Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxic T-cell-mediated antitumor effect of levamisole against murine syngeneic fibrosarcoma.

Growth of the secondary Meth 1 tumors, which had been inoculated s.c. in the abdomens of BALB/c mice bearing primary Meth 1 tumors in the flanks, was inhibited as compared with that of tumors in the normal mice, suggesting the development of concomitant antitumor immunity. When levamisole (LMS, 0.625 or 2.5 mg/kg) was administered i.p. to the Meth 1-bearing mice daily before or after secondary inoculation, growth inhibition of secondary tumors was augmented. This effect of LMS was suggested to be tumor specific as evidenced by no growth inhibition of secondary Meth A tumors in mice bearing primary Meth 1 tumors. The spleen cells of 11-day Meth 1-bearing mice exhibited growth-inhibitory activity against Meth 1 cells in the Winn assay. Administration of LMS augmented the growth-inhibitory activity. This effect of LMS was mediated by nonadherent spleen cells and completely lost by the preincubation with anti-Thy 1.2 antibody and complement. Cytotoxicity was detected in the spleen cells of Meth 1-bearing mice by 51Cr release assay after in vitro sensitization with mitomycin C-treated Meth 1 cells. In vivo administration of LMS augmented the cytotoxicity, which was tumor specific and completely lost by the preincubation of the spleen cells with anti-Thy 1.2 antibody and complement. These results suggest that the growth-inhibitory effect of LMS against secondary tumors was mediated by cytotoxic T-cells.
Relative Biological Effectiveness of the α-Particle Emitter 211At for Double-Strand Break Induction in Human Fibroblasts

Abstract Claesson, A. K. , Stenerlöw, B. , Jacobsson, L. and Elmroth, K. Relative Biological Effectiveness of the α-Particle Emitter 211At for Double-Strand Break Induction in Human Fibroblasts. Radiat. Res. 167, 312–318 (2007). The purpose of this study was to quantify and to determine the distribution of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in human cells irradiated in vitro and to evaluate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the α-particle emitter 211At for DSB induction. The influence of the irradiation temperature on the induction of DSBs was also investigated. Human fibroblasts were irradiated as intact cells with α particles from 211At, 60Co γ rays and X rays. The numbers and distributions of DSBs were determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with fragment analysis for separation of DNA fragments in sizes 10 kbp–5.7 Mbp. A non-random distribution was found for DSB induction after irradiation with α particles from 211At, while irradiation with low-LET radiation led to more random distributions. The RBEs for DSB induction were 2.1 and 3.1 for 60Co γ rays and X rays as the reference radiation, respectively. In the experiments studying temperature effects, nuclear monolayers were irradiated with 211At α particles or 60Co γ rays at 2°C or 37°C and intact cells were irradiated with 211At α particles at the same temperatures. The dose-modifying factor (DMFtemp) for irradiation of nuclear monolayers at 37°C compared with 2°C was 1.7 for 211At α particles and 1.6 for 60Co γ rays. No temperature effect was observed for intact cells irradiated with 211At. In conclusion, irradiation with α particles from 211At induced two to three times more DSB than γ rays and X rays.
Characteristics of Myofibres in the Masseter Muscle of Mice during Postnatal Growth Period

Functional maturation of muscles is related to the constitutional proportion of muscle protein isoforms during development and growth. Although the mouse masseter muscle (MS) is classified as a fast limb muscle, its functions are different from those of a limb muscle. This study investigated the differentiation of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms during the postnatal development periods in mouse MS and mouse tibialis anterior (TA), which is a fast limb muscle. Many anti‐MHC slow‐type‐positive fibres were observed in neonatal MS and TA; these fibres decreased during development. Adult MS was composed of anti‐MHC fast‐type‐positive fibres. MHC isoforms in MS were composed of MHC‐2a and MHC‐2d soon after birth. MHC‐2b was expressed, but MHC‐2a was not seen after 21 days. Expression of MHC‐2b agreed with the weaning period, that is 2–3 weeks after birth. This fact suggested that the transformation from suckling to mastication changed the MHC isoforms during this period. In this study, the expressions of MHC‐2b agree with the weaning period.
Neural basis of the emotional Stroop interference effect in major depression

