Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of crude water-soluble extract of Momordica charantia on viability, caspase activity, cytochrome-c release and on cytosolic calcium levels in different cancer cell lines

Prior to the availability of chemotherapeutic agents, dietary measures, including traditional medicines derived from plants, were the major forms of cancer treatment. One such plant is Momrdica charantia (Family: Cucurbitaceae), whose fruit is known as corilla or bitter gourd/melon. M. charantia possesses anti-carcinogenic properties and it can modulate its effect via xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress. This study investigated the anti-cancer effect of an active water soluble extract (s) of M. charantia on cell viability and its cellular mechanism of action in inducing cell death. The fruit was washed and cut in to small pieces, liquidised in deionised water using a blender and subsequently, dried using a rota evaporator and oven. Both time course (800 µg/ml) and dose- dependent (200 µg/ml-800 µg/ml) experiments were performed treating six different cancer cell lines, namely 1321N1, Gos-3, U87-MG, Sk Mel, Corl -23, Weri Rb-1 and normal L6 muscle cell line with the crude fruit extract for 24 hours at 37 °C. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. The results show that the crude water soluble extract of M. charantia can evoke both time-course at (800 µg/ml) and dose-dependent (20 µg/ml - 800 µg/ml) decreases in cell viability (cell death) with maximal increases in cell death with 800 µg/ml over a period of 24 hours following incubation. The results of this study have also shown that the crude water-soluble extract of M. charantia (800 µg/ml) can elicit marked and significant (p < 0.050) increases in the activities of caspase - 3 and caspase - 9 in all the cell lines. The crude water soluble extract of M. charantia can stimulate the release of cytochrome-c and elevated intracellular free calcium concentrations [Ca 2+ ] i in the different cancer cell lines compared to untreated cell lines. These results clearly show that M. charantia is exerting its anti- cancer effect via an insult to the mitochondria resulting in apoptosis, calcium overloading and subsequently, cell death.
An Assessment of Tourism’s Environmental Impact on the Lake Bosomtwe Basin

ABSTRACT Using information from interviews with key stakeholders and secondary sources, this article assessed whether Lake Bosomtwe tourism development has negatively impacted its ecology and, if so, what can be done to mitigate the impact. The evidence showed that despite the increase in awareness of the need to protect the lake environment, far greater abuses of the ecology are endemic for two reasons—the mismatch between knowledge and practice of ecologically sustainable tourism development, and the omission from the calculus of the influences that segments of the tourism supply chain have on one another to encourage more environmentally responsible tourism.
Circulating immune complexes in rats bearing chemically induced tumors. I. Sequential determination during the growth of tumours at various body sites

Circulating immune complexes were measured in sequential monitoring studies in rats bearing chemically induced tumours at different body sites. The assay employed were based upon radio‐immunoprecipitation of serum factors with 125I‐C1q or with an indirect test whereby the inhibition of binding of 125I‐C1q to IgG aggregates by tumour‐bearer sera was measured. 125I‐C1q‐binding immune complexes were detected at the initial phase of tumour growth and the level of this activity returned to the normal range after tumour excision. With tumours growing at subcutaneous sites or in the peritoneal cavity, serum‐borne C1q‐binding material, after reaching a maximum level, decreased despite tumour progression and eventually fell into sub‐normal ranges at terminal stages of growth. In contrast, following intravenous tumour cell injection, immune‐complex levels increased until terminal stages of disease. The present findings indicate that the measurement of C1q‐binding serum factors represents a useful method for monitoring the growth and burden of experimental animal tumours.
R‐roscovitine (Seliciclib) affects CLL cells more strongly than combinations of fludarabine or cladribine with cyclophosphamide: Inhibition of CDK7 sensitizes leukemic cells to caspase‐dependent apoptosis

