Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory effect of Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare essential oils on virulence factors of phytopathogenic Pseudomonas syringae strains.

Pseudomonas syringae is a phytopathogenic bacterium that causes lesions in leaves during the colonisation process. The damage is associated with production of many virulence factors, such as biofilm and phytotoxins. The essential oils of Thymus vulgaris (thyme) and Origanum vulgare (oregano) have been demonstrated to inhibit P. syringae. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of T. vulgaris and O. vulgare essential oils on production of virulence factors of phytopathogenic P. syringae strains, including anti-biofilm and anti-toxins activities. The broth microdilution method was used for determination of MIC and biofilm inhibition assays. Coronatine, syringomycin and tabtoxin were pheno- and genotypically evaluated. Both oils showed good inhibitory activity against P. syringae, with MIC values from 1.43 to 11.5 mg·ml-1 for thyme and 5.8 to 11.6 mg·ml-1 for oregano. Biofilm formation, production of coronatine, syringomycin and tabtoxin were inhibited by thyme and oregano essential oil in most strains. The results presented here are promising, demonstrating the bactericidal activity and reduction of virulence factor production after treatment with thyme and oregano oil, providing insight into how they exert their antibacterial activity. These natural products could be considered in the future for the control of diseases caused by P. syringae.
Interference Between Accustomed Number–Space Mappings and Unacquainted Letter–Space Mappings in a Button Press Task

Objective: We aimed to investigate how ordered mappings (e.g., left-to-right and right-to-left order representations) would interfere with each other. Background: Mental representations of numbers and letters are linked with spatial representation and can be changed intentionally. Method: The experiment consisted of three sessions. In the digit-alone session, two digits randomly selected from [1], [2], and [3] were shown. If the two digits were the same, participants pressed the button corresponding to the digit, and if the digits differed, they pressed the remaining button. The response buttons were ordered [1][2][3] from the left. In the letter-alone session, three different button configurations were prepared: sequential [A][B][C], reversed [C][B][A], or partially reversed [B][A][C]. The same-versus-different rules were basically identical to those in the digit task. In the mixed session, trials of the digit task and those of the letter task were randomly mixed. Results: We found that two ordinal representations did not interfere with each other when they shared the same direction of order ([1][2][3] vs. [A][B][C]), two ordinal mappings interfered with each other when they had different directions of order ([1][2][3] vs. [C][B][A]), and an ordinal mapping ([1][2][3]) was affected by a nonordinal mapping ([B][A][C]), but the nonordinal mapping was less affected by the ordinal mapping. Conclusion: The mapping between ordinal information and space can be modulated by top-down processes, and it is prone to interference depending on the nature of another coexisting mapping. Application: Our findings may be used in designing response assignments for input devices for multiple functions.
Enhanced sedative efficacy and delayed recovery in propofol anesthesia in a rat model of hepatic cirrhosis.

PURPOSE The sedative efficacy of propofol anesthesia is enhanced in patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Establish a rat model to investigate the efficacy of propofol. METHODS 100 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups and administered Phenobarbital sodium, carbon tetrachloride and ethanol solution for 0 (control), 9 (mild cirrhosis, M1), or 12 (severe cirrhosis, M2) weeks to induce hepatic cirrhosis. Propofol was infused via the caudal vein and the ED50 of the sedative effect and the recovery time were assessed according to the loss and recovery of the righting reflex. The effect of propofol on circulating cells and platelets, blood biochemistry and neurotransmitter content of the brain were measured. RESULTS Cirrhosis was achieved in 25 of 35 M1 and 27 of 45 M2 rats. The propofol ED50 was significantly lower in M1 and M2 (5.8 ± 1.2 and 4.8 ± 1.1 mg/kg, respectively) than in control rats (6.2 ± 1.1 mg/kg, P < 0.05), and the time to recovery of righting reflex was significantly longer in M1 and M2 (370.0 ± 108.2 s and 501.6 ± 100.1 s, respectively) than in control rats (275.0 ± 90.3 s, P < 0.05). In M1 and M2 rats white and red blood cell and platelet counts were reduced, but ALT and AST activity was increased. In M1 and M2 rats the cerebral content of Gly and GABA increased but Glu and Asp were reduced. CONCLUSION The sedative efficacy of propofol anesthesia is enhanced in rats with hepatic cirrhosis, perhaps due to reduced hepatic functional reserve, enhancement of inhibitory neurotransmitters and reduction of excitatory neurotransmitters.
[Study of risk factors for prostatic cancer].