Background A mood-congruent sensitivity towards negative stimuli has been associated with development and maintenance of major depressive disorder (MDD). The emotional Stroop task assesses interference effects arising from the conflict of emotional expressions consistent with disorder-specific self-schemata and cognitive colour-naming instructions. Functional neuroimaging studies of the emotional Stroop effect advocate a critical involvement of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) during these processes. Method Subjects were 17 medication-free individuals with unipolar MDD in an acute depressive episode (mean age 39 years), and 17 age-, gender- and IQ-matched healthy volunteers. In an emotional Stroop task, sad and neutral words were presented in various colours, and subjects were required to name the colour of words whilst undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Overt verbal responses were acquired with a clustered fMRI acquisition sequence. Results Individuals with depression showed greater increases in response time from neutral to sad words relative to controls. fMRI data showed a significant engagement of left rostral ACC (BA 32) and right precuneus during sad words in patients relative to controls. Additionally, rostral ACC activation was positively correlated with latencies of negative words in MDD patients. Healthy controls did not have any regions of increased activation compared to MDD patients. Conclusions These findings provide evidence for a behavioural and neural emotional Stroop effect in MDD and highlight the importance of the ACC during monitoring of conflicting cognitive processes and mood-congruent processing in depression.
Fap2 of Fusobacterium nucleatum Is a Galactose-Inhibitable Adhesin Involved in Coaggregation, Cell Adhesion, and Preterm Birth

ABSTRACT Fusobacterium nucleatum is a common oral anaerobe involved in periodontitis that is known to translocate and cause intrauterine infections. In the oral environment, F. nucleatum adheres to a large diversity of species, facilitating their colonization and creating biological bridges that stabilize the multispecies dental biofilm. Many of these interactions (called coadherences or coaggregations) are galactose sensitive. Galactose-sensitive interactions are also involved in the binding of F. nucleatum to host cells. Hemagglutination of some F. nucleatum strains is also galactose sensitive, suggesting that a single galactose-sensitive adhesin might mediate the interaction of fusobacteria with many partners and targets. In order to identify the fusobacterial galactose-sensitive adhesin, a system for transposon mutagenesis in fusobacteria was created. The mutant library was screened for hemagglutination deficiency, and three clones were isolated. All three clones were found to harbor the transposon in the gene coding for the Fap2 outer membrane autotransporter. The three fap2 mutants failed to show galactose-inhibitable coaggregation with Porphyromonas gingivalis and were defective in cell binding. A fap2 mutant also showed a 2-log reduction in murine placental colonization compared to that of the wild type. Our results suggest that Fap2 is a galactose-sensitive hemagglutinin and adhesin that is likely to play a role in the virulence of fusobacteria.
A Study on Magnetic Field Repeater in Wireless Power Transfer

It is shown that the distance of wireless power transfer is significantly increased by placing intermediate resonators (repeaters) between transmitter and receiver. The guidelines are provided to use the repeaters effectively. We first briefly review how the repeaters enhance the transfer distance. Next, the aspect of resonant frequency splitting is studied separately both for even and odd numbers of repeaters. The transferred power, efficiency, and output impedance phase are evaluated for each repeater configuration. These provide the guidelines to select the optimum repeater positions and numbers. We also propose and study a new kind of repeater which can be placed (biased) even in the vicinity of transmitter or receiver. This increases the flexibility in choosing the repeater position. The net effect of such biased repeater is approximately doubling the effective coupling coefficient between transmitter and receiver. Experimental results are provided to prove the concepts.
Drug use patterns and gender differences among heroin addicts hospitalized for detoxification.

