Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced structural stability of Concholepas hemocyanin increases its immunogenicity and maintains its non‐specific immunostimulatory effects

Hemocyanins, which boost the immune system of mammals, have been used as carrier‐adjuvants to promote Ab production against haptens and peptides, as immunostimulants during therapy for bladder carcinoma and as a component in therapeutic vaccines for cancer. These biomedical applications have led to growing interest in obtaining hemocyanins with high immunogenicity. Here, we study the immunological properties of a modified oxidized Concholepas concholepas hemocyanin (Ox‐CCH) obtained by the oxidation of its carbohydrates using sodium periodate. We assessed the internalization of Ox‐CCH into DCs and its immunogenicity and antitumor effects. Transmission electron microscopy showed no changes in Ox‐CCH quaternary structure with respect to native CCH, although proteolytic treatment followed by SDS‐PAGE analysis demonstrated that Schiff bases were formed. Interestingly, DCs internalized Ox‐CCH faster than CCH, mainly through macropinocytosis. During this process, Ox‐CCH remained inside endosome‐like structures for a longer period. Mouse immunization experiments demonstrated that Ox‐CCH is more immunogenic and a better carrier than CCH. Moreover, Ox‐CCH showed a significant antitumor effect in the B16F10 melanoma model similar to that produced by CCH, inducing IFN‐γ secretion. Together, these data demonstrate that the aldehydes formed by the periodate oxidation of sugar moieties stabilizes the CCH structure, increasing its adjuvant/immunostimulatory carrier effects.
Relations between socio‐economic status and morbidity, food intake and growth in young children in two villages in Bangladesh

The relations between socio‐economic status (SES) and food‐intake, morbidity and anthropometric status of children under five years old were analyzed from longitudinal data collected in two Bangladeshi villages. Illness surveillance every other day and monthly anthropometric measurements were done during one year for 197 children, and weighed food intake studies were done monthly for 65 of these children. Socio‐economic variables included wealth (ownership of land, livestock and dwelling size), income (total income and amounts of foodstocks in two seasons) and education (of the head of household, mother and highest in the household). The types of foods taken by study children were associated most with the education of the household head, while the quantity of specific foods eaten, after controlling for the child's age, was more related to the income of the household. Considering diarrheal illnesses, the duration of diarrhea due to Shigella or rotavirus and the incidence of shigellosis were negatively asso.
Female Condoms as a Preventive Measure against HIV/AIDS Infection among University Students in Gaborone, Botswana

This paper seeks to investigate the predictors of female condom use amongst female university students in Gaborone, Botswana. The study used primary data through the administration of a questionnaire amongst randomly selected respondents to determine the factors behind the use of female condoms. Since the dependent variable had three outcomes, multinomial logistic regression was used. It was found out that only known HIV status was inversely related to the use of the female condom. The other variables, namely age, perceived exposure to HIV infection, perception about the female condoms and the respondents perceived risk were positively and significantly related to the use of the female condom. The paper concluded by pointing out that the limited use of female condoms should not be construed as indicative of the absence of safer sexual practices until some factors, namely the use of the male condom and partner behaviors are brought on board. Notwithstanding this apparent omission, the paper culminates by appealing for continued or even intensified sex education on the importance of the female condom particularly in view of the HIV and AIDS scourge.
Progesterone suppresses the mTOR pathway and promotes generation of induced regulatory T cells with increased stability

While induced FoxP3+ T cells (iTreg cells) are promising cellular therapeutics to treat inflammatory diseases, a limitation in utilizing iTreg cells prepared in vitro is their low stability in inflammatory conditions. Progesterone (P4) is an immune regulatory nuclear hormone with a potent Treg induction activity. We reasoned that this function of progesterone would be utilized to generate iTreg cells with highly suppressive activity and improved stability in vivo. Here we generated iTreg cells with progesterone in vitro and found that progesterone generates iTreg cells that are highly stable in inflammatory conditions. Moreover, P4‐induced iTreg cells highly express latency‐associated peptide TGF‐β1 and are efficient in regulating inflammation in multiple tissues, whereas control iTreg cells induced with TGF‐β1 alone are less stable and ineffective in suppressing inflammation. The function of progesterone in inducing iTreg cells with improved regulatory activity is associated with the function of P4 in suppressing the mTOR pathway. Moreover, the function of progesterone in inducing FoxP3+ T cells is decreased but not completely abolished on nuclear progesterone receptor‐deficient T cells, suggesting that both nuclear and nonnuclear progesterone receptors are involved in mediating the function. We conclude that P4 can be utilized to generate iTreg cells with a high therapeutic potential in treatment of tissue inflammation.
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) in Japan: A forensic case report and the recent increase in reports of DID

