Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medial Orbital Wall Landmarks in Three Different North American Populations

Abstract Purpose: We sought to measure the medial orbital wall foramina distances in two previously unstudied populations, to describe a new bony medial wall feature, and to validate the accuracy of a new coordinate measurement device within the orbit. Methods: Dried, well-preserved, complete human skulls without orbital defects were studied. Age, gender, birthplace, ethnicity, and laterality of the orbit were recorded for each skull. Supranumerary ethmoidal foramina were recorded, and the fronto-ethmoidal groove depth was measured. The distances between the anterior lacrimal crest (ALC) – anterior ethmoidal foramen (AEF), AEF – posterior ethmoidal foramen (PEF), and PEF – optic canal (OC) were measured first by surgical ruler and wire and then by the Microscribe coordinate measurement device. Results: One hundred and forty-six orbits were studied. Fifty-seven orbits were of European or Caucasian descent, 68 orbits of African American descent, 2 orbits of West African descent, 11 orbits of Eskimo descent, and 8 orbits of unknown origin. No significant differences existed between the manual and Microscribe measurements for the ALC-AEF, AEF-PEF, and PEF-OF distances (p < 0.0001). A significant frontoethmoidal groove was observed in 27/146 (19%) orbits, in 6/57 (11%) Caucasian orbits, in 17/70 (24%) African American orbits, and in 4/11 (36%) Eskimo orbits. Supranumerary ethmoidal foramina were found in 50/146 orbits (34.2%) and in 17/27 (63%) orbits with a significant frontoethmoidal grooves. Conclusions: No significant differences in medial wall foramina distances exist between African American and Caucasian orbits; however, a frontoethmoidal groove occurs more commonly in African American orbits. This groove often occurs in the presence of supernumerary ethmoidal foramina. The Microscribe coordinate measurement system represents a valid tool to measure distances within the orbit.
Aspects of biochemical effects by hyperthermia.

Hyperthermia caused an immediate decrease of DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. The latter process was most sensitive. Initiation of DNA synthesis at the transition from G1-to S-phase and at the start of new replication units were inhibited. These effects were responsible for the growth delay of cells and were potentiated with irradiation. The immediate inhibition of protein synthesis was due mainly to a disaggregation of the synthesizing mechanisms. It led to a decrease of enzyme activities with a short biological half-life, e.g., ornithine decarboxylase. Lysosomal hydrolytic activities might be enhanced after hyperthermia and contribute to tissue damage. During hyperthermia, glycogen breakdown and glucose turnover through glycolysis and the citrate cycle were apparently increased, but after hyperthermia, respiration and glycolysis were reduced. No lactate accumulation occurred, but other acidic metabolites were enhanced and could induce a metabolic acidosis hours later. A glucose load potentiated the effects on respiration and glycolysis. Immediately after hyperthermia, a lactate accumulation was observed under these conditions. A formula is given by which the ratios of reduced to oxidized substrates might indicate the redox state in different cellular compartments, with oxygen pressure, and during other metabolic conditions. Such changes of the intracellular milieu are important for the thermosensitivity of cells.
Identification and functional validation of MHC class I epitopes in the tumor-associated antigen 5T4.

UNLABELLED The cancer vaccine TroVax, modified vaccinia Ankara encoding the tumor-associated antigen 5T4, has been tested in phase I and II studies in colorectal cancer patients. Monitoring of 5T4-specific immune responses in patients receiving TroVax is critical since it could inform future refinements to the therapeutic or provide a surrogate marker of clinical efficacy. Tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) are considered to be a key component of an effective anti-cancer immune response. Though numerous techniques have been employed to identify CTL epitopes, many are labor intensive, of variable reliability or biased toward common alleles such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2. A new high-throughput technique, iTopia, enables peptides to be evaluated on the basis of their physical binding properties for HLA alleles. This technique has been utilized to rapidly screen a panel of overlapping peptides, spanning the length of 5T4. Initially, peptides which bound to four class I alleles (A*0101, A*0201, A*0301 and B*0702) were identified and their physical binding characteristics assessed further by analysis of relative affinity and complex stability. 46 putative CTL epitopes have been identified which bind to at least one of the four HLA alleles. Using PBMCs from patients vaccinated with TroVax, we have used the interferon gamma (IFN gamma) ELISpot assay to validate one predicted A1 and two A2 epitopes. CONCLUSION iTopia represents a rapid and high-throughput technique to identify CTL epitopes.
The Rapidly Expanding Therapeutic Role of Thymosin α-1 in the Management of Gastrointestinal and Systemic Infectious Disorders