A case-control study was conducted on 294 prostatic cancer patients and controls. General population controls were chosen from 13 areas in Gunma Prefecture and were matched by age (+/- 2 y.o.) to cases. Odds ratio (O.R.) and 95% confidence interval (C.I.) were calculated on each item according to group; 69 years old or younger and 70 years old or older, and age-adjusted O.R. and 95% C.I. were calculated. Risk factors of prostatic cancer were investigated. There was a significantly higher risk for prostatic cancer in those 1) engaged in agriculture, forestry or fishery (< or = 69, > or = 70, total), 2) shaving 1/3 days or less frequently (> or = 70, total), 3) having thin pubic hair (total), 4) phimosis (< or = 69, total), 5) having history of smoking (> or = 70, total), 6) history of smoking 50 years or more (total), 7) having eaten vegetables rarely (> or = 70, total), 8) having past history or complication of asthma (> or = 70). O.R. s of having past history or complication of benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostatitis and urethral stricture were high significantly, but they were supposed to be caused by bias. Four patients had first degree family members who suffered from prostatic cancer, compared to zero in the control. There was a significantly lower risk for prostatic cancer in those 1) engaged in office work (> or = 70, total), 2) blood type A or AB (< or = 69), 3) having had one child or none (total), 4) having past history or complication of tuberculosis (total). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Analgesic Effects of a Substituted N-Triazole Oxindole (TROX-1), a State-Dependent, Voltage-Gated Calcium Channel 2 Blocker

Voltage-gated calcium channel (Cav)2.2 (N-type calcium channels) are key components in nociceptive transmission pathways. Ziconotide, a state-independent peptide inhibitor of Cav2.2 channels, is efficacious in treating refractory pain but exhibits a narrow therapeutic window and must be administered intrathecally. We have discovered an N-triazole oxindole, (3R)-5-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)-3-methyl-3-(pyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-indol-2-one (TROX-1), as a small-molecule, state-dependent blocker of Cav2 channels, and we investigated the therapeutic advantages of this compound for analgesia. TROX-1 preferentially inhibited potassium-triggered calcium influx through recombinant Cav2.2 channels under depolarized conditions (IC50 = 0.27 μM) compared with hyperpolarized conditions (IC50 > 20 μM). In rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, TROX-1 inhibited ω-conotoxin GVIA-sensitive calcium currents (Cav2.2 channel currents), with greater potency under depolarized conditions (IC50 = 0.4 μM) than under hyperpolarized conditions (IC50 = 2.6 μM), indicating state-dependent Cav2.2 channel block of native as well as recombinant channels. TROX-1 fully blocked calcium influx mediated by a mixture of Cav2 channels in calcium imaging experiments in rat DRG neurons, indicating additional block of all Cav2 family channels. TROX-1 reversed inflammatory-induced hyperalgesia with maximal effects equivalent to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and it reversed nerve injury-induced allodynia to the same extent as pregabalin and duloxetine. In contrast, no significant reversal of hyperalgesia was observed in Cav2.2 gene-deleted mice. Mild impairment of motor function in the Rotarod test and cardiovascular functions were observed at 20- to 40-fold higher plasma concentrations than required for analgesic activities. TROX-1 demonstrates that an orally available state-dependent Cav2 channel blocker may achieve a therapeutic window suitable for the treatment of chronic pain.
Biochemical properties of inducible beta-lactamases produced from Xanthomonas maltophilia