The subject of this report murdered four young girls between 1988 and 1989. The forensic psychiatric evaluation showed that soon after the sudden death of his dearest grandfather he had developed dissociative symptoms including depersonalization, autoscopy, fugue, dissociative amnesia, Ganser's syndrome and DID, on the basis of earlier traumatic experiences under the dysfunctional family circumstances of his early childhood. His DID was thought to be manifest in at least four personalities, i.e., a host personality, a child personality, a cool personality and a female personality. In Japan only five cases of DID were reported between 1919 and 1990, whereas more than 30 cases were reported in journals or at academic meetings from 1991 to 1997. Although the incidence is still quite low in Japan, DID can be considered to be a valid clinical entity in spite of Merskey's severe criticism of the disorder. (Int J Psych Clin Pract 2000; 4:155-160)
‘ ‘ Where is the sun ” for hemi-neglect patients ?

Human observers use prior constraints to disambiguate a scene; in particular, light is preferentially seen as coming from above but also slightly from the left. One explanation of this lateral bias could be a cerebral hemispheric difference. The aim of the present study was to determine the preferred light source position for neglect patients. For this purpose, we used the ambiguous shaded ‘‘Polo Mint” stimulus, a ring divided into eight equal sectors. All sectors but one were the same shape, convex or concave, as determined by the light source position. Participants had to report the side (left or right) of the odd sector or, in a separate experiment, to report its shape (convex or concave). Eight patients with spatial neglect (left neglect N = 7, right neglect N = 1) after a right or left temporo-parietal or thalamic lesion and 14 control participants ran the experiment. Left neglect patients showed a significantly different light bias from the bias observed for controls and for the right neglect patient (i.e., a reduction of the left bias or a right bias rather than a left bias). We conclude that some disabilities presented by patients with spatial neglect may be due to difficulties processing information that is not present in the visual field or imagined in the representational scene. 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Nickel Susceptibility and Skin Barrier Function to Water after Treatment with a Urea-Containing Moisturizer

Patients with eczema and other dry skin conditions use moisturizers also when the skin appears healthy. However, moisturizers have been found to change skin barrier function, and it appears that certain combinations of ingredients increase the skin susceptibility to external agents. In the present randomized and single-blind study, the influence of a urea-containing cream on nickel susceptibility in 35 patients with known allergy to nickel was evaluated. Treatment of the volar forearm twice daily for 20 days with the urea cream reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL). However, the susceptibility to nickel sulfate was not changed by the cream treatment. Clinical scoring of the skin reaction did not show any difference between the untreated and the cream-treated area. Furthermore, the increase in TEWL did not differ between the areas. The absence in correlation between TEWL and skin susceptibility to nickel suggests different penetration pathways through the skin of water and nickel. Measurement of the skin permeability to other substances than water is pertinent to the understanding of the influence of moisturizers on the skin permeability and, ultimately, to their therapeutic efficacy in the prevention of contact eczema due to exposure to harmful exogenous substances.
Tracking antigen‐specific CD4+ T cells throughout the course of chronic Leishmania major infection in resistant mice

Primary Leishmania major infection typically produces cutaneous lesions that not only heal but also harbor persistent parasites. While the opposing roles of CD4+ T‐cell‐derived IFN‐γ and IL‐10 in promoting parasite killing and persistence have been well established, how these responses develop from naïve precursors has not been directly monitored throughout the course of infection. We used peptide:Major Histocompatibility Complex class II (pMHCII) tetramers to investigate the endogenous, parasite‐specific primary CD4+ T‐cell response to L. major in mice resistant to infection. Maximal frequencies of IFN‐γ+ CD4+ T cells were observed in the spleen and infected ears within a month after infection and were maintained into the chronic phase. In contrast, peak frequencies of IL‐10+ CD4+ T cells emerged within 2 weeks of infection, persisted into the chronic phase, and accumulated in the infected ears but not the spleen, via a process that depended on local antigen presentation. T helper type‐1 (Th1) cells, not Foxp3+ regulatory T cells, were the chief producers of IL‐10 and were not exhausted. Therefore, tracking antigen‐specific CD4+ T cells revealed that IL‐10 production by Th1 cells is not due to persistent T‐cell antigen receptor stimulation, but rather driven by early antigen encounter at the site of infection.
Ecology and metagenomics of soil microorganisms.