BACKGROUND There has been a surge of heroin abuse in Taiwan in recent years making it necessary to study and understand the characteristics, drug use patterns and behavior among heroin users. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two hundred and eighty-three patients hospitalized for heroin detoxification received a diagnostic interview and a semi-structured interview which rendered the demographic information, medical history, and patterns of and reasons for heroin use. Differences between male and female drug users were also compared. RESULTS More than half of the subjects (54.3%) were unemployed. The percentage of unemployment of female patients was significantly greater than that of male patients (75.9% vs. 48.0%, p<0.05). Women were significantly younger (p<0.001) and had a significantly earlier (p< 0.001) onset of heroin use than men. About one-third of the subjects (33.9%) were multiple drug users, with amphetamines as the most common (79.2%) concomitant drug of abuse. More men reported curiosity as the reason for first use, while more women reported peer influence as the reason for first use. CONCLUSION This study showed that significant gender differences in employment status, age of first use, and reasons for drug use among heroin addicts. Further exploration of gender and cross-cultural differences could have important theoretical and treatment implications.
Impairment of GH responsiveness to combined GH‐releasing hormone and arginine administration in adult patients with Prader‐Willi syndrome

Objective It is unclear if poor health outcomes of adult patients with Prader‐Willi syndrome (PWS) are influenced by GH deficiency (GHD). Few studies have been focused on PWS adults, but further information on the concomitant role of obesity on GH/IGF‐I axis function is needed. The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence of GHD in a large group of adult subjects with genetically confirmed PWS.
Enhanced circuit simulation using mutual coupling parameters obtained via 3D field extraction

Predicting high frequency behavior of systems with equivalent circuit simulations that are including component self-parasitic effects are not sufficiently accurate anymore. Mutual coupling, which is highly dependent on component/traces placement and orientation, has to be included in circuit models. Predicting the impact can be performed using 3D electromagnetic field simulations, but these are complex and time consuming. This paper suggest extracting the mutual coupling parameters from a parametric 3D model. The lumped elements, which represent the mutual coupling via the electromagnetic field, are back-annotated in the equivalent circuit model. Then circuit simulations can be performed very fast and the impact of the mutual coupling can be determined.
Structural polypeptides of simian rotavirus SA11 and the effect of trypsin

Analysis of purified simian rotavirus has shown that it contains fewer structural polypeptide classes than previously reported. Two polypeptides (molecular weights, 62,000 and 28,000) commonly found in purified rotaviruses were, in fact, produced by cleavage of a larger structural polypeptide (molecular weight, about 88,000) by trypsin, which is usually employed to increase the yield of rotaviruses in tissue culture. Trypsin-uncleaved, double-shelled rotaviruses are probably composed of only five polypeptide classes; three in the inner layer, and two in the outer layer.
Pedometer measurement of physical activity and chronic disease risk factors of obese lower socioeconomic status African American women.

BACKGROUND To evaluate physical activity with pedometers and health markers of chronic disease in obese, lower socioeconomic African American women. METHODS Thirty-five women (48 +/- 8 years) wore pedometers for 2 weeks. One-way analyses of variances were used to compare age, weight, body mass indices (BMI), and health markers of chronic disease (including blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, glycosylated hemoglobin, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein) between women who were classified by steps per day as sedentary (SED < 5000; 2941 +/- 1161 steps/d) or active (ACT > or = 5000; 7181 +/- 2398 steps/d). RESULTS ACT had significantly lower BMI (ACT: 37.2 +/- 5.6; SED: 44.4 +/- 7.2 kg/m2) and hip circumferences (ACT: 37.2 +/- 5.6; SED: 44.4 +/- 37.2 cm) and higher total cholesterol (ACT: 230 +/- 53; SED: 191 +/- 32 mg/dL) than SED. There were no differences in health markers of chronic disease between SED and ACT. Pearson product moment correlations showed significant negative correlations between steps/d and weight (r = -.42), BMI (r = -.46), and hip circumference (r = -.47). CONCLUSIONS Increased levels of physical activity were associated with reduced BMI and hip circumferences but were not associated with lower health markers for chronic disease in obese, lower socioeconomic African American women.
Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and blood transfusion: updated results of the UK Transfusion Medicine Epidemiology Review Study

This paper reports the results to 31 May 2015 of an ongoing UK study to look for additional cases of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) transmission by blood transfusion, and to seek evidence whether other subtypes of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) may be transmissible via blood components.
The Impact of EU Sponsorship, Size, and Geographic Characteristics on Rural Tourism Development

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the factors that promote successful rural tourism development in light of EU sponsorship of rural tourism hosts. The paper examines the effect of the size and geographical characteristics of rural tourism hosts on their views towards rural tourism development. The paper employs factor analysis, t-tests, and ANOVA to analyze the data from the survey of the hosts. The survey was sent to 652 rural tourism hosts, of whom 174 replied, giving a response rate of 27%. The results show the following. Firstly, subsidies, leadership, and cooperation are viewed by the hosts as important factors. Secondly, sponsorship, size, and peripheral economic conditions influence rural tourism hosts’ views on success factors of rural enterprises.
Effect of iron depletion on long-term response to interferon-alpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C who previously did not respond to interferon therapy.