Four different beta-lactamases have been found in several strains of Xanthomonas maltophilia isolated from blood cultures during 1984 to 1991 at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. One was a metallo-beta-lactamase with predominantly penicillinase activity and an isoelectric point of 6.8. Its molecular size as determined by gel filtration was 96 kDa but was only 26 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), suggesting a tetramer of four equal subunits. The enzyme hydrolyzed all classes of beta-lactams except the monobactam aztreonam. This enzyme was not inhibited by potassium clavulanate or BRL 42715 but was inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, mercuric chloride, and EDTA. The beta-lactamase was unstable in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0) but stable in 50 mM Tris HCl (pH 8.0). The other beta-lactamases focused as a series of different isoelectric points, ranging from pI 5.2 to 6.6. Together, these enzymes exhibited a broad spectrum of activity, hydrolyzing most classes of beta-lactams but not imipenem or aztreonam. Their molecular size was 48 kDa by Sephadex gel filtration and 24 kDa by SDS-PAGE, indicating that they were enzymes consisting of two equal subunits. They were inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, mercuric chloride, potassium clavulanate, and BRL 42715 but not EDTA. This study demonstrated that X. maltophilia produces more than just the L1 and L2 beta-lactamases.
Longitudinal Effects of Adaptive Interventions With a Speech-Generating Device in Minimally Verbal Children With ASD

There are limited data on the effects of adaptive social communication interventions with a speech-generating device in autism. This study is the first to compare growth in communications outcomes among three adaptive interventions in school-age children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are minimally verbal. Sixty-one children, ages 5–8 years, participated in a sequential, multiple-assignment randomized trial (SMART). All children received a developmental behavioral communication intervention: joint attention, symbolic play, engagement and regulation (JASP) with enhanced milieu teaching (EMT). The SMART included three 2-stage, 24-week adaptive interventions with different provisions of a speech-generating device (SGD) in the context of JASP+EMT. The first adaptive intervention, with no SGD, initially assigned JASP+EMT alone, then intensified JASP+EMT for slow responders. In the second adaptive intervention, slow responders to JASP+EMT were assigned JASP+EMT+SGD. The third adaptive intervention initially assigned JASP+EMT+SGD; then intensified JASP+EMT+SGD for slow responders. Analyses examined between-group differences in change in outcomes from baseline to Week 36. Verbal outcomes included spontaneous communicative utterances and novel words. Nonlinguistic communication outcomes included initiating joint attention and behavior regulation, and play. The adaptive intervention beginning with JASP+EMT+SGD was estimated as superior. There were significant (p < .05) between-group differences in change in spontaneous communicative utterances and initiating joint attention. School-age children with ASD who are minimally verbal make significant gains in communication outcomes with an adaptive intervention beginning with JASP+EMT+SGD. Future research should explore mediators and moderators of the adaptive intervention effects and second-stage intervention options that further capitalize on early gains in treatment.
Visión mundial de las frutas con calidad diferenciada: producción integrada y orgánica

El presente trabajo considera, en una primera fase, el analisis DAFO del negocio de produccion integrada. En este sentido, siendo una actividad con oportunidades comerciales, el secreto para tener exito esta en el acceso a informacion estrategica de los segmentos y nichos de mercado, asi como sobre el perfil del consumidor. La segando fase considera el analisis del posicionamiento comercial en el ambito mundial, tanto a nivel estrategico como en lo economico. De las reflexiones surge la urgencia de una mejor administracion de la produccion integrada para que el agricultor tenga un premio en el precio de venta, con un plan estrategico regional y la necesidad de mayor toma de decisiones basadas en eficientes canales de venta y en una adecuada estrategia de marketing y promocion
Differences in HIV disease progression by injection drug use and by sex in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy

Background The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has reduced the incidence of most AIDS-related opportunistic illnesses (OI) and death in HIV-infected individuals. We investigated whether there are demographic disparities in HIV disease progression in the HAART era compared with before. Methods HIV-infected patients in an urban HIV clinical practice in the USA were compared using survival methods for time to a new AIDS-defining OI or death in therapeutic era 1 (monotherapy and combination therapy; 1990–1995; n = 2016) versus era 2 (HAART; 1996–1999; n = 2165). Results A total of 1037 (51.4%) events occurred in era 1; 666 (30.8%) events occurred in era 2. In women, the median disease-free survival time increased by 14% (CD4 cell counts > 200 cells/mm3 at baseline) and 34% (CD4 cell counts ⩽ 200) in era 2 compared with era 1, whereas for men it increased by 43 and 100%. The relative hazard (RH) of progression for women compared with men in era 2 compared with era 1 was 1.34. For injecting drug use (IDU), disease-free survival time increased by 16% and 34% in era 2 compared with era 1, whereas non-IDU improved by 65 and 135%. The RH of progression for IDU compared with non-IDU in era 2 compared with era 1 was 1.39. No significant differences were detected by race or other HIV transmission risk group. Conclusion Disease-free survival time was extended with the use of HAART, but these gains were not equally distributed by sex and IDU in our cohort.
Removal Efficiency of High-Concentration H2S in a Pilot-Scale Biotrickling Filter