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of malignant, apoptosis‐resistant B CD19+/CD5+ cells. Populations of CLL cells are heterogeneous and consist primarily of quiescent cells with a minor subset of dividing cells. In this study the efficacy of a first‐line in vivo therapy was compared with treatment by R‐roscovitine (ROSC) alone or by purine analogues (cladribine and fludarabine) combined with maphosphamide for 14 CLL patients under ex vivo conditions. ROSC induced the highest reduction in numbers of living B‐cells, coinciding with an increased rate of apoptosis. After 24 h the percentage of apoptotic cells in ROSC‐treated cultures was markedly higher than in untreated controls. ROSC also induced strong activation of the apoptosome and effector caspases in CLL cells. During progression of apoptosis the plasma membrane became permeable, resulting in the release of activated caspases into the culture medium. Leukemic cells were more sensitive to ROSC than normal mononuclear cells. Treatment with ROSC did not affect the activating phosphorylation of CDK2 or CDK1. However, ROSC decreased phosphorylation of survivin, CDK7, and RNA‐Pol II, resulting in inhibition of transcription elongation and subsequent down‐regulation of levels of anti‐apoptotic factors, thereby facilitating apoptosis. Unlike ROSC, two other purine analogues barely affected the cellular levels of anti‐apoptotic proteins and more weakly activated effector caspases. In addition, the efficacies of in vivo and ex vivo therapies were found to be correlated. Marked between‐patient differences in expression patterns of apoptosis‐regulating factors in CLL cells were observed, explaining the variations in patients' sensitivity to therapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 217–235, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Specificity of antibodies produced against native or desialylated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 recombinant gp160

In a previous report we have shown that, in contrast to antibodies produced against native or fully deglycosylated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp160 in rabbits, antibodies raised against desialylated HIV-1 gp160 also recognize gp140 from HIV-2 at high titers. Here, we characterize the fine specificity of these cross-reactive antibodies. Inhibition assays with a panel of synthetic peptides as competitors showed that cross-reactivity to gp140 was due to antibodies that were specific for the region encompassing HIV-1 gp41 immunodominant epitope, mimicked by peptide P39 (residues 583 to 609), the latter being able to totally inhibit the formation of complexes between radiolabeled HIV-2 gp140 and antibodies elicited by desialylated HIV-1 gp160. In addition, anti-desialylated gp160 antibodies retained on a P39 affinity column still bound HIV-2 gp140. Fine mapping has enabled us to localize the cross-reactive epitope within the N-terminal extremity of the gp41 immunodominant region. Interestingly, this cross-reactive antibody population did not recognize glycosylated or totally deglycosylated simian immunodeficiency virus gp140 despite an amino acid homology with HIV-1 within this region that is comparable to that of HIV-2. This cross-reactivity between HIV-1 and HIV-2 did not correlate with cross-neutralization. These results illustrate the influence of carbohydrate moieties on the specificity of the antibodies produced and clearly indicate that such procedures may be an efficient way to raise specific immune responses that are not type specific. Moreover, this cross-reactivity might explain the double-positive reactivity observed, in some human sera, against both HIV-1 and HIV-2 envelope antigens.
Distal hyperintense vessels on FLAIR

Background: Hyperintense vessels (HV) on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging are frequently observed in acute ischemic stroke patients. However, the exact mechanism and clinical implications of this sign have not yet been clearly defined. The features of HV and its relevance to other imaging factors are presented here. Methods: Prominence and location of HV were documented in 52 consecutive patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarction, before treatment with IV recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. Pretreatment ischemic lesion volume, perfusion lesion volume, and vessel occlusion were determined in addition to recanalization status and ischemic lesion volume on follow-up imaging. NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was used as a measure of clinical severity. Results: HV distal to arterial occlusion was observed in 73% of patients; more frequent in proximal than distal MCA occlusion patients. Among the 38 patients with proximal MCA occlusion, initial perfusion lesion volume was comparable among patients with different grade distal HV. However, patients with more prominent distal HV had smaller initial, 24-hour, and subacute ischemic lesion volumes and lower initial NIHSS scores. Conclusions: The presence of distal hyperintense vessels before thrombolytic treatment is associated with large diffusion–perfusion mismatch and smaller subacute ischemic lesion volumes in patients with proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion. DWI = diffusion-weighted imaging; FLAIR = fluid-attenuated inversion recovery; GRE = gradient recalled echo; HV = hyperintense vessels; MCA = middle cerebral artery; MRA = magnetic resonance angiography; MTT = mean transit time; NIHSS = NIH Stroke Scale; PWI = perfusion-weighted imaging; rt-PA = recombinant tissue plasminogen activator; TE = echo time; TI = inversion time; TIMI = thrombolysis in myocardial infarction; TR = repetition time.
Linking Party Preferences and the Composition of Government: A New Standard for Evaluating the Performance of Electoral Democracy*