About half of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon will not have a biochemical or virological response. Several studies suggested that increased hepatic iron content may negatively influence the response to interferon. We conducted this prospective trial to evaluate the effect of iron depletion on the response to a repeat course of interferon in 20 chronic hepatitis C patients who previously had not responded to interferon. The patients underwent 500-ml phlebotomies every 2 weeks until iron deficiency was achieved. Patients were then started on a 6-month course of interferon alfa-2b (3 million units, t.i.w.). These patients required a mean of 6.0 (range, 1-14) phlebotomies to become iron deficient. ALT levels decreased in 18 of 20 patients and became normal in 4 patients. Mean ALT levels decreased from 154.2 to 87.9 U/L (p = 0.0006). At the end of 24 wk of interferon therapy, ALT levels were normal in 11 patients, 3 of whom had undetectable HCV RNA in the serum. One additional patient with abnormal ALT had undetectable HCV RNA. After 6 months of follow-up, one of the HCV RNA negative patients relapsed with reappearance of HCV RNA and elevation of ALT. In summary, 15% of chronic hepatitis C patients who previously failed interferon now had a sustained response to interferon therapy that was preceded by iron depletion.
Preclinical Characterization of GLS4, an Inhibitor of Hepatitis B Virus Core Particle Assembly

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated chronic liver diseases are treated with nucleoside analogs that target the virus polymerase. While these analogs are potent, drugs are needed to target other virus-encoded gene products to better block the virus replication cycle and chronic liver disease. This work further characterized GLS4 and compared it to the related BAY 41-4109, both of which trigger aberrant HBV core particle assembly, where the virus replication cycle occurs. This was done in HepAD38 cells, which replicate HBV to high levels. In vitro, GLS4 was significantly less toxic for primary human hepatocytes (P < 0.01 up to 100 μM), inhibited virus accumulation in the supernantant of HepAD38 cells (P < 0.02 up to 100 nM), inhibited HBV replicative forms in the liver with a significantly lower 50% effective concentration (EC50) (P < 0.02), and more strongly inhibited core gene expression (P < 0.001 at 100 to 200 nM) compared to BAY 41-4109. In vivo characterization was performed in nude mice inoculated with HepAD38 cells, which grew out as tumors, resulting in viremia. Treatment of mice with GLS4 and BAY 41-4109 showed strong and sustained suppression of virus DNA to about the same extents both during and after treatment. Both drugs reduced the levels of intracellular core antigen in the tumors. Alanine aminotransferase levels were normal. Tumor and total body weights were not affected by treatment. Thus, GLS4 was as potent as the prototype, BAY 41-4109, and was superior to lamivudine, in that there was little virus relapse after the end of treatment and no indication of toxicity.
Diverse AvrPtoB Homologs from Several Pseudomonas syringae Pathovars Elicit Pto-Dependent Resistance and Have Similar Virulence Activities