T he recent article by Yumin et al was highly interesting. The authors have clearly demonstrated that thymosin a-1 in combination with ulinastatin is a highly effective therapy for severe sepsis. The results reported by Yumin et al further corroborate and support the rapidly expanding role of thymosin a-1 as a highly beneficial agent for the management of gastrointestinal as well as systemic infectious disorders. For instance, Andreone et al have shown that the addition of thymosin a-1 to interferon-a therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C results in a better end of treatment virological response in comparison to monotherapy with interferon-a alone. Thymosin a-1 is also highly effective in decreasing the hepatic viral load in cytomegalovirus infections. Similarly, thymosin a-1 has a beneficial role in inhibiting hepatosteatosis. For instance, it has a positive influence on liver glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity and thereby limits free radical damage to hepatic tissue. As a result, it inhibits macrovesicular as well as microvesicular hepatosteatosis secondary to high fructose diets. Similarly, it has been used for the treatment of spontaneous peritonitis in individuals with cirrhosis. Thymosin a-1 is also beneficial in the management of other extrahepatic gastrointestinal disorders. For instance, it remarkably decreases the severity of severe acute pancreatitis by having a negative effect on serum levels of tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a) as well as by immunomodulation of CD3/CD4 T-lymphocyte differentiation. Thymosin a-1 also has a role toplay in themanagementofgastrointestinalcarcinogenesis. For instance, Rasi et al have shown that immunotherapy with thymosin a-1 and interleukin-2 following chemotherapy with agents such as 5-fluorouracil limits the extrahepatic spread of colorectal carcinomas as well as attenuates the growth of hepatic secondaries. As is clearly evident from the above examples, thymosin a-1 has a major role to play in the management of systemic infectious disorders. There is a need for further large-scale studies in humans to further confirm these observations as well as to expand its use for the management of other infectious disorders.
DNA analysis at p53 locus in adenoid cystic carcinoma: Comparison of molecular study and p53 immunostaining

Abnormalities of the p53 tumor suppressor gene were investigated in 22 foci from 14 adenoid cystic carcinomas (ACC) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based assays for dinucleotide (CA)n and pentanucleotide (AAAAT)n repeat polymorphisms and by immunohistochemical staining for oncoprotein expression. Adenoid cystic carcinomas were divided into lower grade (tubular and cribriform) subtypes and higher grade (trabecular and solid) subtypes. Histologically identified tumor cells were precisely microdissected from archival microslides and were used for molecular analysis. The overall frequency of p53 gene mutations detected by PCR‐loss‐of‐heterozygosity (LOH) analysis was 57% and was higher than the frequency of overexpression of p53 oncoprotein detected by immunostaining (43%). In the molecular analysis of individual histological subtype foci, the number of foci with p53 gene mutation was slgnificantly greater in the higher grade subtype foci than in the lower grade subtype foci and was greatest in solid‐type foci (100%). In all six tumors in which histologically different foci were present In the Same tumors, mutations of the p53 gene were detected. When tumor heterogeneity of the p53 gene was present among different histological foci in the same tumors, the mutations were always detected in the higher grade foci. When lower and higher grade foci were present in the same tumors, the identical mutations detected In the lower grade foci were present in the corresponding higher grade foci. These findings indicate that abnormaliies of the p53 gene are involved in carcinogenesis and/or progression of this tumor and, furthermore, suggest that molecular analyses of ACC may provide information of prognostic importance.
miR‐191/DAB2 axis regulates the tumorigenicity of estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer

Disabled‐2 (DAB2) has been shown to be downregulated in a variety of human cancer types including breast tumors. However, the role of DAB2 in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer cells has not been reported. In this context, we demonstrated that DAB2 expression was significantly decreased in ER+ breast cancer cell lines and ER+ clinical specimens, compared with ER– breast cancer cell lines and ER– tissues, respectively. Depletion of estrogen significantly elevated DAB2 expression in ER+ MCF7 and T‐47D cells. Treatment with estradiol (E2) reduced the expression of DAB2 and administration of tamoxifen upregulated DAB2 expression in a dose‐dependent manner. Functionally, silencing of DAB2 in hormone‐starved MCF7 and T‐47D cells promoted cellular proliferation and enforced expression of DAB2 in normal‐cultured or E2‐treated cells suppressed cellular proliferation. Mechanistically, estrogen‐induced miR‐191 was identified as a direct upstream regulator of DAB2 in ER+ cells. Luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR‐191 inhibited DAB2 expression by directly targeting the 3′‐UTR of DAB2. Importantly, the expression and function of miR‐191 showed the opposite tendency with DAB2 in ER+ cells. In vivo, inhibition of miR‐191 significantly suppressed the xenograft growth induced by E2, and silencing of DAB2 could restored the growth arrest induced by miR‐191 inhibition. Taken together, our data unveil that the miR‐191‐DAB2 axis seems to be an important pathway associated with estrogen signaling in breast cancer and may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and a powerful therapeutic target for ER+ breast cancer patients. © 2017 IUBMB Life, 70(1):71–80, 2018
IR and NMR Analyses of Hardening and Maturation of Glass-ionomer Cement

It has been reported that the silicate phase as well as the cross-linking of the polycarboxylic acid by aluminum and calcium ions played an important role in the hardening of glass-ionomer cement. The objective of this study was to investigate the structural change during hardening of the cements by means of infrared (IR) spectroscopy and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and to confirm the role of the silica phase in the hardening of the cement. For that purpose, we measured the change in compressive strength of an experimental glass-ionomer cement, two commercial glass-ionomer cements, and a polycarboxylate cement and carried out 29Si and 27 Al NMR analyses of the cement samples after the strength measurement. In the IR spectra during hardening, a characteristic band of the silicate network around 1000 cm-1 shifted toward high frequency with time. The spectrum after hardening was similar to that for a hydrated amorphous silica structure. The 27Al NMR analysis showed that Al3+ ion was tetrahedrally coordinated by oxygen in the original glass, but a part of the Al3+ ion was octahedrally coordinated after hardening to form Al polyacrylate gel. The chemical shift of Si in the 29Si NMR spectra also changed during hardening. The variation in the chemical shift reflected the structural change in the silicate network. The initial increase in compressive strength of the cement was mainly caused by polycarboxylate gel formation. However, it was concluded that the reconstruction of the silicate network contributed to the increase in strength with time during the period after the gelation by cross-linking was completed.
Insertion of influenza M protein into the viral lipid bilayer and localization of site of insertion

Recent studies with isolated M protein from influenza virus have shown that the protein has a high affinity for lipid. The ability of M to partition into lipid vesicles merely by shaking vesicles and M together is suggestive evidence that the protein could be interacting with the lipid in the virus particle. A more direct analysis was carried our here to determine whether M is in contact with the viral lipid in situ, by using the photoactivatable hydrophobic probe, pyrenesulfonyl azide. Covalent linkage of this probe to M indicated that a segment of M residues with in the virus membrane in contact with the lipid bilayer. M inserted into lipid vesicles at two locations on the molecule. A major insertion into lipid occurred in the middle of the molecule where a large cluster of 20 hydrophobic and neutral amino acids occurs. A second insertion occurred approximately one fourth in from the amino terminus, where a smaller segment of 13 uncharged amino acids is found. Confirmation that M inserted into lipid at these locations came also from results with cyanogen bromide fragments of M. Of the 12 to 13 fragments produced, 3 specifically bound to lipid vesicles. These were the first, second, and third contiguous segments beginnings at the amino terminus and containing the two hydrophobic areas noted above.
Effects of an Extract Obtained From Fruits of Euterpe oleracea Mart. in the Components of Metabolic Syndrome Induced in C57BL/6J Mice Fed a High-fat Diet