We propose a new standard for evaluating the performance of electoral democracies: the correspondence between citizens’ party preferences and the party composition of governments that are formed after elections. We develop three criteria for assessing such correspondence: the proportion of citizens whose most preferred party is in government, whether the party that is most liked overall is in government, and how much more positively governing parties are rated than non-governing parties. We pay particular attention to the last criterion, which takes into account how each citizen feels about each of the parties as well as the intensity of their preferences. We find that proportional representation systems perform better on the first criterion. Majoritarian systems do better on the other two.
Prevention of Accidental Childhood Strangulation a Clinical Study

Accidental Strangulation is a preventable problem, and there is limited scientific understanding of its mechanism in children. If the amount of external pressure that occludes the airway can be determined, design changes may be made to allow for production of household objects that would break apart at safe pressure levels. A force gauge was applied to the suprahyoid region in 90 children under standardized anesthesia. Three blinded observers performed the study. The anesthesiologist maintained the airway and used a stethoscope to auscultate for breath sounds and monitor the CO2 curves to evaluate obstruction. The recorder noted the numbers from the gauge. A single observer applied the force gauge. Age was the most significant variable in occluding the airway. Obstruction appears to occur at the level of the larynx. Increased knowledge regarding the external pressure required for airway occlusion would allow for the design and manufacture of products with a reduced potential for accidental strangulation.
Soluble Toll-like receptor 1 family members in the amniotic fluid of women with preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes

Objective: To determine soluble Toll-like receptor (sTLR) 1, sTLR2 and sTLR6 concentrations in amniotic fluid (AF) of women with preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) and if there is an association with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Methods: Cross-sectional study was performed. Forty-two women with singleton PPROM pregnancies at a gestational age between 24 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks were included in the study (twenty-two women with presence of both microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and HCA, and 20 women without microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and HCA). Amniocenteses were performed, and the concentrations of sTLRs were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Women with microbial invasions of the amniotic cavity and HCA (n = 22) had significantly higher median sTLR1, sTLR2 and sTLR6 levels than those without (n = 20). (20.4 ng/mL vs. 0.44 ng/mL; p < 0.0001, 577.6 ng/mL vs. 60.7 ng/mL; p < 0.0001 and 0.44 ng/mL vs. 0.26 ng/mL; p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusions: Women with microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity and HCA had higher AF sTLR1, 2 and 6 levels.
Treatment of acromegaly with the growth hormone-receptor antagonist pegvisomant.

BACKGROUND Patients with acromegaly are currently treated with surgery, radiation therapy, and drugs to reduce hypersecretion of growth hormone, but the treatments may be ineffective and have adverse effects. Pegvisomant is a genetically engineered growth hormone-receptor antagonist that blocks the action of growth hormone. METHODS We conducted a 12-week, randomized, double-blind study of three daily doses of pegvisomant (10 mg, 15 mg, and 20 mg) and placebo, given subcutaneously, in 112 patients with acromegaly. RESULTS The mean (+/-SD) serum concentration of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) decreased from base line by 4.0+/-16.8 percent in the placebo group, 26.7+/-27.9 percent in the group that received 10 mg of pegvisomant per day, 50.1+/-26.7 percent in the group that received 15 mg of pegvisomant per day, and 62.5+/-21.3 percent in the group that received 20 mg of pegvisomant per day (P<0.001 for the comparison of each pegvisomant group with placebo), and the concentrations became normal in 10 percent, 54 percent, 81 percent, and 89 percent of patients, respectively (P<0.001 for each comparison with placebo). Among patients treated with 15 mg or 20 mg of pegvisomant per day, there were significant decreases in ring size, soft-tissue swelling, the degree of excessive perspiration, and fatigue. The score fortotal symptoms and signs of acromegaly decreased significantly in all groups receiving pegvisomant (P< or =0.05). The incidence of adverse effects was similar in all groups. CONCLUSIONS On the basis of these preliminary results, treatment of patients who have acromegaly with a growth hormone-receptor antagonist results in a reduction in serum IGF-I concentrations and in clinical improvement.
G protein–coupled receptor signaling in human ductal pancreatic cancer cells: Neurotensin responsiveness and mitogenic stimulation †