ABSTRACT AvrPtoB is a type III effector protein from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato that physically interacts with the tomato Pto kinase and, depending on the host genotype, either elicits or suppresses programmed cell death associated with plant immunity. We reported previously that avrPtoB-related sequences are present in diverse gram-negative phytopathogenic bacteria. Here we describe characterization of avrPtoB homologs from P. syringae pv. tomato T1, PT23, and JL1065, P. syringae pv. syringae B728a, and P. syringae pv. maculicola ES4326. The avrPtoB homolog from P. syringae pv. maculicola, hopPmaL, was identified previously. The four new genes identified in this study are designated avrPtoBT1, avrPtoBPT23, avrPtoBJL1065, and avrPtoBB728a. The AvrPtoB homologs exhibit 52 to 66% amino acid identity with AvrPtoB. Transcripts of each of the avrPtoB homologs were detected in the Pseudomonas strains from which they were isolated. Proteins encoded by the homologs were detected in all strains except P. syringae pv. tomato T1, suggesting that T1 suppresses accumulation of AvrPtoBT1. All of the homologs interacted with the Pto kinase in a yeast two-hybrid system and elicited a Pto-dependent defense response when they were delivered into leaf cells by DC3000ΔavrPtoΔavrPtoB, a P. syringae pv. tomato strain with a deletion of both avrPto and avrPtoB. Like AvrPtoB, all of the homologs enhanced the ability of DC3000ΔavrPtoΔavrPtoB to form lesions on leaves of two susceptible tomato lines. With the exception of HopPmaL which lacks the C-terminal domain, all AvrPtoB homologs suppressed programmed cell death elicited by the AvrPto-Pto interaction in an Agrobacterium-mediated transient assay. Thus, despite their divergent sequences, AvrPtoB homologs from diverse P. syringae pathovars have conserved avirulence and virulence activities similar to AvrPtoB activity.
Comprehensive immunofluorescence and lectin binding analysis of vibrissal follicle sinus complex innervation in the mystacial pad of the rat

The innervation of the vibrissal follicle sinus complexes (FSCs) in the mystacial pad of the rat was examined by lectin binding histofluorescence with the B subunit of Griffonia simplicifolia (GSA) and by immunofluorescence with a wide variety of antibodies for neuronal related structural proteins, enzymes, and peptides. Only anti‐protein gene product 9.5 labeled all sets of innervation. Several types of mechanoreceptors were distributed to specific different targets by medium to large caliber myelinated axons. All were positive for 200 kDa neurofilament subunit, peripherin, and carbonic anhydrase. Their endings expressed synaptophysin. Labeling for the 160 kDa neurofilament subunit, calbindin, and parvalbumin varied. Anti‐Schwann cell protein S100 was completely co‐extensive with the axons, terminal arbors, and endings of the mechanoreceptor afferents including Merkel innervation. At least 15 different sets of unmyelinated innervation were evident based upon distribution and labeling characteristics. They consisted of four basic types: 1) peptidergic; 2) GSA binding; 3) peptidergic and GSA binding; and 4) nonpeptidergic and GSA negative (peptide‐/GSA‐). Previous studies had not revealed that several major sets of unmyelinated innervation were peptide‐/GSA‐. The unmyelinated innervation had detectable peripherin but not 160 kDa or 200 kDa neurofilament subunits. GSA‐positive axons uniquely lacked anti‐S100 immunoreactivity. The dense circumferentially oriented unmyelinated innervation of the inner conical body contained major sets of peptide‐/GSA‐ and GSA innervation as well as a smaller peptidergic GSA component. A small contingent of sympathetic and possibly parasympathetic innervation was affiliated with microvasculature in the FSCs. This study confirms and refutes some previous hypotheses about biochemical and morphological relationships between peripheral innervation and sensory ganglion cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 385:149–184, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In a rush to decide: deep brain stimulation and dopamine agonist therapy in Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND It has been suggested that all patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who undergo functional neurosurgery have difficulties in slowing down in high conflict tasks. However, it is unclear whether concomitant dopaminergic medication is responsible for this impairment. OBJECTIVE To assess perceptual decision making in PD patients with bilateral deep brain stimulation. METHODS We tested 27 PD patients with bilateral deep brain stimulation on a task in which participants had to filter task relevant information from background noise. Thirteen patients were treated with Levodopa monotherapy and 14 patients were treated with Levodopa in combination with a dopamine agonist. RESULTS were compared to healthy matched controls. RESULTS We found that all PD patients who were treated with a dopamine agonist made faster decisions than controls and PD patients who were not exposed to a dopamine agonist. Further, all patients made more errors than controls, but there was no difference between the two patient groups. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that dopamine agonist therapy rather than deep brain stimulation is likely responsible for the inability to slow down in high conflict situations in PD. These results further strengthen the need to reduce dopamine agonists in PD patients undergoing functional neurosurgery in order to prevent them making inadvisable decisions.