Microorganisms are essential for the formation and biogenesis of soil, maintenance of soil structure and fertility and the biogeochemical cycling processes, as well as for other ecosystem functions, that are essential for plant growth and bioremediation. Understanding the factors that determine the growth, activity and diversity of soil microbial communities, their control by soil physicochemical characteristics and their interactions with other soil inhabitants is therefore essential for sustainable management of soil ecosystem function, and prediction of the impact of environmental change. This Thematic Issue brings together articles derived from two important international conferences on soil microbial ecology and on the application and exploitation of modern molecular methods in ecological studies. The meeting on Ecology of Soil Microorganisms: Microbes as Important Drivers of Soil Processes was held …
Mesenchymal stem cells from periapical lesions modulate differentiation and functional properties of monocyte‐derived dendritic cells

Immunoregulatory mechanisms within periapical lesions (PLs) are as of yet unexplored. Considering the crucial role of DCs in controlling the immune response within PLs, the immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and the colocalization of MSCs and DCs in situ, we wondered whether MSCs from PLs modulate the development and functions of DCs. Using a model of monocyte‐derived DCs, we showed that PL‐MSCs inhibited differentiation of DCs via soluble factors, of which IL‐6 had a minor effect, but did not impair their subsequent maturation induced by pro‐inflammatory cytokines. However, upon maturation such DCs favored the production of Th2/Th17 cytokines by allogenic CD4+ lymphocytes in coculture, compared with mature DCs differentiated without PL‐MSCs. PL‐MSC‐differentiated DCs, cultivated with pro‐inflammatory cytokines and PL‐MSCs, although phenotypically mature, exhibited poor allostimulatory activity, induced anergy, Th2 polarization, differentiation of suppressive CD4+CD25highCD39+ Treg‐cell subsets via IDO‐1‐, ILT‐3‐, and ILT‐4‐dependent mechanisms, and increased production of TGF‐β in the coculture. In contrast, DCs cultivated with PL‐MSCs only during maturation stimulated proliferation and Th1 polarization of CD4+ T cells in an IL‐12‐independent manner. In conclusion, PL‐MSCs significantly modulate the development and functions of DCs, depending on the phase of DCs development during which the interaction occurs.
Effect of milnacipran on insight and stress coping strategy in patients with Taijin Kyofusho

Objective Taijin-Kyofusho (TKS) is a Japanese culture-bound syndrome similar to social anxiety disorder. Recent studies have shown antidepressants to be effective in treating TKS. The effects on insight or coping strategies have not, however, been studied. The present study investigated changes in insight and stress coping strategies during treatment with milnacipran. Method The study was a 12-week open trial in 16 patients with offensive type TKS. Offensive anxiety was assessed by an original TKS scale. Insight regarding TKS symptoms was assessed by the “Insight into obsessions and compulsions” subscale of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale. Coping strategies were assessed by the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations. The primary efficacy variable was global improvement on the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI). Results Of the sixteen patients, only 10 completed the study and seven patients responded to the drug (a score of 2 or less on CGI at endpoint). Six patients dropped out in the first few days because of nausea. Last observation carried forward analysis (N=16) showed a significant reduction of offensive anxiety of TKS. Insight and emotional coping strategies were also significantly improved. Conclusion The results suggested that not only TKS symptoms, but also insight and stress coping, may be improved by treatment with milnacipran.
Current treatment options: relief of symptoms and ultimate recovery

The inadequate outcome of existing antidepressant therapies has led to a shift in the expectations of optimal treatment toward remission rather than response. Important benchmarks for newer antidepressant treatments in the management of major depressive disorder (MDD) include early response and remission leading to recovery, regardless of severity. Preliminary data from a pooled analysis of trials, in which escitalopram was compared with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the selective serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) venlafaxine, suggest a faster onset of action compared with other SSRIs. In a further pooled analysis, a significant advantage in response and remission in favor of escitalopram against comparator SSRIs and venlafaxine was demonstrated. Studies appear to suggest that not only is escitalopram effective in depression, its superiority over comparators increases with baseline severity. Thus, escitalopram may satisfy many of the goals for the new generation of antidepressants in the management of MDD.
Distribution and diversity of archaeal communities in selected Chinese soils.

To understand the distribution and diversity of archaea in Chinese soils, the archaeal communities in a series of topsoils and soil profiles were investigated using quantitative PCR, T-RFLP combining sequencing methods. Archaeal 16S rRNA gene copy numbers, ranging from 4.96 × 10(6) to 1.30 × 10(8) copies g(-1) dry soil, were positively correlated with soil pH, organic carbon and total nitrogen in the topsoils. In the soil profiles, archaeal abundance was positively correlated with soil pH but negatively with depth profile. The relative abundance of archaea in the prokaryotes (sum of bacteria and archaea) ranged from 0.20% to 9.26% and tended to increase along the depth profile. T-RFLP and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the structure of archaeal communities in cinnamon soils, brown soils, and fluvo-aquic soils was similar and dominated by Crenarchaeota group 1.1b and 1.1a. These were different from those in red soils, which were dominated by Crenarchaeota group 1.3 and 1.1c. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that the archaeal community was primarily influenced by soil pH.
Symbiotic characterization and diversity of rhizobia associated with native and introduced acacias in arid and semi-arid regions in Algeria.