Neuropeptides and their corresponding G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) are increasingly implicated in the autocrine/paracrine stimulation of growth of human cancers. We report that neurotensin induced rapid Ca2+ mobilization from intracellular stores followed by Ca2+ influx in five human ductal pancreatic cancer cell lines: HPAF‐II, Capan‐1, Capan‐2, PANC‐1, and MIA PaCa‐2. In addition, most cell lines exhibited Ca2+ responses to multiple neuropeptides including bombesin, bradykinin, cholecystokinin, and vasopressin and to bioactive lipids, including lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), that also act via GPCRs. The well‐differentiated line HPAF‐II responded to at least seven independent GPCR agonists. The concentrations of neurotensin required to induce half‐maximal effects (EC50) in HPAF‐II and PANC‐1 cells were 5 and 8 nM, respectively. Digital fluorescence image analysis to measure Ca2+ responses in single cells revealed that 90% or more of HPAF‐II and PANC‐1 cells responded to 10 nM neurotensin. Addition of neurotensin to PANC‐1 cells also induced rapid and dose‐dependent extracellular‐regulated protein kinase (ERK‐1 and ERK‐2) activation and subsequently, stimulated DNA synthesis. The signaling complexity of GPCRs uncovered by these studies reveals a new aspect in the biology of human pancreatic cancer and could offer the basis for new approaches to the treatment of this disease. J. Cell. Physiol. 186:53–64, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Angiopoietins-1 and -2 are differentially expressed in the sera of patients with systemic sclerosis: high angiopoietin-2 levels are associated with greater severity and higher activity of the disease.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to investigate serum concentration of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in SSc patients and to correlate Ang-1 and -2 levels with clinical manifestations. METHODS Serum levels of Ang-1 and -2 were determined by ELISA in 47 SSc patients and 27 healthy controls matched for age and sex. RESULTS In SSc patients, Ang-1 was significantly lower [mean (s.d.): 21,666.09 (11,516.06) pg/ml], while Ang-2 was significantly increased [2739.60 (1009.25) pg/ml] when compared with the control group [Ang-1: 28607.13 (10,506.93) pg/ml; Ang-2: 1706.28 (556.28) pg/ml, P < 0.01, for both comparisons]. No correlation was observed between Ang-1 and -2 levels. Serum concentrations of Ang-2 correlated with the modified Rodnan skin score (P < 0.01, r =0.422), the European Scleroderma Study Group (EScSG) disease activity index score (P < 0.001, r =0.403), ESR (P < 0.05, r = 0.366) and CRP concentration (P < 0.05, r =0.292), and showed inverse correlation with diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL(CO)) (P < 0.01, r = -0.281). Ang-2 was significantly increased in SSc patients with more advanced capillary damage, as indicated by the presence of late capillaroscopic pattern, than in those with less severe microangiopathy (active pattern), and in SSc patients with intermediate/late stage of disease than in SSc subjects with early disease. In multivariate regression analysis, Ang-2 was independently associated with the EScSG activity index [β-coefficient (β = 0.305, P= 0.038], ESR (β= 0.390, P =0.006) and, inversely, with the presence of digital ulcers (β =-0.426, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Differential expression of Ang-1/Ang-2 might contribute to the pathogenesis of SSc. Ang-2 might be a new biomarker of disease activity in SSc.
Sex Differences in Performance on Three Novel Continuous Response Tasks