A pilot-scale biotrickling filter (BTF) packed with polyurethane (PU) foam was installed at one pharmaceutical factory in Zhejiang Province to study the removal of high-concentration H2S from water treatment plant. Experiments were performed at different empty bed residence times (EBRTs), H2S input load, ratio of liquid flow rate to gas inlet rate (L/G) and sulfate concentration in recirculating liquid to examine their effects on the performance of the BTF. The performance of this bioreactor was monitored continuously over a period of 56 days. After the start-up within 8 days, H2S removal efficiency remained between 90% and 100% with inlet concentration fluctuating from 238 to 590 mg m−3. H2S removal efficiency was consistently greater than 90%, even at a short EBRT of 9 s and inlet H2S load higher than 187 g m−3 h−1. Profiles over the height of the reactor indicated that H2S removal took place mostly in the first section of the column. The performance of BTF could be maintained at high and stable levels when L/G was below 0.005 and sulfate concentration down to 28 g l−1. The results led to the conclusion that BTF is the optimal choice for treating high-concentration H2S.
Alterations in Mitochondrial and Apoptosis‐regulating Gene Expression in Photodynamic Therapy‐resistant Variants of HT29 Colon Carcinoma Cells ¶

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel cancer therapy inducing irreversible photodamage to tumor tissue via photosensitizer‐mediated oxidative cytotoxicity. The cellular and molecular responses associated with PDT are only partially understood. We have reported previously the generation of several photosensitizer‐specific PDT‐resistant cell variants of HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells by selecting cells from sequential PDT treatment using different photosensitizers. In this report, we describe the use of messenger RNA (mRNA) differential display to identify genes that were differentially expressed in the parental HT29 cells compared with their resistant variants. In comparison with parental HT29 cells, mRNA expression was increased in the PDT‐resistant cell variants for BNIP3, estrogen receptor‐binding fragmentassociated gene 9, Myh‐1c, cytoplasmic dynein light chain 1, small membrane protein I and differential dependent protein. In contrast, expression in the PDT‐resistant variants was downregulated for NNX3, human HepG2 3′region Mbol complementary DNA, glutamate dehydrogenase, hepatomaderived growth factor and the mitochondrial genes coding for 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase subunit 4. The reduction for mitochondrial 16S rRNA in the PDT‐resistant variants was confirmed by Northern blotting, and the elevated expression of the proapoptotic BNIP3 in the PDT‐resistant variants was confirmed by Northern and Western blotting analysis. We also examined the expression of some additional apoptosis‐regulating genes using Western blotting. We show an increased expression of Bcl‐2 and heat shock protein 27 and a downregulation of Bax in the PDT‐resistant variants. In addition, the mutant p53 levels in the parental HT29 cells were reduced substantially in the PDT‐resistant variants. We suggest that the altered expression in several mitochondria1 and apoptosisregulating genes contributes to PDT resistance.
Modelling the glucocorticoid receptor and producing therapeutic agents with anti‐inflammatory effects but reduced side‐effects