The diversity of rhizobia associated with introduced and native Acacia species in Algeria was investigated from soil samples collected across seven districts distributed in arid and semi-arid zones. The in vitro tolerances of rhizobial strains to NaCl and high temperature in pure culture varied greatly regardless of their geographical and host plant origins but were not correlated with the corresponding edaphoclimatic characteristics of the sampling sites, as clearly demonstrated by principal component analysis. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the 48 new strains isolated were ranked into 10 phylogenetic groups representing five bacterial genera, namely, Ensifer, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Ochrobactrum. Acacia saligna, an introduced species, appeared as the most promiscuous host because it was efficiently nodulated with the widest diversity of rhizobia taxa including both fast-growing ones, Rhizobium, Ensifer, and Mesorhizobium, and slow-growing Bradyrhizobium. The five other Acacia species studied were associated with fast-growing bacterial taxa exclusively. No difference in efficiency was found between bacterial taxa isolated from a given Acacia species. The tolerances of strains to salinity and temperature remains to be tested in symbiosis with their host plants to select the most adapted Acacia sp. -LNB taxa associations for further revegetation programs.
Can we predict short-term side effects of methylphenidate immediate-release?

Objective. In children and adolescents who were prescribed immediate-release methylphenidate (MPH-IR) for the first time, we aimed to investigate the effect of gender, psychiatric co-morbidity and the baseline severity of clinical symptoms on the short-term side-effects of the medication. Method. In a clinical sample, over a period of 6 months, all MPH-naive patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (N=90; male, n=73; female, n=17) age: 9.0±2.2 years (5–16 years)) were included. Patients were prescribed MPH-IR 10–30 mg/day (17.6±4.95). The assessment included structured measurements, including the Turgay Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV)-Based Child and Adolescent Behavior Disorders Screening and Rating Scale (T-DSM-IV-S) (parents and teachers), Conners’ Teacher Rating Scale for ADHD-Short version (teachers). Parents also completed the “Barkley Stimulants’ Side Effects Rating Scale” (BSSERS) at baseline and on the third, seventh and 15th days of medication. Results. Repeated measures multiple ANOVA revealed an overall significant difference in BSSERS between the baseline measures and the 15th day (P<0.01). On the 15th day, only the “loss of appetite” item severity scores increased (P=0.001), whereas the scores of “irritability”, “proneness to cry”, “anxiety”, “nail biting” and “euphoria” items decreased significantly. In post hoc analyses, when subjects whose side effects increased and did not increase were compared, chi-square tests revealed a significant difference (P=0.029) only for the presence of co-morbidity, and no difference for the gender, age, dosage of MPH, and the baseline severity of inattentiveness and/or hyperactivity. Discussion. The only significant increase during MPH treatment was for the “loss of appetite” item on BSSERS. Our results suggest that some of the BSSERS items may represent both the ADHD symptoms and the side effects. When overall BSSERS item severity is considered, having a co-morbid diagnosis may be predictive of more severe adverse effects.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids promote the expansion of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells by activating the JAK/STAT3 pathway

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exert immunosuppressive effects that could prove beneficial in clinical therapies for certain autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. However, the mechanism of PUFA‐mediated immunosuppression is far from understood. Here, we provide evidence that PUFAs enhance the accumulation of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a negative immune regulator. PUFA‐induced MDSCs have a more potent suppressive effect on T‐cell responses than do control MDSCs. These observations were found both in cultured mouse bone marrow cells in vitro and in vivo in mice fed diets enriched in PUFAs. The enhanced suppressive activity of MDSCs by PUFAs administration was coupled with a dramatic induction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleo‐ tide phosphate oxidase subunit p47phox and was dependent on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Mechanistic studies revealed that PUFAs mediate its effects through JAK‐STAT3 signaling. Inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation by JAK inhibitor JSI‐124 almost completely abrogated the effects of PUFAs on MDSCs. Moreover, the effects of PUFAs on MDSCs and the underlying mechanisms were confirmed in tumor‐bearing mice. In summary, this study sheds new light on the immune modulatory role of PUFAs, and demonstrates that MDSCs expansion may mediate the effects of PUFAs on the immune system.
Attitudes of patients with schizophrenia to psychiatric research

Objective. To examine how patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders view psychiatric research and what influences their readiness to participate. Methods. A sample of 83 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders was examined using a specific self-report questionnaire designed for the purpose of the study. Results. Most patients (97%) approved at least “a little” of psychiatric research in general. There was a tendency to approve of psychosocial rather than biological research subjects (e.g., research on the role of traumatic life events was approved by 95% of patients as compared to 72% in the case of genetics and 76% in the case of medication studies). Reasons to participate were mainly altruistic, only a minority found that monetary incentives were important. Another important reason was to improve individual chances of recovery. A large majority (95%) found it important to get sufficient information prior to the start but also to receive the results of the study. Conclusion. Patients’ capability of critically appraising psychiatric research as well as their role in the research process should inform future research to ensure a more cooperative practice.