The Dynavision apparatus was used to assess psychomotor differences between men and women first-time users. Subjects, 50 men and 76 women, were tested on three 60-sec. Dynavision response tasks of graded difficulty. An analysis of variance with repeated measures indicated that men performed significantly better than women on all tasks. Performances on all tasks were also significantly different from each other within both sexes (p ≤.05). Furthermore, a significant interaction between sex and task was based on a greater drop in performance on the most complex task for women than for men.
Evaluation of white matter in patients with multiple sclerosis through diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE To study the white matter of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with diffusion tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (DTI). METHOD Forty patients with clinical-laboratorial diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS and 40 age- and sex-matched controls, who underwent conventional and functional (DTI) MR imaging, were included in the study. The DTI sequences resulted in maps of fractional anisotropy (FA) and regions of interest were placed on the plaques, peri-plaque regions, normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) around the plaques, contralateral normal white matter (CNWM) and normal white matter of the controls (WMC). The FA values were compared and the statistical treatment was performed with the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS The mean FA in plaques was 0.268, in peri-plaque regions 0.365, in NAWM 0.509, in CNWM 0.552 and in WMC 0.573. Statistical significant differences in FA values were observed in plaques, peri-plaque regions and in NAWM around the plaques when compared to the white matter in the control group. There was no significant difference between the FA values of the CNWM of patients with MS and normal white matter of controls. CONCLUSION Patients with MS show difference in the FA values of the plaques, peri-plaques and NAWM around the plaques when compared to the normal white matter of controls. As a result, DTI may be considered more efficient than conventional MR imaging for the study of patients with MS.
The Livelihood Challenges of Resettled Communities of the Bui Dam Project in Ghana and the Role of Chinese Dam‐Builders

Emerging issues from Bui hydro-power project are suggesting that the experiences of two earlier hydropower projects in Ghana failed in preventing challenges related to resource access and livelihoods. This paper examined the nature of the challenges, their causes, why they were not avoided and the role of the Chinese builders. Forty-three interviews and eleven focus group discussions were conducted and qualitative data analysed by themes using narrative analysis. Our findings show that the livelihoods of the resettled communities on balance are negatively impacted by the construction of the dam. While Chinese dam-builders played a major role in financing and enabling the dam's construction, the Ghanaian governance arrangements were found to be more important in addressing the livelihood challenges.
The influence of different isolation procedures and the use of target cells from melanoma cell lines and short‐term cultures on the non‐specific cytotoxic effects of lymphocytes from healthy donors

In parallel studies the effects of FHL1 and PNL on plated melanoma cells from cell lines and short‐term cultures were compared. FHL showed more frequent and also stronger cytotoxic and/or growth‐inhibiting effects than PNL. On melanoma target cells from cell lines both FHL and PNL showed more frequent and stronger cytotoxic and/or growth‐inhibiting effects than on melanoma target cells from short‐term cultures. In the individual donors the percentage of monocytes and EAC‐rosette‐forming cells in FHL was significantly higher than in PNL. A significant correlation was found between multiplication of the melanoma target cells during the test period and an increased susceptibility towards lymphocytes from healthy donors. Melanoma target cells from cell lines were not more fragile, or more susceptible to unfavourable culture conditions than cells from short‐term cultures, since non‐lymphocytic „effector”︁ cells showed much weaker cytotoxic and/or growth‐inhibiting effects than lymphocytes from healthy donors. Cytotoxic effects of lymphocytes from healthy donors were also registered on target cells from a mammary carcinoma and an osteosarcoma cell line. No significant differences in the cytotoxic effects of lymphocytes from healthy donors were observed when tested on mycoplasma‐contaminated melanoma cells and the same cells made mycoplasma‐free. Mitomycin‐C‐treated lymphocytes retained their cytotoxic effects. Lymphocytes from a healthy donor tested on different occasions on the same melanoma cells from a short term culture showed an incidental cytotoxic reaction.