Previously, we have demonstrated that the seed of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) from the Amazon region exerts vasodilator and antihypertensive actions. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of oral chronic treatment with açaí seed extract (ASE, 300 mg·kg−1·d−1) on high-fat (HF) diet-induced metabolic syndrome (MS) in C57BL/6J mice. Four groups of C57BL/6 mice were fed with control diet (10% fat), ASE (10% fat), HF (60% fat), and HF + ASE (60% fat plus ASE) for 12 weeks. The vasodilator effects of acetylcholine (ACh) and nitroglycerine (NG) were studied in perfused mesenteric arterial bed. Body weight, plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and insulin levels, oral glucose tolerance test, and oxidative damage were determined, and the insulin resistance measured by Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA) index. Vasodilator response to ACh but not to NG was reduced in HF mice, and ASE restored the response. Increased plasma malondialdehyde levels, body weight, plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, glucose levels, and insulin resistance were observed in HF mice and reduced by ASE. Treatment with ASE also reduced glucose intolerance observed by oral glucose tolerance test in HF mice. In conclusion, ASE protected C57BL/6J mice fed HF diet from phenotypic and metabolic characteristics of MS, providing an alternative nutritional resource for prevention of MS.
Estimating price rigidity in coffee markets : A cross country comparison Ph

Price rigidity theories explain why a firm may not change its prices in response to changes in demand and cost conditions. Understanding rigidity and its determinants is important in evaluating the potential effectiveness of monetary policy. This paper uses error correction models to estimate the degree of price rigidity in the coffee markets of 16 different countries. A high degree of rigidity was found in seven countries, while relatively responsive prices were found in the remaining countries. A general conclusion that can be drawn from the study is that the price adjustment occurs within two quarters after the shock is imposed. The observed rigidity seems to be largely determined by the high degree of market concentration. The economic margin resulting from imperfect markets allows a firm not to adjust prices to cost changes. ∗ I would like to thank Simon Angus, Daniel Buncic, Denzil Fiebig, Lorraine Ivancic, Nigel Stapledon and Minxian Yang for helpful comments and discussions.
Study of relationship between intraocular pressure, pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure in different age groups in Western Rajasthan

Elevated Intra-ocular Pressure (IOP) is one of the major risk factors for developing glaucoma or glaucomatous optic neuropathy and its progression. Glaucoma is a common ophthalmic disease in India and worldwide and it is a significant cause of visual impairment and blindness. Blindness leads not only to a reduced economical and social status, but it may also result in premature death. Hence, this work was undertaken to study the relationship between IOP and Blood Pressure (BP), so that the prediction of ocular hypertension and its consequences could be forecasted by using more common systemic parameters, i.e., BP.300 apparently healthy subjects who were aged between 21 60 years were examined to find out the relationship between IOP, PULSE PRESSURE AND MAP. The BP was recorded with the subjects in the supine position. The IOP was recorded by using Schiotz’s tonometer. The IOP was found to increase with age in both men and women and it was statistically significant. The systolic BP and the diastolic BP were positively and significantly correlated with the IOP.As a person’s IOP increases along with his/her BP; the subjects with hypertension should be monitored for ocular hypertension. Advancing age was positively associated with the IOP. Hence, in older people, screening needs to be done for high IOP. By symmetry, persons with an elevated IOP suggest that periodic BP monitoring may be indicated for these patients. Hence, a population based screening for elevated IOP and its control could reduce the number of people who are at the greatest risk of glaucoma, which is the second commonest cause for blindness and visual impairment in India and also worldwide.
AIP56, a novel plasmid‐encoded virulence factor of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida with apoptogenic activity against sea bass macrophages and neutrophils

