commercial imaging systems.