Glucocorticoid hormones exert a wide spectrum of metabolic and immunological effects. They are synthesized from a cholesterol precursor and are structurally related to the other steroid hormones, progesterone, aldosterone and oestrogen. They act through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. The GR is an intracellular receptor; the hydrophobic ligand accesses its receptor by diffusion across the plasma membrane. The ligand‐activated GR translocates to the nucleus to regulate expression of its target genes. The GR, in common with the rest of the receptor family, can be functionally divided into an N‐terminal transcription activation domain, a central DNA binding domain and a C‐terminal ligand binding domain, which also includes a second transactivation domain. Although synthetic glucocorticoids are the most potent anti‐inflammatory agents known, their use is limited owing to the range and severity of their side‐effects. The structure of the ligand binding domain of the glucocorticoid receptor has now been solved, and a series of studies has shown that even subtle changes to the ligand structure alter the final conformation of the ligand–receptor complex, with consequences for further protein recruitment and for the function of the receptor. This, coupled with the successful development of selective oestrogen receptor agonists, has led to concerted efforts to find selective GR ligands, with preserved beneficial anti‐inflammatory activity, but reduced side‐effect profile. Current efforts have identified several useful tool compounds, and further molecules are in development in several pharmaceutical companies.
Evaluation of respiratory impedance in asthma and COPD by an impulse oscillation system.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in physiological properties of the airways between asthma and COPD using an impulse oscillation system (IOS). PATIENTS AND METHODS Subjects comprised 95 stable COPD patients, 52 never-smoker asthma patients and 29 healthy never-smokers >60 years old, all matched for age, in whom respiratory impedance was examined by IOS. RESULTS In both asthma and COPD patients, a significant increase in respiratory resistance (Rrs5) and more negative value of respiratory reactance (Xrs5) at 5 Hz of oscillatory frequency with an increase in resonant frequency (fres) were observed when compared with healthy never-smokers. In asthma, a significant increase in respiratory resistance at 20 Hz (Rrs20) was also observed when compared with healthy never-smokers and COPD. The increases in Rrs5 and relative changes of Xrs5 to more negative were remarkable with increasing severity of COPD. On the other hand, among patients with asthma, these changes in Rrs5 and Xrs5 were also observed in asthmatics with normal FEV(1)/FVC. Interestingly, Xrs5 showed further changes to more negative in expiration of tidal breath in severe COPD, whereas no significant changes in Xrs5 to more negative in expiration was observed in healthy never-smokers and asthmatics with and without normal FEV(1)/FVC. CONCLUSION IOS may be useful for detecting pathophysiological changes of respiratory system in accordance with severity of COPD and even in asthmatics with normal FEV(1)/FVC. The larger within-breath changes of Xrs5 to more negative in severe COPD may represent easy collapsibility of small airways in expiration of tidal breath. These properties may help to analyze airway mechanics and to identify abnormalities of the airways that cannot be found by spirometry alone.
Treatment-related mortality with bevacizumab in cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT Fatal adverse events (FAEs) have been reported in cancer patients treated with the widely used angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy. Currently, the role of bevacizumab in treatment-related mortality is not clear. OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to determine the overall risk of FAEs associated with bevacizumab. DATA SOURCES PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases as well as abstracts presented at American Society of Clinical Oncology conferences from January 1966 to October 2010 were searched to identify relevant studies. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION Eligible studies included prospective RCTs in which bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy or biological therapy was compared with chemotherapy or biological therapy alone. Summary incidence rates, relative risks (RRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models. DATA SYNTHESIS A total of 10,217 patients with a variety of advanced solid tumors from 16 RCTs were included in the analysis. The overall incidence of FAEs with bevacizumab was 2.5% (95% CI, 1.7%-3.9%). Compared with chemotherapy alone, the addition of bevacizumab was associated with an increased risk of FAEs, with an RR of 1.46 (95% CI, 1.09-1.94; P = .01; incidence, 2.5% vs 1.7%). This association varied significantly with chemotherapeutic agents (P = .045) but not with tumor types (P = .13) or bevacizumab doses (P = .16). Bevacizumab was associated with an increased risk of FAEs in patients receiving taxanes or platinum agents (RR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.82-6.66; incidence, 3.3% vs 1.0%) but was not associated with increased risk of FAEs when used in conjunction with other agents (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.25-2.88; incidence, 0.8% vs 0.9%). The most common causes of FAEs were hemorrhage (23.5%), neutropenia (12.2%), and gastrointestinal tract perforation (7.1%). CONCLUSION In a meta-analysis of RCTs, bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy or biological therapy, compared with chemotherapy alone, was associated with increased treatment-related mortality.