A strategy used by extracellular pathogens to evade phagocytosis is the utilization of exotoxins that kill host phagocytes. We have recently shown that one major pathogenicity strategy of Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Phdp), the agent of the widespread fish pasteurellosis, is the induction of extensive apoptosis of sea bass macrophages and neutrophils that results in lysis of these phagocytes by post‐apoptotic secondary necrosis. Here we show that this unique process is mediated by a novel plasmid‐encoded apoptosis inducing protein of 56 kDa (AIP56), an exotoxin abundantly secreted by all virulent, but not avirulent, Phdp strains tested. AIP56 is related to an unknown protein of the enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and NleC, a Citrobacter rodentium type III secreted effector of unknown function. Passive immunization of sea bass with a rabbit anti‐AIP56 serum conferred protection against Phdp challenge, indicating that AIP56 represents a key virulence factor of that pathogen and is a candidate for the design of an anti‐pasteurellosis vaccine.
Clinical evaluation of a modified coronally advanced flap alone or in combination with a platelet-rich fibrin membrane for the treatment of adjacent multiple gingival recessions: a 6-month study.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of an autologous platelet-rich fibrin clot (PRF) to a modified coronally advanced flap (MCAF) (test group) would improve the clinical outcome compared to an MCAF alone (control group) for the treatment of multiple gingival recessions. METHODS Twenty subjects, presenting three adjacent Miller Class I or II multiple gingival recessions of similar extent on both sides of the mouth, were enrolled in the study. The mean recession value at baseline was 2.9 +/- 1.1 mm for test sites and 2.5 +/- 0.9 mm for control sites. Each patient was treated on both sides by an MCAF technique; the combination treatment (with a PRF membrane) was applied on the test side. Probing depth (PD), recession width, clinical attachment level (CAL), keratinized gingival width, and gingival/mucosal thickness (GTH) were measured at baseline and at 6 months post-surgery. Gingival recession was measured at baseline and at 1, 3, and 6 months post-surgery. RESULTS Mean root coverage after 1, 3, and 6 months was 81.0% +/- 16.6%, 76.1% +/- 17.7%, and 80.7% +/- 14.7%, respectively, at the test sites and 86.7% +/- 16.6%, 88.2% +/- 16.9%, and 91.5% +/- 11.4%, respectively, at the control sites. Differences between the two groups were statistically significant at 3 and 6 months. At 6 months, complete root coverage was obtained at 74.6% of the sites treated with the control procedure but at only 52.2% of the experimental sites. At 6 months, the increase in GTH was statistically significant when comparing the test sites (from 1.1 +/- 0.3 mm at baseline to 1.4 +/- 0.5 mm at 6 months) to the control sites (from 1.1 +/- 0.3 mm at baseline to 1.1 +/- 0.3 mm at 6 months). In the case of PD, there was no significant difference between the two groups at 6 months, but a significant CAL gain in favor of the control group was observed at that time. CONCLUSIONS MCAF is a predictable treatment for multiple adjacent Miller Class I or II recession-type defects. The addition of a PRF membrane positioned under the MCAF provided inferior root coverage but an additional gain in GTH at 6 months compared to conventional therapy.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Appearance of Well-differentiated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: We reviewed the MRI of 32 patients with 33 pathologically confirmed well-differentiated HCC. The MRI protocol included T2-weighted imaging with and without fat saturation, dual-phase T1-weighted imaging, and gadolinium-enhanced dynamic study. The signal intensity of each lesion was categorized as hyperintense, isointense, and hypointense with reference to the surrounding liver parenchyma. Results: Thirty-one (93.9%) of 33 well-differentiated HCC were demonstrated on the MRI. The remaining 2 were isointense in all magnetic resonance sequences and, therefore, could not be identified. Most of them were hyperintense (n = 15 [45.4%]) or isointense (n = 16 [48.5%]) on T1-weighted imaging, and hyperintense (n = 12 [36.4%]) or isointense (n = 17 [51.5%]) on T2-weighted imaging. On the dynamic study, 17 lesions (51.5%) were enhanced. Conclusions: MRI may identify most well-differentiated HCC; however, the imaging appearance is diverse. Biopsy should be performed if magnetic resonance study is inconclusive.
The use of Probability Control in CDMA systems

CDMA systems commonly use power control mechanism to reduce the amount of interference between the users. We challenge this common practice by considering noncontinuous transmission and probability control mechanism. We analyze the effect of the transmission probability on the average signal-to-noise plus interference ratio (SIR), and give a sufficient condition for CDMA systems in which probability control (and not power control) is the optimal method for balancing users' interference. We also demonstrate this condition on a CDMA system with a single RAKE finger. Results are applicable both for CDMA and for impulse radio (IR) systems